winterizeing

I live in Minnesota and I fill and drain water several times a year due to our temp fluctuations in spring and fall. I have never filled the system with RV antifreeze even to 30 below. I open the fresh water tank and line drains, open all faucets to let air in, pull the anode out of the water heater and wait to run dry. Then I cycle the pump some to get some air in it and step on the water fill pedal of the toilet. Then I put some RV antifreeze in all traps, both kitchen drains, bathroom sink and the shower/tub. I put plenty in so that any water left in the drained grey water tank gets some. Then I pour a fair amount down the toilet hole so that any liquid left in the black water tank gets some. It doesn't matter if some water is left as long as there is air for it to expand into. I have never had a problem.

I did it your way for years on a park model. It did not have a water pump or fresh water tank. I used a boat bilge pump and dropped it in a pail of anti freeze. They cost about $10 at Wal-Mart. On the discharge hose I adapted a hose connection. Start the water pump while pumping in the anti freeze may fill the pump. I also blew out with air first

The valve and inlet hose can go anywhere between the tank and the pump. Just trace the water line back and see if you can find a convenient place to splice in the valve.

As was touched on above, you can also use air to blow the lines clear of water, but I'd be careful about using too small a compressor. The problem isn't pressure, it's volume of air you need. Generally a small compressor has a small, or no, reserve tank. To push the water out of the lines you're going to basically create a windstorm in the line. That means a wide open line with little restriction.

While a small compressor can blow out the majority of the water, you run a very real risk of leaving a bunch of drops behind, if there's enough of them and they can collect somewhere you could still have a burst line come spring.

Used to have a tt that had no water pump.
I bought a small pump at menards that has a hose hook up.
Got 6 gallon bucket drilled a hole at the bottom and put a hose spicket on it.
Hooked it.to the camper and to the bucket.filled it up.And it worked great .
Cost me about 20.00
Was easy and fast to do.
Also took my shop vac to blow the water out first

Usually a hose fitting with a valve on it to suck that yukky stuff into your water system. Getting close to fall again so all of the posts on winterizing.

I just blow my system out with a 12V air compressor I carry with me. I winterize and de-winterize several times a year. On the road if the temp drops below 10 degrees I winterize. Then just dump rv anti freeze into all the traps. Takes about 20 minutes now because of the washer. If you do blow out lines always leave one faucet open during the process.Plus, make sure if you have any water filters remove the housings and filters afer blowing out the lines. You should remove those filters anyway even if you pump that yukky pink stuff through you lines.

Clicky for kit. This is the best and easiest way to get Anti Freeze into the pump to protect it and the rest of the plumbing system. It is also the least wasteful and you may only need a gallon or 2 depending on your trailer. I do my large rig on about 1 and a half gallons of anti freeze. Randu

You should be able to buy a kit so you can use the existing water pump to winterize the system. I did it on my 2002 Sunline. But if that didn't work, you could use a pond pump or bilge pump to pump the rv antifreeze into your fresh water tank. Just put the pump at the bottom of a container, fill with antifreeze and have a vinyl tube from the pump to the water inlet. I use a pond pump to pump water into my fresh water tank when I camp where there aren't any water hook-ups. Link for kit:

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-36543-Pump-Converter-Winterizing/dp/B0006JJ588