Let's face it. Most of us don't do much camping in winter. True, there are a few die hards who take their RVs skiing, snowmobiling, or ice fishing, but when the colder weather hits, most of us park the RVs or pack the tent and camping gear away for the winter.
Winter doesn't mean you have to put away the tent or RV and forget about it until next summer. If you feel adventurous and prepare properly, there are opportunities for winter camping. You might go skiing or snowmobiling or just try riding your ATV or dirt bike in the snow. I haven't found dirt bikes very much fun in the snow, but ATVs are cool, especially if they have 4WD. I've seen guys use spiked tires on dirt bikes to get traction in the snow and ice, but mostly dirt bikes are pretty skittish on the white stuff. You can spend a weekend or two in your tent or RV in a campground enjoying winter activities if you have properly prepared for it. Chances are you won't find it crowded! Skiing, sledding, snowball fights, building an igloo, ice skating, ice fishing, and snowmobiling are all fun things to do in the winter and most can benefit from a good base camp. If you're taking out your RV in sub-freezing temperatures you'll HAVE to protect any exposed water or sewer lines, holding tanks, and dump valves or suffer messy and expensive freeze damage, and for your own comfort and heating efficiency, make sure your furnace is functioning properly and seal any sources of drafts and heat loss. Roof vents and windows can transfer a lot of your precious warmth directly to the outdoors so protect them with proper covers. There are vinyl covers to snap over the inside of roof vents or pillows that stuff into them and exterior covers for windshields and windows. A less expensive and even more effective solution and one that can be installed easily without facing winter weather outside is to cut bubble-foam insulation panels to fit inside every window and vent. The insulation can be purchased in bulk rolls from RV stores and even hardware stores and home centers. It is easy to cut and stiff enough to stay in place if you cut it slightly larger than the opening for a tight fit. It is effective when used on windows, windshields, and roof vents to reduce heat loss. Sometimes you can find windshield inserts at your local dollar store, making it really inexpensive to cover most windows. The same covers can be used in the summer time to keep your vehicle cooler so they're a good year-round investment. They are light weight and take up little room. If you're tent camping, make sure you have sleeping bags that are adequate for the temperatures you'll encounter, a good tent heater, plenty of firewood, and proper clothing. Those summer sleeping bags that were comfortable in June, July, and August are going to leave you cold in October through March. You might want to bring along an extra tarp or two. You'll definitely want one as a ground cloth. Putting one over your tent can help keep it warm(er) and dry(er). The same bulk bubble insulation recommended for RV windows can be used to insulate beneath your sleeping bags or even to provide heat reflection around the inside walls of your tent if you've a mind to. Its a little bulky to carry around for tent camping but it might be well worth the effort for the extra comfort. Another couple of options for insulating your tent floors includes rubber anti-fatigue mats and solar swimming pool bubble covers.
Water hoses need special care in the winter. Be sure to drain them completely after use so they won't freeze in storage. The proportionally large surface area of the hose will conduct heat out of the water inside and it will freeze more quickly than water in holding tanks or even pools of standing water outside. Since water expands as it freezes, it will split your hose -- and your pipes -- when it freezes. If you're using full hookups you'll want to wrap your hose and the exposed pipe with heat tape. If you leave an unprotected hose attached to the faucet you will likely find yourself liable for the cost of repairs, and it ain't cheap.
If you want to try winter camping, spend a night or two in your RV or tent at home to get used to winter conditions and develop your skills. That way, if you find you aren't properly prepared, you can retreat into the house and try it again after making appropriate adjustments in your outdoor accommodations. Practice your fire making and camp cooking skills. Far better to learn some hard lessons BEFORE you need them in a remote location. Building a fire in or on the snow is going to be harder than on dry ground.
Still don't want to go camping in cold weather? You still don't have to abandon your affinity for camping altogether. In fact, winter is a good time to take inventory of your camping equipment and supplies and to clean, repair or replace, and organize it for use next season. There are also many vicarious experiences available. Watch re-runs of Surviorman to hone your survival skills or seek out local camping shows. You might also invest some time in reviewing new developments in camping equipment and check out alternate locations and/or activities for next year. Build up your store of knowledge. Look up information about your favorite or planned destinations. Learn about historical and geological events at or near your routes and destinations. Expand your knowledge of things you may encounter while camping: weather, astronomy, geology, plants, animals, historical and geological events are all interesting topics for afternoon walks and campfire conversations. The Internet is a gold mine of information. So is your local library and ranger stations near your home or your destinations. Take time to give your OHV or other equipment some special TLC. I sometimes spend hours in the garage going over my dirt bike, taking time to detail it more completely than I have time for after a summer ride. When it is time to take it out again it looks like new and I'm confident every fastener is secure and everything is properly adjusted and lubricated. Every control works smoothly and any damaged parts have been repaired or replaced. Makes me better prepared for that first ride next summer. I also like to go through all my riding gear and repair or replace any damaged items, make sure everything is clean and ready to use, and is properly stored in my trailer where I can find it when the time comes. Go through your closets, cabinets, camping bins, and tool boxes. Replace missing or damaged items. Check expiration dates of provisions and medicines and replace outdated items. Replace any depleted supplies. Look for things you haven't used all summer and lighten the load if you can. Make sure all your tools and utensils are clean, in good condition, and in their proper place. Inventory your provisions and replace and spoiled, depleted, and outdated items. Review your camping wardrobe. Clean and repair clothing as necessary and put away an unneeded items that may have made their way into your closet, drawers, or duffle bag over the last season.
Look for movies or TV shows about camping. Or watch your own home movies from previous outings. These presentations can provide nice vicarious experiences to tide you over until next summer and often will be educational as well. Now is a good time to read up on camping skills you've been wanting to develop. Make a list of things you want to learn and look for training and practice opportunities. ou may want to plan some outings next season to exercise specific new talents.
Get together with your camping buddies for non-camping activities. We've had many fun times with our Desert Rat group such as BBQs, birthday parties, and Superbowl parties. Not only do you have a chance to rehash your shared RV and OHV activities, you get to see your friends in a different environment and get to know them better. It can also provide a forum for planning next year's activities. Chances are very good that you'll enjoy their company as much around the TV, BBQ, or dinner table as you do around the campfire.
Take time to look for service projects you can participate in or organize your own. Most projects will be during the camping season so put them on your calendar now so you can plan for them. There may be some preparatory activities that don't have to wait until the weather is good such welding up fire rings or making signs or assembling picnic tables to be distributed later in the year can be done at any time. Placement of signs is usually a fair weather activity, but painting and assembling signs is a good winter project. Winter is also a good time for you to organize your own service project for your family or organization. You will need to coordinate with the appropriate land managers and arrange for required equipment, permits, facilities and publicity. I have found that most local OHV dealers are happy to lend their support for service projects in the form of donated prizes to reward participants. I encourage several small contributions rather than one large one. It is usually easier for the dealers and it allows me to reward more volunteers. It takes a lot of time to organize a good service project so start early. You can run into an amazing and frustrating amount of red tape when dealing with government organizations. I was really surprised (and angry) when we were once asked to pay for a permit and charge $5.00 per person to perform a volunteer cleanup project in one popular off road area. Good grief, Charlie Brown! We're volunteering to assist the land managers and they want us to pay for the privilege? Yeah, right! Like THAT'S going to happen. Fortunately, one of the more creative rangers came up with a way for them to co-sponser the event and avoid fees.
Examine and inventory all your camping, RVing, and OHVing tools and equipment. The so-called "off season" is a good time to check out your stuff. Clean and organize things. Repair or replace worn out or damaged tools and equipment. I once brought my dirt bike into the garage and detailed it until it looked brand new. Yeah, that's probably overkill, but it was a better way to spend my winter evenings than slouching in front of the TV watching some sitcom that insults my meager intelligence. If you're into riding horses or OHVs, now is a good time to clean and repair your gear. Leather goods, like boots, saddles, and bridles, can usually use a good cleaning with saddle soap and an application of a leather protector like Leather Balm. Clean your helmets while there is plenty of time for the cushy lining to dry out before you will need them again. They usually need it after a season of sweaty hot weather riding.
Make a list of the things you'd like to get done during the "off" season. The list might include taking inventory of provisions and supplies, reviewing and reorganizing your on board wardrobe, checking your tools and utensils, cleaning and repairing upholstery and flooring, installing new equipment or fixtures, servicing lanterns and camp stoves, detailing your OHVs, checking your riding gear, inventory your spare parts and supplies. Be sure to go over your regular pre-trip checklist too to be sure everything is ship shape for your first outing next season. You'll find it rewarding to get it done now when there is less pressure to hit the road. Now may also be a good time to review and update your checklists. Are there items that are no longer relevant? Are there new things that need to be checked? Look for suggested checklists on the Internet and take advantage of other people's experience to improve your own.
Stock up on camping and RV supplies and accessories. Being an off-season can bring good deals on both new and used equipment and gear. Re-read some of your RV and camping magazines to review new gadgets and see if there are any that appeal to you. Winter is a good time to install accessories inside your RV or update some of your tent camping equipment. Advances in technology often provide upgrades that are lighter, more durable, more convenient, more efficient, and/or have more functions than current models. Watch the flyers from sporting goods stores and stop by and check out their clearance tables. Review online resources like ebay, craigslist, and your local classified ads. Keep your eyes open as you drive by garage sales. You won't see as many as during the summer, but they can still be a good source of bargains.
Day dream! Yeah, you heard me right. Day dream. Create ideal camping dreams in your head. Not only will it be fun and entertaining, it may help you design some new and exciting adventures for next season!
Don't become a winter couch potato!
Information on recreational vehicles (RVs) and Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs), Camping, Sailing, and Survival
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