We Have Been to the RV Store

Foggy · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 12 Location: south alabama

We went and got one of those adapters to blow out the drains for winterizing the trailer. While there the woman said we need to put some drinkable antifreeze in the water tank and run the water till it turns pink. I don't know if I want pink antifreeze in my water. She said if 1 drop of water is in the system, then it will freeze up and blow up the pipes. I thought if the water was mostly removed and the pressure was off the system, then the pipes would not bust. Hey, this is south Alabama, not Canada. What do y'all think?

jfran304 · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 114 Location: Warner Robins, GA

Foggy,

I think the lady gets a commission on her sales. We live in Warner Robins, GA (middle GA), and all I do is drain my tanks and open my faucets. My class A motorhome is stored outside. Been doing this since 03 with no problems. Due to the heat, humidity and the bugs, we usually do most of our camping from September to April.

Jon
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Jon & Sue Francis

Pennsylvania Ed · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Western PA

Foggy,

I attended a seminar by Gary Bunzer (RV Doctor) a couple weeks ago. He said if you live in a climate where the average air temperature stays above freezing most of the time he says use the dry method like jfran suggests. As for me, I live in western PA where we get exteneded periods of below freezing temps. and he suggests the wet method using RV antifreeze. The woman at the RV store was correct. If you use the wet method Gary instructs you to put 3 to 4 gallons of RV antifreeze in your fresh water holding tank and then pump it to all the fixtures including the toilet.

Take care, Pennsylvania Ed

Foggy · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 12 Location: south alabama

It is nice to get a perspective from folks who live north and south of the salt line! DanceBanana

TannerBee · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 702 Location: Rock Hill, SC

Here just south of Charlotte, NC, we get a quite a few nights in the mid 20s each winter, and a very few lower. I drain my water lines and tank, but have only added antifreeze (to the supply lines, see below) once since we like to camp once a month even in cold weather. I put a trouble light with a 60W bulb in the valve locker and another one under the kitchen sink. I do put a cup of RV antifreeze in each drain trap (don't forget the shower) and let the shower hose/wand hang down so the loop doesn't hold water.

Make sure the light can't touch the pipes: it will melt a hole in them! Two 60W bulbs use 0.12kw/h, and our rate here is about $.08/kw, so the cost is about $0.01 per hour. (Hey, somebody check the math!)
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Floyd and Tanner
Coachmen Santara 35
Rock Hill SC

Time is either spent or invested.

rickjmiv · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Broomfield, CO

I live in Colorado. I have used the dry method and have not had any problems.
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Rick & JoAnne
2007 Winnebago Aspect 26A
www.rjmiv.blogspot.com (Our Travel Blog)

Clay L · Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 112 Location: Domicile is SD

cvrvr · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 13 Location: CA, La Crescenta

It is one of the only advantages of living in Southern California. I don't have to worry about winterizing.

Sometimes, I wish that I did.

George
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George & Karen Wharton
2004 Allegro 30DA W-20
2000 Jimmy toad

bkutzler · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 4

Talmadge · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Perry Ga

I live in Perry, GA and have a travel trailer. This is my first winter and I just drained all the water out of the tanks. We usually don't get too much below freezing here. We do our camping between March and October would like to do more, but still working. Sad