The Winter Season is Upon Us!

The world around us prepares for yet another shift in seasons.  Family gatherings move indoors, pumpkin lattes and scarves emerge, and the final multicolored leaves lose their grip and succumb to the wind, frost, and cooler temperatures. We embrace this change for those who love winter and call Living Vehicle home.

Like no other travel trailer or recreational vehicle, Living Vehicle thrives in winter months. Designed and engineered to travel in all seasons, the Living Vehicle is purpose-built to withstand cooler, even sub-freezing temperatures.  Innovative features like the conditioned basement, rigid foam insulation, and multiple redundant heating sources make Living Vehicle the most capable luxury travel trailer for year-round, full-time living. No other travel trailer comes close to the winter living capabilities of the Living Vehicle.

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Pre-Winter Living Vehicle Inspection

‍Here are some recommendations for preparing your LV for winter.

  • Test your systems, specifically your heating equipment.   The gas furnace and electric heating systems are vital to successful winter travel in order to keep your LV warm and systems safe. 
  • Exterior visual check all windows and doors for signs of leaks – check the trim and seals for any cracks or other damage.  Even small air gaps will cause excessive cooling and strain on your heating systems. 
  • Inspect the condition of the skylights and vents for signs of cracks or damage that could cause leakage in rain and snow.
  • It’s a great idea to take your LV to a service center for an inspection by a trained professional.  If you would like help coordinating this, your LV Customer Care Team would be happy to assist you.  The small cost and time spent on a pre-winter inspection is a great insurance policy to ensure a successful winter season.  
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Preparing for Using Your LV in Freezing Temperatures

‍If you plan to use your LV in freezing weather, here are some important tips:

  • If you have never used your LV in freezing temperatures before, be sure to test heating systems close to home first to understand the systems' performance and anticipate your propane and electrical energy needs.
  • In subfreezing temperatures, the interior of the LV must be kept warm, with the belly fan ON so that the systems located below the floor are also warm.  This will circulate warm air in the basement area to prevent pipes, electronics, batteries, and water systems from freezing. It is also important to prevent exposure of lithium batteries to very hot or cold temperatures.
  • If the 4-Season Performance package is installed, the LV must be connected to shore or generator power for the electric heaters to function.  
  • The gas heater is your primary heat source while off-grid.  While the LV is designed with excellent insulation, the off-grid heating capacity is limited.  We highly recommend starting your winter travels while connected to the grid and using your electric heat.  It is best to first understand the capabilities of your LV before traveling off-grid. 
  • Carry extra propane!  If you’re going off-grid, carrying an extra backup cylinder of propane or two is a great idea. The colder it gets, the more your furnace will need to work, and the more propane will be consumed.
  • When driving in winter conditions, go slow and play it safe. Always adhere to travel advisories and carry chains.  Be ready to install chains on the truck and the trailer during winter travel.   


Preparing for Snow

  • Be sure to keep the roof of your LV clear from snow buildup because even the slightest amount of snow on the solar panels will stop the system from generating power.
  • Clear the roof off of snow after any snowfall using a roof rake to safely stand on the ground while pulling snow off the roof.  Be careful not to catch the rake on some equipment or wires on the roof when pulling off the snow.
  • We do not recommend stepping on the roof in the winter – it’s very dangerous.  If you must go up on the roof, be very careful not to step on or near vent openings, skylights, or solar panels – any pressure could form hairline fractures that will be damaged.
  • If you have a solar awning installed, retract the awning fully before an ice or snowstorm.  The awning is not designed to carry the heavy load from snow, and the actuators can be frozen into place after a freeze. Damaging the normal function of the solar awning from snow or ice is not covered under the factory warranty.

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LV Winter Storage & Winterizing

‍We always recommend storing your Living Vehicle indoors in a climate-controlled environment.  This is the best way to protect your investment and ensure all systems in the Living Vehicle are protected. 

If you plan to store your Living Vehicle outside in potentially freezing temperatures, it’s vital that a qualified technician winterize your water system to ensure that every pipe, storage tank, fixture, filter, pump, and P-trap is properly protected against expensive freeze damages that are not covered under your factory warranty. 

Your LV Customer Service team will be happy to locate a service center or mobile tech in your area to complete this service.  We only recommend winterizing yourself if you have winterized before and understand all the systems that must be addressed.

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Learn More About Living Vehicle  

We watch the first snow with eager anticipation for the many months of adventure ahead.  First tracks of the ski season, serene white landscapes, and the crisp smell of pine fill our dreams.  If you plan to travel in all four seasons, then Living Vehicle becomes your perfect winter homebase.  

To elevate the winter performance even further, the designers at Living Vehicle have assembled a suite of equipment for even greater cold-weather capability.  The 4-Season Performance package includes features such as dual pane windows and multi-zone electric heat that can keep you cozy and warm well below freezing temperatures.

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Learn more about winter-ready travel trailers.