Full Timing in a Rubicon 2100

[Vagabond Gypsy]

Freezing Precautions

It's supposed to get down into the 20s tonight. TowTow isn't winterized because I live in it. I'm just curious what precautions I need to take against pipes freezing. Heat is on, hot water heater is on, leave the cabinet door under the kitchen sink open, and ... ????

All suggestions are greatfully appreciated!

 

[okiejim]

I have been in the same boat the last two days. I turn the furnace on in the morning to thaw out the water lines. They have frozen the last two mornings but after it warms up in the trailer from the furnace about 1 to 1.5 hours the water is running again. I'm seriously getting ready to buy some skirting for it. Just not sure which one yet. Stay warm. Oh I don't run the furnace all day or night I have been using a small electric space heater after the water starts to run again. As the winter continues I will keep you updated on my changes. Stay warm bundle up in bed.

 

[Nana & Poppy]

Make sure you do not leave the water hose hooked up to the faucet....it will surely freeze!

 

[wildwest450]

We recently camped where it was in the upper 20's at night. Just filled the freshwater tank, unhooked from campground water and opened the grey water tank. We only heat with a small electric space heater, no problems. I'm sure it would take days of below freezing to completely freeze a gray water tank that was even half full, just a precaution.

 

[Vagabond Gypsy]

Thank You

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. It is nice to know that running the furnace thaws the pipes! I usually don't use mine, just an electric fireplace if I'm chilly, but turned the furnace on after work yesterday (& the hot water heater) to help warm the undercarriage insulation through.

I am using water from the holding tank, rather than direct feed from the hose. I figure a little precaution is better than having broken pipes to fix!

I'm ready for spring ... and winter isn't even really here yet!

 

[okiejim]

Hey Gypsy,
Just so you know the furnace uses alot of LPG. So make sure you watch your tanks. Like I said I only running for a short time to quickly warm up and thaw the plumbing. I also just run from the fresh water tanks no hook up during these cold days and nights. I also keep some water in a pan overnight so in the am I can turn on the stove and thaw it out for coffee. It really is cold in the mornings.

 

[Vagabond Gypsy]

Furnace

Thanks, Jim!

I really haven't used the furnace enough to get a feel for how much propane it uses. We don't get too many nights below freezing here, but my daughter tells me all the camps on the road had pipes break last year. I'd rather spend some money on propane now, than try to get broken pipes fixed.

The three puck lights over my kitchen sink just blew again last week. That makes the third time all three have blown at the same time! Everytime I take it to Camping World (one each in FL & NY) and tell them there's a short, they tell me "it's just bulbs", so I don't have a lot of faith in their assistance.

Gotta run for work. Going to be late this morning!
Stay warm!

 

[okiejim]

If your using halogen lights make sure you don't touch the glass part when you put them in. I replaced mine with led paddles. But I just noticed that in the cold they glow blue and not as much light. Oh well they do help my batteries last longer. Are you able to replace the bulbs yourself or do you take it to CW. They are not that hard to replace.

 

[okiejim]

Yesterday was the worst. I had to take the panel out behind the lpg detector and point my space heater towards it to thaw out the water pump. It too alot longer to thaw out yesterday. Gypsy I hope you made it thru ok. I am going to try to make my own skirting have some ideas I will document what I do if it all works out. I have to do something this winter or move.

 

[Vagabond Gypsy]

OK

Hi Jim ...

We haven't had a sustained freezing cold here ... yet. Temps overnight have gotten into the mid-20s, but go back up to the 40s during the day. It's raining now & low 50s. The winter here is pretty short, though I've been hearing it is supposed to be bad again like last year.

If it looks like a long cold spell, I may decide to just drain everything and go over to my daughter's for anything more than making coffee and brushing my teeth! We'll see how it goes.

I hope things warm up for you!

 

[okiejim]

Winter update,
Lost the spay port due to freezing. Can't rebuild it so I have to get a new one. I am going to put a cut off valve in-line to keep the water off now. Stock, it did not have one and that is why it froze. Got a electric fireplace like yours Gypsy thank you for that, it works pretty darn good. I also like the fire part it is soothing on the cold nights, I just put my feet up against it and it seems like a real fireplace. I know skirting is going to really help. I just have not tried yet. I'm struggling with what material to use so it can be stored in the summer. I might have to build a mounting location on the belly not sure yet. I will keep you informed.

 

[wahoonc]

I used extruded polystyrene for underpinnings a couple of times. That is the blue or pink stuff. If you coat it with something to protect it from the UV you should get several seasons out of it. Pretty easy to cut and handle and not too expensive.

One year I used hay/straw bales because that was what was available, just packed them around the bottom of the trailer and wrapped them in sheet plastic.

Aaron

 

[Vagabond Gypsy]

Winter!

Hi Jim ...

I never even gave the spray port a thought! Ugh!

On the winter side ... Creator has seen fit to move me to Florida. My Dad passed two weeks ago and my Mom is in a nursing facility. She has no other family here, so until we can move her, I have the most flexibility to stay in the area. My daughter is here with me for the time being, but I don't know for how long.

I am currently parked next to their motor (full time) home, cleaning it out and prepping it for sale. It's a 45 foot 1997 Beaver Marquis ... needs a tinkerer like my Dad.

I like WahooNC's (would you be the same Wahoo I met at Paha Sapa that collects Mopar's?) idea for skirting. Hay sounds like a really good insulator too, depending on how soggy the area may get.

My daughter is using old tin from a roof that was replaced as skirting around her camp. It actually looks pretty decent. I guess it all depends on what is available in a given price range.

I'm a little overwhelmed right now. Glad I don't have to worry about freezing on top of it all!

Glad to hear you are enjoying the fireplace! It does add a nice homey touch. Did I tell you I put up lace curtains also? Not much for warmth, but it does add to the hominess. I used spring tension rods inside the window boxes and left the blinds up also. You can see it in one of the photos I put up of the desk and fireplace.

http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums/members/1911-albums62-picture352.html

Stay warm. Spring is coming!
~Gypsy~

 

[wahoonc]

I like WahooNC's (would you be the same Wahoo I met at Paha Sapa that collects Mopar's?) idea for skirting. Hay sounds like a really good insulator too, depending on how soggy the area may get.

Stay warm. Spring is coming!
~Gypsy~

Not a Mopar collector... might have been my evil twin. Though we do have one old Dodge truck.

Spring can't get here soon enough!

Aaron

 

[Thom]

I used left over cement board I had from a remodeling project for skirting around my daughter's mobile home. Looks pretty good, inexpensive, you can paint it, easy to cut/install and it has lasted going on five years now with no signs of deterioration.

 

[okiejim]

Thanks for the ideas of the skirting. Several great alternatives. I'm leaning toward the Styrofoam or styrene panels for the weight factor. I need to be able to carry them and also store them on the trailer when moving, which I have fortunately not been having to do for awhile now. Gypsy Florida now good grief you have been moving alot lately sorry for you loss. Jim

 

[okiejim]

22 degrees this morning.. Brrrrr!! lost some plumbing last week water damage to cabinets. Will need to rebuild them this spring. I think I can come up with a better arrangement anyway so no big deal.

 

[okiejim]

Fantastic fan upgrade

It been awhile since on here. Still in my 2100. I have been looking at upgrading the fan to a temp controlled one. Just seems like all I see on ebay or amazon are bigger than mine. When I measure mine on the trim I get 16" square. Most I see are 18" anyone know what model I need to get?

Also I put in a backup camera so I can see what is behind me when driving and backing in. Got it on amazon and it is a big help.

 

[okiejim]

Still livin the dream. Finally got tired of looking at my water damage from last winters freeze. I am rebuilding the kitchen cabinets. If it goes well then I may think about doing more. For now as I started I found that my sink counter top was not level figures. Attached are two pics showing why I have decided to do this much work. Thanks for watching. Also as you will see the color match of the cheap paper covered particle board does not match the cherry drawer and door panels. I hope to do a better job of matching. The first picture shows how the paper peeled back. I have also removed one of the foldown seats in the back to put in a work station.

 

[okiejim]

Much bigger job than I anticipated but has to be done, pocket screws are my friend. This is the front frame of the cabinet. I just duplicated the layout but plan on making a change for easy access to the water pump and progressive EMS.
More to come as I get more done. I don't like the plain end of the cabinet when the real look was shaker so the end panel will be recessed panels. That is what I will be working on next.