Advice needed on winterizing water tank and pump

Thanks for the quick response!

I did run the pump dry. This year I had to do some repairs the the MH that involved removing the fresh water tank, pump and did some custom re-plumbing so that I can fill my fresh water tank from city water, isolate the pump from the water system,
reroute the tank drain and suck in AF all using pex and new ball valves. so I should be able to get the AF in ok, this will be my first time using the AF input, so we'll see how it goes.

No, you do not need AF in the FW tank. There is plenty of room for expansion. Did you run your pump dry? If not, you need to do that to get all the water out of it.

I'm not one willing to risk winterizing without AF. I blow out the lines, then pump in the AF (through my water pump). Does your trailer have a hose to suck in the AF through your pump? You can get a kit to install yourself if it doesn't.

RV antifreeze is rated down to -50* I think. I realize you are in a cold environment, but even getting down towards those temps, the AF turns to slush, not solid ice.

just read this thread and I have a couple of questions:
I am new also to RVing and used the fresh water system this year to try it out a few times, ran a few tank fulls through with clorox in the water, but only used the water for dishes and toilet.
I drained the water tank but the low point comes out the side. Do I need to put anti-freeze in the fresh water tank, if so it's 40 gal. how much AF?
Also I used my air compressor to blow out the lines through the city inlet, opened sink and shower faucets one at a time and the toilet until only air came out. I had heard that sometimes even the AF freezes, what are your experiences?

Thanks to the OP for touching on this subject.

My Bullet has the water pump in a compartment next to the master bed. There is only 2 screws to remove the top of it. (Now, just one.)
I used to just disconnect the pump inlet and attach a fitting with tubing to suck from a antifreeze jug. I've since installed a tee with a shutoff valve to make it easier. It only took 2gal of antifreeze the last time I winterized. Don't forget to dump some in the sink/shower drain traps.

for the little that it costs, I would run some antifreeze through the pump
put a suction line on the pump to a jug of antifreeze and run it for a few seconds. somewhere there is a check valve to prevent city water from entering the pump

better safe than sorry

Kansas--It was very easy to pump AF through the water system. I purchased a small hand pump made for that by Camco and dipped the intake hose in a jug of AF while attaching the other hose to the city water TT connection. Then just opened each faucet 1 at a time while pumped until pink came out. each location= hot , then cold, starting at furthest point from connection.( kitchen sink for mine) Make sure you turn off water heater bypass first so you don't fill your HW heater. and don't forget outside and inside shower faucets. And also-- do NOT forget to pump pressure in line then flush toilet several times until pink comes out. After that which took 2 gallons, I used 3rd gallon to pour a few cups down each faucet drain, shower drain and toilet bowl. Took exactly 3 gallons for my TT and total time less than 30 minutes. Pumping was very easy.. only 1 faucet was open at a time. Have a spotter inside to tell you when pink comes out. It was a breeze!

To the OP: How labor-intensive was it to hand-pump the antifreeze through the city water connection? I am thinking about doing the same when I winterize my TT in the next few days.

Like Doug33, last year I just put the antifreeze in the fresh water tank and ran it through the system that way. I was in a race against the clock and wasn't real familiar with winterizing back then.

I did see jfkmk's suggestion to attach the hose directly to the water pump, however my pump is at the back and bottom of the pantry and I don't know how easy it will be for me to attach the siphon hose.

Doug-- I havent actually seen my Bullet pump yet.. I was told it is in the bed enclosure but did not know it may be hidden... My TT is still at Hitch RV in Turnersville being repaired for the hole in the slideout roof from tree branch 3 weeks ago. Won't have it back for a few more weeks.. I will ask the service techs to show it to me when I go to pick it up. Why would they make it inaccessible? I never used the fresh water tank since I bought it and the lowpoint drain was empty when I checked so I cant believe there would be any water in the pump. They never demo'ed that when I picked it up.

Were you able to get access to your water pump in the Bullet? I was never able to. It sounds like the pump is somewhere next to the master bed, hidden below in a compartment that does not have any panels that can be removed, which makes no sense to me. Instead, I just fill up the fresh water tank with about 3 gallons of antifreeze and pump through the system from there.

Thanks gbopp, TT is at the dealer fixing a hole through the slideout roof that came from a big tree limb in a storm that went right through it.. They are checking roof caulk for me too to see if it needs any. Thanks!