How cold is too cold?
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Topic: How cold is too cold?
Posted By: podrunner
Subject: How cold is too cold?
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 1:18am
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Headed out this Wednesday for Yellowstone NP. Weather looks clear with highs around 60 and lows 25 to 30. Just wondering if this is too cold for the r pod water system. We will be camping in Grant village, no hookups. I would think that during the day the 60 degree temp would allow some build up of residual heat so it would not get too cold overnight to freeze water lines. Any one have any experience in fall camping in this temperature range? Thanks in advance for your replies ------------- 2010 R Pod 151 2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 2:40am
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Yes. You are likely to have problems. The pod's water tanks and some of the lines are exposed under the trailer. They are close to the ground but up in the air. They cool off fast. My lines started freezing at around 25 degrees at around 12:30 or 1am. I'm sure they would have burst by morning if I hadn't turned up the interior heat to about 95, opened the panels to the inside plumbing and, since I was alone in the campground (well after normal generator hours), I turned the exhaust of the generator to blow warm air under the pod. (This did set off the CO alarm rather quickly.) I got by, but barely, and only with a lot of effort. I was at Yellowstone just about exactly a year ago and I'm pretty sure it got into the teens. At that elevation nights get cold fast. I'd plan on dry camping. See my reply yesterday to the post on camping in North Carolina for more on this subject. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 11:37am
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The exposed tanks will be ok especially if they are at least partly full. The problem is the exposed hoses - low point drains and fresh water tank line. One option which I've seen someone here do during our annual winter campout is to set up rigid foam around the exterior like a skirt, and then put an electric heater under there.
My usual recommendation is if the temps will drop more than a few degrees below freezing for more than a few hours, you need to winterize. Fifteen minutes spent winterizing can relieve lots of anxiety and prevent many $ worth of damage. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: podrunner
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2013 at 8:30pm
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Just got home from Yellowstone and had a great time. Low temp was 23.7 degrees, measured on a picnic table bench at our site at Grant Village. I did not have any problems with the pump or lines freezing. Saw lots of wildlife, and not too crowded. Wonderful time to visit. Leaves were changing in Grand Teton and all the way home. ------------- 2010 R Pod 151 2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2013 at 8:46pm
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I bet it was spectacular! Maybe next year... ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |