Dewinterizing on the way, or do you wait?

Duanehaas · 07-20-2018, 08:46 AM

Hi
We will trying our first snowbirding trip this year. We will leave from Iowa right after Christmas. Our Greyhawk will be winterized in the fall. Should we schedule a stop over on the way to Florida, or wait until we get there to dewinterize? The complication is having our two dogs along. I figure I will get as far south as I can the first day and then hopefully we won’t have freezing problems. Our RV has tank heaters. I’m more worried about the small lines.

Any advice for this trip is greatly appreciated.

Seann45 · 07-20-2018, 10:51 AM

IF your staying in the rig and using the furnace (not a catalytic heater) then you should be good after the first night. BUT make sure you leave the lower cabinet doors open so heat can get at the lines.

Jagiven · 07-20-2018, 10:55 AM

A friend has one of the small Class B on a Mercedes's chassis. He carries a couple cases of water and a couple jugs of windshield fluid, to start the trip off with. While still winterized, they flush with wiper fluid. Wash hands with bottled water.

He stated they have de winterized two different ways like you described. If the weather warms up and he has a place to flush the system he has done such. He has also waited until he made it all the way to his final destination in Florida.

Do you know where your water lines run? If they are inside the coach, in the cabinets, I would feel completely fine de-winterizing early and use the tank heaters. If the pipes are down below and in the hatches, I would be more concerned.

We have been out in the low 20's in our HTT, with no tank heaters, no enclosed underbelly, and not had any issues. Our pipes do run inside the cabinets.

Duanehaas · 07-20-2018, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

IF your staying in the rig and using the furnace (not a catalytic heater) then you should be good after the first night. BUT make sure you leave the lower cabinet doors open so heat can get at the lines.

Thanks. The lines run basically inside the coach. We will be using the furnace. I like the idea of taking water and such along for the trip down. We will probably have to do the opposite when we head back at the end of February.

Thanks again.

Duanehaas · 07-20-2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

A friend has one of the small Class B on a Mercedes's chassis. He carries a couple cases of water and a couple jugs of windshield fluid, to start the trip off with. While still winterized, they flush with wiper fluid. Wash hands with bottled water.

He stated they have de winterized two different ways like you described. If the weather warms up and he has a place to flush the system he has done such. He has also waited until he made it all the way to his final destination in Florida.

Do you know where your water lines run? If they are inside the coach, in the cabinets, I would feel completely fine de-winterizing early and use the tank heaters. If the pipes are down below and in the hatches, I would be more concerned.

We have been out in the low 20's in our HTT, with no tank heaters, no enclosed underbelly, and not had any issues. Our pipes do run inside the cabinets.

Thanks. The lines run basically inside the coach. We will be using the furnace. I like the idea of taking water and such along for the trip down. We will probably have to do the opposite when we head back at the end of February.

Thanks again

Grumpy · 07-20-2018, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

A friend has one of the small Class B on a Mercedes's chassis. He carries a couple cases of water and a couple jugs of windshield fluid, to start the trip off with. While still winterized, they flush with wiper fluid. Wash hands with bottled water.

Not a good idea, that put's alcohol in the black tank. Should use RV antifreeze.

Duanehaas · 07-20-2018, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Not a good idea, that put's alcohol in the black tank. Should use RV antifreeze.

Good input.
I guess I have a few things to think about.

Grumpy · 07-20-2018, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duanehaas

Good input.
I guess I have a few things to think about.

I personally think you will be fine even if you dewinterize right before you leave. We had our 01 Designer MH as well as our 08 Seneca out in 13-17 degree temps with no heated tanks with no problem.

Kim Gass · 07-20-2018, 04:32 PM

We dewinterize as soon as we are sure the temps will stay above freezing and allow a little for wind chill ie if it will be a high of 34 for a travel day we will wait to dewinterize.

We have dewinterized and winterized at least four times going back and forth to Florida. its much nicer to dewinterize at a full service campground as you will be flushing a lot of water.

We know we have to dewinterize enroute and our first stop 10 hours has to still be in potentially subfreezing temps in PA, As we have two more nights enroute to FL ( 1600 miles) we want to have water as soon as possible!

BeachRetreat · 07-20-2018, 11:28 PM

We've left several years from the QC on Christmas day to be in Orlando on the 27th. Both in a DP and now the fifth wheel. Only 1 year did we dewinterize before we left because it was 55. Having froze the pipes in Illinois on the way back in the DP, I don't chance it anymore. Our first night is always at a campground at the first exit in Tennessee. We dewinterize in the morning before we leave. I topically winterize in Georgia on the way back in January. This year it was in a rest area, but normally in a campground.

Bassdogs · 07-21-2018, 09:26 AM

There is a general misconception about having to dewinterize for a trip like this. If you winterize by blowing out your lines then you are not facing the need to flush out the lines. In any regard, you can pump 10 or 15 gallons of water into your fresh tank without pulling any of it into your lines or pump. Its easy to travel with 3 or 4 gallons of water in jugs with 2 for drinking etc and the other 2 for flushing the toilet. No need to use antifreeze as anything in the toilet flushes directly into the black tank. You can cook, eat/drink, use the toilet, and have water for the pets and never have to dewinterize your water lines. JUST DON'T TURN ON THE WATER PUMP!!

When you get to where you are safe from freezing all you have to do is hit the pump and you have small supply of water ready to go. There are many places to fill up or just wait until you get to your first CG stop. As another suggestion, we always carry a 12V compressor in case you need to winterize quickly. Make sure you have the necessary fitting for your fresh water input connection and you can blow out your lines in less than 10 minutes. I have done it many times in a rest area or WM parking lot on return trips north.

DonaandDon · 07-21-2018, 10:05 AM

X2 on water jugs to get you there.

BeachRetreat · 07-21-2018, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

There is a general misconception about having to dewinterize for a trip like this. If you winterize by blowing out your lines then you are not facing the need to flush out the lines. In any regard, you can pump 10 or 15 gallons of water into your fresh tank without pulling any of it into your lines or pump. Its easy to travel with 3 or 4 gallons of water in jugs with 2 for drinking etc and the other 2 for flushing the toilet. No need to use antifreeze as anything in the toilet flushes directly into the black tank. You can cook, eat/drink, use the toilet, and have water for the pets and never have to dewinterize your water lines. JUST DON'T TURN ON THE WATER PUMP!!

When you get to where you are safe from freezing all you have to do is hit the pump and you have small supply of water ready to go. There are many places to fill up or just wait until you get to your first CG stop. As another suggestion, we always carry a 12V compressor in case you need to winterize quickly. Make sure you have the necessary fitting for your fresh water input connection and you can blow out your lines in less than 10 minutes. I have done it many times in a rest area or WM parking lot on return trips north.

I generally agree with this except that the tank heat on the fresh water tank won't keep the drain line on mine from freezing and breaking the valve. As long as your drain valve is in the heated compartment, your fine. With the weather here the last couple of years and the amount of "dips" in the water lines, I always winterize with antifreeze before December. We have used water in jugs but honestly found it was easier to simply use the rest area and eat out for a day until we flushed.

Kim Gass · 07-21-2018, 01:11 PM

I disagree with no need for antifreeze. That’s a good way to have cracked or loose fittings when your winters never gat abice zero

Bassdogs · 07-21-2018, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

I disagree with no need for antifreeze. That’s a good way to have cracked or loose fittings when your winters never gat abice zero

I think we have argued this issue before. To each their own I guess. I have used an air compressor to winterize for 10 years without a problem. Do it right and it works fine and you can winterize in a Walmart parking lot at midnight if necessary. I'll do it my way and you do it your way. Neither is right or wrong, just a preference.

Kim Gass · 07-22-2018, 06:27 AM

We live year round in an area that has seasonal homes. I do as my neighbors do to maintain their homes. They have property managers come blow out the lines and then add RV antifreeze to the lines.. If blowout were sufficient they would save money and do that. I figure my RV is less insulated than my home. We are in zone 8 like AK.

We don't get yo you swings of temp. What Miss November deposits for snow on the ground is still under there at the end of April.

Bassdogs · 07-22-2018, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

We live year round in an area that has seasonal homes. I do as my neighbors do to maintain their homes. They have property managers come blow out the lines and then add RV antifreeze to the lines.. If blowout were sufficient they would save money and do that. I figure my RV is less insulated than my home. We are in zone 8 like AK.

We don't get yo you swings of temp. What Miss November deposits for snow on the ground is still under there at the end of April.

again, do a blow out correctly and you and your neighbors would be fine. Just remember to pour pink into the sink p-traps and all toilets.

On the point of constant cold weather, when water freezes it doesn't matter if its 0 or -XXX, and it doesn't matter how long it stays frozen or how many cycles it might go thru between Fall and Spring. An incomplete winterizing using the pink will lead to problems in the spring just like an incomplete winterizing using a compressor. Do either correctly and in the Spring all will be good, except that if you used the Pink you will need a good flushing to get rid of any residual smell/taste.

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