We are in our first travel trailer that we have had since February of this year and love it. We are located in Texas and the trailer stays here year round. The main purpose of us getting the TT was for when we are staying at our hunting camp in the hill country. We have full hookups out there and the trailer makes it a wonderful experience vs. tent camping. Couple questions for this upcoming winter. I will be in the trailer at some points every weekend starting in Nov-Feb. The trailer will stay out at the property during this time. The temps out there do on occasion get below freezing (low 30's/high 20's). We never get crazy cold but it gets down there. What are my options for temporarily winterizing in between weekend trips? I already drain all water out of the system/water heater/tanks whenever we aren't in it for over a month. Is this going to be sufficient for the occasional cold snap in between trips? There are a couple folks with trailers out there already and this is all I've seen them do but wanted to ask the experts here. Also, without going the route of a heated freshwater hose (again didn't see one of these last year on any other trailer), how do people handle when it gets close to freezing to keep your freshwater in unfrozen.Thanks in advance.

Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.

corvettekent wrote:Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.Thanks, will leaving the faucets open avoid the water line issue? I would say it is rare for it to be below freezing for more than a day or so. We usually drop down overnight but by noon the next day are above freezing again.

corvettekent wrote:Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.This. And if it's cold while you are there, just fill the tank and use from it. If you have electric (and that is what most people mean by "full hookups") you could leave a small electric space heater turned on, to keep the inside temp up above freezing. It won't take much.You should have a bypass on the water pump that will let you suck antifreeze up with it. You should also have a water heater bypass so it doesnt get antifreeze in it. Just drain the water heater, and run some antifreeze through all the lines until you see pink coming out. Be sure to get RV antifreeze (nontoxic) pink stuff, instead of automotive antifreeze. To be on the safe side, you could drain the freshwater tank.This won't take but a few minutes, and a few minutes to fill the tank and flush out the lines when you get back. The antifreeze may leave a slight taste in the water lines after its flushed, but you could take some drinking water.

Blowing out the lines is another option that may be a better option for you.Less flushing after winterizing. Do a search on winterizing, many posts.

Those sound like our winter temps, I've Never winterized, (the antifreeze thing), all i've ever done is blow the system out really good, after draining everthing. But if I were going to be there every weekend, I like the electric heater idea better.

Couple winter travel trailering questions..... | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

coolmom42
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2016
corvettekent wrote:
Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.

This. And if it's cold while you are there, just fill the tank and use from it.

If you have electric (and that is what most people mean by "full hookups") you could leave a small electric space heater turned on, to keep the inside temp up above freezing. It won't take much.

You should have a bypass on the water pump that will let you suck antifreeze up with it. You should also have a water heater bypass so it doesnt get antifreeze in it. Just drain the water heater, and run some antifreeze through all the lines until you see pink coming out. Be sure to get RV antifreeze (nontoxic) pink stuff, instead of automotive antifreeze.

To be on the safe side, you could drain the freshwater tank.

This won't take but a few minutes, and a few minutes to fill the tank and flush out the lines when you get back. The antifreeze may leave a slight taste in the water lines after its flushed, but you could take some drinking water.
rexmitchell
Explorer
Aug 06, 2016
corvettekent wrote:
Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.

Thanks, will leaving the faucets open avoid the water line issue? I would say it is rare for it to be below freezing for more than a day or so. We usually drop down overnight but by noon the next day are above freezing again.
corvettekent
Explorer
Aug 06, 2016
Instead of using a water hose just fill your water tank and use it. When you are gone I would be more concerned about the water lines than the tank. Pump some antifreeze in the lines if you think it will stay freezing for a few days or more.

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Couple winter travel trailering questions.....

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