R69RAG1
HILLSBORO MO.
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I have a 2003 Coachmen Cross Country Elite 376 DS,I just winterized it and parked it inside my unheated barn. My question is ,i am taking it to florida on Dec. 26,if i fill the fresh water tank when leaving st louis,will the water and lines freeze ,while i am traveling?,or should i wait until i am farther south where it will be warmer to fill the fresh water,this is based on the temperature here being below 32 degrees,any help is appreciated,i've only been rving for about a month,won't be an expert for at least 2 more months,just kidding,thank you
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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I wouldn't put water in until you will be in plus 32 degree weather while driving.
Mark
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ejforwood
Littleton (Denver) Colorado
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Check your owner's manual!
Most MHs the age of yours have heated basements. My 1998 (not one of the most expensive) has heat from the furnace in the water areas. Just keep the furnace going as I drive and it's fine. I also try not to carry more than 25G while on the road to keep down the extra weight. I have a 100G FW tank. That's 800Lb sloshing around. How long are you planning to be on the road? It's less than two days from St. Louis to Florida. Just keep enough in the tank to flush the john and wash your hands. You can shower after you get there and drink bottled water on the way.
PS. Heated basements also help keep the floor warm.
I don't know how you plan to go, but according to MS Streets & Trips, Jackson, MS is only 8 hours straight south on I55. I doubt you would freeze before you get there and a lot of Snow Birds are going to be in trouble if you freeze the rest of the way! JMHO!
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Hi,
You might need to wait until you are a little farther south. If you are driving, the wind chill can take away all the heat from the fittings, and that can cause them to freeze at just below 32. And if you run into overnight low of 26, that will freeze things like the end of the drain valve, even if the water in the tank is safe.
You can check weather.com for the best guess at the temperatures on December 24 or 25, and have a good guess as to where and when you can fill the fresh water tank.
As for using the black tank, and gray tank, go ahead, because the tanks will be warmer before you need to drain them. Carry 4-5 gallons of water in jugs. But remember that used milk jugs will retain bacteria. (OK for flushing, but not drinking).
Good Luck,
Fred.
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Dave H M
IL
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R69
I live right across the river from you outside of Springfield, IL and keep the fifth wheel in an unheated pole barn also and winterized. Just so happens that we will be pulling out for SC. in Jan. Been doing SC and FL for years. Both trips are one night on the roaders.
I would not think of going thru the hastle of dewinterizing until I get to the destination. Walley usually puts us up for the night and we always make it on a one gallon jug of water. Walley has the spares if needed.
On the return trip one of the last days in camp chores is winterizing.
We will be back for month of Feb and then head for the FL panhandle on the first of Mar. We also winterize before heading back to IL in the winter.
It gets to be a routein after a while - only problem is that we are one year older each winter. 
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skipnchar
Google Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Water freezes at 32 degrees. If it's below that wait and if above that, your call. If you're running tank heaters or have heated basement AND running the furnace they're not likely to freeze. If you have heated basement but not running the heater, see first sentence 
Good luck / Skip
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goodcruisin
Greenwood, IN
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I'm really amazed at some of the comments I'm seeing here. Sounds like a lot of people think that water instantly turns to ice when the tempurature gets below 32 degrees. The average house freezer is 0 degrees. Look at how long it takes for ice cubes to form in the tray. If your MH is similar to mine I have a valve that directs city water to either the tank or to the water distribution block. Turn the valve to tank position before charging your water hose. Do not turn on your pump until the outside temp is in the upper 20s. Yes, that's below freezing, but it takes water a long time to freeze at that temp. Your coach lines will remain winterized and there is no way that the sloshing water in your tank is going to freeze. When I made my last trip to FL I had a TT with an exposed water tank (under the trailer) where wind chill would have an effect. Wind chill won't have much or any affect for a tank in the basement. Anyway, I put about 20 gallons in the tank so I'd have flushing water while doing the Wally World thing. It was 6 am and the temp was in the upper teens on January cold a@@ morning when I put the water in. I left Indianapolis at 7 a.m. I stopped in GA for the night where the overnight temp was above freezing.
John (USN Ret) and Debbie
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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While the water in the tank may not freeze due to sloshing, there may well be some water lines that will freeze if driving in sub-freezing temps. A 60 mph wind for 6+ hours of driving will get into a lot of compartments and freeze any water lines it finds. The furnace would have to be on and the basement heating system would have to be pretty good to avoid problems.
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ejforwood
Littleton (Denver) Colorado
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427435 wrote:While the water in the tank may not freeze due to sloshing, there may well be some water lines that will freeze if driving in sub-freezing temps. A 60 mph wind for 6+ hours of driving will get into a lot of compartments and freeze any water lines it finds. The furnace would have to be on and the basement heating system would have to be pretty good to avoid problems.
In Minnesota, Yes.
Only 8 hours drive from Jackson Mississippi with a heated basement, NO! JMHO!
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R69RAG1
HILLSBORO MO.
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Thanks for your help,now to find out if i have a heated basement,or heated tanks.
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