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02-12-2010, 12:04 PM
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#21
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2,285
SUN #128
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John,
I was wondering if you and Cindy were getting out this year. You have such pretty open and sunny campgrounds in some of your winter camping photos. It's a shame to miss your usual winter outings.
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Pam
Lance 1475 "Snoopy"
2012 GMC Sierra 3500HD 4x4 D/A
2012 Arctic Fox 30U, SUNLINES - 2006 2753 "Tweety", 2007 QUE "QUEtSE", 2364, 1660
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02-12-2010, 08:27 PM
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#22
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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Oh yes it had better be gone, or else! Else what exactly don't know other then head south...
But we have Sunlines!!! If we line them up the sun has to come out....
Well get there or will come get ya.
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Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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02-12-2010, 08:50 PM
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#23
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweety
John,
I was wondering if you and Cindy were getting out this year. You have such pretty open and sunny campgrounds in some of your winter camping photos. It's a shame to miss your usual winter outings.
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Hi Pam
Yes this winter season has been the worst since Cindy and I started pulling a camper of some sort behind us. (started in PU's) January has always been clear enough in this area to get out. February OTOH we have never got out as it was so wet and rotten.
Here is a few years back in late January at Hocking Hills SP in southern OH. Cindy chooping up dinner.
Here is out last trip out. Right now can only dream....
The weekend of Thanksgiving above was our last day out this past year (83 days ago ). This much I know, the 1st weekend the snow is gone and the weather even partly cooperates, where gone....
The itch needs to be scrathed!
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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03-24-2010, 10:37 AM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 86
SUN #10
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A few years ago we camped over Halloween weekend near Big Rapids. It was snowing and blowing and pretty nasty for trick or treat. Getting a campfire going was hopeless. We moved the table and the kids carved pumpkins on the floor and had a really good time anyway. With a little ceramic heater going, it got warm very quick and doesn't take much to heat that small space.
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07-02-2010, 08:42 PM
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#25
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2
SUN #1192
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We have frequently camped in our 1993 Sunline 2653 down into the single digits but I made some modifications to enable using all facilities. Heat traced sewer piping and insulating pipes and valves with amaflex insulation. heating pads and insulating bottom of gray and balck tanks. For water I found it necessary to change the waterlines that were initially installed against the plastic fender wells so that I could insert armaflex insulation between wheel well and waterlines. Water heater and furnace ducts provide sufficient heat to prevent freezing. It took a few years to make the modifications by experience but we still use trailer most years from March to January within about 150 miles of Southern PA from the Pocano area to Virginia Beach area.
Slobeavr
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07-03-2010, 01:18 PM
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#26
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slobeavr
We have frequently camped in our 1993 Sunline 2653 down into the single digits but I made some modifications to enable using all facilities. Heat traced sewer piping and insulating pipes and valves with amaflex insulation. heating pads and insulating bottom of gray and balck tanks. For water I found it necessary to change the waterlines that were initially installed against the plastic fender wells so that I could insert armaflex insulation between wheel well and waterlines. Water heater and furnace ducts provide sufficient heat to prevent freezing. It took a few years to make the modifications by experience but we still use trailer most years from March to January within about 150 miles of Southern PA from the Pocano area to Virginia Beach area.
Slobeavr
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Sounds great!
By chance, would you have any pictures of your mods?
Welcome to SOC!!
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07-03-2010, 03:26 PM
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#27
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2
SUN #1192
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How we modified our trailer for cold weather camping
I can take some pics. It may take a few days. Basically I used readily available materials. Heat trace is standard water pipe heating cable. The insulationis standard pipe insulation. Advantage of Amaflex is that it does not have to be covered, but I used electricians tape about every 6 inches to be sure the insulation stayed closed. I included valves in the heat trace and cut insulation to customize for the valves. The heating pads for the tanks are available from RV suppliers and are simply attached to bottom of tanks - both the pipe heat trace and tank heat pads are low wattage 120V.
The tank bottoms were insulated with 3/4" Armaflex sheet insulation that I straped to bottom of tanks. The pics are not going to show much. It will depend on how your piping and tanks are installed and a little effort and thought to make it work for you. Fortunately the design of our Sunline made it relatively easy although it was necessary to run the trailer up on some 8 x 8 inch timbers to work under the trailer between the main frame members. Armaflex insulation is made by Armstrong and available through industrial suppliers, but I believe that there are other closed foam insulation products that will work just as well. You want a closed foam product so it does not absorb water which is also why I would not use fiberglass insulation. As far as providing electricity, I joined all leads to one 12 guage cord that I drilled a hole through floor at a convenient spot, in my case up under rear bed and plug it in to an available 15 amp receptacle when weather requires it. I park my rig at home with electric plugged in all the time when it is there. As far as traveling, we have been on the road for as long as 10 hours and not had problems, but you need to know that you can plug in at you destination, unless you have a generator. I do carry a small 1000W unit that is capable of providing enough power for it and our converter. Also it is important that you keep some water in both tanks no more than 1/4 tank is enough.
As far as the water line fix, it is all hidden. I had to remove water heater and work in the space between our sofa bed and water heater to install insulation on top of wheel well and under the vanity and shower. In our case when Sunline built the rig they anchored the waterlines tight to floor so they were tight against the wheel well. We removed those clamps and where able to work the sheet Armaflex insulation between the pipes and wheel well. In our case heat ducts for bath and rear bedroom run in the same space. The water heater also provides some heat for this space. We have not had any problems with freezing since we made the modifications.
Note> We have a pilot type water heater (Atwood 6 gal), and we kept pilot on during cold weather.
During the time we have trailer at home we use a small 1500W electic heater on with an auxillary thermostat set at 45 deg F on the floor as the main heat source in trailer. We have the trailer furnace set at 45 deg F which will back up the electric heater when necessary. When we finish camping in January, I winterize the water system until we are ready to go out in March or early April. Yes, it does cost electric and propane to prepare trailer to be ready for cold weather camping and since we do retain the heater all winter long, the trailer, now 18 years old, is still in great shape.
Although this is a long post, I hope it answers some questions. We love cool weather camping, and even in snow.
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07-03-2010, 06:26 PM
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#28
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
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Sounds like you have everything well in-hand! There's no hurry on the pics... I just like getting ideas. Out fifth wheel is designed for cold weather use, but only when you keep the propane furnace running. There are heating ducts in the underbelly (Which is enclosed.) and they are to keep the tanks heated. I would prefer to keep the propane furnace as a backup, like you do.
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07-03-2010, 09:51 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 120
SUN #108
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Rode a motorcycle at 17 below zero once. Does that count?
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2006 T-3075 Toy Hauler
2006 Dodge Ram diesel 2500 4-door
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07-04-2010, 09:21 AM
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#30
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 40_Acre_Mule
Rode a motorcycle at 17 below zero once. Does that count?
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Ummm... Nope!
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