Cold camping

[Russellvh]

Full timer for 5 years. In the past I have stayed south of the “freeze line”. This year I’m going to be living in the parked 5th wheel. Parking in a campground in north Dallas / Denton area.

I have heated tanks and bought a heated hose. What do I do with my city water splitter? What about my city water pressure gauge?

Welcoming any tips or guidance. I have a couple of plug-in heaters, quilts and propane should be no problem.

 

[osuallen]

Full timer for 5 years. In the past I have stayed south of the “freeze line”. This year I’m going to be living in the parked 5th wheel. Parking in a campground in north Dallas / Denton area.

I have heated tanks and bought a heated hose. What do I do with my city water splitter? What about my city water pressure gauge?

Welcoming any tips or guidance. I have a couple of plug-in heaters, quilts and propane should be no problem.

Your RV park may require you to fill your tank and disconnect on freezing nights.

If not, you have several options:
1. Fill your tank and remove them when you will be below freezing anyway.
2. Get a pipe heat trace and insulation kit (or make your own) to keep these protected.
3. Move further south.

 

[Phillbo]

Put your pressure gague and splitter down stream of the hose. Any water passing through will be heated.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Full timer for 5 years. In the past I have stayed south of the “freeze line”. This year I’m going to be living in the parked 5th wheel. Parking in a campground in north Dallas / Denton area.

I have heated tanks and bought a heated hose. What do I do with my city water splitter? What about my city water pressure gauge?

Welcoming any tips or guidance. I have a couple of plug-in heaters, quilts and propane should be no problem.

When we were parked for COVID in Alberta, Canada (where it gets REAL cold) we only hooked up to city water when filling our fresh water tank. It takes a lot of work and preparation for real cold. You are fortunate. It won't take much for you.

From what I can tell, Dallas does NOT get below freezing often. Fill your fresh tank when you need to and remove the hose when done. Your splitter and gauge may freeze so don't leave them out. You may want to think about a dehumidifier if it starts to get clammy inside.

 

[rjshiflet49]

From what I can tell, Dallas does NOT get below freezing often.

That's a very common misconception, but incorrect.

Last year, Dallas had 33 days below freezing. Sure, some of those days may have been 28°-30°, but look at the low temperatures (degrees F) for the past five years...

2025 - 13°
2024 - 10°
2023 - 25°
2022 - 11°
2021 - 2° (yes, that's TWO degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures were below freezing for six days)

Compared to "up north," it may seem like nothing, but Russellvh needs to understand the potential for a Dallas-area winter in an RV so he can be fully prepared. But I do see he is based out of "The Colony," which is very close to Dallas, so he likely is already aware.

 

[Russellvh]

Thanks for the help. Yes, I grew up in the Dallas area and we had a house in The Colony for 40 years. I’m familiar with the Dallas, north Texas areas and weather. I can, usually, be ahead of the weather but haven’t done RV in north Texas February before. My 5th wheel needs some extensive structural repair. I have a feeling it may not be released until December or even next year depending on parts, extent of water damage and insurance. I’m trying to figure if or when we may be able to leave. I can’t make and reservations or plans until I see timing.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

That's a very common misconception, but incorrect.

Last year, Dallas had 33 days below freezing. Sure, some of those days may have been 28°-30°, but look at the low temperatures (degrees F) for the past five years...

2025 - 13°
2024 - 10°
2023 - 25°
2022 - 11°
2021 - 2° (yes, that's TWO degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures were below freezing for six days)

Compared to "up north," it may seem like nothing, but Russellvh needs to understand the potential for a Dallas-area winter in an RV so he can be fully prepared. But I do see he is based out of "The Colony," which is very close to Dallas, so he likely is already aware.

There are degrees of "Freezing". A hard freeze will damage plumbing. A quick Google told me that the Dallas area averages about 33 freezing days (32°F or below) per year, though a hard freeze (often defined as 28°F or lower) occurs on fewer days—typically around 10 to 15 days per winter season depending on the specific year. In other words, little or no precaution is needed for those days not considered a hard freeze. Hard freeze days do require attention. He has stated that he will engage the tank heaters, having a heated fresh water hose and that he needs to move assorted plumbing fixtures that are not heated inside should be enough to get him thru "normal" weather conditions for the area. If more extreme cold were expected as in a hard freeze lasting more than just a few days, Skirting the trailer and adding a couple of electric space heaters under the rig would probably be all that should be necessary. Again, if the inside becomes clammy, a dehumidifier would make the living space a lot more comfortable and reduce the possibility of mold and mildew forming.

 

[Russellvh]

Thanks, we have a dehumidifier that runs 24/7. Only off when traveling.