How to Winterize a Trailer in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide

Canadian winters are no joke - they're filled with snowy landscapes and freezing temperatures, posing significant challenges for RV enthusiasts. While the rugged beauty of the wilderness may tempt you to venture out in your RV, it's understandable why many choose to wait until spring.

However, with the proper preparations, you can equip your trailer to withstand icy roads and power outages, ensuring that winter doesn't put a halt to your RV adventures. The question is, how to winterize a trailer? This is a crucial consideration for RV travellers, especially when you're far from the grid. Fortunately, a small generator can provide the power you need to navigate the harsh Canadian winters, no matter where your travels take you.

In this blog, we'll explore how to winterize a camper using a solar generator in Canada so you don't have to put your RV into hibernation for the winter season.

How to Winterize a Trailer

There's so much to prepare for when planning to RV travel in Canada. Temperatures^[1] at night may drop as low as -31°F, and the freezing landscapes quickly take a toll on your RV. The water in the pipes freezes and expands, which, in turn, bursts the lines. This leads to heavy, time-consuming repairs. If ignored, things get worse and lead to moulds and bugs in your RV.

But fret not; here’s how to winterize a trailer in Canada to help you enjoy years of stress-free RV travel or camping, regardless of the time of the year: 

1. Inspection & Maintenance

When wondering how to winterize a trailer, know that the process begins with the right inspection to know the areas that deserve the most attention.

• Do the Roof and Seal Preparation: First up, check your trailer’s roof, windows, and doors for cracks, leaks, or gaps in the seals. This step keeps the cold air and moisture at bay.
• Winterize the Freshwater System: Disconnect any outside water source and then drain the water system, including the tank, pipes, and lines. Ideally, add an RV antifreeze (at least 2 pints) to ensure no water is left inside to damage the system.
• Install a Winter Water Heater: You can also install a water heater bypass kit. This step protects your trailer’s system from freezing temperatures.
• Protect the Plumbing System: For this step, open all faucets to drain the water perfectly. Also, add insulation or waterproof heat tapes to pipes and lines to prevent them from bursting as a result of water expansion.
• Take the Winter Maintenance of Batteries: Since cold temperatures drain batteries faster, it’s essential to maintain them during winter. Store the battery in a dry and warm place, or use a battery warmer to keep them from freezing. 
• Adjust Tire Pressure: Now, inflate your tires according to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI for winter. Colder areas cause tire pressures to drop, so ensure they’re slightly higher than usual.

2. Insulation Measures

Insulating your trailer is a non-negotiable step of winterizing it. Here’s what you should do:  

• Install Insulating Curtains or Window Insulation Film: Given the importance of windows and doors as the main contributors to heat loss, they must be a focal point when it comes to insulation. For instance, add insulating curtains or reflective bubble wraps to keep the warmth within. If any cracks exist around the doors, seal them with weatherstripping or insulation films.
• Maintain Internal Warmth: To keep the heat within the trailer, it’s best to use insulating pads and electric blankets. These accessories ensure you don’t feel cold, even when temperatures drop to the lowest.
• Stock Up on Warm Clothing: While you learn how to winterize a trailer, don’t forget to pack warm clothes to stay warm. Also, add thermal sleeping bags, rugs, and other insulation materials to remain cozy throughout the trip.

3. Food & Water Supply

The final step in “How do I winterize my RV” is to ensure you’ve got adequate food and water supply to get you through the trip comfortably.

• Stock Non-perishable Food Items: Choose non-perishable food items, including canned goods and dry snacks, so you always have food supplies at hand. Additionally, consider using insulated boxes for storage to keep items at a stable temperature.
• Sufficient Water Supply: Don’t forget to carry plenty of water, including a few extra cans, so you don’t run out of water in the middle of nowhere. Most importantly, ensure the water is stored in insulated containers to prevent freezing.

How Solar Generators Solve Winter RV Travel Energy Problems

Now, how much does it cost to winterize a trailer? Typically, around $100 to $500, but it all pays off when you can comfortably use your trailer for years to come. Another wise investment when planning to RV travel during winter is to go for solar generators from trusted brands. Let’s explore how they solve all your energy problems effortlessly:

1. Exploring the Advantages of Solar Generators

Once you successfully learn how to winterize a trailer, the next step is to explore the perks of adding solar generators to your trailer. Here’s why they’re a smart addition to your trailer:

• Environment-friendly & Energy-saving: Most importantly, solar generators run on renewable energy from the sun. This means that no matter how many appliances you run while RVing, they won’t add to your carbon footprint. Plus, they save energy by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.
• Self-sufficiency: Dependence on power hookups isn’t a good idea, especially when you wish to enjoy the freedom of RV. With a solar generator, you can explore all you want with a power source right at your disposal.
• Silent Operation: Unlike traditional noisy generators, solar generators are known for their quiet operation. Fortunately, they allow you to enjoy nature’s serenity without the constant sound of an engine.
• Low Maintenance: Since solar generators don’t require frequent fuel top-ups, they need way less maintenance than traditional generators. Of course, this makes them perfect for your RV travel adventures.

2. Practical Applications of Solar Generators

Another good news is that solar generators aren’t just packed with benefits; they’re also super versatile. This makes them incredibly practical and helpful in multiple situations, including (but not limited to):

• Daily Power Supply: When away from the grid in your RV, it’s obvious you’ll want to run numerous everyday devices. Solar generators ensure these devices don’t just run but also remain powered up throughout your RV trip to Canada.
• Emergency Backup: In case of unexpected situations, solar generators almost always prove to be your ultimate companions. For example, they charge your GPS equipment and phones, so you’re never lost in the middle of nowhere.
• Extending Camping Time: With a reliable power source at your disposal, you can stay off-grid for as long as you like.

Selection & Configuration of Solar Generators

Learning how to winterize a trailer is worth it, but so is knowing how to select the right solar generators. Here’s how to pick the right generator so your trailer never runs out of power while you’re miles away from home:

1. Power Requirements

As soon as you know how to winterize a motorhome, rush to figure out how much power you’ll need. List all the devices you’ll be using, including lights, phones, heating equipment, or even coffee makers. This lets you handpick a generator that can handle all these appliances together without turning into a headache for you.

2. Battery Capacity

Goes without saying - the larger the battery, the longer it will last. If you wish to spend more time off-grid in the harsh Canadian winter, ensure you get a solar generator with a high-capacity battery. Given that batteries drain faster in cooler temperatures, make a wise decision depending on how long you stay away from home.

3. Portability and Installation

Camping or RVing isn’t only about learning how to winterize a trailer. It’s also about figuring out a lightweight yet simple generator setup. Luckily, compact, portable Jackery generators step in to ensure powering your appliances is never a stressful experience again.

Jackery Solar Generators to Help You Winterize a Trailer

Are you done figuring out how to winterize a trailer? Great. Now, it’s time to choose a reliable solar generator to power your trip throughout. At Jackery, we ensure all your power needs are covered for as long as you want. We offer a versatile lineup of solar generators you can count on anytime. Our top two models include:

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Our Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is your perfect RV companion, especially during the extreme Canadian winters. This versatile model can expand from a solid 2 kWh capacity to 24 kWh. Knowing how to winterize a trailer, coupled with our Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, can make your off-grip trip simpler than you think!

What makes this model stand out is its ability to deliver 6000W of power in a parallel setup. This makes it powerful enough to handle multiple heavy-duty appliances at once, including heaters, electric blankets, or even medical equipment. Better yet, this generator even powers your entire work setup for as long as you’re away from home.

Plus, we’ve built this incredible generator with advanced IBC technology that ensures it’s fully charged within just 6 hours (when paired with six 100W solar panels). The cherry on top? The latest ChargeSheild technology enhances the generator’s battery life by 50%! 

Tips for Using Solar Generators in Winter Camping

Simply knowing how to winterize a trailer isn’t always enough. It’s equally crucial to understand exactly how to use solar generators to enjoy winter camping in Canada. Here are a bunch of tips for using solar generators while camping in freezing cold: 

1. Maximize Solar Energy Collection

To begin with, you’ll need to make the most out of solar energy. Choose a sunny spot that receives ample sunlight during the day to install your solar panels. This makes a huge difference in how your solar generator performs in winter.

While you’re at it, remember to keep the panels clean. Snow, dirt, or dust act as a barrier between sunlight and your panels, reducing their efficiency in collecting solar energy. So, ensure you wipe them regularly.

2. Energy-saving Measures

When wondering how to winterize a camper, a key step is to save energy wherever you can. For instance, stick to appliances that don’t require a ton of power. The more energy-efficient lights and devices your trailer has, the better your solar generator will work through the RV trip.

Similarly, plan out your power usage well beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassles. Don’t run multiple high-power devices at once, especially during peak hours. Instead, spread out your appliance use to ensure the stored energy lasts longer.

3. Maintenance and Monitoring

Lastly, maintain and monitor your solar generators to ensure they last longer. To do so, check your generator’s charge so you don’t run low when you need energy the most.

Plus, since batteries don’t work efficiently under cold temperatures, take preventive measures to protect their functionality. Use an insulated cover or keep the generator inside the trailer to protect it from the cold. 

Conclusion

Learning how to winterize a trailer isn’t as daunting as it may seem. It’s important to do your homework right before you set out on your travel trailer for the ultimate adventure. Luckily, Jackery solar generators put your power hassles aside, too.

Knowing how to winterize a trailer is smart.  Still, it’s even wiser to pair up your adventures with dependable power sources like the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus and HomePower 3000! 

Reference

[1]. Available at: https://www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/seeking-asylum-in-canada/what-is-winter-like-in-canada/