We live in Southern Utah, where temperatures are starting to dip in the low 30s and high 20s at night. But during the daylight hours temperatures are in the high 40s to Lowe 50s. We still plan to go camping every 3-4 weeks from now through the Spring. Do we still need to winterize bnow and de-winterize right before our next trip?

This is to notify new RV campers that pink RV antifreeze will freeze hard in winter time hard freezes. For instance like others I poured generous amount of antifreeze in my toilet bowel to stop the flush valve from drying out and the antifreeze froze solid one winter while RV was in storage in Reno, Nevada and yes the antifreeze is a 50/50 water mix. Just saying

Buy some remote thermometers that will report temps to your smart device https://amzn.to/3lwwMaJ

Better to be safe than sorry. Winterizing doesn’t take that long to do or reverse. You’ll need to sanitize regardless.

No, not if you can get it above freezing in the daytime. I put an electric heater in my 5th wheel that will keep the inside just above freezing temperature.

If you get into the 50's during the day and are able to open it up, do so at the height of the day. Let that cold air out and the warm in. Close it back up once the temps start to dip. The fresh air won't hurt either.

Do we have to winterize if we use our RV during the winter?

markdaniels
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2024
If you plan to use your RV during the winter, it's still important to take certain precautions to ensure that your vehicle functions properly and is protected from the cold temperatures. Winterizing an RV typically involves protecting the plumbing system from freezing, which can cause damage if water expands as it turns to ice.
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Nov 17, 2020
It suck to live at an elevation where it gets into the 20's for 4 days out of 20. Some times I leave the heater on set at 50deg and sometime I just bite the bullet and winterize
2_Retired
Explorer
Nov 14, 2020
We winter camped in the Poconos for a number of years. Had our RV on a permanent site. The water at the site was turned off, so no water ran through out water pipes, which we had drained before the cold weather hit. We also made certain all plugs were left open. We did use the drains of the sinks, and also the toilet (used gallon bottles of water to flush). At the end of each weekend, we would dump at our sewered site, and after closing the levers drop a gallon of cheap windshield washer fluid down each drain and the toilet to protect the levers from freezing shut. It worked perfectly. We would never leave any chance for water to freeze in the pipes. We used a large 60 cup coffee maker for our hot water and a 2.5 gallon plastic jug with a petcock on it for our cold water needs. Worked like a charm.
blofgren
Explorer
Nov 14, 2020
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
CFerguson wrote:
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
This is to notify new RV campers that pink RV antifreeze will freeze hard in winter time hard freezes. For instance like others I poured generous amount of antifreeze in my toilet bowel to stop the flush valve from drying out and the antifreeze froze solid one winter while RV was in storage in Reno, Nevada and yes the antifreeze is a 50/50 water mix. Just saying
Did you have appreciable damage?

No damage only stain from pink liquid. I did not use antifreeze in any other part of the trailer as I drained all water from tank and lines. antifreeze does not quickly evaporate like water is why I put it in toilet bowl.

RV antifreeze is not supposed to be diluted with water. Yes, the antifreeze will get slushy or possibly even freeze, but it will not expand like water which is what damages plumbing components.
NamMedevac_70
Explorer II
Nov 14, 2020
CFerguson wrote:
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
This is to notify new RV campers that pink RV antifreeze will freeze hard in winter time hard freezes. For instance like others I poured generous amount of antifreeze in my toilet bowel to stop the flush valve from drying out and the antifreeze froze solid one winter while RV was in storage in Reno, Nevada and yes the antifreeze is a 50/50 water mix. Just saying
Did you have appreciable damage?

No damage only stain from pink liquid. I did not use antifreeze in any other part of the trailer as I drained all water from tank and lines. antifreeze does not quickly evaporate like water is why I put it in toilet bowl.
FlashBuddy
Explorer II
Nov 14, 2020
Buy some remote thermometers that will report temps to your smart device
https://amzn.to/3lwwMaJ
CFerguson
Explorer
Nov 14, 2020
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
This is to notify new RV campers that pink RV antifreeze will freeze hard in winter time hard freezes. For instance like others I poured generous amount of antifreeze in my toilet bowel to stop the flush valve from drying out and the antifreeze froze solid one winter while RV was in storage in Reno, Nevada and yes the antifreeze is a 50/50 water mix. Just saying
Did you have appreciable damage?
NamMedevac_70
Explorer II
Nov 14, 2020
This is to notify new RV campers that pink RV antifreeze will freeze hard in winter time hard freezes. For instance like others I poured generous amount of antifreeze in my toilet bowel to stop the flush valve from drying out and the antifreeze froze solid one winter while RV was in storage in Reno, Nevada and yes the antifreeze is a 50/50 water mix. Just saying
mr_andyj
Explorer
Nov 14, 2020
atreis wrote:
PEX probably isn't going to burst, but the plastic elbows and other fittings will if they happen to have enough water in them.

Theoretically, yes, but in practice I have yet to see one crack. The elbows dont contain a lot of water, it is a very small diameter pipe inside so much less pressure than would be on a bigger inside dia pipe fitting. 3/8 pipe fittings are small, even 1/2 might be small enough, bigger ones I am sure would prob crack. Most RVs are 3/8 that I have seen.
atreis
Explorer
Nov 13, 2020
PEX probably isn't going to burst, but the plastic elbows and other fittings will if they happen to have enough water in them.

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