First time winterizing

[Jayro88]

So this is my first time winterzing a camper and want to make sure I didn’t forget anything big.
1. I bypassed the water heater and then drained it. I left it open. I heard u don’t want antifreeze in the water heater and to just leave it open to account for any expansion on freezing.
2. Opened the low point drains as kicked on the water pump to make sure my storage tank and lines were empty. I also read not to put any antifreeze in the fresh water tank since getting it all out is a huge pain.
3. I hooked a jug of antifreeze to the inlet side of the pump and used to to fill the system. Went spicket to spicket until I had it coming out of each one.
4. Poured some down each drain to get rid of the water in the trap and get some into the holding tanks.
5. I will also be getting a tarp to cover it prior to the real snow coming.

Anything I am forgetting?

[sundancer 87]

Did you flush some of the pink stuff into the toilet bowl?

[Jayro88]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Did you flush some of the pink stuff into the toilet bowl?

Yes

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by Jayro88

Yes

Outside shower, laundry faucets?


Don't know what RV you have so just throwing these out there.

[Jayro88]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Outside shower, laundry faucets?


Don't know what RV you have so just throwing these out there.

Thanks. Those types of questions is what I am looking for.

I don’t have any of those.

[sundancer 87]

You should be good to go then.

19 degrees in Oklahoma this morning, glad I did my winter stuff last week.

[Jayro88]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

You should be good to go then.

19 degrees in Oklahoma this morning, glad I did my winter stuff last week.

What about the batteries? Pull them?

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by Jayro88

What about the batteries? Pull them?

You can or put a battery tender on them.
Mine are on converter charger all the time since it's shore powered.

[persistent]

Converters come in all flavors from simple constant voltage systems to computer controlled four stage systems. The cheap ones will probably over charge the batteries when connected for long periods of time.
The converter in my Kodiak Cub came in at 13.6 volts constant causing my AGM batteries to vent. (Venting sealed batteries is bad.) Flooded cell batteries will “boil” off water under these conditions. Periodic checking and filling with distilled water would be necessary.
I installed shut off switches and periodically turn them on overnight when voltage drops below 12.7 volts. 12.4 is the lowest you should let them get to for long periods, higher for very low temperatures. This works for me because I store the TT in my driveway. There are other strategies. If you store the TT in a less accessible place you should pull them out and keep them where you can monitor voltage and fluid levels.
The consequences for ignoring battery manufacture’s recommendations are early failure. The more you ignore, the earlier the failure.

[franktafl]

spray port, don't forget the spray port!

[gjwinner850]

Here is my list that I keep in Notes on my iPhone. Just got back from doing it.

Camper Winterize

1. Remove Hot Water Heater plug & drain
2. Remove panel under stove turn valve up (bypass HW Heater)
3. Adjust air to 20-25psi
4. Connect air to city water inlet
5. Connect spray nozzle, and flip lever on to blow out
6. Open outdoor sink
7. Open kitchen sink
8. Open bathroom sink/shower
9. Blow all water out
10. Turn off air
11. Pour antifreeze in drain traps
12. Wipe down sinks shower
13. Done!

[1l243]

The only thing I can add is that I use a pump to force antifreeze into the shore water supply line. I also use it to flush the black tank rinse....

[Mongo]

Originally Posted by 1l243

The only thing I can add is that I use a pump to force antifreeze into the shore water supply line. I also use it to flush the black tank rinse....

I am a little redneck ...I attach a hose to city water inlet … pour antifreeze into hose ….then push it thru system with the airline

[persistent]

A neighbor of mine used the blow out method. This is his first year winterizing for Wisconsin.
After following the procedure properly, he was worried about his $200 water pump. He disconnected the output fitting to make sure. A small amount of water sprayed out.
The pump was probably still vulnerable after running it dry because a small amount of water remained trapped in the pump.

[wildwest450]

Originally Posted by persistent

A neighbor of mine used the blow out method. This is his first year winterizing for Wisconsin.
After following the procedure properly, he was worried about his $200 water pump. He disconnected the output fitting to make sure. A small amount of water sprayed out.
The pump was probably still vulnerable after running it dry because a small amount of water remained trapped in the pump.

I'll add some more anecdotal evidence...
I just had friends stay in our camper this weekend (in our driveway) and I filled our water tank up because we were expecting some low 20's at night. I've used our water tank/pump setup exactly once just to test it. I use the air winterizing method and just ran the pump for a few seconds after draining the water tank the first year. After sitting through 4 winters with what ever water was still in there, it happily fired up this weekend and ran great.

I was actually surprised how good the water pressure was.

[dougs2]

Originally Posted by gjwinner850

Here is my list that I keep in Notes on my iPhone. Just got back from doing it.

Camper Winterize

1. Remove Hot Water Heater plug & drain
2. Remove panel under stove turn valve up (bypass HW Heater)
3. Adjust air to 20-25psi
4. Connect air to city water inlet
5. Connect spray nozzle, and flip lever on to blow out
6. Open outdoor sink
7. Open kitchen sink
8. Open bathroom sink/shower
9. Blow all water out
10. Turn off air
11. Pour antifreeze in drain traps
12. Wipe down sinks shower
13. Done!

A couple things I do that I didn't see on your list:

1. Drain fresh water holding tank and turn bypass valve to bypass the holding tank. ( your camper may not have this bypass valve)
2. Open the faucets and shower controls then go under the camper to open the low point drains, also go inside and flush the toilet this allows the toilet valve to drain back, when they quit draining close the low point drains, then close the faucets.
3. While air pressure is on flush the toilet again to force any water out of the valve.
4. Pour some rv antifreeze into the toilet bowl to keep odors from coming in.