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Entirelynutz's avatar
Entirelynutz
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014

RV freeze protection

We are planning our first Winter trip from PA to FL this December. I plan to prime my black and grey tanks with anti-freeze. What do folks do to keep the fresh water from freezing? I'm not planning on connecting the ice maker until we reach warmer climes. I'm assuming the pipes will be ok based on the normal furnace. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. We have a Winnebago Sightseer 33C.

8 Replies

  • milo's avatar
    milo
    Explorer II
    We're planning on visiting with DS in Mesa the 1st week of December. We're gonna leave ours totally winterized the whole time. Gonna do similar to what Raymon does and just use gallon jugs of water & heat on stove for dish washing and what not. Then empty holding tanks before we leave to come home and add a little antifreeze (yes RV type) to the traps. That way we won't have to re-winterize it before we get back home to the freezing temps. Works for us.
  • Leave the tank empty. Within 8 - 10 hours you can be south enough to dewinterize.
  • We put RV antifreeze into the waste tanks, leave the fresh water tank empty and take water in gallon jugs to drink, wash our hands/face and to flush the stool. This works up until the time we reach warmer weather where there is no treat of damage from freezing. Usually takes us 2 days traveling to reach warmer weather. Wish you the best.

    Ray
  • Leave it winterized till you get a bit south. I usually plan on southern Va. for an overnight stop and set up there, in my case, it's Petersburg, VA. I'll get heat in the trailer and then run the water in. If it's real cold, I'll delay till Georgia but VA is usually good.
    Bring a couple of gallon jugs of water and you can use the bathroom on the road.
    I'm leaving northern NY around the first of the year. I'll have heat in the trailer before I leave and it will hold for the day. With the MH, you'll be in better shape for heat, Enjoy the trip.
  • Stay winterized until you get far enough south. Another good reason for blowing out the fresh water lines and not using any antifreeze in the fresh water system. Makes the transition much easier.
  • em... do you mean "RV and Marine" antifreeze, the stuff that is non toxic? Don't use regular even in the waste tanks. That stuff is toxic and should not be tossed down the drain.
    The rest depends on your rig, does the furnace keep the pipes from freezing? Other wise you should winterize the supply also.

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