Working On the Windows

I thought putting the plastic film over my windows would be quick and easy.
That's what I get for thinking.
After 6 hours I have gotten 4 windows done. Getting to them is the part that takes so much time.
It involves removing the "valance" and the day/night shades.
So I'll be working on the other 5 tomorrow, and I'll get some pictures to show the process.
But if it helps keep it warm in here this winter, it will be worth it.
The weather is going to be cooling off quickly in the next 4 days. Today the high was 84, by Monday it is only supposed to get up to the low 70's and down into the upper 40's at night.
Time to top off the propane tanks, too.

All Seasons Rig? NOT!

When I went looking for a travel trailer to fulltime in back in December of 2007, I didn't have a clue what to get.
I lucked out and got a salesman who knows RVs and pointed me in the right direction.
We discussed where I was wanting to move to, and I have no desire to live anywhere north of Tennessee in the winter months.
Mark Gay of Camping World RV Sales in North Charleston, SC knew just the rig for me in the price range I was needing.
He set me up with a Springdale 28 ft 266RELL, and even though it is NOT designed for winter fulltime living, it has so far been great.
I am looking forward to many years of good use.

Here Comes the Cold Again.

Well,

Here it is almost Winter again, and I am still in the mountains of East Tennessee. A beautiful place to be sure, but not the ideal place to be stuck when the snow comes.

Last Winter we made it through without too much difficulty, but this year I am a little wiser and have been taking steps to prepare better.

The first thing I have done is to skirt the HermitKrab. Now, I considered several options to accomplish this from straw bales to foam board insulation, and some of that may get used yet.

What I really wanted, however, was something that could be removed and taken with me when I move on eventually. After investigating several websites for companies that make and sell custom skirting for RVs, I decided to make my own using tarps attached to the underside of the trailer with velcro fasteners. If nothing else, it will block the wind and hopefully provide some help with heat loss.

Also, last winter I found that trying to heat with the propane furnace was entirely too expensive. So I used 2 electric heaters instead. While it tripled my electric bill in the winter, it was still less cost and hassle than propane would have been. The only problem was the load it put on my 30 amp power supply and I had to be sure that each heater was plugged into a different circuit. Also I had to run 1 heater on low, and 1 on high. And still had to shut them both off temporarily in order to use the microwave oven.

So I have installed an electrical outlet with a direct connection to the 20 amp outside plug-in at the power pole. This should allow me to run 3 heaters without a problem.

We shall see.

Next on the agenda will be to insulate the windows that unfortunately, in this rig aren't double paned. This will be done with plastic film available at several big box outlets and home improvement centers.