At  10/30/2009 09:13 AM, Richard Jones wrote:
>>so, you don't worry about damage to the tank, tubing, and faucet when
>>>camping in winter?
>
>Someone can do the math, but it would take quite a while for
>the 13 gals of water to freeze.  What freezes is the drain--
>the extension of the tank and cap--it is sticking outside, too.
>
>I have not camped where the interior was below freezing more
>than overnight.  Even so, I have had a plug of ice form in
>the drain.  That was unintentional and I'll try to avoid it
>again--by draining the tank, if necessary.

I had a 13 year vacation in the midwest and one of the first things I
learned was that winter was different, I was not on the west coast.

Everything that could freeze solid, expand and later leak when it
thawed would. That first year there was the last year for leaving
anything liquid in the bus, canned food included.

The midwest climate being so different from anything else I knew I
had to ask a friend at work (he was from WI) about what to watch for.
He told me to not leave home without enough clothes on to survive
sliding on the ice and getting stuck in a snow bank, there were no
'quick trips to the corner store' in the winter.

I'm back on the west coast but my water system on the '84 Westy will
be drained for winter, I'll leave the canned goods. The survival
water pouches made to survive freezing sound good but if you are in a
really cold place you'd need a heat source to thaw the water. For
myself out here I put the heavy sleeping bag & coat in the Westy &
I'll try some water bottles stored in the fridge (in a plastic water
proof box just in case). If I go camping I'll take more water.

I did buy one of those propane little buddy type heaters to keep in
the bus behind the passenger seat.

Rob

becida@comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA