We're trying to get an early start heading out west this year in April. We're going the South route out and North route back so we will experience some freezing snowy weather for sure. A mix of 50/50 boondocking and full hook up sites.My question is what's an alternative to RV antifreeze, at $3 a gallon and without much alcohol content there must be a more cost efficient mixtures out there? And easier to carry also..I only need this for my 38 gallon greys and a single 38 black tank, water tank will have its own 12 volt pad heater. Obviously the grey and black won't be full maybe half full most of the time and only for a day or two. Other times we will have full hookups so all tanks (not fresh) will be empty.Short of making my own Still what are my options?Ron W

Your grey and black tanks valves are not in an enclosed basement, and the basement is not heated? Just using the 12V pad heater on the fresh tank should help with any grey/black valves close by.But my old trailer had non-enclosed valves that froze solid at -6C once. Once we drove to warmer weather, and they unfroze, they were fine.I don't like using alcohol based antifreeze in my grey/black tanks as I'm afraid the rubber seals will deteriorate.

rjsurfer wrote:We're trying to get an early start heading out west this year in April. We're going the South route out and North route back so we will experience some freezing snowy weather for sure. A mix of 50/50 boondocking and full hook up sites.My question is what's an alternative to RV antifreeze, at $3 a gallon and without much alcohol content there must be a more cost efficient mixtures out there? And easier to carry also..A long trip like this will obvious induce some fairly significant costs which you're obviously willing to handle ... but you're not willing to buy a few gallons of purpose designed RV antifreeze? Seriously? :hRV antifreeze is specifically designed for the purpose and to be non poisonous not only when it's in the tanks but also when it's later disposed of - not so with other forms of antifreeze. JMO, but what you're proposing just to save a few $$ makes no sense at all. :R

To answer your question directly windshield washer fluid is good to -20 degrees and is less than 1/2 the price of RV antifreeze.

The lines will freeze be for the tanks. As asked above, you can't afford to add $3.00 to the cost of your trip.

Run your furnace when you can and when you can't leave your basement lights on. Those little 12v bulbs put out some pretty good heat that should keep everything warm.

Best alternative to RV antifreeze. | Good Sam Community

45 Replies

schlep1967
Nomad
Nov 17, 2016
Run your furnace when you can and when you can't leave your basement lights on. Those little 12v bulbs put out some pretty good heat that should keep everything warm.
K_Charles
Explorer
Nov 17, 2016
The lines will freeze be for the tanks.
As asked above, you can't afford to add $3.00 to the cost of your trip.
Gjac
Explorer III
Nov 17, 2016
To answer your question directly windshield washer fluid is good to -20 degrees and is less than 1/2 the price of RV antifreeze.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 17, 2016
rjsurfer wrote:
We're trying to get an early start heading out west this year in April. We're going the South route out and North route back so we will experience some freezing snowy weather for sure. A mix of 50/50 boondocking and full hook up sites.

My question is what's an alternative to RV antifreeze, at $3 a gallon and without much alcohol content there must be a more cost efficient mixtures out there? And easier to carry also..

A long trip like this will obvious induce some fairly significant costs which you're obviously willing to handle ... but you're not willing to buy a few gallons of purpose designed RV antifreeze? Seriously? :h

RV antifreeze is specifically designed for the purpose and to be non poisonous not only when it's in the tanks but also when it's later disposed of - not so with other forms of antifreeze. JMO, but what you're proposing just to save a few $$ makes no sense at all. :R
brulaz
Explorer
Nov 17, 2016
Your grey and black tanks valves are not in an enclosed basement, and the basement is not heated? Just using the 12V pad heater on the fresh tank should help with any grey/black valves close by.

But my old trailer had non-enclosed valves that froze solid at -6C once. Once we drove to warmer weather, and they unfroze, they were fine.

I don't like using alcohol based antifreeze in my grey/black tanks as I'm afraid the rubber seals will deteriorate.

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Best alternative to RV antifreeze.

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