bigandhuge
Abilene, Texas
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I live in a part of Texas that frequently experiences freezing weather beginning about mid-November. In years past I have winterized by my toyhauler about this time of year and kept it in storage until March. This year I plan on using the toyhauler several times for hunting etc. over the next couple of months and am not sure if I should plan on winterizing the unit when I return from each trip or if it is ok to just drain the tanks and water heater. A friend in my area says he has never winterized his trailer and never had any problems, which makes me wonder if winterizing is overkill. I know lots of folks use the units during the winter months and am wondering how this situation is typically addressed. Any advice would be appreciated.
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BigRigRVing
formerly CA
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Joined: 11/27/2006
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Depends on how low temps get and for how long, but I would just blow the water lines out, drain tanks, and p traps.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Water freezes when it reaches 32 degrees regardless of what part of the country it's in. In your area you could probably get along just fine leaving water IN the tanks and turning on a little heat in the RV when it's predicted to get cold over night. If it's a four season RV (doesn't sound like it is) you may not need to do anything but if it's NOT then it'll probably leak enough heat outside to warm the surrounding area by a few degrees.
On the other hand it takes only about 10 minutes to blow out your water lines once you have the right equipment.
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bigandhuge
Abilene, Texas
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Thanks for the responses. A couple of follow up questions: Do you need to drain the water heater each time also? AS for the right equipment, I have a compressor and a fitting that goes over by city water connection. Anything else I need? Thanks again.
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Rolling Condo
South Carolina
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bigandhuge wrote:Thanks for the responses. A couple of follow up questions: Do you need to drain the water heater each time also? AS for the right equipment, I have a compressor and a fitting that goes over by city water connection. Anything else I need? Thanks again.
I always drain and blow my lines including the water heater, put a cup of RV antifreeze down each drain to protect the P-traps for good measure. Make sure you regulate the air pressure to no more than 40 psi as to not damage the water line connections or fittings by over pressure. Make sure you blow all faucets inclding the toilet flush valve till you get only air coming out.
Note I do live in the south but we can and do have extended freezing temps that could damage plumbing should it not be protected in some manner. Never had any issues over the years following this method.
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Takes about $4.50 of anti-freeze to winterize my 38' rig.
States I have spent the night in my current rig, bought three years ago.
Have RV'ed through 49 states and been in all 50, just short of my half-century.
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bigeking
Arlington, Texas
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I have been told by a dealer in Tyler and one in the DFW area, that all they do to the units on their lots is drain all water from the units.
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Bobbo
Memphis, TN
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I have winterized. We are taking the MH out in about a week, so I will un-winterize, then winterize again when we get back. The RV club is having a camp out 2 weeks after that so I will un-winterize, then winterize again when we get back. In December, we are taking a Christmas trip so I will un-winterize, then winterize again when we get back.
It only takes about $4.00 worth of RV antifreeze and 30 minutes to winterize and it is worth it for my peace of mind.
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Oldtymeflyr
Littleton, CO
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It gets cold in the panhandle of Texas, long enough to do damage to an RV filled with water.
With a compressor and half a gallon of RV ant freeze you are in business.
Drain the water heater! I do not use a bypass because we now drain and use a compressor, we do not use the fill the supply system with RV antifreeze any more so we do not need a WH bypass. We only use the RV antifreeze for the drains.
People say about 30 minutes and I think thats a pretty good number.
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palmbeachrv1
West Palm Beach Florida
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I agree with most everyone. Be sure to drain your water lines, tanks and anything with water in it and you should be fine.
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