Comments on Daily Survival Blog - Prepare: Living In A Travel Trailer In Winter

I had a dog and the dog always slept between me an...

2010-02-04T22:41:54.869-05:00

I had a dog and the dog always slept between me and the cold wall,good dog

My folks lived in a trailer for the first several ...

2009-11-26T22:04:23.660-05:00

My folks lived in a trailer for the first several years after they got married. After the first bitterly cold winter -dad likes to tell the story about how his pants kept freezing to the floor- they built an enclosed porch on the front of the trailer. They put a cheap wood stove in there and removed the trailer door so the heat could travel through the trailer.

Something to consider for when you can do that expansion

MD, on an alternate note, how did ppl survive befo...

2009-11-06T00:59:17.452-05:00

MD, on an alternate note, how did ppl survive before electricity? Namely, air condition. Our central unit went out causing us to endure a brutal summer with an open house. We had a big 14" commercial fan blowing air out of the back door and left the front door open and it was still miserable! I couldn't imagine doing it all over again without any electricity whatsoever, but once upon a time people survived without electricty...how? Maybe you can start a thread: "What if electricity was turned off tomorrow", i think that would be interesting.

It's not called "global warming" anymore, it's cal...

2009-11-05T21:46:57.110-05:00

It's not called "global warming" anymore, it's called "Climate Change" for that very reason; ie more drastic changes.

What ever happened to global warming??

2009-11-04T22:48:05.630-05:00

What ever happened to global warming??

I always thought it might be possible to build a p...

2009-11-04T14:33:14.258-05:00

I always thought it might be possible to build a pole barn type structure over the whole shee-bang. Screen it in the summer and wrap it in plastic sheeting in winter. Then you could put a woodstove OUTSIDE the trailer and provide some heat to the surrounding "bubble". Then you'd have your own bio-dome thingy.

Good a.m., M.D. I cover my windows with clear 6-m...

2009-11-04T14:13:58.952-05:00

Good a.m., M.D. I cover my windows with clear 6-mil plastic. I also cover the upper vents with it as loss of air can be lost through them depending upon their condition and age. I skirt my trailer with at least 1/2"-thick plywood and then add a seal of good SideWinder glue around the top edge and wherever else it is necessary. The glue is clear, pliable and holds even in very cold weather (I don't know if it would work in Canada). If I don't have 6-mil plastic then I double 3-mil and that works well. I always use a thick tarp for the roof because that locks in even more heat and, should I have a leak, then that helps prevent cold water from getting in as you may already know. As soon as I can I am going to purchase one of those rubberized military tarps because I know that will help keep the heat in and water out and it'll be the thing that lasts for quite some time. This year, I moved into a 5th wheel and during summer, the windows' seals being very bad, I removed their screws, popped them out, used a very thick layer of Sidewinder to seal them and then put them back in place. The trailer had sat a long time and I had to make sure that the windows closed fully so no air was getting in which, since I have done the work, the windows are good as new. The only problem with covering the windows with plastic or other materials is "sweat" or water build up. The only remedy that I have found is to remove the plastic when build up has occurred (about once a month) after opening the curtains, wiping them as dry as I can get them and then letting warm air get to them to fully dry them out before installing dry plastic. If I don't then mold gets in and it's so hard to get rid of once it gets started. After inspecting the underneath side of the trailer, I found several holes and I filled them in with the glue I mentioned. Being that the bathroom gets coldest at the point of the toilet I am going to cover whatever septic hose sits above ground (still in the process of finalizing the winterizing). I am planning to use several layers of old tarps and other materials such as wood and so on and see how that does this year. For this trailer, I cut an opening on the opposite side where the metal door for entering the trailer is and I found that putting a wooden door in really helped. I am planning to cut out the metal door at some point and install a thick wood door there, too. The only problem with the new prehung door was that I bought it from a discount place and I have had to make sure to keep out drafts in a few places but, all-in-all, there is less cold and that's been very nice on the budget and my sleeping comfort. I found that those old, green military tarps really work for keeping in the heat. Last year, living in a real old one from the 60's, the roll-open windows seals were gone and the cold was very insulting to my life so I cut up one of the oil-treated canvas tents/tarps and I could not believe how well that worked. Because I don't have enough tarps to cover the windows at this time and don't want to ruin my chances of surviving because I used my tents, I am still opting to use the plastic until I have enough material to do the job. Although no light gets in while using them, it's far better to be warm and save money than to freeze in the winter. I have been thinking of placing a layer of plastic over the windows, lightly secured, and then using the tarps over them so when I want or need the outdoor light then I can pull up the tarp and still get some light.

Absolutely beautiful photograph! Stay warm this w...

2009-11-04T11:27:16.516-05:00

Absolutely beautiful photograph! Stay warm this winter. I admire your independence.

I have put a double layer of .5" bubble wrap on al...

2009-11-04T08:37:34.984-05:00

I have put a double layer of .5" bubble wrap on all of my windows. Even though it's not all that cold yet, lowest was 28 so far, it's making a big difference.

a heat room add-on. last yr we burned alot of prop...

2009-11-03T19:27:59.142-05:00

a heat room add-on. last yr we burned alot of propane and I wanted a back-up besides electric heaters which are exspensive and not feasable for those without it. I put in 4 telephone poles (old ones, go to the electric company FREE or cheap per foot) frames out a room put 2 salvages windows and door and vola. installed stove putting cement board around for fire protection. was going to fire up tonight but pipe not all in. used a kerosene heater in the room to test if would heat both rooms, worked like a champ 72 and 45 outside on low for 30 footer. hope to have stove going by the end of the week.

Jeff the Fezz

JAY, Good ideas - I'll look into the blueboard th...

2009-11-03T18:49:27.988-05:00

JAY,

Good ideas - I'll look into the blueboard thanks.

Coal, Stay warm up there in Ontario.

2009-11-03T18:46:40.218-05:00

Coal,

Stay warm up there in Ontario.

Rob, A small covered porch at the door would help...

2009-11-03T18:43:00.680-05:00

Rob,

A small covered porch at the door would help a lot but I can't afford the expansion - maybe in the future.

The Frugal Fraulein, Moisture is a problem in tra...

2009-11-03T18:38:31.881-05:00

The Frugal Fraulein,

Moisture is a problem in trailers travel or other wise. I've been lucky mine hasn't been all that bad except around the north window.

Wayne, Travel trailer homesteading under $5000 is...

2009-11-03T18:33:18.687-05:00

Wayne,

Travel trailer homesteading under $5000 is a great little book. I skirted the trailer sometime ago but would like to insulate the skirting from underneath.

HEY MD THERE IS A BLUEBOARD THAT IS INSTALLED IN W...

2009-11-03T18:13:15.707-05:00

HEY MD THERE IS A BLUEBOARD THAT IS INSTALLED IN WALLS ON NEW CONSTRUCTION.THIS IS USED FOR INSULATING AND IS 2 INCHES THICK,MAYBE YOU COULD USE THIS.FOR YOUR DOOR YOU MIGHT COULD USE A DOUBLE PANE PIECE OF GLASS FOR YOUR DOOR,PROVIDED ITS THICK ENOUGH.FROM JAY IN NC

I do it up here in Ontario, where the winters can ...

2009-11-03T17:07:26.979-05:00

I do it up here in Ontario, where the winters can be very cold. Lots of propane and a couple of generators, good onboard batteries and a decent rig, no problems, running water too.

Skirting helps a lot, in Minnesota I used OSB back...

2009-11-03T12:54:08.795-05:00

Skirting helps a lot, in Minnesota I used OSB backed by solid insulation.

The other thing is a vestibule entryway, a small covered porch at the door. With a vestibule you don't have the inside door open to the outside and loose all that heat every time you go in/out.

I lived in a small travel trailer for two winters ...

2009-11-03T12:18:38.289-05:00

I lived in a small travel trailer for two winters in the Pacific Northwest where it can get below zero and is wet and damp.
I used reflective insulation (reflex tex) and lined the trailer with it on most walls. The interior looked like a space ship but kept the heat in during the winter and solar heat out during the summer.
I also insulated the windows but left two for ventilation.
I skirted the trailer each fall with hay bales. They were tied together and covered with tarps. By spring they began to get moldy so they were put out for mulch on the property.
Your body wicks moisture especially while you sleep and there is a tendency for the bedding and mattress pad to get mold. I drilled a few holes through the wood under the bed platform and a couple of times a week lifted the mattress and left it up so air could circulate underneath it. That was a big problem.
Mice are attracted to trailers since they are warm and a source of food so I got a friendly yet hungry cat to keep me company. I made a cat door for her so she could get in and out at will.
I kept the vent at the top of the trailer accessible so when I cooked I could ventilate the moisture. Moisture is a problem in the winter and it must be released or the walls will get wet and then there is mold.
I also tied it down well since I lived in an earthquake prone region.
There were so many things I did that I have probably forgotten. Oh I found polarfleece clothing to be really helpful and warm. It dried if it got wet and was toasty all the time.

MD, I believe that you already familiar with thi...

2009-11-03T10:56:24.871-05:00

MD,

I believe that you already familiar with this book, but in "Travel Trailer homesteading for under $5000.00, brian Kelling mentions that by adding skirting with insulation to the perimeter of his trailer that it had really helped keep the heat in winter time, there were a few other tips I believe, but it's been a few years since I have read the book.
The guy from http://www.tribwatch.com/trailerLife.htm gave some good tips as well.