Learning to Winterize a Travel Trailer & Adjusting to Seasonal Camping

Learning to Winterize a Travel Trailer & Adjusting to Seasonal Camping 
Seasons of Change: Long-time RVers prepare for winter after moving to New England.

By: Becca & Brian Roy (@superchargedcamper)

We are experiencing seasonal camping for the first time in our Winnebago Micro Minnie FLX! Earlier this year, we moved from Florida to New England and quickly learned how different camping can be. From preparing for the varying temperatures to winterizing our rig, we’ve begun to learn what works best for us. 

We arrived in New Hampshire just in time for spring and are enjoying getting a front-row seat to the changing seasons. We watched the trees transform from bare branches to full bloom as trees sprouted new growth and exploded in a sea of green. As autumn approached, that green turned to varying shades of yellow, orange, and red. Now the leaves have fallen from their lofty perches as we await the first snowfall and put our camper to rest for the winter. 

Winterizing a Travel Trailer was Simpler Than We Expected!

We were a bit concerned about winterizing our Winnebago Micro Minnie FLX simply because we had never done it before, and we know how important it is to keep your RV in tip-top shape. Fortunately, it was much more straightforward than we thought. 

We followed some great advice we found from various sources: Winnebago owner Facebook groups, previous GoLife Blog articles about preparing for winter, as well as some video tutorials we found on YouTube. 

We winterized our towable RV by following these steps:

• Empty the freshwater tank.
• Blow out the lines with compressed air.
• Open the low drain points found behind the panel in the bathroom.
• Remove the filter and drain all the water from the hot water heater.
• Bypass the hot water heater in preparation for antifreeze.
• Bypass the freshwater tank to pump RV antifreeze through the lines.
• Pump antifreeze in from the hose connected to the pump.
• Remove Lithionics batteries for storage. (See our tutorial for adding a Lithionics battery, here.)

Disclaimer: This is the process we used based on our own research and is not a direct recommendation from Winnebago. Be sure to read your RV's manual for specific details since RVs may differ slightly in the winterization processes.

For a more detailed overview of the RV winterization process, and some additional tips, read this article from a fellow Winnebago Ambassador.

Adjusting to Seasonal Camping

Prior to winterizing our camper, there were a few things we had to get used to here in the colder climate—mainly seasonal camping. When RVing in Florida, we had the benefit of year-round camping opportunities, whereas many campgrounds operate seasonally here, from May until mid-October. Luckily, there was no shortage of options in New England for campgrounds when we first arrived in spring, so we took full advantage. 

We started our New England camping adventure boondocking in Massachusetts for a few weeks prior to heading to New Hampshire for an extended spring adventure. One of the additions to the camper, to better handle the cold weather, was adding a small electric space heater to limit the use of propane to only showering and cooking. We made sure to get one loaded with an automatic shut-off feature to mitigate any risks when using it overnight as a number of those April mornings dropped to around freezing temps and our Florida-acclimated selves were cold! (This article offers more tips for staying warm in an RV in cold weather.)

Having previously towed with our Tesla Model X and now with our Ford F-150 Lightning, charging our electric vehicle was a concern for us especially in a cold-weather climate. That was quickly eliminated as the campgrounds we needed to charge at either had dedicated EV charging or allowed charging off their existing infrastructure. The network that is in place, while not as extensive as in Florida, does allow us to continue our travels all over New England. 

We arrived in New Hampshire to Ashuelot River Campground at the start of the season for an extended 54-night stay. (Read more about our tips for long-term RV camping in this article.) While staying here, we got to watch baby ducklings floating up and down the river, a sure sign of spring. From here, we explored Massachusetts as the weather warmed, visiting Harold Parker State Forest where we camped nestled among the tall hemlocks and white pine trees. 

In late summer, we headed back to New Hampshire for a stay at the Strafford/Lake Winnipesaukee KOA where we enjoyed a leisurely hike with great views just a few miles from the campground. We visited one more New Hampshire campground in Hancock, NH, where we stayed at Spacious Skies, Seven Maples and got to experience some small-town New England charm. As summer turned to fall, we visited our last campground before the end of the season in Vermont at the Brattleboro North KOA as the autumn leaves were on full display.

Read why we love camping at KOA in this article and learn how GoLife Perks members can receive a free KOA Rewards Membership! 

We wanted to end the season as we started, with a cold-weather boondocking trip. We filled the freshwater tanks, turned on the tank heaters, and went off the beaten path for one last weekend before winterization. This trip included some serious peace and quiet amid the colorful trees and wide-open space we found tucked away in the woods. It was a nice way to end the season, and we look forward to getting back out there next year for more exploring!

Of course, there is always the option for winter dry camping as well. This article shares some helpful tips from another Winnebago Ambassador based in Canada! Plus, here are some additional insights if you plan to go on winter RVing adventures.