Hi All,Newbie, just bought a 21' Coleman 16FB. Here in Springfield Oregon, the average low is 33 degrees and it usually doesn't stay that for long. I see lots of how to's on winterizing but I am wondering if I need to winterize it or if it ok to just drain the tanks?

Howdy from Dallas.For winterizing I would suggest you blow out the lines using an air compressor set to about 20PSI. Once that is done pour about a cup of RV antifreeze down each drain and add a couple of cups to the toilet. Be sure to open all valves, and leave the low point drains open all winter. Other than dumping any liquid in the tanks you should be done.

We get cold snaps a lot lower then that, I can recall lows of 0 in your area. This will cause issues with the water lines.You should be able to get by with draining and blowing out the lines, but doing nothing... well every friend that has tried that now has leaking, or wreaked, water lines.

We only low point drain our trailer at the end of season, then pour antifreeze down the traps and into toilet to protect seal. Leave your spickots open to allow for expansion. We live in the cold Northeast and have never had a problem with freeze-up. Been doing it this way for almost 30 yrs.

You say "average", but all it takes is one night with a hard freeze and you'll wish you had winterized. I have a 25 foot travel trailer and it only takes me ten minutes and one gallon of the pink stuff. I don't waste my time blowing out the lines. Pumping pink stuff through them will take care of that.Jack L

Checking in here from Utah. I drain all tanks and blow out the system with a compressor and just add a little RV antifreeze tot he tanks and call it good. I also leave all the valves open. Make sure you drain the water heater as well.

Newbie question - Winterize or not | Good Sam Community

PaulJ2
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Have not winterized for a couple years now as we sometimes use ours in the winter. If we have a cold below freezing spell I just turn on the furnace at it's lowest setting (50)and leave the cabinet doors open under the sink--bathroom and kitchen.
Spend money for antifreeze or spend it for propane, your choice. Has worked ok so far. Fresh water tank and pipes are all inside.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 31, 2015
RedRocket204 wrote:
colliehauler wrote:
I like what another poster said he used vodka instead of the pink stuff to winterize. Did not have the after taste when dewinterizeing.

Another plus is you would not have to sanitize the water lines.

I can see it now...

Dewinterizing:

Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Noep, still vodka
Noep, still vodka
Noep, stiiiiiil vodka
Noep, stiiiiiil voka
Noep, stiiiiiil vokaaaaaaaaaa
Noep
Noep
Yup
Yup

floor
LOL

I guess you could have a Dewinterizing party!
Timtation
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015
If you don't have a compressor you can use a shop-vac to suck the lines dry, a few even still have a discharge to blow and you can use it. Suck the lines dry and even the little amount that may lie in low spots will not break lines. You can even suck the traps dry but I prefer to add a bit of pink to traps just to add peace of mind and seal the gasses.
RedRocket204
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015
colliehauler wrote:
I like what another poster said he used vodka instead of the pink stuff to winterize. Did not have the after taste when dewinterizeing.

Another plus is you would not have to sanitize the water lines.

I can see it now...

Dewinterizing:

Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Nope, still vodka
Noep, still vodka
Noep, still vodka
Noep, stiiiiiil vodka
Noep, stiiiiiil voka
Noep, stiiiiiil vokaaaaaaaaaa
Noep
Noep
Yup
Yup

floor
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 30, 2015
I like what another poster said he used vodka instead of the pink stuff to winterize. Did not have the after taste when dewinterizeing.

Another plus is you would not have to sanitize the water lines.
RollTideCamp
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015
Winterizing it really (really) isn't that big of a deal.

I blow the lines, clear the low-point and put pink in the tanks and traps. This takes about 20-30 minutes (less time than it takes to break camp).

We live in Alabama and often camp in the middle of winter when we have a few good days (which is great to avoid crowds).

We de-winterize before we leave and re-winterize when we return, it is really not a big deal just $$ for pink stuff. Which is less than repairs.
RVcircus
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2015
Winterize for sure if the temps drop below freezing. It's not worth righing the major PITA you may need to deal with if you don't.
RedRocket204
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015
PureMI wrote:
w/washer solvent is quite toxic as well, whereas RV antifreeze will not kill you. It's cheap insurance.

OP's question was regarding only the P-traps for use with winter windshield fluid.

But you are right, it should be mentioned to NEVER use windshield fluid in the water lines as it is considered a poison: www.poison.org - Windshield Washer Fluid: A Winter Hazard

www.poison.org wrote:
Windshield washer solution contains a chemical called methanol. If swallowed, methanol can cause kidney failure, blindness, and death.
PureMI
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015
w/washer solvent is quite toxic as well, whereas RV antifreeze will not kill you. It's cheap insurance.
Theutzigs
Explorer
Oct 30, 2015
Thanks..

I had some windshield around, and was wondering..

Be getting some pink stuff!