Camping Lifestyle in an RV: Surviving a Winter in the Northeast

In 1973 having worked on the road for about about 7 years, I decided rather than pay motel and boarding house rent, I would try RV camping. I went to my friendly bank and applied for a loan. I explained that I wanted to buy a camping trailer and was immediately asked how much I was going to put down. I replied "not much, what are you looking for?"

I was told they like to get at least half down. I said "I'm getting a camping trailer to save money, not spend it. I'll put down $500." They hemmed and hawed but finally said ok.

Banks seem to treat you better if they think you don't really need the money, which is kind of strange because if I didn't need it, why would I be there?

My first camping trailer was a 1973 Jayco 21 foot pull behind. It had all the modern appliances, pull out double bed and two bunk beds. I would do my RV camping while on a job and when my wife and two kids could get away they would join me. Back in those days, most vehicles were 8 cylinders and most could pull a camping trailer without a special towing package.

Living in the northeast presented some problems living in a camping trailer during the winter months. Most campgrounds were not set up for winter living,
they had to shut off the water because they didn't bury their water lines deep enough or insulate them where they came out of the ground.

I did find a mobile home park in the Rochester, NY area that had a few spaces too short for regular mobile homes so they made RV camping sites out of them. The pipes were buried deep and insulated at ground level.

I stayed there in my camping trailer for one winter while working in the area. It was very educational. The first thing I found out was the holding tanks would freeze. Back then they were just mounted beneath the floor and exposed to the elements. Today they are enclosed and usually have heating coils that will prevent them from freezing. I had to boil water and pour it in the tanks until they thawed. Not a pleasant experience I might add.