Winter/Cold weather pop-up camping?

[mrobo74]

My buddy and I are planning a hunting trip in upstate NY for early December.  it will likely be a little cold then...my queston is have any of you ever used a pop-up in cold weather like that?  Is it even an option?  We have a portable heater and a generator, but will we still be freezing from a lack of insulation?  Any info you guys could supply would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, and this is a great forum!!

[CUL8R]

Used to live in Upstate NY for many years (Canton) before I joined the military.  Now I know many people say upstate when they mean anything outside New York City.  That is not Upstate.  If you are really referring to Upstate - Say the Adirondacks area, then I'd say don't take the chance.  I've seen it more than -40 degrees F. at that time of year.  Way too cold to really enjoy camping.  And I suspect your vinyl windows, not to mention the tenting, would not be up to popping up/down without serious problems.  If you decide to go anyhow, make certain to winterize the water system before you go.  You won't be able to use it, but it won't be destroyed by the cold.  We routinely pop up out here in Colorado when it only gets down to 10 degrees (again our PU is winterized) and we are plenty comfortable with good sleeping bags, the furnace, and a supplemental coleman "Black-Cat" catalytic heater we use at night to keep the furnace from running so often it runs down the battery.  But I would not pop up when it will be/could be well below zero.

Jim

[unclebuck]

I used my pop up several weekends last year here in VA. while we dont get NY quality cold it did get down below 20 several times.I used a cheap 12 volt heater I powered with jumper cables to warm the camper before popping up to ensure the fabric/plastic was flexible.The furnace would come on at night but I got 4 nights per tank usually and 2 nights per battery.good sleeping bags are important as well as carpet scraps on the floor for a lttle extra warmth.no crowds,no bugs and hot drinks make a fire nicer! enjoy
                                          JERRY

[dthurk]

I've lived in upstate (real upstate) NY for all my life.  We're still here.  The Adirondacks might see -40, but it's a rare, record setting occasion.  We usually see our lowest temps in February, not December.  What area of upstate are you going to?  I could be more accurate if I know where you're going.  We live south of the Finger Lakes area, and Decembers are usually still mild throughout the state.  Most of the upstate area is near some large body of water, which will moderate temps until it freezes over, usually mid January on.  That's when we see our lower temps.  I would estimate the worst you'd see is lows in the 20's to low 30's.  Are you dry camping, or going to be somewhere with hookups?  2 110 volt electric heaters should keep you warm if you have hookups, or a Mr. Buddy Heater would work with propane with no hookups.  We've had our camper hold 70 degree inside in mid 30's weather with 2 electric heaters operating at about half power.  Our water tank is in the dinette storage, so all connections are in the camper.  As long as the camper is warm, we're OK with water.

[davis]

what about carbon monoxide? should i worry about it in mine

[tlhdoc]

Here are a few tip I have found to help keep us warm.  
 
I hang a space blanket over the rear bunkend, if no one is sleeping in it.  We call it the meat locker.  It is much colder in that bunk.
 
I put air conditioner foam weather sealing strips in the bunkends between the metal frames of the bunkends and the tenting.  I was amazed at how much cold air comes in around the beds.  
 
A third trick is to insulate the windows and bunkends ceilings.  I do this by putting my Pop Up Gizmo's solar bunkend covers on upside down (silver side down).  I use the silver accordion style car windshield shades, cut to fit the bunkend windows to add insulation there.
 
If we have an electric campsite, we use the heat option on our AC unit to warm the air and circulate it into the bunkend(s).  We also use an electric heater.
 
If we are dry camping we use the furnace.

[CUL8R]

As I said, we camp all winter here in Colorado.  But I make it a point not to head out for a weekend trip if it is going to be below zero (I used to winter backpack - but do not enjoy that anymore!).  Even though our base elevation here in Colorado Springs, at 6000', is higher than the highest mountain in NY, we generally experience pretty mild winters.  Now, as dthurk said, where you are going in NY is what really matters.  Where dthurk is from ( middle area of NY) is totally different than where I used to live (upper tier counties of NY), which is as far north as you can go without being Canadian (truly "upstate").  It is much colder and drier up there, even in December than it is a little farther south.  That area is primarily above the lake effect snows that occur farther south in NY.  So while you might experience warm weather, the liklihood of -10 to -40 degree weather is much more likely.  By-the-way, the coldest recorded official temp in NY occured just south of this region at Old Forge and is -52 degrees.  But the Ranger School at Wanakena has recorded temperatures as low as -60 degrees in isolated low valleys in the Adirondak Mountains of the region.  In short, if your definition of upstate means south or central NY, such as the Finger Lakes region and south, you might be OK.  If you are talking way north,  I wouldn't chance it.  But its your choice, and you might experience unseasonably warm weather.  You should also consider the possibility of a high snow load which is not good for popups.

Jim

[familyoffruitcakes]

If it's -40 outside and your getting up to go sit in a tree stand at O dark :30 in the morning, than a popup heated to 40F will feel like a sauna!  Go for it!

[tlhdoc]

As I said, we camp all winter here in Colorado. But I make it a point not to head out for a weekend trip if it is going to be below zero (I used to winter backpack - but do not enjoy that anymore!). Even though our base elevation here in Colorado Springs, at 6000', is higher than the highest mountain in NY, we generally experience pretty mild winters. Now, as dthurk said, where you are going in NY is what really matters. Where dthurk is from ( middle area of NY) is totally different than where I used to live (upper tier counties of NY), which is as far north as you can go without being Canadian (truly "upstate"). It is much colder and drier up there, even in December than it is a little farther south. That area is primarily above the lake effect snows that occur farther south in NY. So while you might experience warm weather, the liklihood of -10 to -40 degree weather is much more likely. By-the-way, the coldest recorded official temp in NY occured just south of this region at Old Forge and is -52 degrees. But the Ranger School at Wanakena has recorded temperatures as low as -60 degrees in isolated low valleys in the Adirondak Mountains of the region. In short, if your definition of upstate means south or central NY, such as the Finger Lakes region and south, you might be OK. If you are talking way north, I wouldn't chance it. But its your choice, and you might experience unseasonably warm weather. You should also consider the possibility of a high snow load which is not good for popups.
 
Jim

Wow I had no idea that NY got that cold in early December.:yikes:

[dthurk]

I checked //www.weather.com for averages and records for December.  Our area, Painted Post has average temps of 37 for high and 19 for low.  Records are 71 for high and -20 for a low.  All time records (any month) are -28 in 1979 and 100 in 1955.

Old Forge, NY averages 31 for a high and 11 for low temps in Dec.  Dec records are 60 for a high and -38 low.  All time records are 94 and -48.  

I had an uncle who lived in Chazy and worked at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base in the NE corner of the state, near Vermont.  We drove the "north route" many times (through Watertown then up and over east from there) during the winter to visit them, particularly at Christmas time.  This was when I was a child.  I remember some of the most severe weather in my memory from those trips, snowstorms, blizzards etc.  It can get bad in the north country in New York State.  

At any rate, I'd focus more on the average temps than the records.  Temps that approach those records are possible, but very rare.  I have not camped in December, and most likely wouldn't start, even if I started driving south...wwwwaaaaayyyyy south.  I'll fly and rent a hotel room instead.  

The Mr. Buddy Heater has an oxygen sensor that will shut it down in low oxygen situations.  It is rated for indoor use.  There is some amount of controversy surrounding its use in campers.  I guess some do, and some don't.  It would be up to each to decide.  I believe there are catalytic propane heaters out there that are flameless.  I don't pretend to understand how they work, but I understand that they would be safe indoors, too.

Ourselves, we camp in October then wait until April to start again.  We'll stay in campgrounds with electric hookups and use electric heaters.

[dee106]

we took a old wool "army blanket" put it over the whole bunkend and tuck it around , then a tarp.  we put a opened sleeping bag under the mattress to block the up draft, or a blanket roll around the edges to stop the updraft. we have a commerical grade floor carpet runner on the floor. we normally have electric , so we use a box heater to help the furance. but when dry camping we used a buddy heater. on the floor, and a battery operated fan too move the air, and stop the condersation from forming on the bunkend. remember u need to crack a zipper for fresh air when using a buddy heater!