camping in the winter? - Event Date: 17 Aug 2018

How "sub-freezing" and for how long? Also, will you have an electrical hook up?

I've "dry" camped into the low to mid 20s overnight however, it would get well above freezing during much of the day. I did nothing special.

On the other hand, if the expected temperatures are going to be lower and sustained, I would be winterized (plumbing) and not use any water. The waste tanks will still be subject to freezing, even if nothing is in/used from the fresh water tank.

If on battery(s), expect some extra effort. Battery capacity drops in cold weather and usage goes up (furnace). Expect more charging.

Keep the bath fan vent lid open about 1/2" and/or a window to help prevent humidity build up.

Mike please share some of the things you learned. I love just sitting in a winter storm (10 inch+) and watching the snow fall. I retired this year and I'm watching for heavy snow storms that I can get in the path of and setup camp to watch it. I've invested in tank and pipe heating pads and a propane tank warming blanket. Also I've been using a space heater to reduce use of the furnace.

Did you dry camp or use your fresh water and holding tanks?

I bought a 2017 R-Pod 177 in June. This is my second travel trailer but I didn't do any cold weather camping in that Innsbruck 25' I had when my kids were growing up.

+1  We have dry camped in our 177 when temps dip into the 30's and we are offgrid.  When windy,  the furnace runs more than it is off, battery will last only 2 days at that rate.  And, as Offgrid points out, these are not a four season travel trailer.  For me, when it gets below mid 40's all those walls around you feel like ice, I rather be inside my house with the wood stove crankin' and the temp is 80!

If you're going to do serious winter camping in an rPod or similar 3 seasons trailer, you should add one of these:  https://www.suremarineservice.com/Heat/Solid-Fuel-Heater/00-NEWSF.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA7dKMBhBCEiwAO_crFDvcJC-_6iHMYGexQ7buciLPwO6uDQrIXKAit_a5xH5tWHUNKydTdxoC9f8QAvD_BwE

The water lines can be protected from freezing by recirculating water from the fwt through them. The technique is similar to that used to maintain instant hot water in home plumbing lines far from water heater.

A solenoid valve is placed in an new line connecting the cold line back to the fwt. The hot line is connected to the cold line wtjough a second solenoid valve at the far end of the lines from the pump and water heater. A tstat is used to monitor line temp at the fwt connecting to the line feeding the pump (which should be the coldest spot). When that point approaches freezing the pump will turn on which will circulate water throughout the system as well as in the tank itself. Add inside cutoffs for the outside shower and you should be good to go. And no electric heating pads which you can't use without shore power hookup.

That doesn't help with the black and gray water systems (if you want to be able to use those) nor does in improve the very poor insulation of the trailer itself.