Seeing the country in a recreational vehicle (RV) is a great adventure for millions of Americans. About 1 in 12 of American households own an RV, and this number continues to grow. Most people think of RV vacationing as a spring, fall or summer activity; many "snow birds" travel to the South or Southwest to escape the frigid temperatures of their native northern United States. Others will just forgo using their RV altogether and keep it stored for the winter until spring makes an appearance. However, if the proper preparations are made, there are great adventures awaiting in the winter wonderlands of America. It is possible to become a successful cold weather RV vacationer; here is what you need to know:

Why winter RV vacationing is a great idea

Though it may seem incredible to some that anyone would want to go out into the winter in their RV, there are actually some great reasons for doing so. Here are a few:

• Less expensive fuel - typically, gasoline and diesel fuel prices drop in the winter months. Even a few cents difference can add up to significant savings if you travel thousands of miles.
• Peace and quiet - RV parks are quiet places during the coldest months of the year. You will have a much wider variety of spots to choose from, and you can escape the tourist crowds of summer. In addition, winter resort towns are likely to be quieter, too, and that makes for much more relaxing excursions.
• Winter recreation - opportunities to enjoy the best winter recreation can be found in the heart of winter; the snow is freshly fallen, and skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling are all available activities for you.
• The beauty - if you are a resident of a warm-weather state, you may rarely get to see snow. Winter RV vacationing gives you an opportunity to see parts of the nation in their winter splendor and glory.

How to prepare for winter RV vacationing

Once you have decided to take your RV on a winter vacation, you should make the proper preparations to keep yourself and your RV warm. It's not difficult or particularly expensive to get your RV from a site like http://www.orangewoodrv.com/ ready to go, but there are few special things to do:

• Heat your hoses - your freshwater supply hose (the blue hose) is especially vulnerable to freezing in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It is thin, and it doesn't take much cold to make it icy. You can combat this problem by purchasing a heated water hose that uses a special heated wire that runs the length of the hose. Just plug it in, and your hose will stay above freezing. As an alternative, you can also fill your fresh water tank, and disconnect your supply hose after each filling. This is more time consuming, but it eliminates the need for a heated supply hose.

Your supply hose isn't the only hose that needs protection. Your other hoses and pipes will also need to be kept warm; this can be accomplished by wrapping them with heat tape or cable. Heat tape and cable use a similar technology as the heated supply line; a wire, surrounded by insulation, is heated when plugged into an outlet. Just wrap your gray water and black water hoses with heat tape or cable first, then cover the entire hose with foam insulation.

• Give your RV a skirt - since RVs are manufactured without much insulation on the underside, the cold temperatures are able to work their way into your various fluid tanks and living spaces. A simple way to keep the cold from creeping up on you is by placing a skirt around the bottom of your vehicle. These skirts are made from heavy materials, such as polyester or canvas, and they can be attached to your RV with easy-to-use snaps. You can order skirts from online retailers, and you can also check with your local RV dealer for assistance in finding skirts that fit your vehicle.
• Use space heaters - space heaters are an ideal way to provide targeted heat to strategic locations around your RV. You will want to use one or two in your living spaces, and you also should place one inside of your water and sewer hookup compartment. You can even place one underneath your RV so that it keeps the skirted area warmer than it would be otherwise; this will benefit your RV's freeze-vulnerable components and you as the warmth radiates into your home on wheels. It is best to purchase low-amp heaters that don't draw much electricity, and be sure that you don't use them near flammable materials.