Toilet use while traveling in freezing weather

[bogen2]

We are heading south to escape the cold here in Alberta but it looks like it’s going to be well below freezing for the first couple of days of travel. We are hoping to stay in our rig overnight and use both propane and electric heat to keep warm. But with no water I’m wondering if the toilet can be used. My thought is to pour a few gallons of antifreeze into the black tank before we leave and then flush the toilet after use with more antifreeze. Just wondering what my fellow owners think about this idea. Has anyone tried it before?

Bob

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Bob,

We have done exactly as you describe, but only necessary if daytime temps are below about -5C. The trailer will hold a lot of heat from the night before, particularly if you have a full and hot water heater. Once daytime temps are coming up close to 0C, a short (6 hr +/-) travel day between campgrounds will not drop the trailer below freezing. We have stayed in the trailer at -15C overnight with propane furnace and electric fireplace. It is important to make regular use of the furnace because it is ducted into the underbelly, whereas electric heating is not.

Rob

[familytruckster4]

We have traveled in the winter for a bunch of years and thats how we do it. If its really cold we use anti freeze to flush, otherwise we put some in the tank before we leave and then use water jugs.
I buy antifreeze off season for less than $3 a gallon so its cheap enough.

[bogen2]

Ok it sounds like that should work then. What about the fridge - does that work in really cold temps?

Bob

[familytruckster4]

We put whatever we need in ours and start it a few days ahead of departure (its stored in our barn thats always above freezing)and then leave it on. It rarely cycles when its really cold.

[Cate&Rob]

Ok it sounds like that should work then. What about the fridge - does that work in really cold temps?

Bob

It can be difficult to get the fridge running properly because the only fridge temperature sensor is in the main fridge area and is looking to maintain a temperature slightly above freezing. An empty fridge space will cool down quickly if outside temps are at or below freezing and shut off the fridge before the freezer gets down to expected temperature. You can trick the fridge into running longer by placing warm items (like a couple of large jugs of warm water) in the fridge compartment until you are ready to warm the interior of the trailer sufficiently to keep the fridge operating normally.

Rob