When setting upo you trailer you MUST use chocks on your wheel to secure its placement. Some people only use 2 but the best way to do it it to use a chock on each wheel.

I use “wedge” style chocks – similar to photo above.
When you have your trailer positioned and while still attached to whatever pulled it before you do ANYTHING else- put down your your chocks. This way is the best way to use chocks on your trailer in my opinion.
Put a wedge in front of each FRONT wheel. Then go back to vehicle and pull forward about 4-5 inches. Stop and then put on hand brake.
No go to the tires at the rear- this time behind the wheels. Push them them in as close to wheel as possible- don’t just place them down .
You can then go back to vehicle and release handbrake. I do a quick check on all the chocks on the trailer making sure they are nice and tightly wedged in.

How to Set Up Chocks on Your Trailer

If you’re using wedge style wheel chocks, in order for them to work correctly they need to be actually SET not just dropped behind wheels. Place one wedge in front of your tires on the front axle, then pull forward about four or five inches. Set your brake to hold everything just where it is and then place an additional chock behind the tires on the REAR axle. Place them as close to the tires as possible. Then get back in the tow vehicle and release the brakes and allow the trailer to find “home” with pressure on each set of chocks. If you just give them a nudge with your foot they might as well stay in the storage compartment. Used correctly they are almost as effective as between the wheel chocks.

At the end of this season another camper generously gave us her trailer- also very old but in pretty good shape.

I closed it up REALLY REALLY well and excited to go up and open it up. I still haven’t slept in it and looking forward to adding my own touches to it. I have always have a pop up and this is a tow trailer.
All ready I know I will tear out the bathroom and storage area to make another bedroom area for my daughter.
Will keep you posted and take some pics when I go up!

Midea International HO-0227 Westpointe Mini Radiator Heater

MINI OIL FILLED RADIATOR

I think over all these are safest to use- however when camping in winter you often dont have luxury of electricity. In this case there are many safe portable porpane
heater for use in your trailer or pop up.
I persobnally really like the Mr Heater Portable “Big Buddy” Heater.
There are some built in safety precaution- there is an automatic shut off that shuts down well before dangerous levels of carbob monoxide.
I HIGHLY recommended that you leave a window or something slight open for ventilation purposes.
The Big buddy has auto shut off if knocked over. It heats up 400 square feet very well.
For smaller areas check out the mini version, Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater.
You can use small disposable propane tanks if you like or the more economical way its to use propane hose and connect to 5lb or 20 lb tank ( keep tank outside trailer however!!!!! )

* Swivel regulators and single control
* Automatic low oxygen shutoff system
* Accidental tip-over safety shutoff
* California approved
* Heats up to 400 square feet
* Battery or A/C powered blower fan for versatility
* Built-in Piezo starter for easy starts
* Key-shaped rear mounting holes for wall mounting
* Large four-position heat level control knob for controlling with gloved hands
* Low, medium, and high heat level control knob for steady temperatures

Here are some tips for winter camping you in Pop up or Folding Trailer:

1. Best advise I can give you is to invest in some LARGE tarp and cover your whole pop with tarp- tarping edges close the the ground at the back to keep in heat. If possible you can make an awning with careful tarring and use of tress or poles. Tarping the whole trailer with one tarp traps in the heat. and it makes a HUGE difference.

2. I do NOT recommend space heater at all. They are just too dangerous with all the clutter in a trailer you can take risk of blanket or anything falling and causing a fire. This almost happened to me while camping in Florida and a freak freeze in the weather. You can get smaller oil filled radiator which are as good or better and SAFE.
MOST trailer do come with propane furnace however I find them noisy and the really suck up the propane, If dry camping ( off the grid with no electricity, etc) then you wont have a choice – but be prepared to bring LOTS of propane. You could easily go through 20 LB tank in 2-3 days.
One advantage to using a pop up over tow trailer is less condensation- there is lots of air movement with your pop up and trailer can “breathe- so much less condensation and damp.

3. If you have electricity- heated mattress pads and electric blankets are a must have!!!

4. Bring broom to sweep off snow from top of trailer- especially tenting area.

5. Several changes of clothes, hats and mitts. You will be miserable with damp / went outwear so bring extra.

6. Don’t even think about using water/pump in your trailer- as nice as it sounds you will wreck your water lines when the water freezes- and it will.

7. Make sure you have enough fuel for your stove! You will BURN thru propane like crazy in the cold.

8. If you have electricity- cook with crock pot- gives off heat and cooks food at same time.

9. Change out of wet clothes- especially socks. Your socks will get damp- change them couple of times during the day. Damp feet lower your body temperature.

Do you have any winter camping tips to share? Post a comment with your winter camping tip now!

Winter camping Resources
The Winter Camping Handbook: Wilderness Travel & Adventure in the Cold-Weather Months, Updated Edition

NOLS Winter Camping (NOLS Library)

This is pretty neat- I wrote earlier about the luxury portable kitchen- here is something a but less upscale- a Coleman Folding Sink
! This would be great for soing dishes and back packing. It is one item that is very bulky and hard to bring with you when space is at a premium- like portaging.

Check oit this Coleman Exponent Outfitter Camp Kitchen from Coleman.

Features a sink with drain, sliding shelf for stove. paper towel holder (!) and a backgammon.chess board .
I am not sure how I feel about this. With the trailer I have been feeling less and less like we are even camping. I do LOVE not getting wet but I have become very dependent on things like electricity and water to the point of what I think is ridiculous- I canot go camping without my electricSunbeam King Arlington Electric Heated Warming Mattress Pad, White
cover.

Lubricate Metal Parts of Your Trailer Over the Winter

I do this for my pop up trailer, a Fleetwood Sun Valley 2007. I buy a can of silicone lubricant. When the trailer is open and I am putting antifreeze in the water lines we spray the metal rails at four corners of the trailer, as well as the metal stabilizing jacks.
The silicone is waterproof and protects the metal over the winter.

Protect Protect Hitch and Power Connections

A neighbor showed me this one. Take large pail- preferable tall- put over the hitch connections on the trailer. It will cover them nicely and protect from weather and snow.

Make Sure not Mice and Other Critter Get In Your Trailer Over the Winter

First get rid of any food or crumbs that might be left in the trailer. Check under mattress and cushions.
I am not sure if this has any merits. but we also put scented dryer sheets everywhere. Our dealer told us this trick- I am nit sure if or how ti works but he said they don;t like the smell. I tuck heavily scented sheets all over nooks and crannies of the trailer for the winter.

Any other tips? Let us know!

I think this is a great idea to use in your trailer for doing dishes. I don’t use a dish drain but a large dish towel folded up.
Anything you can do to reduce risk of water going anywhere and avoiding mold or mildew is worth looking into. I do get a bit of a problem with water from the sink and wet dishes going in behind my Fleetwood trailer sink area and “mop” up often.

This idea looks like it would solve a bunch of issues for me. Its easy to store and works well.
The genius behiond this idea is Linda at LindaMade. You can get pattern and full instructions for making this dish drain on her site.