Forum Discussion

Planedenn's avatar
Planedenn
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013

Indoor sleeping for the winter

We are done with camping for this year and just about to store our RV indoors for the winter. This being our first year with an rv we are in the dark about what to do so asking the obvious questions. I was going to remove both batteries and bring them home and store them in our garage on the wooden work bench.
The previous owners had never used the water system in 3 years. We used it for the toilet only so the grey and black tanks have had water but we've drained them. Do I still need antifreeze and how much. RV didn't come with a manual ao i'm at a loss. I'd put it in the good tank and use the pump to circulate it but honestly I have no idea what I'm doing. I haven't used the hot water but I have had the tap on so water has gone through the lines.

13 Replies

  • We use ours year round so before it gets cold I blow out the lines and dump pink stuff in the P traps. When we take it out in the winter it's easy to get back in business....put water in and go. No flushing of pink stuff required.
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer III
    You need to remove all the water from the RV. Some blow out the lines. Some (including me) flush RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) through all the water lines. Run it through all sink faucets (hot AND cold), the shower (hot AND cold) and the toilet. Be sure the water heater and fresh water tank are drained, but there is no need to put antifreeze in them. That is why there is a water heater bypass system, so you can avoid putting antifreeze there.

    Even the people who blow out the water lines have to put the pink stuff in all of the sink traps, toilet and shower trap.

    If your RV has an outside shower, be sure to blow out/put antifreeze there too.

    One thing a lot of people don't think about, till it bites them on the butt, if you use the pink stuff, when you are finished filling all lines with antifreeze, remove all of the pressure from the lines by opening a cold water tap. Then, leaving the tap open, go outside and press on the actuator in the shore water inlet to let the pink stuff gravity flow backward out of that valve to protect it. If you have pressure in the water line when you do that, you MAY dislodge an O ring that seals that valve.

    As far as how much antifreeze, I can do my 32' MH with 2 gallons.
  • Hi...

    I posted this list a few days ago. It seems to be fairly complete.

    Hope it helps you! We're STILL asking lots of questions. We've had camp trailers for years, but JUST got a self contained one this spring. It's a wholllleeee new beast for sure....LOL

    WINTERIZING YOUR RV - CK LIST