Winter Camping/Skiing In A Truck Pop-Up Camper

[melcooke]

Big Steve, good info. I'd be interested to see pics of how you use the hitch tray and the ski bag. I've been wondering how to carry the skis. We often have two pair of downhill skis and two pair of nordic skis with us. 8 pairs of skis! I was thinking of trying to mount our Yakima roof box vertically on the back of the camper. This would take some clever engineering to make work me thinks.

We now live in the Methow Valley and do almost all of our skiing on the east side slopes where there is real powder Not the west side "powder" we have skied in a lot. Makes for less moisture for sure.

Had not even thought of the mud room idea, food for thought for sure.

What do you do with the ShamWow when it is wet other than wring it out.

 

[melcooke]

Why get the Yakima tracks? Im actually getting them but wondering why you suggest they help with winter camping? My plan is to use them to mount solar.

@Kolockum, thanks for the input.

Really, 3 days on the one 12v battery? Which forced air do you have. I've read a couple of threads where some people have both a forced air and a Wave 3 for their ATC.

We've ordered a second 12 v battery but we have not heard from ATC about starting our camper so it is not too late to re-think things. We are newbies to campers and have very little experience.

 

[Kolockum]

@Kolockum, thanks for the input.

Really, 3 days on the one 12v battery? Which forced air do you have. I've read a couple of threads where some people have both a forced air and a Wave 3 for their ATC.

We've ordered a second 12 v battery but we have not heard from ATC about starting our camper so it is not too late to re-think things. We are newbies to campers and have very little experience.

Ah, Winthrop the land of the good snow. I spend most of my time slaying Olympic slush or the Cascade Concrete. But we normally get up to Mazama once a year and ski at Kangaroo Pass / Hairpin Corner. Amazing skiing.

I installed the Atwood Everest II 7900 I believe. But ATC are installing new and more space efficient units. Furnaces are really good at drying out the camper and gear but because our campers are not very well insulated (thermal pack will help a lot) there is a noticeable temperature swing and the furnace will kick on and off a lot. The wave heater helps mitigate this by providing a adjustable steady output of heat. The only down side is it emits CO2 and moisture into the camper so venting is a must. If I had a 8' camper instead of my 6' I would 100% install one.

If you get a furnace (I highly recommend you do) make sure the thermostat is within easy reaching distance of where you are sleeping. It is a lot easier to get out of the sleeping bag if the camper is warm. Or heck it is a small camper and easy to heat and I have been known to crank it to 90 degrees to get the wife out of her sleeping bag.

We do not use much power. Mainly run the furnace for several hours a day (maybe 3 - 4 hours max), 2 led lights and maybe charge a cell phone here and there. Also when cooking dinner the stove will do a very good job of heating the camper.

We get out alot. It'd be fun to meet up with some other WTW skiers!

We should organize a winter rally. (Not to hijack your thread)

 

[steve whiteside]

Also not to highjack this thread but it would be cool to start a consolidated list of ski resorts and grade them WRT to overnight camping for small RV's. For instance. I would say,
------------
Mammoth:

Access. Campground in town (5 miles from slopes) at $60/night with full hookups. No free overnight parking at resort nor near town. Closest boondocks camping is 10 miles away. Good access 15+ miles.

Best spot for overnight camping with distance: 25 miles? Toms place- French Camp.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232395

Anything special: 10-15 miles from town public hot springs on BLM grounds with some limited stand alone camping near hot springs.
---------------

If anyone has other spots to add I could start a new thread. If you've got a bunch of spots then you can start thee thread. All I've got is Mammoth mountain.

Steve

 

[melcooke]

Also not to highjack this thread but it would be cool to start a consolidated list of ski resorts and grade them WRT to overnight camping for small RV's. For instance. I would say,
------------
Mammoth:

Access. Campground in town (5 miles from slopes) at $60/night with full hookups. No free overnight parking at resort nor near town. Closest boondocks camping is 10 miles away. Good access 15+ miles.

Best spot for overnight camping with distance: 25 miles? Toms place- French Camp.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232395

Anything special: 10-15 miles from town public hot springs on BLM grounds with some limited stand alone camping near hot springs.
---------------

If anyone has other spots to add I could start a new thread. If you've got a bunch of spots then you can start thee thread. All I've got is Mammoth mountain.

Steve

Steve, I would definitely be interested in such a thread. My recommendations would mostly be for WA state and BC.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Also interested. Used to be you could park small RVs at the bottom of Canyon Lodge parking lot
(formerly Warming Hut 2, Mammoth Mtn), no hookups, be cool and you won’t be hassled. Same setup at A-Basin and Copper Mtn in Colorado. Ah, the good old days!?

 

[Big Steve]

Ah, Winthrop the land of the good snow. I spend most of my time slaying Olympic slush or the Cascade Concrete. But we normally get up to Mazama once a year and ski at Kangaroo Pass / Hairpin Corner. Amazing skiing.

* * *

We should organize a winter rally. (Not to hijack your thread)

Cool. We may have run into one another. Over the past 15 years, we have hit WA Pass tours in May and/or June nearly every year, usually camping at Klipchuck with friends. You may have seen our FWC Hawk parked at the hairpin when we do the Birthday Tour.

It'd be fun to meet for a WTW ski jamboree!

I'm game to contribute to a thread re smaller camper parking opportunities at ski resorts. We prefer free or cheap camping and smaller resorts. Examples of PNW freebies (as of last season): Bluewood, Baker, Lookout Pass, Badger Mountain : ), Loup Loup SnoPark (very close to hill, WA SnoPark Pass required). White Pass was free (and a free-for-all hot mess) until 2019-20 season, now $15/night for small spaces.

 

[eyemgh]

We have a Wilco Hitchswing and will probably use a Buzzrack with it (check on Amazon) for skiing. I don't want them inside and I don't want roof racks.

 

[Hoopy]

we drain and remove water pump in winter water is in jugs, we as well had a deck on our last FWC (in the hitch work perfect with broom to knock all snow off,reflextix under mattress and windows , sleep under down comforters no heat at nite. we have had two adults and two kids plus dog in a fleet in montana more people equal more humidity lots of wiping of moisture. I always have a means to get up and clear snow. Large dumps of snow (while resort skiing ie heavy PNW snow) I will come down and sweep the roof depending on snow fall. this year we'll be in a hawk flatbed model. diesel heat for a change, We will see some changes in our set up and are excited WA plates say hello if you see us out there really enjoy the camping in winter and the sking. alot of similarity's in our styles Big Steve ! Hope to see you out there cheers Hoopy

 

[Smokecreek1]

As usual this subject has brought lot's of good comments and suggestions, so let me add a new one the mix-what is your age during winter WTWing! I have had my Granby( with an arctic pack) for 15 years and have spent many a cold snowy night camping in a range of temps and conditions. I have always been one of those "cold nose warm toes types"-window flap near head open while bundled in a warm sleeping bag w/comforter. Okay, usual to bed routine, crack open the side and head windows and turn up my issue heater/furnace full blast warm the place up & climb in the bag! Seldom did I ever use the thermostat-too noisy and ate up the propane.

Okay over time like a lot of us here I added a wave heater for that long term warmth it added while doing things other than sleeping in the camper. Again like allot of us. most of my time out was spent outside not inside the camper (you don't go camping so you can sit inside and watch the tv-you play outside as long as you can and real glad I bought the awning)! It seems that now that I'm getting older-I seem to like it warm and spend less time playing in the snow and sitting around the campfire and more inside reading-I've become a wimp!! My old blast furnace has stopped working of late-sailor valve? But that new Wave 6-yes old one did not give out enough heat it seemed anymore-and the new one I bought has saved the day and kept me warm at night as I read!

I just spent a week up on the Sheldon NWR-.high country with above ave.hot days and nights in the low 20's-felt like the teens. it seemed like it got dark early-no campfires allowed because of fire risk. so I spent allot of the time sitting near the Wave keeping warm and reading, but still had the windows cracked. In the early morning had to get up and turn the heater on low and then climb back in the rack. I still have to get over my fear of leaving it on all night and gassing my self-need to work on that! One of these days might get the blaster fixed and for me that should solve the problem-long time low heat with the wave, and short time instant heat. Yep- that should do it-just got to remember to bring along the extra gas tank and hope summer comes back soon.

Smoke

 

[melcooke]

Thanks Smoke, I like the different perspective and yes age does play a factor. Late 60's for me and early 60's for my partner in adventure.

The Wave 3 "worry" factor is not something to discount and ventilation is healthy in many ways for sure. We'll have the built in furnace and am on the fence about bringing a Wave 3 as an alternative.

We'll be taking our maiden voyage in our Ocelot sometime in November, haven't received the call yet to let us know they are starting on our frame. We're headed initially into northern Nevada and have thoughts of going further south although current Covid trends don't give us a whole lot of confidence we should go to Arizona.

As usual this subject has brought lot's of good comments and suggestions, so let me add a new one the mix-what is your age during winter WTWing! I have had my Granby( with an arctic pack) for 15 years and have spent many a cold snowy night camping in a range of temps and conditions. I have always been one of those "cold nose warm toes types"-window flap near head open while bundled in a warm sleeping bag w/comforter. Okay, usual to bed routine, crack open the side and head windows and turn up my issue heater/furnace full blast warm the place up & climb in the bag! Seldom did I ever use the thermostat-too noisy and ate up the propane.

Okay over time like a lot of us here I added a wave heater for that long term warmth it added while doing things other than sleeping in the camper. Again like allot of us. most of my time out was spent outside not inside the camper (you don't go camping so you can sit inside and watch the tv-you play outside as long as you can and real glad I bought the awning)! It seems that now that I'm getting older-I seem to like it warm and spend less time playing in the snow and sitting around the campfire and more inside reading-I've become a wimp!! My old blast furnace has stopped working of late-sailor valve? But that new Wave 6-yes old one did not give out enough heat it seemed anymore-and the new one I bought has saved the day and kept me warm at night as I read!

I just spent a week up on the Sheldon NWR-.high country with above ave.hot days and nights in the low 20's-felt like the teens. it seemed like it got dark early-no campfires allowed because of fire risk. so I spent allot of the time sitting near the Wave keeping warm and reading, but still had the windows cracked. In the early morning had to get up and turn the heater on low and then climb back in the rack. I still have to get over my fear of leaving it on all night and gassing my self-need to work on that! One of these days might get the blaster fixed and for me that should solve the problem-long time low heat with the wave, and short time instant heat. Yep- that should do it-just got to remember to bring along the extra gas tank and hope summer comes back soon.

Smoke

 

[melcooke]

Smoke, I've started a thread on resort parking and it sounds like you might have some input.

https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/20622-truck-camping-at-ski-resorts-in-the-pacific-northwestbritish-columbia/

Thanks to all, lots of good info coming my way.

 

[Hoopy]

Cool. We may have run into one another. Over the past 15 years, we have hit WA Pass tours in May and/or June nearly every year, usually camping at Klipchuck with friends. You may have seen our FWC Hawk parked at the hairpin when we do the Birthday Tour.

It'd be fun to meet for a WTW ski jamboree!

I'm game to contribute to a thread re smaller camper parking opportunities at ski resorts. We prefer free or cheap camping and smaller resorts. Examples of PNW freebies (as of last season): Bluewood, Baker, Lookout Pass, Badger Mountain : ), Loup Loup SnoPark (very close to hill, WA SnoPark Pass required). White Pass was free (and a free-for-all hot mess) until 2019-20 season, now $15/night for small spaces.

I like the idea of a ski meet up somewhere baker is 10$ now but worth it we spend spring break there and really like the mtn and the Backcountry as well anywhere is great small resorts are great have character hoop

 

[Hoopy]

17 years of experience and hundreds of nights FWC-based skiing (lift-served, touring, ski mountaineering and some XC), first a 2000 Hawk, then a 2014 Hawk, mostly in the PNW, almost always self-contained (i.e., no plug-in). Indeed, I do not recall ever plugging in when parked at a lift-served area. We live in central WA and have done camper-based skiing throughout WA, MT, ID, OR and a few other states. Roughly 50% lift-served, 50% touring/ski mountaineering, December into June most years, sometimes July in big snow years.

Lots of good advice here. My contributions (not complete):

-- I concur that condensation control/moisture management is a major issue. We daily remove thermal liners and wipe canvas with a ShamWow-type cloth. In colder temps, this requires running the furnace to melt frost (i.e., frozen condensation).

-- DIY Reflectix covers for all windows, attached via velcro, significantly reduces furnace use. IME, it's a game changer for winter camping.

-- IME, furnace fan is, by far, the biggest draw on batteries. (Note that our 2014 Hawk has a more energy efficient fan than the one in our 2000 Hawk.) My wife and I (long-time mountaineers and backpackers) seldom run the furnace while sleeping, instead relying on high quality mountaineering down sleeping bags, sometimes zipped together.

-- I remove the water pump and purge the water lines before each winter, carrying water in jugs during winter

-- We carry a lightweight step ladder and snow rake to remove snow from roof. PNW wet powder is heavy!

-- Part of our moisture management strategy is use of a hitch-mount luggage carrier, which doubles as a porch. Use a wisk broom to remove snow from boots, etc. before entering camper. We plan to get a stormworthy free-standing tent (tall enough to stand up inside) to place outside the door for use as a "mud room" for putting on ski boots, etc.

-- We carry our skis in a DIY 1000D Cordura bag that we strap on our hitch-mount luggage rack. It slides under the truck when we get into position.

We get out alot. It'd be fun to meet up with some other WTW skiers!

we do something your hitch mounted luggage (in fact I fabbed up something on our last FWC and we have done a side mount removable we call it the " Deck" and it purpose is a snow removal spot on our Hawk FB. an essential part of our winter camping.
we will be in whitefish and brudage in a wks time cant wait! Our ski area covers the PNW as well WA, OR ID MONT. mainly sometines colo. cheers hope to see you out as well. Hoop

 

[Davehwa]

SnowJoe to push snow off the roof.

16’ extension ladder lashed to the side, using the mounts for the awning which we take off in winter.

We leave the top up, heater on low, while out and about. Heat keeps the snow loose on the roof, easy to push off later. Inefficient but comfortable. It’s really nice to come back to a warm box.