3 seasons in to a 4 seasons?

[DValentine]

I wanted to see what ideas you all had for winter use. I have a 04 wildcat 27RL which I have tried to upgrade with heating pads and insulation under the tanks. The pads are 12 volt, which I have on switches to control them. My drain lines are on the exterior as are the valves. I looked at replumbing them, to get them in the frame rails, but it was not feasible. The pads are really are not effective in sub zero weather. I know that most would say park it...but I use it year round as a traveling welder and it is what I have.

I have used rock salt to keep from freezing, but thinking of running heat tape 110V from an battery inverter. The inverter and plugs for the heat tape would run into the front storage of the 5'er. I want this over having plugs hanging from the belly of the trailer. I know that unless I was plugged in to shore power, that the inverter for the heat tapes would drain the batteries fairly fast. I am usually plugged in when using the trailer anyway. I have use Frost EX heat tape and have had good luck with it.

When I bought the darn thing the sales man told me that the forced air would heat the tanks. The I pulled off the plastic covering the tanks and couldn't find a vent coming from the heater......I showed him on another model, that there seemed to be no vent through the floor to the tanks and that I found it to be false advertising.

So here I am battling the elements and wondering what other have done.

Dave