How to Buy a Four-Season RV

By Joy Newcomb

When I purchased my first RV, I spent more than a year looking, researching, reading, and watching videos. I attended RV shows, walked through different models, visited multiple RV dealers and private sellers, and scoured RV Trader daily. I test-drove different models and tried to determine what I thought I wanted, what I knew I wanted, and what I could afford. It was the proverbial needle in the haystack, especially in Los Angeles.

In late September 2019, I found my first rig, a 2007 Winnebago 24-foot Class C. It was easy to drive, had a ton of storage, could fit in almost all national park campgrounds, and I eventually remodeled it so it would work for me and my travels. My plan was to follow the 72-degree weather after leaving LA. I initially decided to follow Route 66, stopping in Ohio to see family, and eventually making my way to Alabama. When the pandemic arrived, I went back to Ohio and parked at my family’s home to wait it out.

My first winter-weather experience in the RV taught me a lot and helped me understand what I needed in a four-season RV. I had an attached propane tank, which meant I had to drive the rig to the local Tractor Supply Co. or U-Haul to have it filled. Eventually, I installed an “extended stay” propane attachment and an easy-to-refill portable tank so I could keep the rig parked longer.

Next, I needed a heat source. In my research, I read multiple stories about the dangers of inexpensive heaters, so I chose to spend the money on one that had safety features including infrared technology. Infrared heat is a safe, natural process that works the same as sunlight—it warms up objects (including people) rather than the surrounding air. That first winter in the RV opened my eyes to where I could potentially travel with my rig throughout the year.

A huge benefit of the Class C I purchased was that my water tank was inside the vehicle under the couch, which meant as long as I kept it warm inside, the water would not freeze. A downside, though, was that the black and gray tanks were under the RV, unprotected from the cold weather. I had a hill and fence nearby that helped keep the wind off the RV, but this led to questions I never thought I would need to research—I now know that urine can freeze at 5 degrees below zero and RV antifreeze prevents the black tank from freezing in winter climates. (This makes sense since it’s used for winterizing.)

While I didn’t get to travel as much as I would have liked in my first RV, I did take a few small trips and lived in it during all four seasons in Ohio. On one trip, I quickly discovered the downside of not having a tow vehicle—I had to pack up every time I needed to leave camp, then unpack and plug back in when I got back. There were times I had to do this twice a day in order to take my nephew to an event. I quickly tired of this process and decided my next rig would be towable.

I’d heard the saying, “your first rig is never your last,” and I now understand that statement. In 2021, I began the difficult process of selling the Class C, buying a truck, and then finding a trailer, truck camper, or fifth wheel that would work for me. One thing I knew this time was that I wanted a winter-friendly RV.

Everyone has different needs for their space, and while it felt like some of my desired features changed every time I stepped into a new RV, I had a basic list of wishes while shopping that never really changed:

■ $20,000 to $30,000

■ 2012 or newer

■ 24 feet

■ Full/queen bed

■ Oven

■ Full-size RV fridge

Adding “cold-weather-friendly trailer” to the list quickly reduced my options. While shopping, I discovered the difference between a four-seasonready and Arctic package. The trailer I settled with has what’s called the northern package. It came with a Thermo foil barrier (floor and slide-out), two 30 -pound liquid propane tanks, and heated tank pads.

In all my research, I learned that marketing is everything, and most “winter-friendly” RVs are limited to just a few models and very hard to find. If you’re looking for a winter RV, my advice is that the first thing you should look at is whether the space under the RV is open or closed. If you can see the frame, then it really isn’t ready for hard winters.

RVing in the winter is 100% possible, but understanding where the limits lie in your actual RV is key ■

See more of Joy’s adventures on joynewcomb.com.