How Do I Keep My RV Floor Warm?

Wool socks can be an RVer’s best friend, especially when camping in colder temperatures. When the temperatures drop, and the wind picks up, walking across your RV floor can feel like walking on an ice rink.

While many flock south to avoid cold weather, it’s not always possible. So how do you keep your RV floor warm when you’re camping in cold weather?

Let’s take a look!

Benefits of Keeping Your RV Floor Warm

There are a few reasons why you must keep your RV floor warm, and your toes going numb is just the tip of the iceberg. If the outside temperatures are cold enough to reduce the temperature of your RV’s floor, you’re probably not spending much time outside.

If you’re stuck indoors, you want to be comfortable while doing it.

By keeping your RV floor warm, you help keep the temperature up in your RV. Heating registers are typically put on the floor of your RV, which means as they pump warm air into your RV, they’ll have to battle the cold air passing through the flooring.

This requires your heating system to run longer and work harder, using more propane and electricity to get the desired results.

Tips for Keeping Your RV Floor Warm

We’ve done our fair share of cold-weather camping, and here are a few tips we’ll share for keeping your RV floor warm. Let’s take a look!

Put Down Carpets or Rugs

If you’re looking for an excuse to add an accent rug or other thick carpeting to your RV, we’ve got one for you! By putting down carpets or rugs in your RV, you create an additional insulation barrier between the outside elements and the air in your RV. Carpets and rugs can reduce the amount of cold air that can pass through and enter your RV. 

Carpets and rugs can also make it substantially more comfortable when you’re walking across the floors of your RV. While others may see your carpets and rugs as stylish, your secret is safe with us. Staying warm doesn’t mean you can’t also create a home-like space at the same time.

Protect the RV’s Underbelly

The best way to keep cold air from entering your RV is to keep it away in the first place. RVs typically sit high off the ground and allow for wind to blow over, under, and against their sides. Protecting your RV’s underbelly from cold winds is one of the best ways to keep your RV floors warm, especially if you’re planning to be stationary during the winter.

Any insulation that you can add to your tanks, hoses, and pipes will help, especially as the temperatures dip below freezing. Having frozen pipes and tanks can add to the feeling of misery as you battle cold floors.

However, skirting can protect sensitive RV components from freezing temperatures and keep your floors warmer.

RV skirting, whether DIY or professionally done, surrounds the base of your RV and acts as a wind block. This can be a labor-intensive task and isn’t ideal for those who don’t sit stationary for the duration of the cold weather. Some DIY skirting uses insulation boards or bales of hay or straw to block the wind. However, budget-friendly options typically attract rodents and other pests to your RV.

Use Heaters Inside

While cold air on the outside can drop the temperature of your flooring, you can counteract that cold air with warm air inside. Electric and propane are two of the most popular heating sources for RVers. Some use wood stoves in RVs that are stationary. Whatever your heat source, make sure you follow any necessary safety steps to avoid creating a dangerous situation.

When using electric heaters in your RV, you don’t want to overload your RV’s electrical system. Doing so can cause the wiring to heat up, which leaves it prone to igniting a fire.

So be aware of how much power you’re using and avoid pushing your system to the max for prolonged periods. Propane and wood stoves can also be very dangerous. You should ensure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 

Pro Tip: Turn up the heat in your RV with these 5 Ways to Heat Your RV This Winter.

How Do I Insulate the Bottom of My RV?

Some RVs are insulated better than others. However, most RV manufacturers skimp on important things like insulation. If your RV has an underbelly, you can drop it and upgrade or bulk up the insulation. This can be a labor-intensive job but can produce tremendous results inside your RV.

You can also look for areas in the bottom of your RV where cold air can enter. Manufacturers typically do their best to seal these up, but many areas can easily go unnoticed. By filling gaps with spray foam, you keep cold air out and make it more difficult for bugs and rodents to enter.

How Cold Is Too Cold for an RV?

RVs with proper winterization can hold up in freezing temperatures for some time. However, if you didn’t winterize your RV, extended exposure to temperatures below freezing can create issues.

Pipe and tank failures can occur as ice freezes in your RV’s water lines. These can lead to extensive and expensive repairs that you can’t ignore.

Pro Tip: Stay safe and warm this winter by properly winterizing your RV. Learn more about How To Winterize Your RV?

Stay Warm This Winter

Keeping your RV and its floors warm while camping in cold weather can be a struggle. However, if you follow some of these tips, you can still have an incredible experience while camping in cold weather.

What tips do you have for keeping your RV floors warm? Tell us them in the comments below!

Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA

To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site! 

We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Access the list by submitting your email below: