Voltage freezing up - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Plumbing, Water and Propane Systems
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-09-2014, 06:43 PM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
Voltage freezing up

I just bought a 2012 voltage 3900. Is anyone else having problems with there's freezing up? As soon as it drops below freezing every water line in this thing freezes solid. I pulled back part of the underbelly to see if there was any heat down there and it seemed pretty cold. I have had the furnace running constantly and 25 degrees outside this thing won't thaw out. Wishing I would have kept my old worn out Montana. Very disappointed in the voltage. I guess after get home I'm gonna have to drop the underbelly and insulate it with insulation board. Has anyone else done this?
__________________

Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2014, 10:13 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Nana & Poppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Old Forge
Posts: 886
New York
Have you winterized your rig? With temps @ 25F - you would be hard pressed not to have freezing pipes......just saying! This isn't a four season trailer and yes there may be some heat in the belly, but with the outside temps being below freezing...not sure it would do much good!
__________________

__________________
Kathy & Leo ~Adirondack Mtn. Region of NY
2013 Rubicon 2900 Toy hauler
2010 Ford F-350 4x4 Lariat Dually Super Crew Diesel
Nana & Poppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2014, 11:33 PM   #3
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
It's not winterized, I'm living in it. With the furnace running there is no way it should freeze up so easily.
Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 12:17 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ridgway
Posts: 312
Colorado
If the high's are 25 degree, I suspect the low's are getting into single digits (or lower). I agree 25 with a heated underbelly shouldn't be a problem but I bet the night time lows are killing you. And I bet the high of 25 is only for 3 hours or so in the day?
rcharrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 12:34 AM   #5
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
Every time it drops below 20 it freezes up
Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 12:50 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: South East
Posts: 234
Mississippi
If you are connected to city water could you drip water with your gray tank valves open? It shows on control panel I have 12V heat to my holding tanks, but have never tried that route, just let the water drip.
__________________
David
2014 Voltage 3950
2013 F-350 DRW Lariat
lakebuster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:00 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mart
Posts: 159
Texas
We just went thru two 6 degrees in the am with highs in the day of 25 with no significant issues. Need to make sure you are getting ducted heat into belly as well as ensuring all hose penetrations are sealed up. We actually did a 4 day checkout/inspection in one of the worst snow storms of the year just outside Denver. While we werent planning to pick our new rig up during a snow storm, it gave us the confidence we would need to fulltime in cold environments. Cant speak for 2012 3900, but we bought ours with the arctic package.
__________________
Mark & Dee
2013 Voltage 3895
2011 Dodge 3500 Dually
2 HDs & Can-Am Two up
nmroper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:06 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mart
Posts: 159
Texas
Quote:
Originally Posted by lakebuster View Post
If you are connected to city water could you drip water with your gray tank valves open? It shows on control panel I have 12V heat to my holding tanks, but have never tried that route, just let the water drip.
We did the drip in our older three season fusion during a 10 day stretch night temps in the teens and had no problems.
__________________
Mark & Dee
2013 Voltage 3895
2011 Dodge 3500 Dually
2 HDs & Can-Am Two up
nmroper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:10 AM   #9
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
Iam connected to city water, but I have seen way too many times peoples let the water drip and sewer line freeze and the water back up into the trailer, and flood there trailer. This trailer should be able to handle that weather easily. The inside is great, nice and warm. I don't think the underbelly is getting enough heat. I sprayed foam insulation in every hole and gap to keep the wind and cold out and heat in with no luck. I'm gonna drop the underbelly when I get home and check it out and insulate it better.
Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:21 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mart
Posts: 159
Texas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pwhitmans View Post
Iam connected to city water, but I have seen way too many times peoples let the water drip and sewer line freeze and the water back up into the trailer, and flood there trailer. This trailer should be able to handle that weather easily. The inside is great, nice and warm. I don't think the underbelly is getting enough heat. I sprayed foam insulation in every hole and gap to keep the wind and cold out and heat in with no luck. I'm gonna drop the underbelly when I get home and check it out and insulate it better.
Have you verified that you are getting ducted heat from furnace into belly? Based on dutchmans track record for installing ducting this was the first thing i would check.
__________________
Mark & Dee
2013 Voltage 3895
2011 Dodge 3500 Dually
2 HDs & Can-Am Two up
nmroper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:40 AM   #11
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
That's what I'm thinking nmroper. I peeled back some of the underbelly in the front of the trailer and it did not feel warm in there at all. That was after I was froze up and had the furnace running non stop for 24 hours straight.
Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 01:50 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
There's a picture or two around here that shows the water pipes touching the frame rails. That frame rail will sink the cold and transfer the cold to the pipes if they are touching.

Anything is possible under there so nothing is out of the question.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 02:16 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mart
Posts: 159
Texas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pwhitmans View Post
That's what I'm thinking nmroper. I peeled back some of the underbelly in the front of the trailer and it did not feel warm in there at all. That was after I was froze up and had the furnace running non stop for 24 hours straight.
Just came across the factory sales brochure for your trailer and it appears to have the same "all weather" package that mine has. It states the underbelly is heated. Definetly verify the ducting is not blocked. Your basement should be getting heat as well.
__________________
Mark & Dee
2013 Voltage 3895
2011 Dodge 3500 Dually
2 HDs & Can-Am Two up
nmroper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 02:43 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
arlan in arizona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
Subscribed.

Good Luck getting this cleared up!
arlan in arizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 07:18 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
arlan in arizona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pwhitmans View Post
I just bought a 2012 voltage 3900. Is anyone else having problems with there's freezing up? As soon as it drops below freezing every water line in this thing freezes solid. I pulled back part of the underbelly to see if there was any heat down there and it seemed pretty cold. I have had the furnace running constantly and 25 degrees outside this thing won't thaw out. Wishing I would have kept my old worn out Montana. Very disappointed in the voltage. I guess after get home I'm gonna have to drop the underbelly and insulate it with insulation board. Has anyone else done this?
I noticed that when my furnace is running that the bathroom floor is extremely warm. Another Voltage owner told me the same thing. What does your bathroom floor feel like?
arlan in arizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 07:26 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
There's a picture or two around here that shows the water pipes touching the frame rails. That frame rail will sink the cold and transfer the cold to the pipes if they are touching.

Anything is possible under there so nothing is out of the question.
Here's the link to the facebook page where the scary pictures are.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vo...74877899198538
Look for the posts submitted by Kelly Teed.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 07:31 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
I noticed that when my furnace is running that the bathroom floor is extremely warm. Another Voltage owner told me the same thing. What does your bathroom floor feel like?
My 3800 has a metal transition in the bathroom floor that gets pretty warm. Also I've noticed the warm air discharge vent is not centered under the register thereby causing a blockage of air and probably making the transition warm. About half of the discharge vent is blocked off but I think I can find a larger register that will allow all of the warm air to rise into the room. I'll have to make the floor opening larger to accept the larger register but that won't cause any heartburn.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2014, 08:41 PM   #18
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hayden
Posts: 8
Idaho
Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
I noticed that when my furnace is running that the bathroom floor is extremely warm. Another Voltage owner told me the same thing. What does your bathroom floor feel like?
My bathroom floor gets pretty warm also.
Pwhitmans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 01:51 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Tanman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pwhitmans View Post
Iam connected to city water, but I have seen way too many times peoples let the water drip and sewer line freeze and the water back up into the trailer, and flood there trailer. This trailer should be able to handle that weather easily. The inside is great, nice and warm. I don't think the underbelly is getting enough heat. I sprayed foam insulation in every hole and gap to keep the wind and cold out and heat in with no luck. I'm gonna drop the underbelly when I get home and check it out and insulate it better.
When you drop your belly pan your going to find AIR. No insulation. I was shocked there was no insulation in the underbelly. I found coraplast covered in aluminum foil. Insulation would have been nice to find. I dont know where Voltage gets a insulation rating of R40 in the floor.
Tanman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2014, 04:25 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
arlan in arizona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanman View Post
I dont know where Voltage gets a insulation rating of R40 in the floor.
I installed a gas line up into my pantry area. When going thru the floor I found 1/2" or maybe 3/4" plywood with about 3" of insulating foam sandwiched between another layer of thinner plywood. There was nothing below the flooring except heat ducts, water lines and electrical, then just the belly pan so it seems to me it would be hard to retain heat in that exposed area.
__________________

arlan in arizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×