5 Simple Steps for Protecting Your Family During a Pandemic

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Winter RV camping can be so much fun if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra effort to make your rig warm and cozy.

If you love skiing and snow, winter RV camping can be a blast, but you’ll want to take extra care to keep parts of your RV from freezing.

As a family-run business, we know the importance of creating those incredible memories with the kids.  Winter camping provides an opportunity to create lots of fun stories they will tell for years and years, and traditions the kids will want to pass on to their own children.

Here are some tips on how to make winter RV camping more comfortable, less stressful, and allow you to focus on fun with the family.

Pay Special Attention to Insulation and Moisture

When the temperatures fall below freezing, you will be glad you put the time into insulating your RV.

Here are a few areas that will require special attention.

Windows and doors.

Some RVers like these folks like to put shrink wrap over their screen doors and windows.  This provides an extra barrier between you and the cold.

Slides

Cold weather RV camping presents a bigger moisture problem than camping during warmer weather.  As it freezes, moisture can travel upwards and expand, so it’s recommended to protect from moisture from the beginning.

These campers recommend using a slide cover to prevent snow from sitting on top of your slides.

You’ll want to be sure to add extra insulation to your slides as well.  Using foam insulation cutouts and foil insulation can significantly reduce heat from escaping.

See this video for more tips on insulating your slides.

Floors

Your floors can be a shock of cold to your warm feet in the morning.

Take the extra step of placing foam pads in high traffic areas to protect your feet from the cold.

Use a snap-on RV skirt to protect the underbelly of your rig from blowing snow and moisture while winter RV camping.

This will help with keeping the elements under your RV from being damaged and freezing in the cold, and will also help with the temperature of your floors.

Water Hose

You can buy a heated water hose if you like, but you can also accomplish the same thing by using heat tape and foam insulation.

You may want to wrap the spigot and the entrance to the RV to keep water from freezing where the hose connects.

Use a 40 watt bulb mounted inside the compartment where the host connects to the RV to provide an extra heat source.

Be extra cautious with this and make sure you mount it properly.  This can be a safety hazard if done incorrectly.

Sewer Hose

In really cold temperatures, you will only want to drain your sewer hose when you need to, rather than leaving it connected. If you leave it connected you will end up with matter freezing inside the pipes and creating a huge mess.

Staying Warm Can Be a Challenge

Space heaters are a lifesaver when camping in the winter.

The best space heater for winter camping is one with an oscillation feature, as this will circulate the air better than a stationary heater and helps reduce condensation.

Be sure to place the space heater so that it does not disrupt the thermostat readings.  You want your space heaters to be a supplement, not a replacement for your RV heater.

CAUTION: Make sure you do not leave space heaters on while you sleep and follow proper safety as recommended on the packaging.  It is recommended that you have a carbon monoxide detector if you use a space heater to keep you and your family safe.

Use a heated blanket to stay warm while you sleep.  You can get dual control blankets when you and your spouse prefer different temperatures.

Many of these tips were found in this video, so give it a watch for more in-depth tips.

Stay Safe and Warm

Winter RV Camping can be a lot of fun but comes with its own challenges.

Stop by East Coast Campers and More, a family-owned and operated Delaware RV Dealer, to consult with our maintenance team and let our family help your family stay safe, dry, and warm during the winter months.

Author: Kristi Durham

The post Best Winter RV Camping Tips To Stay Dry and Warm appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.

So, you’re ready to buy an RV, but you aren’t sure if you should buy new or used.

A new RV is lovely, with its new car smell, and shiny new finishes, but buying new is not always the best way to go.

Many RVers opt for a used RV because there are so many benefits when compared to buying new.  It often comes down to how much bang for your buck there is in a used RV.

You can get a lot more RV for your money when considering used instead of new.

Why You Should Consider Buying a Used RV

Buying a used RV is obviously the most budget-friendly way to get your family into a camper.  We’ve all heard it before; a new vehicle depreciates the moment it leaves the Dealer’s lot.

If you drove your RV off the lot and immediately sold it, there would be a significant difference between what you paid and how much you make when you sell it.

This is not the case if you buy used.  A used RV holds its value because it already depreciated in someone else’s hands.

The biggest benefit is that it has a proven track record. The previous owner has already worked out all the inconvenient kinks and broken it in for you.

One of the former owners may even have opted for upgrades when it was new. Bonus!

Benefits of a Used RV or Camper

Go ahead and spend the money you saved buying your used RV and go on more vacations or customize the interior to your taste.

If you bought a new house, you would probably change some of the finishes, so why not do the same thing in a used RV, your home away from home.

What Should I Look for in a Used RV?

Make sure you are happy with it.

Just like a used home, there will be a few things that you may decide to compromise on, or you could have changed after you buy it, like the color of the upholstery.

But make sure you have a list of your deal breakers.  These are the things you will not budge on, regardless of how good the salesman is.

Always do a thorough walk through to make sure the beds are big enough, the bathroom and showers are a size you are comfortable with.  Be sure there is enough storage space for everything you need.

You definitely don’t want to feel like a squished sardine in your new-to-you RV.

Ask a lot of questions. You’ll want to be sure you know as much as you can about the RV before you make that final decision.

Buy Your RV From the Right Dealer

There’s always the risk you will buy a money pit with any RV. At East Coast Campers and More, we put every RV, new or used, through a rigorous and thorough quality check before putting it up for sale.

When asking yourself “What should I look for in a used RV?” The first answer should be a great dealership that will guide you through the process!

No RV is put up for sale unless we consider it good enough that we would buy it ourselves and put our own family it in.

In some cases, we also offer extended warranties through CornerStone United to provide you with some peace of mind on your outdoor adventures.

We may be able to offer financing as well. Come in and ask us about it!

East Coast Campers and More is a family owned Delaware RV Dealer that specializes in RV parts, sales, and service to enhance your RV camping experience.

This post was written by Kristi Durham.

The post What Should I Look for in a Used RV? appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.