Winterizing Your Rig: Cold-Weather Prep Tips from Oxbow Vans
Winterize your van!
Winter in Central Oregon isn’t just beautiful—it’s cold, snowy, and sometimes unforgiving. Whether you’re living full-time in your van or storing it until spring, winterizing your rig is essential to protect your investment and keep you comfortable when temperatures drop. At Oxbow Vans in Bend, we’ve seen it all, so here are our top tips for bracing your rig for the season.
1. Plumbing: Keep Your Water System Safe
Freezing temps are the number-one enemy of plumbing systems in vans. Cracked lines, broken fittings, and frozen pumps can cause expensive damage.
Drain and blow out lines: If you’re storing your rig, fully drain your fresh, gray, and black tanks. Use compressed air to blow out any remaining water in the lines.
Use RV antifreeze: Run non-toxic RV antifreeze through your plumbing system if you won’t be using it in winter.
Insulate exposed pipes: For full-timers, wrap any exposed water lines with pipe insulation or heat tape.
Tank heaters: Install 12V heating pads on your fresh and gray tanks to keep water flowing when temps dip below freezing.
2. Electrical: Keep Power Flowing Smoothly
Cold weather impacts batteries more than most vanlifers expect. A little prep can keep your electrical system running strong.
Battery insulation: Lithium batteries lose efficiency in the cold and can’t be charged below freezing. Use insulated battery boxes or install heating pads with thermostatic controls.
Solar prep: Shorter days mean less solar gain. Make sure your panels are clean and snow-free, and consider adding portable panels to supplement.
Shore power planning: If you’ll be parked for long periods, a reliable shore power setup with a quality charger/inverter ensures your batteries stay topped up. **Remember, lithium batteries don’t want to be plugged in to shore power for months at a time. Charge them up to 70-90% and then turn your entire system off when storing. Check on your battery health once a month to ensure no phantom power draws are lowering your state of charge.
Load awareness: Heaters, electric blankets, and defrosters can eat up battery reserves. Track your usage with a shunt monitor (like the Victron SmartShunt) so you don’t wake up to dead power.
3. Interior Comfort: Stay Cozy Without Wasting Energy
A well-prepped rig means less condensation, better warmth, and more enjoyable winter living.
Seal drafts: Check for air leaks around windows, doors, and vents. Weatherstripping and thermal curtains help retain heat.
Insulated window covers: Reflectix or insulated covers make a big difference in keeping warmth inside.
Heating options: Diesel heaters, propane furnaces, or 12V electric heaters (when plugged in) are all great options. Make sure your heater is serviced and venting properly before heavy use.
Moisture control: Condensation is a winter reality. Crack a vent when cooking or sleeping and use moisture absorbers to prevent mildew.
4. Exterior & Storage: Protect the Whole Package
Don’t forget the outside of your rig.
Check your tires: Cold air lowers pressure. Inflate to spec and consider snow-rated or studded tires if you’ll be driving in icy conditions.
Wiper blades & washer fluid: Swap to winter blades and use freeze-resistant washer fluid.
Lubricate seals and locks: Cold weather can cause doors and hatches to stick. Silicone spray helps keep everything moving smoothly.
Cover and store: If your rig is parked long-term, consider a breathable cover and disconnect your batteries to prevent phantom drain.
Final Thoughts
Winterizing your rig isn’t just about protecting gear—it’s about peace of mind. A little time spent now means fewer surprises when you’re deep in the mountains or parked in Bend during a cold snap.
At Oxbow Vans, we specialize in helping you get the most out of your build year-round. Whether you need tank heaters, electrical upgrades, or insulation installs, our team in Bend, OR, is here to help you brace for the cold and keep rolling through winter in comfort.
Ready to winterize your rig? Contact us today to schedule a winter prep service.
