Insulated and heated underbelly?

Bypass the HWH before winterizing. Empty it.

pennysmom09 wrote:

Luke Porter wrote:
Your trailer will be "winterized" before you leave--right? Including the water heater?

I would'nt worry much about the tank valves. When I travel in my winterized fifth I take jugs of water. I use the toilet, flush with a little water from the jug.

I "summerize" in Georgia.

Yes, we will be winterized before we leave. However, it is my understanding you don't put antifreeze in the HWH? Yes, I guess we will use jugs of water for flushing and drinking and pass on the showers!

You empty the hot water heater and use the by-pass valves so as not to fill the HWH with RV antifreeze...it won't need it since it is completely empty.......

Luke Porter wrote:
Your trailer will be "winterized" before you leave--right? Including the water heater?

I would'nt worry much about the tank valves. When I travel in my winterized fifth I take jugs of water. I use the toilet, flush with a little water from the jug.

I "summerize" in Georgia.

Yes, we will be winterized before we leave. However, it is my understanding you don't put antifreeze in the HWH? Yes, I guess we will use jugs of water for flushing and drinking and pass on the showers!

We understand and won't be driving with the heat on. If the temps are below freezing throughout the trip, we will remain winterized until we reach warmer temps. I guess I was hoping we could dewinterize before we leave and make the trip more comfortable, but we will use common sense, and be sure of the 10 day forecast before we dewinterize. We don't want to have to deal with finding a hotel with room to park, plus we have a dog, but will do what is prudent. All this information is very helpful in deciding what to do. The Durango isn't designed for easy winterizing....we will have to figure it out. The water valves are back in a basement corner, hard to see and not easily reached.

Your trailer will be "winterized" before you leave--right? Including the water heater?

I would'nt worry much about the tank valves. When I travel in my winterized fifth I take jugs of water. I use the toilet, flush with a little water from the jug.

I "summerize" in Georgia.

pennysmom09 wrote:
Thank you, Dayle1, you most likely confirmed what I assumed. Although our winters are relatively mild here, the valves and levers to empty the holding tanks are exposed. Daytime temps often in the 40's, nightime about 32. I'm thinking we can de winterize just before leaving for FL, keep the furnace on and provide some sort of exterior heat for the valves over night. We will drive to SC the first day. We plan to watch the temp forecasts closely when the time comes. If necessary, wait until our first stop to dewinterize. This will be our first time doing this!

If temps during traveling are below freezing, I would NOT run the furnace while driving with the expectation that it will protect tanks and water lines in the underbelly from freezing. The amount of heat delivered to the underbelly is not sufficient at 60 mph to overcome heat loss thru the I beams, holes thru the I beams for the slide outs and other air leaks. And rather than run the furnace to protect water lines inside the trailer, better to leave the 12 v pump off, open faucets, drain the lines, and add RV antifreeze to the P-traps. If you must travel with water in the fresh water tank, don't fill it up but leave some room for expansion if the water does freeze. Also, you should not need to open the waste valves til you reach warmer temps, so it should not matter if they freeze while traveling. Just my thoughts, maybe others have better suggestions.

pennysmom09 wrote:
Thank you, Dayle1, you most likely confirmed what I assumed. Although our winters are relatively mild here, the valves and levers to empty the holding tanks are exposed. Daytime temps often in the 40's, nightime about 32. I'm thinking we can de winterize just before leaving for FL, keep the furnace on and provide some sort of exterior heat for the valves over night. We will drive to SC the first day. We plan to watch the temp forecasts closely when the time comes. If necessary, wait until our first stop to dewinterize. This will be our first time doing this!

The valves can freeze shut making it hard to dump. Using the rv antifreeze to flush the toilet worked for us in the TT.

Thank you, Dayle1, you most likely confirmed what I assumed. Although our winters are relatively mild here, the valves and levers to empty the holding tanks are exposed. Daytime temps often in the 40's, nightime about 32. I'm thinking we can de winterize just before leaving for FL, keep the furnace on and provide some sort of exterior heat for the valves over night. We will drive to SC the first day. We plan to watch the temp forecasts closely when the time comes. If necessary, wait until our first stop to dewinterize. This will be our first time doing this!

Heated and insulated tanks mean only when your furnace is operating. There is no other source of heat to that area. The insulation KZ usually uses is one sheet of tin foil so its not much but you don't need much if your furnace is running. The previous responses are good. Without the furnace running (while traveling) you be advised to winterize if its below 20. If you are running the furnace at nights while travelling, you would likely be OK if its above 20 during your journey.

Most likely it is just the furnace that heats the underbelly on the Durango. Tank heaters will have a dedicated switch to provide power even if they also have a temp control built in. Also shore power is required even if they are 12 V DC or 115V AC.

Otherwise, empty the tanks, blow out the lines and add RV antifreeze to the P-traps including shower. Also, make sure you open all faucets including the outside shower faucets to fully drain the lines.