QA

Question: How To Winterize Your Camper

What is the best way to winterize a camper?

Simple Steps to Winterize your RV Gather materials. Remove water filters. Drain and flush black and gray tanks. Drain the water heater tank. Open all faucets and remove all drain plugs. Close all faucets and replace drain plugs once water has drained entirely. Bypass the hot water heater.

Can you winterize your own camper?

Winterizing An RV Any RV owner can do the work; it is mostly a matter of knowing what to do and which areas should be getting a little TLC. This article is broken into sections to make it a little easier to use as a checklist; if a particular section does not apply to your RV, just skip over it and go on to the next.

How do you de winterize a camper trailer?

Follow these steps for RV dewinterizing to get your RV in peak condition for the season: Check Your Tires. Inspect the Exterior. Charge and Reinstall Your Batteries. Flush Your Water System. Sanitize Your Water System. Check for Leaky Pipes. Replace Propane Tanks. Check Propane Appliances.

How cold can it get before I have to winterize my camper?

You should winterize your camper or RV if the temperature drops to below 35 degrees during the day and below 30 degrees at night, especially if you won’t use it or have it powered.

What do I need to winterize my travel trailer?

RV Winterization Tips Nontoxic RV/marine antifreeze (propylene glycol) — around two to three gallons typically. Tubing that connects to the black water holding tank and a cleaning wand. A water pump converter kit or hosing that connects to the water pump inlet or an external hand pump. A water heater bypass kit.

Do you put RV antifreeze in the freshwater tank?

Do not pour antifreeze into your fresh water tank to run it through the pump into your water system. This will take a lot of antifreeze and is not very efficient. Even when the tank is drained there remains some water in the bottom of the tank which mixes with the antifreeze and lessens its protection level.

What happens if you don’t winterize your travel trailer?

If you choose not to winterize your RV and temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you run the risk of severe damage to your RV. When temperatures fall below the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes.

How difficult is it to winterize an RV?

And if your RV has been in storage for five months, it’s time to dust it off and get it ready for a season of adventures ahead. De-winterizing your RV isn’t too hard, but you should probably devote an entire afternoon to it. Once you’re done, however, you’ll get an entire season of fun out of it!Apr 19, 2011.

Is blowing out RV water lines vs antifreeze?

When an RV is stored in freezing or sub-freezing temperatures for an extended period of time, using RV antifreeze to winterize the rig is more effective than blowing out the water lines. Running the antifreeze through all of the plumbing in the RV ensures that every component is protected.

Do you need antifreeze to winterize RV?

If freezing temperatures make headlines where you live, you probably don’t need to winterize your RV with antifreeze. The best way to protect your RV is to flush the water lines, tanks, and replace any water with antifreeze made for RVs.

Can RV antifreeze go down the drain?

So, can RV Antifreeze go down the drain? RV Antifreeze used on your RV water lines can be safely dumped down the drain, its nontoxic, and is in fact used in many cosmetics. Automotive antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) is toxic and should be disposed of safely.

How do you get the antifreeze smell out of a camper?

The easiest method is to flush the RV antifreeze out by running fresh water through the water system, either through the city water inlet or the fresh water holding tank, using the water pump. Open all of the faucets (hot and cold) and run fresh water through the system until it flows clear.

When should I Dewinterize my camper?

Once temperatures get above freezing, anti-freeze is no longer necessary, so you’ll need to de-winterize your RV plumbing. Beyond removing antifreeze from your RV’s plumbing, the de-winterizing process should include checks and inspections of several exterior and interior systems.

At what temp will pipes freeze in a camper?

In general, the temperature has to dip below freezing (32 F) for approximately 24 hours for RV pipes to freeze. This is all dependent on many factors such as if you have an enclosed underbelly, heated underbelly, heat tape, insulation, or other preventative measures in place.

Can I use my RV toilet in the winter?

It’s possible to use your RV toilet for brief periods in freezing weather. Purchasing a four-season RV or modifying one to handle sub-freezing weather is one possibility. I have done this previously with good success. This requires a coach with completely enclosed and heated holding tanks.

Will RV holding tanks freeze?

When exposed to prolonged temperatures below freezing, RV holding tanks will freeze. Some RVs can handle the frigid winter elements, whereas others will freeze more quickly. Four-season RVs typically have heated underbellies and tank heaters to help prevent tank freezing, though those things can fail.