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I survived the my first Iowa winter in my new travel trailer


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2016 Keystone Cougar X-lite Travel Trailer, 28RLS

We purchased our new 2016 Travel Trailer in October of 2015 and survived our first winter in the Iowa weather. We had wind, rain, snow, sleet, and temperatures well below 0 degrees.

Our travel trailer has the Polar package which includes the insulated and heated floors. The walls are R-7 and the floor is R-9 while the ceiling is R-14. The windows are all single pane.

We survived the winter weather in Iowa by making some improvements as listed.

--The first thing I did was to skirt the trailer with an R-7.8 rigid insulation which was braced at the bottom on the inside and outside so that the wind would not blow it out. I then install diagonal bracing to hold the insulation in place. No fasteners were attached to the trailer.

--I also installed a 1500 watt heat lamp under the trailer. Extended the plug end of the cord to the outside of the trailer and hung it near the trailers exterior outlet. I only used the heat lamp if needed. The need was determined by the temperature under the trailer. To determine this, I installed a remote thermometer which I could read from inside the trailer.

--The temperature on the underside of the trailer had to be monitored since there were two low water drain lines with valves hanging about eight inches below the trailer bottom. These could freeze, so I insulated them with rubber pipe insulation and a fiberglass insulation with a backing on it. All winter, the underside space of the trailer never got below 30 degrees.

--Since the window glass was only a single pane, I put a sheet of plastic over them on the outside. This did help to keep the condensation down on the inside of the trailer.

--I installed insulation pillows and foil covers on all three roof vents to prevent the heat from getting out.

--I purchased a heated water hose which I left on the ground, but disconnected at both ends until it was needed. This worked great, no rolling up a cold hose and no frozen hose when needed.

There were some other improvements we made on the inside of the trailer which are listed.

--The roof top antenna was changed out for one with a built in amplifier. We then went from 12 channels to about 30 channels, works great.

--I installed an actuator near the pump which is pressurized. I helped provide a continue flow of water pressure. I also installed a silencer kit, consisting of longer hoses on each side of the pump to silence some of the water noise. This did help some, but not that much.

--I added an LED light near the bathroom mirror to provide additional light.

--I added an LED light at each side of the bed for additional night light even though there are two lights over the top of the bed at the head area.

--Purchased a thermometer for the oven, two thermometers for the refrigerator and freezer, and a small fan for the refrigerator to circulate air.

--We purchased an electric heated pad for the bed which helped during the night when we had the heat turned down low.

--We purchased a 1500 watt electric heater which we used only when we wanted to use it. It made less noise than the furnace. However, during those really cold nights, we had to make sure the furnace was running to keep the floor area heated which has water lines and tanks.

--We hooked up to TV service for wireless internet so that we could use our laptops.

--The TV provided didn't have NetFlex, so I installed a kit which gave me the ability to watch movies on NetFlex. Along with this I added a wireless remote speaker near the rear of the trailer.

--We installed a wireless printer for our use.

We did have some problems with our new trailer as listed.

--The first week, the furnace wouldn't work, it had to be completely replaced.

--The refrigerator stopped working on both electric or gas only after 4 months of use. This had to completely be replaced.

--The exterior speakers, C-Set, didn't work, in the end it was a loose connector behind the stereo system which I fixed.

--Then, I broke one of the large rear windows, the recliner went too far back and broke the glass. We ordered a new glass and had it replaced for $225.

Some of the plus and negative issues about the trailer are listed.

--Plus: one of the few large showers with a sky light provided, microwave, 3-burner gas stove top, hood vent, an oven, the trailer sleep six, queen bed, fold out couch, fold now table, good size refrigerator 8 Cu Ft, a 30,000 BTU furnace which is a little noisy, a 32" TV, bathroom vent fan, bedroom equipped for an additional TV, outside gas grill hookup under awning area, remote power stabilizers front and rear, remote power awning in and out, remote power slide out, front power hitch up and down, insulated floor with heat, ducted heat and AC throughout the trailer, two sets of ceiling speakers when watching DVD or listening to the stereo which can be tuned off, the trailer has 10 windows of which 7 can be opened, one set of exterior speakers under the awning, and has a nice stereo system for DVD's, radio, is Bluetooth equipped, the ceilings are arched which makes it appear larger inside. The trailer is equipped with a 56 gallon gray tank, 28 gallon black tank, and a 43 gallon fresh water tank. The tank size for the kitchen sink is unknown, but not very large.

--Negative: the 310 toilet has a noisy foot flush, the bedroom ceiling light switch is located with the light and very hard to reach without getting up on the bed unless you are over 6 feet tall, black water tank always show half full or more after being emptied (you can get around this by taking a hose through the bedroom window and filling the black tank twice and flush it out, then it will show empty), the black tank is equipped with a spray system, but this doesn't really work, the mattress is cheap and hard, no ceiling fans in the trailer but does have two roof vents, the pump is noisy and located next to the bed, the bathroom vent fan switch is located at the ceiling and hard to reach, and the two recliners are very cheaply made. We have the Polar Package which states that the valves, tanks, and water lines are all protected since the underbelly is enclosed, insulated, and heated, however, there is still the issue of two low water drain lines and valves which can and will freeze.

 

 

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Wow! What an impressive list of things done to prepare. Glad it worked out for you.

 

Two things: Hope you can be in warmer temps next year and secondly, don't dismantle it too soon - could be more winter. :)

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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Our travel trailer has the Polar package

Factory Polar package with windows that are single pane?

That doesn't make much sense. :rolleyes:

Full Time since Oct. 1999
99 Discovery 34Q DP | ISB
Datastorm | VMSpc | Co-Pilot Live | Pressure Pro
2014 MKS Twin Turbo V6 365 HP Toad
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Factory Polar package with windows that are single pane?

That doesn't make much sense. :rolleyes:

The polar type package on Arctic Fox comes standard--but double pane windows are an option! We had the same thing as George on ours. Sense when does what RV manufacturers make sense? LOL Glad you survived the winter, George. That's not easy.

2007 Arctic Fox 32.5 rls for full-timing, now sold.

2014 Sunnybrook Sunset Creek 267rl for the local campgrounds now that we are off the road
2007 Silverado 2500 diesel

Loving Green Valley, AZ (just South of Tucson)

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Thanks for the report. With the lows did you have any prolonged cold snaps? Did the furnace keep up when you ran it during the lows? Do you feel the unit did a pretty good job of retaining heat. Proabably a warmer winter than average there?

Dave and Lana Hasper

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That is a remarkable feat. I have stayed in Iowa into the winter season a couple times. Haven't tried the full winter yet. Did have some below zero actual temps and well below zero windchill's. Did have to chip Ice and Snow off the slide outs when I got ready to leave one year. My next trailer will have the ability to move through the entire length with the slides in. One day I do plan to spend a winter somewhere in the snow. Probably won't be Iowa though. May borrow some of your techniques.

 

Rod

White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors,  JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift.

1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022

2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top.

2007 Honda GL 1800

2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler

The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. 

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My next trailer will have the ability to move through the entire length with the slides in. One day I do plan to spend a winter somewhere in the snow. Probably won't be Iowa though. May borrow some of your techniques.

 

Rod

 

This is one of the main reasons I removed the dinette in my camper and will be replacing it with a small table and chairs. It is fully-functional now with the slides in and I can still watch TV from one end of the couch (the slide blocks the other end but since I'm alone that's okay), use the kitchen and walk from end to end. It's a little tight in there with the slide in, obviously, but still very functional and useful.

 

When I finally move into my camper I will have to do the window plastic I'm sure, but I also have insulating curtains (thick fleece) and I've been putting all my home-tanned animal hides on the external walls which adds a small degree of insulating capabilities plus rugs and other hides on the floor.

2007 Keystone Springdale 245 FWRLL-S (modified)

2000 F-250 7.3L SRW

Cody and Kye, border collie extraordinaires

Latest departure date: 10/1/2017

 

Find us at www.nomadicpawprints.wordpress.com

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