Top All-Weather Campers to Brave Subfreezing Temperatures
A lot of RVs are said to be all-season capable – they’ll even have a sticker on the side that claims that they’re winter-ready. But there isn’t a specific standard that these RVs have to meet in order to make that claim. So we’ve compiled a list of rigs that have proven to be worthy of the “all-weather” moniker; these are rigs that will perform even as the mercury dips in the thermometer.
What Makes an All-Weather RV?
Crafting an RV that can withstand the challenges of cold weather requires smart design and effective insulation.
For design, we look at elements like the location of the gate valves for the holding tanks. Many RVs have these exposed, which means they are subject to freezing temperatures. A winter-ready design would put them within the climate-controlled envelope of the RV, and the tanks themselves would be heated too.
For insulation, we can look at actual test results. Two companies have climate chambers to specifically test temperature performance: Keystone and Truma. Of these, you might not recognize the latter. Truma is not an RV manufacturer but does build components like furnaces and air conditioners for RVs. Its testing puts an RV into an enclosed chamber which is then chilled to 5°F. The furnace then has to get the interior up to 65°F within a specific time to earn its Gold standard.
Bigfoot
You may not have heard of Bigfoot, but the company is known for those who want a well-insulated trailer or pickup camper. Bigfoot trailers are built of an all-fiberglass “egg”-type construction much like a boat, although RVers might be more familiar with this type of build in things like the Casita. These Canadian-built RVs also have heated and enclosed holding tanks.
While you might find a Bigfoot camper on one of their dealers’ lots, of course, many customers choose to work directly with the company and their dealers to custom-build a Bigfoot. There are a lot of options and choices in the build process, which allows buyers to tailor their trailer to their exact requirements.
Ember Overland
Ember’s Overland series of travel trailers have set a benchmark in the overlanding, or off-grid camping, community. But many of the features that make them well suited to off-grid camping also make them well suited to cold-weather camping.
According to company co-founder Christopher Barth, every Overland series model is engineered to meet Truma’s Gold standard. They’re tested in the Truma climate chamber and if a certain model doesn’t meet the standard, its design is revised so that it does. Nice.
In addition to the cold weather performance, the Overland series is also built very differently than most travel trailers right down to the suspension system which is a Curt independent suspension. This provides more capability on more surfaces but also tows remarkably well.
Embassy RV
With both Class B and B+ offerings, Embassy may be another name you haven’t come across but if exceptional insulation and unique features are of interest, this is absolutely a company whose products are worth seeking out.
Embassy started when Terry Minix tore apart an older RV and realized the insulation in it was not only subpar but also infested with mold. In response to this experience, all of Embassy’s products are insulated with a more aircraft-grade method which is also waterproof. They also use the on-board fuel system to power the furnace, including a gasoline-fired furnace in some models, thereby eliminating the need for propane aboard.
For warm weather, the company uses 12-volt air conditioning systems so off-grid camping is made easier. The company also includes a very high quality Mastervolt lithium battery system with their RVs to power these systems.
Jayco Pinnacle
Jayco’s Pinnacle fifth wheels are another line that is well suited to colder weather camping. You’ll find 12-volt heat tape on the fresh water lines – an unusual feature, even when shopping in this segment. The tanks and gate valves are fully enclosed in a heated underbelly, of course, while the holding tanks all have heat pads.
Those who plan to camp in more extreme temperatures will find worthwhile options in the catalog, including dual-pane windows, and up to three 40-pound propane tanks.
Keystone Montana
Keystone’s Montana brand is the most popular line of fifth wheel trailers on the market and for good reason. The company has a team under their Innovation Lab that investigates pain points that are common for many campers and develops solutions to those problems.
But the company also has a climate chamber and has tested the Montana line to be usable down to 0°F and certified them as such.
For those who plan to camp in colder weather, the dual-pane windows on the Montana line are a great option. The company also offers a number of upgrades that will make a difference to varying owners including on-board generators but also top-notch solar and battery systems that are benchmarks in the industry.
Lance
A headquarters in sunny Southern California doesn’t exactly suggest a proficiency with winter-ready design – but Lance gets it done. The company has a solid reputation for building travel trailers and pickup campers that are very well suited to camping when the temperatures drop.
While Lance is branching out with more variations on their models you can get their signature travel trailers and pickup campers with things like dual-pane windows. But the basic engineering and design is there and the company does a good job with insulation and being ready for a wider variety of weather conditions.
Outdoors RV
Another smaller west coast RV builder is Outdoors RV located in Oregon. The company is staffed by people who actually use their RVs regularly, which is reflected in their design and construction. One of the interesting aspects of these RVs is that the company even builds their own chassis.
Some of the winter-ready features of Outdoors RVs include thermal pane windows, gate valves that are within the enclosed and heated underbelly with remote actuators, and also insulated floors in their slide rooms, which is unusual. Even more unusual are the thicker-than-normal doors for the baggage compartment and enclosing the outdoor shower.
Palomino Pause
Palomino makes a wide variety of towable RVs but the Pause truly stands out in both appearance and features. These models are particularly noteworthy among the overlanding community, and what makes them great on rough terrain also helps them endure extreme weather conditions.
These feature a lot of Truma appliances, including the Varioheat furnace and Aqua water heating system, as well as the Aventa air conditioner – this trifecta of components helps make the Pause line comfortable in any temperature.
Be Careful With Portable Heaters
While any of the RVs on this list will do a good job of weathering the worst that winter has to offer, maybe you’d prefer to take matters into your own hands. For example, there are many RVers who are stationary in colder months who will go above and beyond the manufacturer spec and skirt the underside of the rig.
A much more straightforward and common solution is the humble portable heater. Many RVers turn to electric heaters to help keep them warm in winter so they use less propane. But in RVs designed for cold weather, the propane furnace system not only heats the living area, but also spaces where the holding tanks are, which is why these systems tend to be more propane-hungry.
Although space heaters let you cut costs by concentrating heating output where you want it, because they don’t heat the enclosed underbelly of the RV, the tanks and pipes can freeze and become damaged, eliminating all the savings of avoiding the propane furnace.
Finding the Right RV for Winter
Dealing with inclement weather is uniquely challenging for RVs. Passive measures – like better insulation, double-pane windows, and thicker doors – add weight; while active features – like furnaces, heat pads, and air conditioners – use power and fuel. A well-designed RV strikes the right balance between capability and efficiency, but the right RV for you depends on your activities and the kinds of conditions you want to tackle.
Marketplace Inventory
Tony Barthel
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