collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Deer camp trailer question  (Read 3901 times)

Offline turkeyfeather

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 5120
  • Location: Stevens County
  • Groups: NWTF
Deer camp trailer question
« on: October 22, 2020, 07:01:20 AM »
Okay all you camping experts....
Need some advice....

We are supposed to leave this afternoon to go to hunting camp through Monday. We will be dry camping which means tanks of water. It is supposed to snow tomorrow up to possibly 5" by some reports but my big concern bus that Saturday and Sunday nights the temps could dip into the single digits. We have an extended season trailer. Should we be ok or are we risking frozen pipes and damage?
« Last Edit: October 22, 2020, 07:48:11 AM by turkeyfeather »
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is who you actually are while your reputation is merely who others think you are.

Offline Henrydog

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2016
  • Posts: 1063
  • Location: Eastern Washington
  • Groups: NRA Life Member, RMEF, Phesants Forever
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2020, 07:10:47 AM »
I personally have already drained my water lines.  I am still using my trailer to dry camp.  What I do is buy several jugs of RV anti Freeze and use that for liquid in the toliet.  I just bring water jugs for potable.

Offline syoungs

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 2201
  • Location: tri cities, WA
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2020, 05:39:47 PM »
Ive done it in older travel trailers down into the low teens. Kept cupboard doors open and didnt have any problems.

Offline MIKEXRAY

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 1135
  • Bowhunter east side. Kayak Fishing cascade lakes.
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2020, 06:16:51 PM »
As stated you either have to drain the water as if winterizing or run the heater with the cabinets open . I leave the heater on low all day when gone hunting and run my small generator for a couple of hours to recharge the batteries during dinner / early evening. Then heater on at night. I've also had the grey water freeze at the discharge valve cracking it.  Can't be to proactive. This is if the average temperature is below freezing during day and night continuous.  Good luck.

Offline Tim in Wa.

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 173
  • Location: Poulsbo
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2020, 07:50:15 AM »
rock salt in the tanks lowers the freezing temp.

Offline GASoline71

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 601
  • Location: Whidbey Island, WA
    • https://www.facebook.com/gary.strassburg.7?ref=bookmarks
  • Groups: Conservation Coalition of Washington, ABF WA Chapter, F4WM, WWC
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2020, 08:21:18 AM »
Depends on how your rig is built.  We hunt/camp in our 28 foot 5th wheel during elk season and haven't had any problems yet.  Key word is "yet".

My rig is also completely insulated underneath.  I have yet to have a tank freeze or a waterline freeze.  We have been in as low as 8F.  When we come back to camp after hunting all day, we run the generator for a few hours to recharge the batteries for using the furnace overnight.  We also leave the cupboard doors cracked open overnight to let heat in where there are exposed waterlines.   

I've hunted in pup tents, wall tents, home made shelters, trailers and campers that resemble a meth lab, and now our current setup.  I've roughed it lots of times.  But now I'm old enough where I just don't feel the need to rough it anymore.  Our current setup works for us well.

Gary 
One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted. If one were to present the sportsman with the death of the animal as a gift he would refuse it. What he is after is having to win it, to conquer the surly brute through his own effort and skill with all the extras that this carries with it: the immersion in the countryside, the healthfulness of the exercise, the distraction from his job. ~ Jose Ortega y Gasset

Offline Sandberm

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 4935
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2020, 08:23:27 AM »
If I had a crystal ball I would say that your pipes are probably going to freeze in single digit weather. That could be a problem if a guy decides to take his wife to deer camp with him. I heard a good solution to a frozen toilet in the travel trailer is to tie a blue tarp around a couple of trees and do your business in there. This dilemma will of course give some members of deer camp a headache so make sure and bring some aspirin.

Also, if its going to snow in the night, make sure and put the awning down...it could freeze in the up position. Lofting  lighter member of deer camp onto the snow covered roof to dislodge is a recommended solution.

Other things to think about this time of year is bears and wolves, never know when you are going to see one or both!

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!! 

Offline C-Money

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 10611
  • Location: Grant County
  • Self proclaimed 3pt master
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2020, 08:49:13 AM »
We have everything drained and lines full of antifreeze. We take quite a few gallons of drinking water. Still use the drains, and toilet. When done hunting, drain the grey & black tanks, and put some antifreeze in the sink traps, and the black tank...done.
I felt like a one legged cat trying to bury a terd on a frozen pond!

Offline Buckmark

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 5421
  • Location: GPS is searching
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2020, 09:07:14 AM »
If I had a crystal ball I would say that your pipes are probably going to freeze in single digit weather. That could be a problem if a guy decides to take his wife to deer camp with him. I heard a good solution to a frozen toilet in the travel trailer is to tie a blue tarp around a couple of trees and do your business in there. This dilemma will of course give some members of deer camp a headache so make sure and bring some aspirin.

Also, if its going to snow in the night, make sure and put the awning down...it could freeze in the up position. Lofting  lighter member of deer camp onto the snow covered roof to dislodge is a recommended solution.

Other things to think about this time of year is bears and wolves, never know when you are going to see one or both!

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!
I see what you did there  :chuckle:
*
As for the OP's questions and what works for us is:
I want less to deal with or worry about so no water in the trailer tank (which eliminates the on demand hot water but oh well), 2 -3 auquatainers full of water, they are 6 gallons each which is potable water and one just sits on the counter with the valve over the sink, the extras live in the shower/tub as no one is using that. Also a case or two of bottled water.
1 gallon of RV antifreeze in the grey tank so the discharge valve wont freeze/crack.
The toilet, ah yes the toilet simple solution that has worked for us for years (yes i am talking the wife and daughter) is to take some 13 gallon garbage bags (my wife says costco scented are the best, but unscented work fine as they are only one time use) and put it in the toilet with some paper thrown in, do your thing, pull it and tie it tight and put in a container or bigger bag outside (its cold so no smell) then dispose of later. No mess, no water and the girls are happy using indoor facilities. My wife goes as far as preloading a half dozen bags with like 2 cups of pine shavings and having them in the bathroom ready to go..
To hunt and butcher an animal is to recognize that meat is not some abstract form of protein that springs into existence tightly wrapped in cellophane and styrofoam.

Offline rtspring

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 5588
  • Location: Hermiston Oregon
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2020, 09:29:51 AM »
Many of you might as well hunt in a tent.  Ha ha.  My new trailer is awesome I like hot water for showers, cold water for coffee so and and so forth.  Prepare your camp the right way and let it get cold and snow all it wants!   

A little planning goes a long long ways!  Insulate everything, wrap your trailer bottom with a good tarp, throw a electric heater under there and you are golden. 
I kill elk and eat elk, when I'm not, I'm thinking about killing elk and eating elk.

It doesn't matter what you think...

The Whiners suck!!

Offline Buckmark

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 5421
  • Location: GPS is searching
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2020, 10:03:35 AM »
Many of you might as well hunt in a tent.  Ha ha.  My new trailer is awesome I like hot water for showers, cold water for coffee so and and so forth.  Prepare your camp the right way and let it get cold and snow all it wants!   

A little planning goes a long long ways!  Insulate everything, wrap your trailer bottom with a good tarp, throw a electric heater under there and you are golden.
:bdid:
In the running for a Darwin award
To hunt and butcher an animal is to recognize that meat is not some abstract form of protein that springs into existence tightly wrapped in cellophane and styrofoam.

Offline turkeyfeather

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 5120
  • Location: Stevens County
  • Groups: NWTF
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2020, 10:08:51 AM »
Buckmark.....
Thanks for the ideas. Never thought of that. I realize that some of our issues were self inflicted. We were aware of the forecast and tried to get some advice from here as well as a camping group. I was leary of the whole thing but we were hopeful that if we took the precautions that some had given us that we'd be ok. Lesson learned. Again.....thanks for your input.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is who you actually are while your reputation is merely who others think you are.

Offline rtspring

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 5588
  • Location: Hermiston Oregon
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #12 on: October 28, 2020, 10:29:55 AM »
Many of you might as well hunt in a tent.  Ha ha.  My new trailer is awesome I like hot water for showers, cold water for coffee so and and so forth.  Prepare your camp the right way and let it get cold and snow all it wants!   

A little planning goes a long long ways!  Insulate everything, wrap your trailer bottom with a good tarp, throw a electric heater under there and you are golden.
:bdid:
In the running for a Darwin award

Bad? How so, I have done it for 33 years.  If your gonna Darwin Award me please explain!  Or you could just let pipes freeze. 
I kill elk and eat elk, when I'm not, I'm thinking about killing elk and eating elk.

It doesn't matter what you think...

The Whiners suck!!

Offline rtspring

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 5588
  • Location: Hermiston Oregon
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2020, 10:32:25 AM »
Many of you might as well hunt in a tent.  Ha ha.  My new trailer is awesome I like hot water for showers, cold water for coffee so and and so forth.  Prepare your camp the right way and let it get cold and snow all it wants!   

A little planning goes a long long ways!  Insulate everything, wrap your trailer bottom with a good tarp, throw a electric heater under there and you are golden.
:bdid:
In the running for a Darwin award

1000’s of people must be wrong! And your right???   Come to just about any rv park on the eastside and see how it works.   
I kill elk and eat elk, when I'm not, I'm thinking about killing elk and eating elk.

It doesn't matter what you think...

The Whiners suck!!

Offline Sandberm

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 4935
Re: Deer camp trailer question
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2020, 10:33:57 AM »
Does anybody else use compressed air to blow the lines out in their camper instead of using antifreeze?

I have a 20 ft trailer. Through various fittings I hook the air compressor line up to the city water connection using  the water pressure regulator attachment so there isnt 100+lbs of air pressure on the lines.

Gust of wind blows your tarp into the electric heater?

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Let’s see your best Washington buck by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 10:31:08 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by actionshooter
[Yesterday at 09:43:51 PM]


Walked a cougar down by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 08:31:53 PM]


Which 12” boat trailer tires? by timberhunter
[Yesterday at 08:22:18 PM]


Lowest power 22 round? by JakeLand
[Yesterday at 08:06:13 PM]


1x scopes vs open sights by JakeLand
[Yesterday at 07:29:35 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by Encore 280
[Yesterday at 05:16:00 PM]


WTS Suppressors I Can Get by dreadi
[Yesterday at 03:30:33 PM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by Longfield1
[Yesterday at 03:27:51 PM]


Straight on by kentrek
[Yesterday at 03:04:53 PM]


2024-2026 Hunting Season Proposals by trophyhunt
[Yesterday at 01:51:40 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal