First Freeze Checklist for a Travel Trailer You're Still Using

Plenty of people keep camping after the first freeze. The trailer can handle a cold night or two, if you prepare. Here's the checklist for a night that drops below 32°F while you're still using the rig.

01Before dark

• Disconnect the outside water hose. It's the first thing to freeze, and a frozen hose can crack the inlet fitting. Drain it and bring it inside or lay it flat in the sun.
• Fill the fresh tank and use the water pump overnight instead of city water.
• Turn on tank heaters if you have them. See RV tank heaters.
• Charge the battery full. The furnace fan needs it. See battery dies overnight.
• Check propane. A full tank on a cold night goes faster than you think.
• Test the CO alarm. See carbon monoxide in a closed camper.

02Overnight

• Run the furnace, not just a space heater. On many rigs, the furnace ducts keep the underbelly, tanks and pipes warm.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the plumbing.
• Leave a faucet dripping if it's going to be very cold and you're on the pump. Moving water is slower to freeze.
• Crack a vent to keep condensation down. See condensation on camper windows.

03The morning after

• Check for leaks under sinks and around the water pump once things warm up.
• Don't force frozen valves. Wait for the sun or the furnace to thaw them.
• Check the sewer hose. Cold vinyl hoses crack. See dump station open, rinse water off.

04When it's time to winterize

One cold night is fine with these steps. A week of hard freezes is not. Once the forecast shows lows in the 20s night after night, or you're putting the trailer away, winterize it. See winterizing your camper step by step and keep water from freezing at camp.

Fall camping is the best camping. A little prep keeps it that way.

Related: Fall Camping: How to Stay Warm When Nights Drop Below 40