jamorgan3777
Appleton Wisconsin
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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Thinking about winterizing the trailer (I know, sad to think about, but school and work and latitude are conspiring against me). Anyway, I have never winterized before and have a few questions.
For water system:
1. Drain and bypass HWH
2. Fill all lines with RV antifreeze
3. Drain fresh water tank
Question: Do I need to do anything special with grey and black besides drain and fill with some antifreeze?
5. Clean up inside and out.
6. Check seams, tires, welds, etc.
7. Remove items that can't/won't winter over.
8. Repack bearings.
Anything else?
Thanks for the help.
2003 Chevy Silverado Z71 5.8L V-8 3.73
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boulderskies
Phoenix, Arizona
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At the risk of starting the old blow out the lines vs. antifreeze debate, I have used the blow out the lines method without incident. I drain and bypass the HWH, drain the lines at the low point drains, connect a compressor, open the sink faucets and blow about 20 pounds psi into the system. I then put a small amount of antifreeze in all the sink and shower drains. Pretty much done.
2006 Arctic Fox 27F
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CloudDriver
New Jersey Shore
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Pour 1-2 cups of antifreeze down drains in kitchen & bathroom sink & shower to displace water from P-traps. If you have an outside shower, run antifreeze through that piping and hose too.
Remove all food items to reduce the risk of attracting mice & other critters.
2003 Winnebago Minnie 24F - Ford E-450
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jamorgan3777
Appleton Wisconsin
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Phoenix AZ!?! What the heck do you know about winterizing a travel trailer!?!  Just kidding!
Thanks much for the advice. I was thinking that was all that was needed, but I wasn't sure if there was something special that I need to do with the black and grey tanks. I am mostly worried about damaging the drain valves and causing leaks.
Should I leave these tank valves open over the winter?
Thanks again.
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mikhen
oley, pa
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Joined: 05/29/2006
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Because its so easy to do, I remove the outside shower hose so it won't crack over winter. I also take the battery inside and trickle charge it every so often through the winter.
2002 Avalanche 2500
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grump daddy
Westland, MI
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boulderskies wrote:At the risk of starting the old blow out the lines vs. antifreeze debate, I have used the blow out the lines method without incident. I drain and bypass the HWH, drain the lines at the low point drains, connect a compressor, open the sink faucets and blow about 20 pounds psi into the system. I then put a small amount of antifreeze in all the sink and shower drains. Pretty much done.
I agree. I've just blown the lines out the last 4 or 5 years and it works fine. You can leave the drain valves closed. It won't hurt anything to do that however make sure you dump some anti-freeze into the tanks so the left over water in the tanks doesn't freeze those shut.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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I would drain the water lines with the low point drains first, then drain HW tank and bypass the HW tank... Then pump anti freeze throughout the lines and don't forget the outside shower and city water entry...
REMEMBER to relieve pressure by opening a faucet with the pump off before pushing the check valve in on the city water entry or you'll be replacing that assembly 
Then add a cup or two of antifreeze to all P-traps as said above and finally drain black, gray, and fresh water tanks to remove excess water...
Blowing out the lines with compressed air is used by some folks but there is always the chance you won't remove all the water and it could collect in a low point of a water line and freeze and damage the line... Water lines and their routing are different from RV to RV and you never know if there is a low point that you can't see...
The compressed air technique works for some folks but I have always used anti freeze as temps here in the Mid West area of the country can easily go to 20 blow zero or colder... I have never had any damage to lines using antifreeze in the 25+ years I have been winterizing my RV's this way and that would be my recommended method of winterizing... FWIW & IMO, your always taking a chance using just compressed air...
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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jamorgan3777 wrote:Thinking about winterizing the trailer (I know, sad to think about, but school and work and latitude are conspiring against me). Anyway, I have never winterized before and have a few questions.
For water system:
1. Drain and bypass HWH
2. Fill all lines with RV antifreeze
3. Drain fresh water tank
Question: Do I need to do anything special with grey and black besides drain and fill with some antifreeze?
5. Clean up inside and out.
6. Check seams, tires, welds, etc.
7. Remove items that can't/won't winter over.
8. Repack bearings.
Anything else?
Thanks for the help.
CLICKY. Item 23a covers winterizing.
If your Low Point Drains have caps on them you need to drain those or depending on where the connect to the main water line you could have 6 or 8" of water in each drain line.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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Bonefish
Midland, TX
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Joined: 01/08/2008
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My first camper I use the antifreeze stuff - ONCE in my water system. Takes way too much time to get it all flushed out of the system and still some taste and feel remains. I can be out of storage and going camping while you are still trying to flush that stuff out of your lines. Only use air to blow out all the lines. Never had a problem. I
My latest camper has two water filter system that are similar to what your home has. The antifreeze would ruin them. The air blowout method has worked with them blowing the water out of the filters and prevent frost damage.
I do dump RV antifreeze in my sink traps, comode bowl and some in the gray/black tanks to prevent any freezing above the tank valves if I am leaving them closed. If you can completely drain you tanks so you can leave the valves open also works. A blue tote tank is good for draining the remainder out of the grey/black drain lines once in storage and just leave them open and attached an empty the tote encase of additional minor drainage.
Bonefish
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RFD_Truckie
Johnstown Pennsylvania
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Joined: 07/13/2008
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If I may jump in here with a question......
Why do you NOT put antifreeze in the HWH? I have been using my parents camper and for the last 12-15yrs my father has just put the antifreeze in the tank, and run it until antifreeze comes out of every faucet which in turn lets some get into drain and grey/black tank.
From what I have been reading apparently no antifreeze should be in the HWH, and seeing as how my father always winterized while I was not at home (Or maybe not interested in my younger days) I dont know what the reasoning is. I do know that my father said there is no bypass for the HWH and that is why he just filled it too. It does take a month of sundays to flush the system, but that never bothered him and he just went ahead and did it. So basically I am wondering what the deal is. The camper is an 89 and we have never had a leak, or problem so I really hate to ruin something now......
Thanks
Jim
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