Winterizing 2010

[Spenard]

Regarding subfreezing weather and your water system, and how low can you go without freeze up or damage -assuming you are keeping the cabin above 50F at all times : WIND is a big issue. Because of all the metal cavities and openings under the vans and side vents for furnaces, plumbing vents etc you can get a lot of freezing in the cabin walls, floors and cabinets due to wind even if it is above +25F outside and 50 plus inside. Also the buoyancy of warm cabin air pulls cold air in from below when cabin ventilation is provided to clear up moisture.

35+ years of AK winters: I would drain/purge or antifreeze the system and use water jugs if I took my SMB on the road to the mountains in the winter as those are usually windy places this time of year. A frozen system can leave you without water when you need it and damaging concealed leaks when you don't.

[skyrat]

We just camped in Mammoth Lakes, CA. It was 15 degrees the first morning and then 5 degrees the second morning, we did no winterizing and suffered from it. We have camped below 20 degrees a few times with no problems, but a leak developed after the second night. Now the van is at the shop because the city water connection that is bolted to the van split in two. Not too bad damage wise, but I will be draining, and adding anti freeze to the sink in the future.