Airstream 360 XC Land Yacht Owner's Manual page 45

AIRSTREAM 360 XC LAND YACHT OWNERS MANUAL
1. You must have a plentiful supply of propane gas.
2. If your stay is longer than overnight, you should endeavor to have 120-volt electricity available. The
batteries, fully charged, will not last more than about 15 hours in freezing weather. Of course, you can run
your generator to recharge the batteries, or even use the generator continually. Since the generator starts off
the same battery as the engine, it is recommended to start the generator prior to shutting off the engine. This
will prevent running the engine battery down should there be a difficulty in starting the generator in the
cold temperatures.
3. Minimize use of electricity if 120 volt power source is not available.
4. Leave cabinet doors, bed doors and wardrobe doors slightly open at flight to allow circulation of air in
and around all furniture components
5. Use propylene glycol type antifreeze in waste and drain water tanks to prevent freezing. Quantity of
antifreeze needed will vary with ambient temperature and the amount of liquids in tank.
6. For extended stays in cold weather, insulate the water line outside the motorhome. You should remember
that low temperatures in combination with high winds cause an equivalent chill temperature much below
what your thermometer is reading. For instance, with an outside temperature of zero degrees, and the wind
velocity of 10 miles per hour, the equivalent chill temperature is minus 20' F. The exterior water faucet has
an in-line valve inside the motorhome. In below freezing temperatures, shut off the valve inside and open
the exterior brass valve so it will drain.
Condensation
It is also important to guard against excessive humidity inside your motorhome during winter campouts.
When windows and window frames fog up or "sweat," it means that there is too much moisture in the air.
Moisture comes from water vapor and water vapor is the direct result of water evaporating.
Many things such as baths and showers, boiling foods, washing dishes, washing clothes, even breathing,
contribute to evaporation. The inside air can only absorb so much of this moisture before it becomes
saturated. At this point it can hold no more, and any additional water vapor condenses back to liquid water
in the form of droplets on any available cool, solid surface. Temperature has a direct effect on the airs
saturation point. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. For this reason, the air immediately adjacent to
cold outside walls and windows cools down and causes water vapor to condense and form moisture
droplets, even though warmer inside surfaces are still dry.
The best way to keep condensation under control is to reduce moisture producing activities. It is important
to provide adequate ventilation and keep the air circulating as much as possible.
Use your exhaust fans to remove moisture before water vapor mixes with the air. Open windows slightly
once in a while, while operating fans, to bring in drier outside air and aid in overall air circulation. In
extremely cold weather, when outside ventilation is not practical, it may be necessary .to use a small
dehumidifier to aid in reducing condensation.
There is no substitute for common sense in cold weather.
Note: The Airstream motorhome is built as a recreational vehicle and is not intended as a permanent
dwelling or for more than temporary use in sub-freezing temperatures.
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