Winter RV Accessories You Need
Even when the temperatures plunge, there’s no need for die-hard RVers to give up adventuring on the road. With the right accessories, you can be safe and comfortable in your RV all winter long.
RV Skirting
If a long winter’s stay is in the travel plans, consider investing in a skirt to wrap around the bottom of your RV. Along with cutting down icy winds that can blow underneath the RV, a skirt can create safe additional storage for outdoor gear.Window Coverings for Your RV
During the day, windows let in warming sunlight, but when night falls, cold air creeps in from uncovered windows. Two RV accessories can help keep your RV warm. Consider hanging thick winter curtains to block the chill from seeping in. When temperatures fall even lower, consider adding reflective bubble insulation, cut to cover window openings. The foil reflects the heat back into the RV and the bubbles provide insulating air pockets. When it’s not needed, flexible bubble insulation is lightweight and easy to store.Space Heaters
Efficient and compact, electric space heaters are an ideal winter accessory for your RV. When the electric hook up is included in your stay, electric space heaters are an inexpensive way to stay comfortable in the coldest of conditions.When there’s no electrical hook up, consider a propane radiant heater. While the propane heaters require adequate ventilation, a good propane radiant heater can keep you warm in the most challenging conditions. Also, the energy efficient units make a good back up source of heat for your RV. Add a propane leak detector to your packing lists to assure a safe stay.
De-Humidify RV Air
With the cold outside and heat inside from radiant, furnace, propane
or catalytic heaters, prepare to do battle with moisture. The best RV
accessory to battle moisture inside is a small dehumidifier.
Interior moisture from showers, heat, cooking, and even just breathing creates condensation inside your RV. Remove the moisture with an electric dehumidifier. If your RV will be boondocked, accessorize for winter with a container of absorbent.
For the RV Drive
Stay warm on the road while driving a motor home, by adding electric seat warmers. Plugged into the dash, the seat warmers make long winter drivers more comfortable.
Vent Cushions
In the winter, hot air is precious. Keep it from rising right out of the ceiling vents and skylights of your RV with RV vent cushions. The vent cushions fit securely into most standard-size RV vents. If your skylights and vents aren’t standard, make custom vent cushions with thick foam padding available at fabric shops or home improvement stores.RV Tank and Hose Heaters
Heated and enclosed RV water tanks may not keep liquids from freezing on extended trips and long winter stays. Consider accessorizing your RV with an RV holding tank heater. Factory installed tank heaters will only protect liquids to be 15 – 20 degrees F. Tank heaters will automatically kick in before liquids can freeze. If you’re RVing with full hook ups, add a hose heater to your RV winter accessories list. Thermostatically controlled hose heaters can automatically turn on when the temperature falls into the 40s.Wherever winter RV travels take you, begin the journey with a trip to Reines RV Center in Manassas and Ashland, Va., where the service department professionals can make sure your unit is ready for adventure.
Mountain Driving Tips for RVers
Whether you’re traveling in a luxury motorhome or towing a travel trailer, mountain driving requires a shift in your driving methods. Have patience and remember to let the transmission do some of the hard work for you.
Your RV (motorhome or tow vehicle) may ride as quietly and comfortably as the family sedan. But, an RV is bigger, heavier and slower to accelerate and harder to stop on a dime.
Driving Uphill in an RV
Driving on a steep upgrade can prove a real challenge for towables and fully loaded motorhomes. Relieve some of the stress on your vehicle by staying at a comfortable speed.If the speed limit is 45, don’t push to keep pace. Drive at a speed that doesn’t stress the engine – or driver. Keep an eye on the rearview mirror. If traffic starts to pile up behind, look for a place to pull over, so smaller, more nimble vehicles can squeeze by.
When passing or being passed on a two-lane road, the vehicle headed uphill has the right of way. Allow plenty of room for a passing vehicle to return to its lane, as it will not be as responsive as it may be on flat land.
Driving an RV Downhill
A good rule of thumb is to drive an RV downhill no faster than it went uphill, which can be a little trickier than it sounds. Weighty RVs will be fighting gravity to keep at a slow, safe, steady pace and trailers and fifth wheels will be trying to push their towing vehicles down the mountain.Use the transmission, not the brakes to fight the downhill forces and stay at a safe, steady pace.
While having brakes in tip-top shape is important, understanding the transmission of your motorhome or tow vehicle is critical before planning any mountain drive. Don’t ride brakes down the hill; hold your speed by downshifting to a lower gear. Tap the brakes to slow while downshifting, but the transmission, not the brakes are the key to a steady, safe downhill drive.
A downhill drive can turn a travel trailer into a weight that pushes the tow vehicle downward so it’s important to use the vehicles transmission in tandem with the trailer’s braking system.
On the way downhill (or uphill), remember to resist the temptation to drive on the centerline. An RV is big and bulky and will be a dangerous surprise for a skittish vehicle doing the same thing in the opposite direction, which could lead to dangerous overcorrections on a steep road.
Other RV Mountain Driving Tips
If your adventuresome spirit takes hold and you head for the road less traveled – gravel or less well marked, remember to take it extra slow. Gravel will offer far less traction for your wheels, making sharp turns and quick stops impossible. Go slow and make wide, slow turns.If all your precautions fail and brakes give out, look for signs pointing to the nearest escape or runaway truck ramp, which can be found on many perilous mountain roads. Off to the side of steep downhill grades, escape ramps are designed to slow runaway trucks with an uphill grade of soft, loose material.
Before Taking Your RV on Mountain Trips
Plan ahead. Study your route for steep grades and long downhills and add the extra time to your travel schedule.Check brake and transmission fluids before hitting the road. As it ages and adds contaminants, brake fluid becomes less efficient and more susceptible to overheating.
Check tires for tread wear and proper inflation to ensure your RV handles properly.
Before it’s time to head out on your next RV adventure in the mountains, visit a Reines RV Center location in Ashland or Manassas, Va., where the service experts can make sure your RV is mountain-road worthy.
Have you considered trading in your RV?
Spring is coming! Have you considered trading in your RV for a new one?
At Reines RV Center, we are always interested in buying pre-owned travel trailers and motorhomes.
Whether
you want to sell your RV or trade it in on another, our goal is to make
the process as quick and easy as possible. Our experienced staff is
ready to answer all of your RV selling questions. The personalized
service you receive will give you the confidence that you are getting
the best value for your sale or trade-in.
When you are ready to sell or trade in your recreational vehicle, please use the form below to e-mail us and our sales manager will be happy to assist you. You can also reach us by calling
(703) 392-1100 or (800) RVKING2.
At Reines RV Center, we are always interested in buying pre-owned travel trailers and motorhomes.
When you are ready to sell or trade in your recreational vehicle, please use the form below to e-mail us and our sales manager will be happy to assist you. You can also reach us by calling
(703) 392-1100 or (800) RVKING2.
#1 Selling Class B Motor Home!
2017 18ft small van/motor home! #1 selling class B motor home! Easy to drive and park in driveway! generator, rear a/c unit, microwave, shower and toilet, TV, DVD system, furnace, refrigerator, power inverter, backup camera, navigation system, attic fan, power sofa bed, countertop extension, power patio awning, Chevy chassis, sleeps 2.
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