Fresh water tank and freezing weather - Event Date: 07 Dec 2019

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   +1 on TexMan’s mods. If you want to boondock in moderately cold weather in an rpod and want your fresh water system to work that is the way to go. The electric heaters use far too much energy. The recirculating system uses the propane water heater so carry an extra cylinder and you should be ok.

The gray and black tanks will still be subject to freezing so carry some RV antifreeze for that.

If you are expecting prolonged really cold weather, then keep it winterized. There are true 4 season trailers for that kind of use if you have the $$$.

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Calendar Event: Fresh water tank and freezing weather Posted: 11 Dec 2019 at 6:22am
	+1 on TexMan’s mods. If you want to boondock in moderately cold weather in an rpod and want your fresh water system to work that is the way to go. The electric heaters use far too much energy. The recirculating system uses the propane water heater so carry an extra cylinder and you should be ok. The gray and black tanks will still be subject to freezing so carry some RV antifreeze for that. If you are expecting prolonged really cold weather, then keep it winterized. There are true 4 season trailers for that kind of use if you have the $$$.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Posted: 10 Dec 2019 at 9:10am
	I insulated my fresh water tank and installed a recirculating water system for freezing weathe. check out my mods from my signature link if you are interested.
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2630	Posted: 09 Dec 2019 at 6:53pm
	And if you had shore power, you would probably want to use 120VAC to cut down on the current required.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289	Posted: 09 Dec 2019 at 5:42pm
	The problem with the 12V heaters for the tanks is that if the refrigerator draws down the batteries quickly, the heaters would kill them in almost no time. This would only be feasible if shore power were available. If not, then this would only work while traveling if the TV's alternator and wiring could support the load such heaters would add.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

TheBum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407	Posted: 09 Dec 2019 at 12:14pm
	You can buy stick-on 12V heaters for tanks and pipes. Amazon.com has quite a few.
	Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289	Posted: 08 Dec 2019 at 9:15pm
	There are very few trailers in the size range of the RPods that are true four season capable. Lance (if equipped), Airstream, and Oliver (US brands) and Bigfoot (Canadian brand)are some I have looked at online. All of them are magnitudes greater in price than the RPods. All require that heat be running to have water in the tanks. It sounds like you have a workable plan for being able to camp dry. I hope it works out for you.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Buffalohunter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12 Oct 2019 Location: Bellingham, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 57	Posted: 08 Dec 2019 at 5:30pm
	Got that right...olddawgsrule...just my thoughts exactly...but I’ll piss outside and dig a hole to crap in...actually I have mounted a toilet seat on a 5 gallon bucket double lined with garbage bags.

Buffalohunter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12 Oct 2019 Location: Bellingham, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 57	Posted: 08 Dec 2019 at 5:25pm
	Thanks guys for the tips. I wouldn’t hold the salesman libel for anything since he was just trying to make a living...and anybody knows salesmen lie. The delivery tube is the week link in the freezing issue...so insulating that would be very helpful. I need to look into insulating the tank with something. Bottom line lots of good suggestions and things to think about. Where I go it is below freezing all day and night all day and all night. Therefore I need to get in harvest and get out. But I will let you know if I find a solution to insulating the water tank. Maybe just not fill the tank and fetch fresh water everyday for my needs. Extra propane is definitely a must to keep the pod from becoming a freezer. Really appreciate all your input...thanks

Olddawgsrule Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014	Posted: 08 Dec 2019 at 2:07pm
	Think of it as a hard sided tent in the winter. Hot water is from the stovetop, fresh water is in a jug, poop in the toilet with a trash bag lining it, Wag-Bag (cat litter is a good medium), pee in a bottle. I call it 'Winter Mode'!
	Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 08 Dec 2019 at 9:15am
	Buffalohunter every state has different rules about salesmen's lies and how it affects the contract you likely signed. Usually, in contracts there is a clause that disclaims any oral representations. If you're not able to come up with a solution to your winter camping dilemma, then it'd be worth consulting a local lawyer. We camped in our Pod with temperatures down into the 20's with no problem. But it was below freezing for only a few hours. I added some foam pipe insulation to the water line from the tank to where the it entered the trailer to keep that part from freezing, but I haven't a clue whether it really helped. As StephenH said, there are discussions, and even diagrams, of various recirculation systems that use the furnace as a heat source which you can find in the archives. Provided you brought extra propane, which you'd probably need anyway, the circulation pump systems look like a pretty viable solution. Our Sonoma has an insulated bottom and a heater duct sending hot air to the underbelly area. No one made any representations about how low the temperatures can go before it is in danger of freezing and I'm not inclined to risk freezing the pipes. I hope it'll extend the camping season a little, but don't consider it a 4 season trailer.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost