Sharp camper, Love my German Shepherd (Daisy) yrs ago we had a 29’ Airstream, best trailer we ever owned, We Travel now with a Lance Truck camper in our Retired Life. Safe Travels! 👍🏼🇱🇷
I can’t wait! We pick our basecamp up Wednesday, spend a couple days switching out the batteries to battleborn, changing out the inverter charger and packing and then we’re on the road!!! Great videos, we’ve gotten so much info from you!
I am looking at getting a Basecamp 16 for full time living very soon and the tips about directing the heat are so helpful!!! I always like the views you have out your kitchen window which is why I don’t like the 20’!!!
Super in-depth, practical tips for winter camping in the Basecamp, expertly delivered and edited-no gaps, no loss of your viewer’s attention at any time throughout-typical Tails of Wanderlust quality!! Thanks, Cass, Jasper and Napoleon! As newbies I was bummed to discover RV condensation issues for the first time, and was initially stymied for dealing with them. At first I thought they ruled out winter camping, which was a bit shock and a huge disappointment. The ability to camp in the cold was a big reason for getting a hard-sided camper in the first place!! Then we learned about venting and discovered the joys of our really great and so-far trouble-free Truma heater (plus a supplemental one). But you’ve covered here quite a list of other tips that are new to us, and (yay!) very specific to our (exact same, I think) rig! You keep reminding us of all the best qualities of our 2018 Basecamp, and the simple work-arounds that keep us loving it. Thanks a million!! Happy Camping!
Thank you so much, really appreciate that! Glad you are enjoying the videos! Mine is also a 2018, so we do have the same rig! Hope you guys are able to get yours out in the snow and really enjoy it!
Oh good! More from Cass. Interesting info, of course. But it doesn’t have to be. Video watching the grass grow, watching paint dry, anything. I’ll come along with you. I love your Basecamp, and the two guys who live in it with you. You’re a nice little family.
Only because he was hiding in the trailer from the snow. Usually if he's poking his head around, I'll introduce him as well. If you'd rather I introduce both and let you know where Napoleon is hiding I can always do that too!
@@TailsofWanderlust I always want to know about Napoleon! (see above comment about worrying about him lol). I love Jasper of course, but we are cat people and joke about taking them along all the time. If you're ever bored and want to do a whole "life story of Napoleon" and how he adapted and etc, I would certainly watch it!
I live in Denver. That was one heck of a storm. Right before it hit, I accompanied a good friend to Dallas to pick up a dog she was adopting from a rescue. We knew the weather would be changing fast. So, we flew in Friday and drove out in a rental car on Saturday. It was a race to get back to Colorado. We tried to get back in a day. But, had to stop in Raton. It certainly was beautiful. I love your videos. I've been thinking about getting a Basecamp. I love how informative you are about what life is like to live full time in yours. Thanks for what you do. And take care of yourself.
All excellent advice. We winter camp our 28’ Airstream in CO, UT, NM, AZ… and experience similar temps as you mentioned. Except for the Truma (we have a conventional propane furnace), all of your tips apply, and we stay very warm and comfortable. I burn about 7 gal of propane per week in these conditions. I do use antifreeze in the entire system for storage, and simply flush it out for each trip, using bottled water for the first few days as the pink stuff dissipates. It’s been a very cold and snowy winter, and we’ve enjoyed six weeks of camping with no Airstream issues.
We live in the tropics of Australia so we never really get a winter here so its interesting to see how you and Jasper cope with the challenges of your winter, cheers.
Very educational vid! I really appreciated that you went into detail about now only general information about how to stay warm, but also specific details regarding the basecamp and how to care for it and keep things running smooth.
Thank you! I was wondering how the Basecamp did in winter conditions and this video was filled with good information. I have been a tent camper for decades but we are thinking of getting a Basecamp this year and find your videos helpful. Thank you!
A great idea would be to install a cheap Chinese diesel heater (Max 2kw unit for the size of your trailer) in your Airstream too as an alternative heat source. They come with their own compact plastic fuel tank, wireless FOB, thermostat and all necessary installation parts. Run out of propane, no problem, use the diesel heater. UA-cam has a ton of videos on them. They can be found on Amazon or Ebay. Just a suggestion.
As a new Basecamp owner (since August), I was fearful when our temp went down to 18°. I plugged in an electric space heater. Hearing her story is very encouraging for future travel plans.
Not sure if it was mentioned before, but a can of compressed air can be helpful. That way you can blow moisture off the panel without using power/battery and waiting for just evaporation. "Can" be useful for other things too. :)
You should look into getting Jasper a Pet Snuffle Mat from Amazon! You can dump his food in there and it makes him forage and dig around to eat the kibble which can extend his eating by quite a while and gives them something to do indoors!
You're gonna laugh, but here in Texas, we had a VERY unusual weather event. It SNOWED, a lot!!! Everyone scurried to buy propane as many folks were left without electricity and heat. I'm lucky, my house has gas, so even without electricity, I could cook and keep warm. Now (stay with me, I promise I have a comment about your video, lol), my girlfriend gave me a really cool Cuisinart Petite tabletop gas grill for Valentine's. I was all excited to get it going...until I tried to find propane canisters! NO one has any, no one! SOOO....when you showed me your little heater, and I saw it's powered by a small propane canister, I jumped outta my chair and said aloud, "There, that's what I'm looking for!!!" lol, sorry, long story, but I'm kind of long-winded. At any rate, yet another well-done video, thanks! Stay warm!
haha! I enjoyed reading your comment, and glad that you found the video helpful! Also, very happy to hear that you were still able to cook during the power outages. The weather you guys have been through is insane! Hope you are now enjoying the sun!
I bought my trailer in "17" condensation was bad. Last year I bought a diesel heater an it was the best thing ever. No condensation just dry warm heat. Haven't used the furnace since then and I must say getting in a dry warm bed instead of a damp cold 1 is awsome.
love the dog snacking next to you :-) on the heating issue: its a big issue that condensation is going behind the walls, this will rot the walls and impact structural integrity...
I am so inspired by your journey. I have dreamed of doing this myself someday & it brings the hugest smile to my face seeing a person actually doing something they dream of & loving it despite the challenges. I found your UA-cam C. a few weeks back. I am looking forward to going back & watching ALL your videos posted since the very start of your journey. Ty so much for sharing your journey with us. I am overjoyed to see you have your two furry babies with you as well! I pray you remain safe, happy, warm & growing in love of your life journey during this process. Sending much love, prayers & good vibes from Texas. 😇💕🥰🙏🤗
Thank you so much Carly! Really appreciate your kind words. I only started these videos about 3 years into my journey, so trying to catch up. Wish I had started sooner!
From another Airstreamer... very good information, Cass. An old dog can learn a new trick! My trailer is much older... way before Truma. It has a very inefficient 19K BTU Suburban. For additional heat we have Wave3 that just sips propane... and a small dehumidifier. But, like you said, the furnace heats the underbelly / tanks. To stop heat loss and reduce most condensation I have cut-to-fit Refectix for all windows and ceiling vents. They are ugly, but at night that isn't an issue. Oh, mine is a 23FB International Signature (Christopher C Deam) that I have converted to front twins, added 500w solar panels, 3000w inverter and 340Ah Li. I'll be following. Thanks.
Cheers from Queensland, Australia. It's around 70d and fine although overcast. Keep it up with the tips please, useful for parts of our southern states.
I can’t thank you enough for your thoroughness in explaining every little detail!! I’m glad I stumbled upon your account!! Enjoying catching up on all your content!! Safe travels!! 😊
Awesome video. So many great tips. Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wondered how winter camping living full time in a small camper would work. Great job!
Napoleon! I was worried when I hadn't seen him in the last few videos I watched. He probably loves it when you stay cooped up inside. As a frequent visitor to the FB group, I live in fear of Truma malfunction. Thanks for explaining how to get the panel off; at least we will have a starting point. Also love the trick for keeping the bathroom door open. That is way better than just letting it flop around--which is super in the way if there are 2 of you, and which is what we have done on cooler nights. We also do the gap at the head of the bed; the heat under the bed and not in the bathroom is one of my few gripes about our 16x. "Amateur" tip: do NOT use a vaccuum cleaner hose to re-route the heat upwards. LOL. We may look for some fat engine heater hose though because until the hose melted it worked great.
We had a "cold" winter in Virginia. Got into the teens some nights but many nights into the 20s. I work so I am not in my van all the time so I do worry when I come home from work if my water has frozen or my batteries are too cold to charge. I have not seen or had any issues yet but I plan on buying heating pads for my water tank and batteries that will keep them above freezing during next winter. For a few months I only relied on solar power to charger my batteries but after a few days of a lot of rain and overcast, my batteries got so low that I couldn't run my inverter or fridge. I have since installed a DC to DC charger that is hooked up to my alternator so when I am driving around my batteries get a charge. This came in handy a few weeks ago when it snowed a few inches than followed up with freezing rain so I was not able to clear my solar panels for them to get a charge.
Those DC to DC chargers are amazing. I've been eyeing them for awhile but haven't made the jump on one yet. Glad to hear that it has been very helpful to you!
@@TailsofWanderlust They truly come in handy. The alternators that usually come with SUVs, trucks, vans are an overkill for most buyers and their uses. For example the one that comes with my van is a 180A/hr one in which most of that goes to waste/not used so why not tap into that and help keep your batteries charged? If you do finally buy a DC-DC charger, make sure it is a charger and not a VSR/Isolator. You want a device that cannot only detect the temperature of your battery and not charge it if it is too cold but also change its charging power depending on how full or empty your battery helping your batteries last as long as possible.
Wow! I always assumed the Basecamp was a little more winter resistant (for no reason in particular). I have camped in my Casita in temps down to 15-25 degrees with no problems but all my tanks and water lines are inside the trailer (the gray tank sticks out an inch or 2) and have not had a problem as long as some heat is on, either my little Walmart 120v heater or the propane furnace if no 120v is available. You probably love your Truma appliances but mine are completely manual with a bimetal (nonpowered mechanical) thermostat. Simplicity can be your friend sometimes. That said, the Basecamp seems like a great trailer. Be safe, stay warm!
We currently have a 5th wheel, but we use to have an Airstream, and this has worked in both. We crack open the roof vent in the bathroom. Heat rises, and take moisture with it.
That would be great. I've seen them make changes in newer models based on owner feedback, so they definitely do watch and listen different blogs. Thanks for watching Lou!
Another thing thing to consider for your Truma is getting the Analog dial controller from Truma as a backup. The communication connector that plugs into the Digital Display will also plug into the Analog dial controller and run your heater... I am testing a VarioHeat in my DIY Overland trailer and when the display went out I simply plugged in the dial controller and operated the heater. Anyway just a suggestion...
@@TailsofWanderlust Yep, just make sure you get the one for your model and country version... Let me know if you need me to point you in the right direction regarding where to order one from...
Hi, enjoying your account of dealing with cold temperatures and other challenges of Rv life. I think you're very practical which allows you to over come problems. Also, your ability to articulate your opinions, thoughts and experiences is commendable. Question, on a previous video you stated that you were gonna drive 3 to 4 hours to have your fridge exchanged etc and then to double back .... that's a lot of fuel plus wear and tear on the rig. Couldn't fridge have been couried to you and the nearest agent/technician install it? YES, those lithium batteries are super efficient but are also super expensive. Edited: . ... a suggestion with your grey water. If you were to cut into that drain pipe and insert a T piece / 2 direction valve then you could at short notice drain your grey water onto the ground or into a bucket to be responsibly disposed of thereafter. In so doing, your black water tank wouldn't fill too quickly and you could enjoy longer showers. I'm running 2Kw pure sine wave inverter with 2 only 107ah batteries, that set up will work microwave, fridge freezer, lights and coffee machine but no extreme heater elements. I am living Capetown, South Africa and we only experience snow at inland high altitude regions. Once we went down to minus 2 degrees Celsius at a small remote village called Sutherland that's famous for the world renown telescopes. My son a mechatronics engineer and at times is stationed there. Through watching winter camping I have taken measures to reduce air flow in my motorhome an old Mitsubishi L300 to make it warmer during winter months along with a simple fan heater. Electric blankets are very useful for cold nights. Here in South Africa tent, caravan, campervan and motorhome camping is a growing pastime. Before corona, I'd meet up with tourists at my favourite campsite, Miller's Point in Capetown Google it. Tourists from America, Germany and other countries fly into Capetown international airport and collect a pre booked newish motorhome to go touring throughout my country. They would mostly travel along "the garden route" and then upto the Kruger National Park to see Africa s wildlife. Just thought I'd share my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Stay strong, stay warm and stay well.
Thanks Leon for all the info! I drove the long distance for the fridge, as Airstream covered the cost of it if I went out to the factory, so it was worth the time and gas. Sounds like you have some great areas to travel in South Africa. I've always wanted to travel there. Thanks for checking in and watching the videos!
Just discovered you but I love your videos. You are VERY well spoken, descriptive and knowledgable. Jasper is awesome and it's really cool you brought Napoleon with you, as well (can't say I would even dream of RV'ing with a cat). I just got my towing vehicle but need to be back to work (damn you Covid) before I can start looking at trailers. You've really stirred my interest in an Airstream though. I've been in love with the Nest since it was first announced but always put the price in the "not worth it" category. You've changed my way of thinking about everything and your Basecamp looks so comfy. Looking forward to watching your videos and channel growth and happy to subscribe. I wish you continued success.
Cass, my plan for next winter is to stay at Tiger Run RV campground In Breckinridge for about a month and ski my butt off! I am really focusing on winter camping ideas including skirting, insulation for the windows, secondary heaters, etc. Will have full hook-ups but you cant always depend on everything in the BC working properly, so need a plan B. Definitely be using some of your suggestions to make it as comfortable as possible. Don’t think I will have any problem with entertainment!
Great tips! I'd also like to mention that anti freeze is extremely poisonous to animals, and they often like the taste of it so be careful about cleaning up spills and storing used containers. Safe travels!🥰🚙
RV anti freeze is non toxic. In extreme cold it turns to slush. Diluting it by adding it to holding tanks is not likely to be effective in extreme temps.
Again, another informative and . tell thought out video. Winter sounds like a lot of extra work with the cold and snow. I assume after a while the process becomes routine. Take care and be safe. Happy summer. Blessings
I stumbled upon your channel and please know I just really enjoyed your winter camping video...I had to give a like and subscribe..enjoy and stay safe!
If I might suggest...laser thermometer. ~$20 on Amazon - you can find out exactly what temperature your lines are, and perhaps not have to leave cabinet doors open. Also a very useful tool to have handy for basic automotive diagnostics
Also on Amazon I picked up a thermometer with 2 remote sensors so the wall unit gives me room temp, one in the fridge and in cold weather one will go under the sink.
Ive lived in flagstaff for almost 10 years now and EVERY year there is a snow storm in May lol. This place is weird. If you wanna experience all 4 seasons in one week, then this is place for you!
In your opening, looking at all that snow I was like, oh yeh you’re totally gonna get stuck! Just as I was about to type that, you said camping in my friends driveway. Pffff, ok. But I typed this anyway. Lol.
I'm stuck on Himalayan Dog Cheese, but awesome winter Airstream beta:). I'm considering pulling one to live in also. I'm a skier too and miss when ski areas had free overnight RV lots with porto potties and dumpsters. My home area (kirkwood) had that and I crashed in my Six pac. I have a 5.7L v8 tundra now, so Airstreams are attractive.
Bella and I are still trying to pick our full time RV. Your videos are swaying me towards the basecamp or at least one of the smaller Airstreams. Side note she loves watching Jasper and tries to touch him through the screen!
Great video. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about snow and freezing conditions here in Oz. Can count on one hand the number of sub 32 days I’ve experienced in the van. I also have a truma and in 12 months I think I’ve used it less than 5 times. The bigger problem is dealing with multiple +100 days! 👍🇦🇺
So is Napoleon your highly paid trained assistant??? I love black cats, and everyone of my cats loved to snuggle. Yes I'm a cat person, but I love all critters, and I love to rub and snuggle with dogs owned by others. I have even taught my cats to flush toilets, open and close screen doors, swim, and as always play fetch. I even had a tabby called Spike who loved to jump in from of the neighborhood dogs being walked by their owners and play with them; he also like to go for drives with his hind legs on the passenger seat, and his paws on the dash. I am amazed at what animals can do, what they endure when times are bad, and how much they still keep giving. I am also amazed at how they give so much of themselves to protect their owner, without a thought about themselves. Yes all my 4 legged animals have been rescues. Living in a city I've seen some pretty horrendous situation, such as 2 dogs that were starved by an owner who thought he could use them as guard dogs. By approaching them, and feeding them I was able to climb over the fence (yes we both had to trust each other) and I was able to gently talk to, and rub them. One of them had a foxtail in her eye, so I met up with animal control, who provided an antibiotic eye cream to to dispense into this gorgeous german shepard, as well as remove the foxtail from her eye. While I was trespassing, these animals trusted me, and appreciated what I had done. While the barked and growled at other, they trusted me with a wag of their tails. All of our cats have learned what our cars sounded like, and would jump off the cat stand, run up to the sidewalk, and flop down onto their back for a good tummy rub. What a great way to come home from a rough day at work. Sadly my last kitty, Lucy had to be put down about 18 months ago. A runt kitty at 6 pounds, she had the heart of a lion, and would fight to protect her territory, and it didn't matter how big the other cat was, she always stood her ground. She was also smart enough to avoid the skunks, possums, and coyotes (though we did bring her in when the sun went down). All my cats loved to climb up on my office desk, plop themselves down on either the desk or on my keyboard to make sure I needed to take a break from being a Program Manager for the Enterprise IT Infrastructure for Kaiser Permanente. All animals amaze me, and I have a deep respect for them. I often get down on my stomach so I'm at their level, and become less of a threat, so we can listen to each other, so I can introduce myself, gently pet them, and provide a sense of appreciation and comfort in their lives. Our pets can be goof balls at time, but they always giving. We are waiting for the kitten season this year, so we can pick up a black kitty (always the hardest to adopt), and another kitty; or siblings, litter mates or whatever. I'll try and send you some photos to your blog or a share you can follow. Thanks for all that you share, the time you take to present, and share your knowledge and experiences. Bravo and thanks to you and your 4 legged team. I may also reach out to you on process improvement, as I'm a Project Manager, so I'm always looking for ways to solve problems, and build teams. Check out my LinkedIn posting (Brad Paulus), and shoot me a private message. It's a small world. Thank you (bcpaulus@outlook.com).
I love all of your great practical ideas...no extra stuff ! But Girl, always carry a supply of chew sticks and raw hides w the shepherds. Comes in handy on rainy days when they drive u crazy. And party mix for jasper too❤️
So true! I only have treats and toys, no long term chew toys for him. We'll be going to a pet store for sure soon (although he can't eat rawhide, it upsets his stomach).
Awesome person. I'm retired and gearing up to indulge my wanderlust. Her videos are immensely informative and inspirational.
Thanks Kerry, I appreciate that! Hope you have a wonderful time exploring and traveling!
I love how resourceful you are with keeping the doors propped open and the heater control panel open. MacGyver!
Aw, thank you!
Sharp camper, Love my German Shepherd (Daisy) yrs ago we had a 29’ Airstream, best trailer we ever owned, We Travel now with a Lance Truck camper in our Retired Life. Safe Travels! 👍🏼🇱🇷
Oh I would love to hear how you like the truck camper! I've been tossing around the idea of switching if Toyota ever comes out with a hybrid truck.
I can’t wait! We pick our basecamp up Wednesday, spend a couple days switching out the batteries to battleborn, changing out the inverter charger and packing and then we’re on the road!!! Great videos, we’ve gotten so much info from you!
That is so exciting! Congrats! Hope you have an amazing journey and really glad the information has been helpful!
I am looking at getting a Basecamp 16 for full time living very soon and the tips about directing the heat are so helpful!!! I always like the views you have out your kitchen window which is why I don’t like the 20’!!!
Hope you enjoy the BC when you get it!
Super in-depth, practical tips for winter camping in the Basecamp, expertly delivered and edited-no gaps, no loss of your viewer’s attention at any time throughout-typical Tails of Wanderlust quality!! Thanks, Cass, Jasper and Napoleon! As newbies I was bummed to discover RV condensation issues for the first time, and was initially stymied for dealing with them. At first I thought they ruled out winter camping, which was a bit shock and a huge disappointment. The ability to camp in the cold was a big reason for getting a hard-sided camper in the first place!! Then we learned about venting and discovered the joys of our really great and so-far trouble-free Truma heater (plus a supplemental one). But you’ve covered here quite a list of other tips that are new to us, and (yay!) very specific to our (exact same, I think) rig! You keep reminding us of all the best qualities of our 2018 Basecamp, and the simple work-arounds that keep us loving it. Thanks a million!! Happy Camping!
Thank you so much, really appreciate that! Glad you are enjoying the videos! Mine is also a 2018, so we do have the same rig! Hope you guys are able to get yours out in the snow and really enjoy it!
Oh good! More from Cass. Interesting info, of course. But it doesn’t have to be. Video watching the grass grow, watching paint dry, anything. I’ll come along with you. I love your Basecamp, and the two guys who live in it with you. You’re a nice little family.
Thank you very much, I truly appreciate that! Really glad you are enjoying the videos, and I appreciate you checking them all out!
I liked how you talked about drying Jasper, then opened the door and he immediately jumped on the bed. So much for that plan !
Haha! Yea best plans don't always work out. Thanks for watching!
Who didn't realize she had a cat sitting on her lap until it stuck its head out? LOL
Yup right when she leaned over to jasper
Now that I think about it, it’s sad 😥that she didn’t introduce her cat 🐈⬛in the beginning of the video. She just mentioned Jasper. 🐕
Only because he was hiding in the trailer from the snow. Usually if he's poking his head around, I'll introduce him as well. If you'd rather I introduce both and let you know where Napoleon is hiding I can always do that too!
@@TailsofWanderlust I always want to know about Napoleon! (see above comment about worrying about him lol). I love Jasper of course, but we are cat people and joke about taking them along all the time. If you're ever bored and want to do a whole "life story of Napoleon" and how he adapted and etc, I would certainly watch it!
I live in Denver. That was one heck of a storm. Right before it hit, I accompanied a good friend to Dallas to pick up a dog she was adopting from a rescue. We knew the weather would be changing fast. So, we flew in Friday and drove out in a rental car on Saturday. It was a race to get back to Colorado. We tried to get back in a day. But, had to stop in Raton. It certainly was beautiful.
I love your videos. I've been thinking about getting a Basecamp. I love how informative you are about what life is like to live full time in yours. Thanks for what you do. And take care of yourself.
Thank you very much Becca! Hope you guys had a safe trip back up from Raton. That pass can get quite rough in the snow.
All excellent advice. We winter camp our 28’ Airstream in CO, UT, NM, AZ… and experience similar temps as you mentioned. Except for the Truma (we have a conventional propane furnace), all of your tips apply, and we stay very warm and comfortable. I burn about 7 gal of propane per week in these conditions. I do use antifreeze in the entire system for storage, and simply flush it out for each trip, using bottled water for the first few days as the pink stuff dissipates. It’s been a very cold and snowy winter, and we’ve enjoyed six weeks of camping with no Airstream issues.
Solid, thanks! Just became the owner of a 2021 basecamp X yesterday!
Congrats that is really exciting! Hope you enjoy it!
We live in the tropics of Australia so we never really get a winter here so its interesting to see how you and Jasper cope with the challenges of your winter, cheers.
Enjoy some of that warm weather for us!
Fabulous expertise/subject matter knowledge, and great delivery
Very educational vid! I really appreciated that you went into detail about now only general information about how to stay warm, but also specific details regarding the basecamp and how to care for it and keep things running smooth.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! I was wondering how the Basecamp did in winter conditions and this video was filled with good information. I have been a tent camper for decades but we are thinking of getting a Basecamp this year and find your videos helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
A great idea would be to install a cheap Chinese diesel heater (Max 2kw unit for the size of your trailer) in your Airstream too as an alternative heat source. They come with their own compact plastic fuel tank, wireless FOB, thermostat and all necessary installation parts. Run out of propane, no problem, use the diesel heater. UA-cam has a ton of videos on them. They can be found on Amazon or Ebay. Just a suggestion.
Oh that's interesting, I haven't heard of those before. Thanks for sharing the detail!
As a new Basecamp owner (since August), I was fearful when our temp went down to 18°. I plugged in an electric space heater. Hearing her story is very encouraging for future travel plans.
Hope you are enjoying the BC!
So useful and well presented, as always! I love how chill Napoleon is - he seems like a great cuddler. :D
He absolutely is. That's his specialty!
Appreciate all your comments on winter camping. I follow you on Instagram and love your posts!
I never thought to look on utube.
Thanks again
Thanks for following along Kris!
Jasper is AWESOME, Napoleon is cute - and you’re pretty neat, too! 👍 Great videos!
Thank you Stephen! Appreciate you checking the videos out!
The pupper is living a great life 😊
Hope he’s loving it!
Not sure if it was mentioned before, but a can of compressed air can be helpful. That way you can blow moisture off the panel without using power/battery and waiting for just evaporation. "Can" be useful for other things too. :)
Good tip, thanks for sharing David!
Love your content! You're the best! This is my obligatory content to improve your results in the UA-cam algorithm. :) ❤love winter camping
Awesome video. I love how your knee deep in snow then heading to the desert lol
That's the best part about the Southwest, it's easy to jump between the climates!
You should look into getting Jasper a Pet Snuffle Mat from Amazon! You can dump his food in there and it makes him forage and dig around to eat the kibble which can extend his eating by quite a while and gives them something to do indoors!
Oh awesome, thank you! I'll check those out.
You really have a good handle on things. I too camp with my dog Sparty. Keeping him comfortable and happy are super important.
Absolutely. Want to keep the fur family happy!
Jasper makes excellent videos. Good job!
Glad you like them!
You're gonna laugh, but here in Texas, we had a VERY unusual weather event. It SNOWED, a lot!!! Everyone scurried to buy propane as many folks were left without electricity and heat. I'm lucky, my house has gas, so even without electricity, I could cook and keep warm. Now (stay with me, I promise I have a comment about your video, lol), my girlfriend gave me a really cool Cuisinart Petite tabletop gas grill for Valentine's. I was all excited to get it going...until I tried to find propane canisters! NO one has any, no one! SOOO....when you showed me your little heater, and I saw it's powered by a small propane canister, I jumped outta my chair and said aloud, "There, that's what I'm looking for!!!" lol, sorry, long story, but I'm kind of long-winded. At any rate, yet another well-done video, thanks! Stay warm!
haha! I enjoyed reading your comment, and glad that you found the video helpful! Also, very happy to hear that you were still able to cook during the power outages. The weather you guys have been through is insane! Hope you are now enjoying the sun!
damn girl, you know more about that camper than the sales folks...
Thanks Joel! Appreciate you checking out the video.
Wow, didn't notice your cat was sitting on your lap at first lol
Haha yea he blends right in!
To the 1 % of people reading this
I want you to forget about everything and have an awesome weekend 😁😁
Hope you had an amazing weekend as well!
Jasper is so cute playing in the snow
Thanks! One of his favorite times.
I like a little snow on the roof.
I can tell a difference in insulation.
Thank you for the upload. Jasper always makes me smile.
That's a great point on the extra insulation! If this snow hadn't been so heavy I may have considered it. Thanks for watching!
@@TailsofWanderlust
You're welcome
It's absolutely fascinating "this lifestyle that you live." Astonishing WOW! Fantastic!
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you!
I bought my trailer in "17" condensation was bad. Last year I bought a diesel heater an it was the best thing ever. No condensation just dry warm heat. Haven't used the furnace since then and I must say getting in a dry warm bed instead of a damp cold 1 is awsome.
Thanks for sharing Wayne. I didn't know that diesel heaters had a drier heat. Appreciate the tip, and thanks for watching!
love the dog snacking next to you :-) on the heating issue: its a big issue that condensation is going behind the walls, this will rot the walls and impact structural integrity...
Yea really need to get into that window and fix the issue.... Thanks for the reminder!
I ❤️ Napoleon! And Jasper too! Some great tips here!
Awesome! Thank you!
I really dislike snow but your hints were wonderful - nice job!!!!
Thank you very much Eric! Appreciate that and you checking out the video!
Awesome vid. I’m going winter camping this New Year’s Eve
Awesome! Enjoy it!
I am so inspired by your journey. I have dreamed of doing this myself someday & it brings the hugest smile to my face seeing a person actually doing something they dream of & loving it despite the challenges. I found your UA-cam C. a few weeks back. I am looking forward to going back & watching ALL your videos posted since the very start of your journey. Ty so much for sharing your journey with us. I am overjoyed to see you have your two furry babies with you as well!
I pray you remain safe, happy, warm & growing in love of your life journey during this process. Sending much love, prayers & good vibes from Texas. 😇💕🥰🙏🤗
Thank you so much Carly! Really appreciate your kind words. I only started these videos about 3 years into my journey, so trying to catch up. Wish I had started sooner!
Jasper!!! WE LOVE YOU!
Aww love this!
I love snow so much and I people who love it.
It's so much fun. Thank you for watching!
From another Airstreamer... very good information, Cass. An old dog can learn a new trick! My trailer is much older... way before Truma. It has a very inefficient 19K BTU Suburban. For additional heat we have Wave3 that just sips propane... and a small dehumidifier. But, like you said, the furnace heats the underbelly / tanks. To stop heat loss and reduce most condensation I have cut-to-fit Refectix for all windows and ceiling vents. They are ugly, but at night that isn't an issue. Oh, mine is a 23FB International Signature (Christopher C Deam) that I have converted to front twins, added 500w solar panels, 3000w inverter and 340Ah Li. I'll be following. Thanks.
Sounds like you have a great setup Clint! Thanks for sharing the info.
Thank you, Cass!! Winter camping is what I have most of the questions about! Very helpful video! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful Jonathan!
Great winter video, just Beautiful 👍🙋♀️
Right?! So pretty, Jean.
Cheers from Queensland, Australia. It's around 70d and fine although overcast. Keep it up with the tips please, useful for parts of our southern states.
Will do, appreciate you watching!
I’ll never forget the Gold Coast joe from Uk was there in 92 old man now🤙🏻🍻🌞
Great video! Love the trailer setup, especially the windows in the front of it.
Thank you!
Jasper is AWESOME!
I agree with you on that Gary! Thanks for watching!
I can’t thank you enough for your thoroughness in explaining every little detail!! I’m glad I stumbled upon your account!! Enjoying catching up on all your content!! Safe travels!! 😊
Thanks Carl!! Glad you are enjoying the videos!
Awesome video. So many great tips. Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wondered how winter camping living full time in a small camper would work. Great job!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Napoleon! I was worried when I hadn't seen him in the last few videos I watched. He probably loves it when you stay cooped up inside.
As a frequent visitor to the FB group, I live in fear of Truma malfunction. Thanks for explaining how to get the panel off; at least we will have a starting point. Also love the trick for keeping the bathroom door open. That is way better than just letting it flop around--which is super in the way if there are 2 of you, and which is what we have done on cooler nights. We also do the gap at the head of the bed; the heat under the bed and not in the bathroom is one of my few gripes about our 16x. "Amateur" tip: do NOT use a vaccuum cleaner hose to re-route the heat upwards. LOL. We may look for some fat engine heater hose though because until the hose melted it worked great.
Thanks for looking for him! He's a big napper so he's usually curled up in bed haha!
We had a "cold" winter in Virginia. Got into the teens some nights but many nights into the 20s. I work so I am not in my van all the time so I do worry when I come home from work if my water has frozen or my batteries are too cold to charge. I have not seen or had any issues yet but I plan on buying heating pads for my water tank and batteries that will keep them above freezing during next winter.
For a few months I only relied on solar power to charger my batteries but after a few days of a lot of rain and overcast, my batteries got so low that I couldn't run my inverter or fridge. I have since installed a DC to DC charger that is hooked up to my alternator so when I am driving around my batteries get a charge. This came in handy a few weeks ago when it snowed a few inches than followed up with freezing rain so I was not able to clear my solar panels for them to get a charge.
Those DC to DC chargers are amazing. I've been eyeing them for awhile but haven't made the jump on one yet. Glad to hear that it has been very helpful to you!
@@TailsofWanderlust They truly come in handy. The alternators that usually come with SUVs, trucks, vans are an overkill for most buyers and their uses. For example the one that comes with my van is a 180A/hr one in which most of that goes to waste/not used so why not tap into that and help keep your batteries charged?
If you do finally buy a DC-DC charger, make sure it is a charger and not a VSR/Isolator. You want a device that cannot only detect the temperature of your battery and not charge it if it is too cold but also change its charging power depending on how full or empty your battery helping your batteries last as long as possible.
@@librab103 Awesome thank you for the info!
Wow! I always assumed the Basecamp was a little more winter resistant (for no reason in particular). I have camped in my Casita in temps down to 15-25 degrees with no problems but all my tanks and water lines are inside the trailer (the gray tank sticks out an inch or 2) and have not had a problem as long as some heat is on, either my little Walmart 120v heater or the propane furnace if no 120v is available. You probably love your Truma appliances but mine are completely manual with a bimetal (nonpowered mechanical) thermostat. Simplicity can be your friend sometimes. That said, the Basecamp seems like a great trailer. Be safe, stay warm!
Simplicity is definitely an amazing benefit! Thanks for watching Richard!
Thank you! Water freezing is my biggest concern!
You are welcome! Glad it was helpful!
the basecamp has such a spacecraft vibe to it. possibly due to the metal walls. Reminds me of pictures of the Apollo mission lol.
Now that you point it out, I can absolutely see that. Thanks for watching!
We currently have a 5th wheel, but we use to have an Airstream, and this has worked in both. We crack open the roof vent in the bathroom. Heat rises, and take moisture with it.
Great tip, thank you!
Great stuff, very helpful! I hope Airstream is watching your videos and maybe working on addressing some of the issues in newer Basecamp models.
That would be great. I've seen them make changes in newer models based on owner feedback, so they definitely do watch and listen different blogs. Thanks for watching Lou!
Another thing thing to consider for your Truma is getting the Analog dial controller from Truma as a backup. The communication connector that plugs into the Digital Display will also plug into the Analog dial controller and run your heater... I am testing a VarioHeat in my DIY Overland trailer and when the display went out I simply plugged in the dial controller and operated the heater. Anyway just a suggestion...
That's great to know, thank you! I didn't know Truma had the analog controller as well.
@@TailsofWanderlust Yep, just make sure you get the one for your model and country version... Let me know if you need me to point you in the right direction regarding where to order one from...
Hi, enjoying your account of dealing with cold temperatures and other challenges of Rv life.
I think you're very practical which allows you to over come problems.
Also, your ability to articulate your opinions, thoughts and experiences is commendable.
Question, on a previous video you stated that you were gonna drive 3 to 4 hours to have your fridge exchanged etc and then to double back .... that's a lot of fuel plus wear and tear on the rig. Couldn't fridge have been couried to you and the nearest agent/technician install it?
YES, those lithium batteries are super efficient but are also super expensive.
Edited: . ... a suggestion with your grey water. If you were to cut into that drain pipe and
insert a T piece / 2 direction valve then you could at short notice drain your grey water onto the ground or into a bucket to be responsibly disposed of thereafter.
In so doing, your black water tank wouldn't fill too quickly and you could enjoy longer showers.
I'm running 2Kw pure sine wave inverter with 2 only 107ah batteries, that set up will work microwave, fridge freezer, lights and coffee machine but no extreme heater elements.
I am living Capetown, South Africa and we only experience snow at inland high altitude regions. Once we went down to minus 2 degrees Celsius at a small remote village called Sutherland that's famous for the world renown telescopes. My son a mechatronics engineer and at times is stationed there.
Through watching winter camping I have taken measures to reduce air flow in my motorhome an old Mitsubishi L300 to make it warmer during winter months along with a simple fan heater. Electric blankets are very useful for cold nights.
Here in South Africa tent, caravan, campervan and motorhome camping is a growing pastime.
Before corona, I'd meet up with tourists at my favourite campsite, Miller's Point in Capetown Google it. Tourists from America, Germany and other countries fly into Capetown international airport and collect a pre booked newish motorhome to go touring throughout my country.
They would mostly travel along "the garden route" and then upto the Kruger National Park to see Africa s wildlife.
Just thought I'd share my thoughts.
Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Stay strong, stay warm and stay well.
Thanks Leon for all the info! I drove the long distance for the fridge, as Airstream covered the cost of it if I went out to the factory, so it was worth the time and gas. Sounds like you have some great areas to travel in South Africa. I've always wanted to travel there. Thanks for checking in and watching the videos!
Greetings from Alabama. Thanks for sharing your gems of wisdom. Fare thee well, wayfarer!
Hi Bruce! Appreciate you checking out the video!
Jasper: So anyway this food is great. This is the life. #Doglife oh I meant #Vanlife.
Haha love it. Thanks for watching!
This lady is very smart!
Thanks for watching!
@@TailsofWanderlust yes ma'am, thanks for making the video! I'm watching from Kansas :-)
My wife and I enjoyed your informative videos, stay safe 🐶😺👍
Awesome! Thank you!
New to your Chanel and love it! Very informative and entertaining!
Thank you Holt, appreciate that!
Just discovered you but I love your videos. You are VERY well spoken, descriptive and knowledgable. Jasper is awesome and it's really cool you brought Napoleon with you, as well (can't say I would even dream of RV'ing with a cat).
I just got my towing vehicle but need to be back to work (damn you Covid) before I can start looking at trailers. You've really stirred my interest in an Airstream though. I've been in love with the Nest since it was first announced but always put the price in the "not worth it" category. You've changed my way of thinking about everything and your Basecamp looks so comfy.
Looking forward to watching your videos and channel growth and happy to subscribe. I wish you continued success.
Thank you very much Brian! Truly appreciate the support and hope to keep rolling the videos out!
You are doing so good with your basecamp and pups/kids! :o)
Thank you!!
Omgoodness! Jasper definitely keeps you from getting bored!
He definitely does!
Air Stream should pay you for all the "recall" items they need to improve on.
So far Airstream has fixed everything in the RV for me, so they really have been great with the service.
Awesome for Airstream! Was it at Colonial or the main factory?
@@lisaklepp5167 I’ve had some of my warranty work done at the factory and some at dealers throughout the country as I’ve traveled through
NICE JOB ON THIS VIDEO. We're looking at scaling back to a 20x from a 23' flying cloud. Great tips here.
Really glad it was helpful!
I am winter camping this weekend, Findley State Park in NE Ohio. Found out my hot water tank split over the winter :
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that! Glad you are enjoying it either way and hope you can get that fixed!
@@TailsofWanderlust no worries, I’ll figure it out. The bright side is that soon I’ll be able to say I know how to replace a Dometic water heater.
That's our local Lorain County go-to, along with East Harbor. Enjoy the warmer weather there this weekend.
Cass, my plan for next winter is to stay at Tiger Run RV campground In Breckinridge for about a month and ski my butt off! I am really focusing on winter camping ideas including skirting, insulation for the windows, secondary heaters, etc. Will have full hook-ups but you cant always depend on everything in the BC working properly, so need a plan B. Definitely be using some of your suggestions to make it as comfortable as possible. Don’t think I will have any problem with entertainment!
I am so excited for you!! A month out in Breck will be amazing. I hope you keep me up to date on how it goes and what you learn!
Your making me cold!!! Your probably in Az enjoying the warmth. I can't wait to get out of the city and into the forest. Hope you have a great day.
You are right! After this winter camping I escaped out to the desert. Hope you make it out to the forest soon!
Outstanding and very informative! Thx for putting this one together!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for an informative video.......lots of great information!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great tips! I'd also like to mention that anti freeze is extremely poisonous to animals, and they often like the taste of it so be careful about cleaning up spills and storing used containers. Safe travels!🥰🚙
Glad you mentioned that Michelle! I've never used it so it's a great item to notate.
RV anti freeze is non toxic. In extreme cold it turns to slush. Diluting it by adding it to holding tanks is not likely to be effective in extreme temps.
@@danieltaylor3396 Really? Thats good to know! I assumed all anti freeze to be the same. Thanks for letting me know.
@@michellestratford9753 You shouldn't drink RV anti freeze but it is safe to put in water lines and then flush thoroughly before using in spring.
Thank you for all your tips and tricks.
Absolutely, thank you for watching!!
AWESOME VID...I'M A COLORADO NATIVE AND LOVE YOUR ENERGY AND VIBE WITH NATURE AND WITH YOUR KIDS...BE SAFE...
Appreciate that, thank you!
Again, another informative and . tell thought out video. Winter sounds like a lot of extra work with the cold and snow. I assume after a while the process becomes routine. Take care and be safe. Happy summer. Blessings
It does become routine quite quickly. Kind of my version of "household chores". Thanks for watching Vicki!
I stumbled upon your channel and please know I just really enjoyed your winter camping video...I had to give a like and subscribe..enjoy and stay safe!
Really appreciate that, thank you! Welcome to the channel!
Very neat little camper!
Thank you!
Very polished. Very professional.
Thanks Dave!
If I might suggest...laser thermometer. ~$20 on Amazon - you can find out exactly what temperature your lines are, and perhaps not have to leave cabinet doors open.
Also a very useful tool to have handy for basic automotive diagnostics
Great suggestion! Thanks!
Also on Amazon I picked up a thermometer with 2 remote sensors so the wall unit gives me room temp, one in the fridge and in cold weather one will go under the sink.
Ive lived in flagstaff for almost 10 years now and EVERY year there is a snow storm in May lol. This place is weird. If you wanna experience all 4 seasons in one week, then this is place for you!
Haha! Flagstaff is an amazing place, enjoy it!
Me and my wife was just looking at one..This video was very informative..Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
In your opening, looking at all that snow I was like, oh yeh you’re totally gonna get stuck! Just as I was about to type that, you said camping in my friends driveway. Pffff, ok. But I typed this anyway. Lol.
Haha! Love it. Yea this would have been a mess if I had been out boondocking somewhere. Thankfully, the snow blower helped a lot.
Love Jasper provided the background soundtrack!!!
He is a talker for sure! Thanks for watching!
I'm stuck on Himalayan Dog Cheese, but awesome winter Airstream beta:). I'm considering pulling one to live in also. I'm a skier too and miss when ski areas had free overnight RV lots with porto potties and dumpsters. My home area (kirkwood) had that and I crashed in my Six pac. I have a 5.7L v8 tundra now, so Airstreams are attractive.
Wish more ski areas still had that! Everyone I called this year no longer allows RVs
Bella and I are still trying to pick our full time RV. Your videos are swaying me towards the basecamp or at least one of the smaller Airstreams. Side note she loves watching Jasper and tries to touch him through the screen!
That is so cute!! Love that Bella actually watches the videos!
I sure hope Airstream watched this video!
Thanks for watching Randy!
Great video. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about snow and freezing conditions here in Oz. Can count on one hand the number of sub 32 days I’ve experienced in the van. I also have a truma and in 12 months I think I’ve used it less than 5 times. The bigger problem is dealing with multiple +100 days! 👍🇦🇺
Your recent pictures have been beautiful. Enjoy some of that warm weather for us!!
@@TailsofWanderlust Definitely will. As you have to head south to get warm we head north. Travel safe Cass 👍
@@Maison.Blanc7 You too Keith!
So is Napoleon your highly paid trained assistant??? I love black cats, and everyone of my cats loved to snuggle. Yes I'm a cat person, but I love all critters, and I love to rub and snuggle with dogs owned by others. I have even taught my cats to flush toilets, open and close screen doors, swim, and as always play fetch. I even had a tabby called Spike who loved to jump in from of the neighborhood dogs being walked by their owners and play with them; he also like to go for drives with his hind legs on the passenger seat, and his paws on the dash. I am amazed at what animals can do, what they endure when times are bad, and how much they still keep giving. I am also amazed at how they give so much of themselves to protect their owner, without a thought about themselves. Yes all my 4 legged animals have been rescues. Living in a city I've seen some pretty horrendous situation, such as 2 dogs that were starved by an owner who thought he could use them as guard dogs. By approaching them, and feeding them I was able to climb over the fence (yes we both had to trust each other) and I was able to gently talk to, and rub them. One of them had a foxtail in her eye, so I met up with animal control, who provided an antibiotic eye cream to to dispense into this gorgeous german shepard, as well as remove the foxtail from her eye. While I was trespassing, these animals trusted me, and appreciated what I had done. While the barked and growled at other, they trusted me with a wag of their tails. All of our cats have learned what our cars sounded like, and would jump off the cat stand, run up to the sidewalk, and flop down onto their back for a good tummy rub. What a great way to come home from a rough day at work. Sadly my last kitty, Lucy had to be put down about 18 months ago. A runt kitty at 6 pounds, she had the heart of a lion, and would fight to protect her territory, and it didn't matter how big the other cat was, she always stood her ground. She was also smart enough to avoid the skunks, possums, and coyotes (though we did bring her in when the sun went down). All my cats loved to climb up on my office desk, plop themselves down on either the desk or on my keyboard to make sure I needed to take a break from being a Program Manager for the Enterprise IT Infrastructure for Kaiser Permanente. All animals amaze me, and I have a deep respect for them. I often get down on my stomach so I'm at their level, and become less of a threat, so we can listen to each other, so I can introduce myself, gently pet them, and provide a sense of appreciation and comfort in their lives. Our pets can be goof balls at time, but they always giving. We are waiting for the kitten season this year, so we can pick up a black kitty (always the hardest to adopt), and another kitty; or siblings, litter mates or whatever. I'll try and send you some photos to your blog or a share you can follow. Thanks for all that you share, the time you take to present, and share your knowledge and experiences. Bravo and thanks to you and your 4 legged team. I may also reach out to you on process improvement, as I'm a Project Manager, so I'm always looking for ways to solve problems, and build teams. Check out my LinkedIn posting (Brad Paulus), and shoot me a private message. It's a small world. Thank you (bcpaulus@outlook.com).
Thanks; I don’t own one yet but this is very good information…
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
I love all of your great practical ideas...no extra stuff ! But Girl, always carry a supply of chew sticks and raw hides w the shepherds. Comes in handy on rainy days when they drive u crazy. And party mix for jasper too❤️
So true! I only have treats and toys, no long term chew toys for him. We'll be going to a pet store for sure soon (although he can't eat rawhide, it upsets his stomach).
Brilliant info - thank you! I just can’t imagine having to buy a WalMart space heater considering the price of Airstream systems though 😢
Wasn't one of my favorite moments for sure. Thanks for watching Moses!
Jasper is warm and cozy!
That he is! Thanks for watching!
Hope you are feeling better love the snow. ❤️💕
Thank you very much Joni! Getting better each week thankfully. Should be on the road soon.
I love it your dog has it rough poor jasper lol 😆
He definitely thinks that when he's stuck inside and there is snow outside to play in!
thank you so much for this vid. actually all you videos are great.
Really appreciate that Jim, thank you!
Love Movie Star - Jasper!!!
Thanks!