A practical guide to living long-term in an RV at Marshall RV Park. We start with winter in East Texas. More seasonal sections will be added to this same page as the year goes on.
Winterizing Your RV in East Texas
Winters here are usually mild, with the real trouble coming in short hard freezes — often just a night or two, not months of snow. You don't need a Northern winterization routine, but you do need a plan for those freeze nights.
November 2026
Winterizing Your RV in East Texas
The pipes, hoses, and connections on the outside of your RV are what freeze first. A little preparation before a cold night goes a long way.
Water hoses and the riser
The water hose and the riser (the pipe and spigot coming out of the ground) are the parts most likely to freeze.
Use a heated water hose, or wrap outdoor-rated heat tape around a regular hose, following the product instructions.
Insulate the riser and spigot — a foam faucet cover or an insulated pouch works well. Cover the connection where the hose meets the pipe, too.
If you don't have a heated hose, the simple alternative is to disconnect the hose before a hard freeze, drain it completely, and drain your RV's city-water inlet. Hook it back up when the freeze has passed.
Don't leave a hose running. If you see a leak at the connection, please tell park management.
Skirting
Neat skirting helps keep pipes, tanks, and the underbelly of your RV a little warmer on a freeze night.
Skirting is welcome at Marshall RV Park as long as it looks neat.
Please don't use tarps or duct tape. Purpose-made RV skirting, vinyl, or tidy insulated panels are a better fit.
Keep it fitted and tidy so it stays in good shape when the wind picks up.
Holding tanks and the sewer hose
A tank or hose with standing water can freeze, and a frozen valve is a hard problem to have on a cold morning.
Keep the holding-tank valves closed. Don't leave the gray-water valve open in winter.
If tanks are getting full, dump them before the freeze hits.
Disconnect and drain the sewer hose so water isn't sitting in it overnight. Store it so it can drain.
If your RV has tank heaters or heating pads, switch them on before the temperature drops.
Propane
Your furnace works much harder on a freeze night, and a tank that seemed fine in the afternoon can run low by morning.
Check your propane supply before a cold snap and refill if you're getting low.
McAdams and Tractor Supply are the best propane places nearby. More fill-up spots are listed in our Local Guide.
Make sure the regulator and connections are in good shape, and that the furnace is running the way it should.
If you'll be away overnight in a freeze, leave the heat on at a safe setting so pipes inside the RV don't freeze.
Safe space heater use
The RV's built-in furnace is the best way to stay warm. If you add a portable electric heater, please use it carefully.
Use only a heater rated for indoor use, with tip-over and overheat protection.
Keep it well away from bedding, curtains, furniture, and paper — about three feet of clear space is a good rule.
Plug it straight into the wall. Don't use an extension cord or a power strip.
Never use charcoal, or a heater meant for outdoor use, inside the RV.
Don't leave a portable heater running if you leave the RV.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and put in fresh batteries if needed. A working CO detector is especially important when the propane furnace is on.
Condensation, windows, and vents
East Texas air is often damp. A closed-up, heated RV can collect moisture on windows and in corners, and that can lead to mildew.
Crack a window or a roof vent a little so moist air can escape, even on a cold night.
Use the bathroom fan when you shower, and wipe down windows if they fog up.
A small dehumidifier can help if you tend to get a lot of moisture.
Close unused vents to cut drafts, but keep some airflow so the rig can breathe.
Slide-outs and seals
Cold weather is a good time to look at the seals that keep wind and water out.
Check slide-out seals and window seals for gaps, tears, or places that have pulled away.
Wipe seals clean and use a slide-out seal conditioner if you have one, so they stay flexible in the cold.
You don't have to retract slides for a short freeze, but make sure they're fully sealed if you leave them out.
Batteries and tires
Cold weather is harder on both.
Batteries lose power in the cold. Keep them charged, and check water levels on flooded batteries if your RV has them.
Tire pressure drops when the temperature drops. Check your PSI when the tires are cold, and inflate to the rating on the tire or in your RV manual. Don't overinflate.
A few more freeze-night habits
Open the cabinet doors under sinks and around plumbing so warm air can reach the pipes.
Follow your RV manufacturer's instructions any time they differ from this guide.
If a pipe freezes, or you need maintenance from park management for any reason, call the main number at (903) 923-0044 and follow the phone tree directions to reach Travis. Don't use a torch or an open flame to thaw a pipe.
When the forecast drops
Hard freeze is coming
A short checklist you can print and walk through before a freeze night in East Texas. Park management is here if you need a hand: (903) 923-0044.
Check the forecast and set a reminder for the cold night.
Fill your propane — the furnace works harder in a freeze.
Protect the water hookup: use a heated hose or heat tape, or disconnect the hose, drain it, and drain your city-water inlet.
Insulate the water riser and spigot (the pipe coming out of the ground).
Keep holding-tank valves closed. Dump the tanks before the freeze if they're getting full.
Disconnect and drain the sewer hose so water isn't sitting in it overnight.
Keep the RV heated, and open cabinet doors so warm air can reach the pipes.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if needed.
If you use a portable space heater: keep it clear of bedding and curtains, plug it straight into the wall (no extension cord), and never leave it on when you leave the RV.
Crack a roof vent or window a little to cut down on condensation.
Below 20°F? Drip a faucet. On the coldest nights, let the cold water drip slowly (5–10 drops a minute) from the faucet inside your RV that's farthest from the water hookup. Moving water is much less likely to freeze. Open the cabinet doors under your sinks so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep an eye on your gray tank level while dripping, and follow any water-use notices from the City of Marshall. Don't drip the outdoor spigot; insulate or cover it instead.
If a pipe freezes, or you need maintenance from park management for any reason, call the main number at (903) 923-0044 and follow the phone tree directions to reach Travis.
A few notes that are specific to Marshall RV Park.
Skirting
We don't have extra skirting rules beyond this: it needs to look neat. Please don't use tarps or duct tape.
If a pipe freezes, or you need maintenance
If a pipe freezes, or you need maintenance from park management for any reason, call the main number at (903) 923-0044 and follow the phone tree directions to reach Travis. We'll help you figure out the next step. Please don't use a torch or an open flame to thaw a pipe.
For propane fill-up spots, emergency numbers, and RV service near the park, see our Local Guide. Quiet hours are still 9 PM to 8 AM, even on a cold night.
Coming later on this page
This guide will grow with the seasons. The link will stay the same — we'll add these sections here when they're ready.
Coming later
Summer heat
Staying cool in East Texas humidity, looking after air conditioning, and keeping pets safe when the temperature climbs.
Coming later
Storm season
Getting ready for heavy rain, high wind, and severe-weather days, and what to do if park management needs to reach you.
Coming later
Everyday maintenance
The small habits that make long-term RV life easier: hoses and connections, filters, seals, and keeping your site tidy.
Book your winter stay
Weekly and monthly stays are a comfortable way to ride out the cold snaps — full hook-ups, unlimited WiFi, and park management close by if you need a hand.
This guide is general advice for East Texas weather at Marshall RV Park. It isn't a substitute for your RV manufacturer's instructions or a certified RV technician. If you're unsure, please ask park management.
