Winter RV. Full time RV living near the Canadian border; Frozen pipes, Humidity, Skirting & Heat.

I am Christopher Andrew.
This is full time RV living, travel, adventure and how I do it on a budget. Please, Subscribe.
In this video I am sharing the truth about real problems that will occur while full time RV'ing during a cold winter. This video highlights important issues, problems we faced and solutions that worked. Filming took place over the course of a full winter season from Fall to Spring in Whitefish, Montana.
00:34 - Humidity & moisture control + Dehumidiers.
07:48 - Space Heaters
09:53 - Heated hose and insulating your fresh water spigot.
12:42 - RV skirting & frozen pipes.
Information on mold: https: //www.cdc.gov/mold/
Where to get your own Den-Dry mattress underlay: www.ravenwolfm...
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[@ramblin.rennae]

Did not know the dangers of cheap space heaters. Thanks for the tip. Going to replace mine with oil filled radiator.

[@MarkWilliam-pl6qs]

I live in a 5th wheel in the N. Dakota oilfields and I found snow is a wonderful insulation from the extreme cold! Pack it around the base of your RV, pile it on your hoses, put it on your Propane lines, your water lines, your roof, EVERYTHING!

[@gracesharpe6029]

We’re in N. Dakota as well for work during this winter is there anything you recommend for winter living in an rv for this area, everyone is trying to push us away from it.

[@jrt77339]

We lived in Alaska in our RV. The RV park had a class that told about how to set up for the winter. Hence we had no problems in 4 years.

[@goodmorningrunner]

This is brilliant! I would 100% attend a class on the topic even though I have all ready done a full winter.

[@johnnyappleseed2058]

Probably the most helpful video I have seen to date! My heartfelt thanks!

[@samifarrell]

getting ready for my first winter in Maine living in a trailer, this helps a lot!

[@cherilynut]

Same here in Salt Lake city, Utah. This is will be my 1st winter in my 28ft mallard trailer and I'm already having problems with the back rooms' roof + wall & we're freezing, UGGH! Was trying to figure out where to start when I found a soft spot and TONS of ugly creepy carpenter ants fell out of the wall, then it began to rain + rain + rain for a few weeks , found a small leak...... then that night the back window fell out from the strong gusts of wind. We were about ready to throw in the towel but we kind of covered & sealed off that back area and just stay in the front. This is going to be a memorable winter, cannot wait, lol!🥶❄❄☃🌨🌨❄❄🤧😷😷🧊🧊😰😰

[@robertbannister3808]

Lots of good info Chris, thank you! Now I'd like to give you a tip for the bed and that we can add holes with a hole saw on both sides. Just remember not to block the holes when storing things. I also added thick plastic over the windows with two sided tape just make sure the plastic is behind the frame. I removed the frame and added insulation that was missing around the window then added the plastic. works well in northern Quebec. -40c last year...

[@goodmorningrunner]

Brilliant! Amazing tips. Thank you for posting. -40c! 💪

[@anthonyellis9804]

Get 12v heat pads for tanks, remote thermometer for areas prone to freezing and use heater in those areas to keep from freezing, reroute waterlines to closest point of connection then use short length of heat trace cable

[@cynthias7757]

These are amazing tips. You covered just about everything we were concerned about. Thank you! Im sorry to see that it appears that you gave up on your channel though. I hope everything is ok.

[@goodmorningrunner]

@@cynthias7757 The video covered everything we had to make adjustments or repairs for in the winter. My computer can no longer handle video editing but I will make videos as soon as I can update my computer.

[@mikemclean670]

thanks for all the info, much appreciated.

[@cindyrobins3518]

Thank you! I’ve learned a few things! I have a massive moisture problem and now I know what to do.

[@n3rdst0rm]

Holy crap, this was one of the most practical and informative videos ive seen. That ship air layer stuff, the heated hose and the damp rid. So many people dont mention those in their "how to full time rv in winter" Thank you. What did you do about your refrigerator? We cant keep ours going as it stops working due to the cold air here in northern mn.

[@goodmorningrunner]

Thanks for the comment. I may have been lucky with the refrigerator. A typical Dometic brand refrigerator and it never failed on me. Once I had to turn it off and back on again.

[@dianapearson1771]

Awsome. Great ideas! Thank you. Winter camping is a lot of work and expense. I live in my camper and this is my first winter. VERY nervous!!

[@goodmorningrunner]

You are right, Winter camping does come with extra work and expense. Some of it I was expecting, like frozen pipes, some not! I am sure you will have your own unique circumstances, challenges and learn as I did! Over all, I loved my winter season as a full time camper.

[@bryanfox2735]

Good job brother. This is going to be my first winter RVing in Manhattan MT! Yea I’ve got some work to do. Lol. I work in big sky and there’s already 18” of pow pow on the ground. It snowed about 4 inches here and no prob yet. But she’s on her way! Lol 👀😎💪💯🇺🇸

[@DebbieNobodyneedstoknow1]

Great tips! Reflectics work great for skirting too. I so wanted to lend you my chop saw when you were building your bed!

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

That stuff works well😊

[@justmyopinion5234]

Also found wrapping in a couple laters of cardboard and covered in plastic is amazing. No cold walls less moisture and less to heat

[@goodmorningrunner]

Thats a great idea! Cardboard can be found when Reflectix is out of stock, too.

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

Use hay bundles then close it off with wood.

[@johnyb9884]

Our first winter here in Kalispell in a 30ft trailer. I’m scared to death worrying about how cold it gets here. I am taking your suggestions and let’s see if I can do a good job with the skirting

[@goodmorningrunner]

It will be great! Once we had the Dehumidifier, skirting, heated hose & a space heater = warm & cozy. I would do it again. Reflectix in the windows helps trap the heat in and keep the cold out too... Found we really only used it on a couple windows though.

[@RoadsofFaith]

We have been through some very cold (below freezing) temperatures with our 5th wheel in the SOUTH!?? (NOT our idea of being "snowbirds"! ) Our preparations were quick as the storms approached fast. We have the insultec in our bedroom windows, and on the rest of the windows, we put up clear (see-through) insulated window kits. What an amazing difference it makes to cut the draft from single pane windows! You shrink the plastic with a hair dryer for an airtight seal. It allows you to still get the sunshine warmth coming through and see out too. On nicer days, we open the ceiling vents and door until it warms up in the Spring. Available at most hardware, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. The slated bed frame is brilliant! We've made 9-10 videos on preparing your rv for cold and never thought of doing that. Great job!! This winter, we are in dryer climate with the cold and condensation is way down. We have a refillable unit that absorbs the moisture, and when the fabric packet is dissolved, just replace with a new packet. Dump water as needed in between packets. We use it in the summer when we're back in WI too. WI has high humidity in the summer and we are not usually in a place where we can run our AC. Looks like you are in a place for a long haul! Stay warm! God bless!

[@goodmorningrunner]

I enjoyed reading your comment. Thanks for posting! The plastic on the windows 👍 great tip.

[@allentruitt8632]

This is helpful. Thanks for making this video. I just bought an RV and will be living in it. All the tips I can get are helpful.

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

I love those beads i use those even in summer because the ac causes the same

[@ThePunditGauntlet]

Way to go man, very informative on RV living in the winter!

[@goodmorningrunner]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I appreciate it. I like what you are doing on your channel. Sawmills, fishing and shooting? Awesome.

[@godrulesme8619]

@@goodmorningrunner Great video and information...you should be a teacher or professor since they usually make more money;)

[@kathystevens8163]

Great info.

[@_DivineTruth_is_Home_]

Thank you ❤

[@ritaweeks8550]

Great job! Very informative!

[@serenityfarmsprepping2267]

Very nicely done. Good and simple explanations. I have done some things a bit different but wanted to remark on your presentation!!

[@goodmorningrunner]

This was produced using an iphone 8+, of all things! So, I really appreciate your comment. If you have any good tricks, please share! This time of year the winter convo begins again and always like to hear other solutions. Cheers!

[@serenityfarmsprepping2267]

You just explain things like a normal human:) So, I do not camp thriugh the winter but have tried a few things during the winter in Upstate NY where temps can reach -20. I like the heated pads for water and black water tanks. They come in 12v or 110 if elec hook-up. I hear soem people suggest HAY as skirting but I believe it attract MICE (or more:). The framing and plywood is very good. I have used a heavy tarp I cut to fit as skirting with the White 1" thick foam board with reflective backing (facing IN). I put a small heater under camper it it stayed "warm" (above 32 is the object). I have also seen folks take off the underlayment "rode cloth" and cut insulation board and glue it to underside, then replace "road cloth". But a skirting of any kind is great place to start. *I have not tried an entire winter, just an extra 6 -7 weeks until end of Dec, which did have a few - days.. Will try a little longer this winter.@@goodmorningrunner

[@serenityfarmsprepping2267]

Don't forget heated battery blanket. Some of the Lithiums come with it included, although I am a still the old AGM type battery guy@@goodmorningrunner

[@FourthWayRanch]

There is a good solution for dealing with moisture....live in the desert

[@theloveterrroist]

Thanks for sharing the info!

[@ashlingofAsh7580]

My plans are buy a class a and head to wyoming. And when i have to do this is by late October ugh. No one talks about condensation inside snd all. No wonder its hard to find nice used older class a

[@goodmorningrunner]

Nice plan. I looked nation-wide; I got the best I could afford and still had to CLEAN... deep clean. It needed some maintenance & repairs like re-sealing the shower. It did clean up.

[@ashlingofAsh7580]

@goodmorningrunner cleaning and a new mattress is a thing for sure. I hate any dinette and want the space for my two large dogs ( why I can't rent a place) ya know when a slide has to be in. Need the room. I'm not so handy. Yet this reminds me to take all tools even scissors with me. Lol

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

I have an old brown one i gotta dump the water but it works great. But i think i better go get mine if i choose to stay in my class c. I gotta ask tho where the heck do ya stay in winter. There are no parks around me in ontario. My only thought is a trucm camper i can move around with any off grid you get stuck in l. Way too much snow n roads are not plowed where ya camp to.

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

Its why all.our walls in rvs n class cs have rotted but they dont tell u that when they build them.

[@peggywildsmith6002]

You must have one or even two dehumidifiers depending on square footage if you live in an RV. Yes under the mattress you must have it for ventilation. Also it doesn't look good but keep your cupboards slightly open all the time. Put containers of air dry or damp rid in the outer wall cupboards. I also have a small fan running to circulate the air in the RV.

[@goodmorningrunner]

100%.

[@tommackay7433]

Good video.

[@TrevorWilkinsLikesToParty]

Finally, the truth!

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

Or drill holes all through your plywood but 2x4s are cheaper

[@btownes5632]

Thanks so much for sharing!!

[@GeorgeOu]

I have the opposite problem in California with dryness during the winter. Just the act of heating the home will drop the humidity down to 25 unless I'm constantly cranking the humidifier to bring it back up to 60. Maybe you're just in a humid area?

[@goodmorningrunner]

During a winter in Phoenix AZ I did not monitor humidity. I am sure you are correct though. I am from Southern California and know of the dryness you are experiencing; where the dry air will cause anything made of soft rubber to turn hard and crack with age. Very interesting and thanks for the info.

[@GeorgeOu]

@@goodmorningrunner Nevermind the rubber cracking. My fingers and heels!

[@oldkoot5828]

Not sure what would have been better. One inch foam board or wooden board for a skirt. Looks like the wood is absorbing water.

[@oldkoot5828]

Ok, i typed the above comment in before the end of the video. Wood was cheaper.

[@goodmorningrunner]

@@oldkoot5828 At the time it was and I had to go budget. Foam is definitely easier to work with and effective.

[@oldkoot5828]

@@goodmorningrunner Im in full envy of anyone that does the best they can in such circumstances. I would love to try a winter campout but my wife willnot hear of it.

[@ibstrummin2]

my idea of avoiding frozen pipes in an RV was to drive it south for winter

[@goodmorningrunner]

That's a great idea too! I just uploaded a new video on going south for the winter 🥶. Thanks for watching!

[@MeiDouthitt]

Not everyone can or wants to drive south for the winter.

[@joyceobeys6818]

LOL We did go south n hot cold weather n condensation n mold on all windows even with fans on. Den dry mat? I wonder if I could put that in the windows in winter. But our AC units get mold in them also. But we also have no humidity in the air in the RV. But condensation on windows. We are looking for how to keep our pipes under the floor from freezing cuz we can’t get to them. Damp rid would be great but we have nowhere to put it. LOL We use 2 electric heaters and use them at half the way. One up front and one in back and our heat bill is 80.00 to 197.00 a month in SE TN in winter depending on how cold it gets. We have heat tape on our hose. N keep our water running on very cold negative degree days cuz down here the mains will break because they aren’t far enough under ground. We covered the sewer hose n we ran the water n kept checking it. My husband said no to skirting cuz of mold. I wish we would have. I bet he wishes he would have also now that we have busted pipes. I think it’s a hood idea! Maybe he will do it now.

[@ElaineDegagne]

Hilarious 😂 Okay come move my trailer!👊

[@n3rdst0rm]

Wish i could afford that.

[@larryhicks7558]

I don't like the slide-out. I lived in rented one in northern Canada. It is much harder to insulated properly around them. We had to tape extra layers of form on the outside of the door. The door is one layer of fiberglass. But overall it can be done at -25c . Just extra work as you have done most of it yourself.

[@goodmorningrunner]

🙌 Yes! So true. My next rv will be without slide-outs.

[@joelmadrid2193]

"PANA MA RELOCATION TOURS! WITH JACKIE!🙋😊👍❤👈"

[@LizzieWoolley]

I pretty much have the same make and year, but different model. So, your pipes stopped freezing when you did the wood skirting. My pipes always froze when the temperature dropped below 25 degrees. Did you use a heater for the skirting at all?

[@goodmorningrunner]

I had the same problem with pipes freezing when temperatures dropped below 25. We were hit with some early season cold snaps before I had planned to skirt. Once I skirted the RV in wood we were fine even when temperatures dropped as low as -18 degrees. No problems. I never ran heaters or lightbulbs under the RV to produce heat. Never had to duct furnace to the undercarriage. The skirting alone was enough.

[@jrt77339]

In Alaska we used 2" foam board for our skirting and a heater inside the skirt set at the lowest setting most days at -10 or above. At -50 had the heater on high and had a second one on low to help.

[@twistdshade]

The oil filled heater is no more efficient than a standard electric heater without a fan. All resistive heaters are 100% energy efficient at generating heat. Anytime any electric device is less than 100% efficient, that wasted energy is always heat. It is thermodynamically impossible for an electric heater to be less than 100% efficient unless it's directly venting heat outside. If you want something that is MORE than 100% efficient, then you need a heat pump, which is basically an air conditioner running in reverse. It doesn't generate heat from electricity, it moves heat from outside to inside. Some newer ones can still work even if it's -20f outside. Remember that an oil filled heater is just a resistive heater with hot oil acting as a buffer between the heating element and the air. It is a MYTH that they are more efficient and anybody who says they are, they're just talking out of their rear ends, regurgitating what they've been told. The only reason you might save energy with an oil filled heater is because it turns off when the oil gets too hot, meaning it puts less heat out as a result. They are safer, but not more efficient.

[@goodmorningrunner]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and thank you for the information.

[@twistdshade]

@@goodmorningrunner the maximum BTUs per watt on a resistive electric heater is 3.4, a MR Cool mini split with heat pump gives you 11.5 BTUs of heating per watt. If you're spending an extra $150/mo heating with an electric heater, a mini split heat pump would cut that bill down to just under $45/mo and you wouldn't have to refill any propane tanks.

[@twistdshade]

Plus they're air conditioners too, and can be used to cool in the summer time. A typical roof mounted RV air conditioner is about 6-8 SEER. Mini splits can have anywhere from 20, all the way up to 38 seer. So you can expect similar savings in the summer time.

[@jader8214]

i am looking to buy an RV but i am not finding places where i could live full time in it i am from MA, do you think that camping ground should accept a full time rent?

[@ramhammer10-4]

Wait it makes 30qts of water a day? Can't you use that water to flush your toilet?

[@goodmorningrunner]

I think that was supposed to be 30 pints. Still a lot of water but not as much as qt ofcourse (mistake in the video).

[@the_average_hobo]

how much do you pay a month in lot fee?

[@goodmorningrunner]

I personally found most RV Parks offering monthly rates between $750 to $1400. There are many that are cheaper and more expensive but the majority were within that range in my experience. Amenities and convenience are well worth the money if afforded.

[@pinkiepie1656]

I bought a permanent RV site for $20k, and then $600 annually for the association fees. If you don't travel its a great option.

[@robertdillon9989]

Your dehumidifier is 30 pint not 30 quart! That’s a substantial difference. Not that it doesn’t work for you. You just misspoke.

[@goodmorningrunner]

@@robertdillon9989 I was reading off the box and miss-read the label; Others have noticed as well. Thankyou for the refresher.

[@kentkurt9065]

The magic number is 42 % mold dont grow .

[@justmyopinion5234]

Dollar tree has the small ones cheaper

[@querochita]

Looks like your RV wasn’t made for winter

[@goodmorningrunner]

The Keystone Montana is a good choice for experiencing a winter or cold temperatures in an RV. The model in this video is a 2001. Thanks!

[@christophercamplin7603]

Watch the whole video and didn't say a damn thing about frozen

[@tp3daily]

There was 5 min on it! Ur brains frozen!

[@jackofzerotrades631]

Geez, smart guy but go get a battery tool set. It'll pay for itself your first repair.

[@goodmorningrunner]

Dude, legit made me lol. I was wanting some power tools ☝️.

[@jackofzerotrades631]

@@goodmorningrunner are you a big runner?

[@goodmorningrunner]

@@jackofzerotrades631 I like the concept of running 🏃‍♂️ I am an early riser.

[@davidhunn5926]

Buy a cheap skil saw for 24.99