Can I winterize my Pop-up camper myself?

BTW, I have used a bicycle pump with the blow out method and it has worked just fine, in case you don't own an air compressor.

This is what we do with our OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer.

Since we like to winter camp sometimes or find ourselves up in the mtns somewhere and it freezes overnight we want to use the BLOW-OUT method which takes just a few minutes.

First we drain our the fresh water tank at its low point drain. We open both HOT and COLD water taps at the sink. We also open the high pressure valve for the Hot Water Heater when draining form the low point drain. This will drain a good 90% of the hot water heater contents. We leave the high pressure valve open from there on as well as the low point drain for the fresh water tank. Any small amount of water left in the hot water heater will not do any damage if it freezes up as it has lots of room to expand.

Then we hookup an AIR ADAPTER (AMAZON) to the city water port of the trailer and connect the 12VDC TANKLESS Air Compressor (AMAZON) we have to blow out all of the fresh water lines at the sink taps. All of this water goes down the P-TRAP drain. When we only have air coming out of the sink tabs then we add just a small amount of pink anti-freeze to the P-trap to replace the small amount of water present there.



We also have an outside shower attachment and an indoor Cassette Potty unit and make sure the fresh water associated with those units is drained. We also dispose of any waste water in the cassette potty removable waste tank.

All of this just takes a few minutes an the beautify of this is we can continue using the fresh water tank the next day when it warms up by just closing all of the opened valves and re-filling up the fresh water tank.

We do the same procedure here at the house when we finally leave our POPUP trailer stored for the winter.

This is a little different from your situation but should give some good ideas if you want to go this way winterizing your smaller foot POPUP trailer.

Roy Ken

I agree with Skyline Nomad about not putting antifreeze in the tank. It is near impossible to get it all out when you open up again and even if non-toxic you will not be happy with the pervasive smell in your drinking water. Empty the tank fully. Push antifreeze into the pump and lines between the pump and faucets including any shower faucets OR push air through with a compressor and leave valves open to dry.
Its not as hard as it might sound.
Other hints: moisture from condensation is an issue in a unit closed up for long periods. Close up following the driest weather you can. Empty the unit especially of anything cloth. Open fridge door or take it off. Spray down with Lysol disinfectant liberally on all interior canvas and cushions. (Don't worry the smell will dissipate over the winter). Remove batteries including those in the smoke detector and leave off the cover so you remember to put them back in. Stack in a half dozen of those chem-dry containers. Add a few mouse traps or bait. Put these last two items in an accessible place so that you can check them from time to time.
When I open up in the Spring the unit is clean, free of vermin poop or damage and mold free. Ready for camping fun.

Easy to do as mentioned. pump pink thru the lines with the pump. Only thing I didn't see was what to do about the city water connector.
After you have pumped the pink thru the lines. Go outside to the city water connection. Remove the cover. Stand to one side. Do NOT stand infront of the connection. Take a screw driver, and gently push in the little button if it has one. If not, then gently push in the center of the connection, until the valve releases, and lets the water, and then pink come out, and it WILL come out in a hurry.

Here is a recent thread that should help. Very easy diy job. Good luck! And welcome!

Do not fill your fresh water tank with anti-freeze.

Check to see if there is a hose, leading no where with a valve control on it. It will be located BETWEEN the fresh water tank & the pump.

If there is, that is what you will use to winterize. Place the end of the hose into a gallon container of RV antifreeze, open the valve & turn on the pump. Open all faucets, in the coach including the outside shower, if you have one, I doubt you do because you don't have a hot water heater. Run pump until the anti-freeze starts to come out of the faucet, close it, add a little antifreeze to the P trap, & your done. Close the valve, remove the hose from the container.

PS: drain the fresh water tank of all water prior to starting this process. There should be a drain valve on the underside of the trailer @ the tank location.

Drain the tank and if you have a small aie compressor blow out the lines is all you should need. If not add a gallon of antifreeze turn on pump ans pump till you get pink stuff out. Be sure to add some pink stuff to the sink drain. Ans put it away. Just make sure there is nothing that can freeze in it and your good to go. Reverse the operation in the spring. Being sure to flush with plenty of bleach water