By Gail Marsh
Brrr! Have you noticed that certain areas of your RV feel cooler than others while winter RVing? I honestly hadn’t noticed until our grandkids slept over on a particularly cold night. They kept waking up because they were cold. I got up each time and piled on another blanket. The next day I read about lots of ideas that could potentially solve our cold spot issues. I thought I’d share some fellow RVers’ suggestions. There are some really good ones here!
Start outside
Begin on the exterior of your RV. If you plan to remain in one spot for several weeks or even months, consider fastening a skirting all around your rig. Skirting keeps cold air from blowing under your unit and your floors will stay much warmer. There are many different types of RV skirting, even an inflatable one that really seems ingenious. Check it out here.
Insulate the windows
A great deal of heat is lost through your RV’s windows. Most RV windows feature single-pane glass that are no match for winter’s cold and blustery weather! Here are some things you can do to get your windows ready for winter’s big freeze:
First, thoroughly check all around each window in your RV. Look for any cracked or missing caulk and replace it. Do the same thing for entry doors, including the window in the door.
Cover the windows. You can use the thin, insulating plastic that applies with a hairdryer. You cut the plastic as per directions, and then hit it with hot air from the dryer. The plastic will shrink-wrap the window. The trapped air in between the window and the plastic acts as insulation. Bonus: You can still see outside! Daylight shines in, too.
If you don’t want to use the plastic sheeting, you can simply use bubble wrap. Cut the wrap to the window’s size and secure it in place. You’ll still get daylight into your RV, but you won’t be able to see out the window very well.
Use reflective, accordion, automobile window shades at each window. You can get these at most Walmart stores and even some dollar-type retailers.
Use Home Depot’s green foam board insulation. It can be cut to your window size and help keep out winter’s chill.
Note: However you choose to cover your RV’s windows, be sure to watch for accumulating moisture on the inside of the glass. You don’t want this water to drip down and into the walls. A dehumidifier can help reduce excess moisture.
Install insulated or thermal curtains. If you still detect drafts coming from the sides and bottom of the curtains, use Velcro or tape to “seal” curtains to the wall.
Slide-outs
Slides are another area of concern when it comes to staying warm in cold winter temperatures. Here are suggestions for keeping slide areas warmer:
Check to see if there are spots where the slide does not form a tight “seal.” Replace worn-out slide gaskets, if necessary.
Fit pool noodles into the top, bottom, and sides of the slide. They can help keep winter’s temperatures from penetrating into your rig.
For extended stays when temperatures are freezing, wrap insulation around the entire slide (top, sides, and bottom). Then place a waterproof tarp or plastic sheeting over the insulation and secure in place.
Stay warm at night with these ideas
Invest in down comforters. They are lightweight and will keep you warm.
Use an electric or battery-powered blanket on your bed. These are especially nice if you buy one with dual controls. That way, both you and your spouse can adjust the temp to fit your sleeping needs.
For little ones who may be sleeping on the floor, be sure to cover the sleeping area with a blanket (or two). Then place the sleeping bag on top of the blanket. The blanket(s) will add an extra layer of padding, and also insulate the cold floor.
Several folks like to use a weighted blanket. It will hug your body and hold in body heat, as well.
Keep your fireplace going overnight if you have one in your RV. Or use a ceramic or oil heater for additional warmth overnight. (Be sure to use caution whenever you use any additional heat source. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.)
Dress in layers. That way if you get too warm, you can simply peel off one layer and go back to sleep.
Some moms reported that their kiddos like to wear a sock hat to bed. Because a lot of body heat is lost from the top of your head, it makes sense. (Gotta’ love inventive moms!)
How do you keep your RV interior warm in winter? Share your ideas with us!
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The best way to stay warm is an electric mattress pad. Sometimes that’s all the heat we need.
I also prefer an electric mattress pad over an electric blanket. Since warm air rises, the heat stays trapped between the bed and the cover. The warmth of this heat feels much better than an electric blanket.
on staying warm – In our 2000 Coachmen Mirada we realized that the rear wall was extremely cold. We didn’t care about being able to look out that window so we cut a piece of foil-backed 2-inch foam insulation board to fit the area of the entire exposed wall area. We covered it with fabric that matched our décor. It looks good and works great. We also covered the foil side with a piece of fabric, slightly larger than the window, so that we weren’t creating a glare problem for those following us. The project can be done with a stapler and doesn’t need to be attached to the wall if it fits snugly.
Big note on auxiliary heat for RVs. If your RV has an enclosed underbelly, odds are good that the manufacturer intended that parasitic heat from the furnace ducts is used to slow water system freezes. Sure, use auxiliary heat for particularly cold spots, but make sure your primary heating still comes from the furnace.
We get a lot of cold from the driving area. Since our MH is a 2007, we re-insulated the doghouse with high intense heat rubberized self adhesive insulation found on Amazon. We also installed a pole behind the seats of the driving area and hung plastic shower curtains. When these are pulled closed, it’s much warmer and uses less propane to keep us warm. One final suggestion; use rubber self-stick weather seal on the back bottom bar of your window shades to help keep the cold air from the windows away.
BTW, pretty sure these suggestions were found in this newsletter over the years, so big Thank you for helping keep us cozier!
Years ago, we had a travel trailer with a front window above the bed. On cold summer/fall nights at altitude (23 degrees on an August night at 10,000′!) or when heading south to I-10 in winter, we found that a cold draft flowed down the glass onto our heads and necks. So, my wife quilted an insulated “headboard” that we attached over the window with velcro. Worked so well we left it on the trailer when we sold it. And we made sure our suceeding RVs had no window above the bed!
Thank you, Gail! Good ideas! We don’t live or travel where it often falls below 25° F, so maybe we have less need of these. Also, we have an electric- and diesel-fired boiler that gives us hot water and forced-air heat. We also have electric mats under the RV floor that gives us heated floors. Our windows have both day and night shades. We always lower the night shade and, if especially cold, also lower the day shade. So far, so good. Happy new year and safe travels!