Not winterizing outdoor-kept trailer?

We used to live in Monroe, so know your weather well.
First, if you are going to be using your trailer a few more times, all I would do is just pay attention to the weather reports.
If it is going to be a hard freeze for more than several hours, I would go ahead and winterize it otherwise don't bother
All it takes is about fifteen minutes of time using pink stuff and not wasting your time blowing it out.
We have had three travel trailers over the past twenty years and when we bought our first one the RV dealer gave us a printed out paper with the steps using pink stuff and using the on board water pump to pump it through the system.
In addition to that put a few spoonful in the city water connection to protect the check valve
Total time for me with a 25 foot trailer was about fifteen minutes and a tad over a gallon of pink stuff.
If you want to know how to use the water pump e-mail me and I'll give you directions.

Jack L

I have never had trouble when I use the pink stuff. Now I'll be hitting the road in about 3 wks so I have tried blowing the lines out with the air compressor. Never done it this way before and I hope it doesn't bite me down the road. I took the strainer off and cleaned the screen and made sure there was no water.

As long as you have the pump and strainer drained, there shouldn't be an issue. Make sure, when blowing down the lines, that you open the toilet supply valve and outside shower if you have one.
A guy should still use the pink in the drains.

I've replaced a faucet because the line from the valve to the center had burst. I've had the plastic strainer bowl on the water pump crack along the threads. That one had me replacing the laminate flooring and some other repairs. All this because I would be using it again and I tried just letting the water drain with the faucets open and the low water drains open.

I have never had trouble when I use the pink stuff. Now I'll be hitting the road in about 3 wks so I have tried blowing the lines out with the air compressor. Never done it this way before and I hope it doesn't bite me down the road. I took the strainer off and cleaned the screen and made sure there was no water.

"It never freezes" or "it sometimes freezes" are two different issues with two different outcomes.

As already mentioned a few bucks and a bit of time is cheap insurance.

As Clint Eastwood would said, "Do you feel lucky ....."

For the advocates of a quick blow, how do you purge the pump head and intake strainer? They're usually isolated from where the air connects via city water?

I'm sure you have heard the saying it's best to do it than be sorry later. if not you have now.

Balance 15 minutes of time to blow the lines with air and a gallon of pink antifreeze for the traps with a couple thousand if the pipes and water heater burst.

I'm going to use my trailer again for Thanksgiving, but I've winterized it. I stop on the way south to fill my water tank. Then winterize again before I head home.

gmw photos wrote:
After you've done the process one time, you'll see that you can do the whole thing in about 20 to 30 minutes and with less than a gallon of $2.88 pink RV A/F from walmart.

Cheap insurance if you ask me.

Very true. I need to go through the process for sure. Like anything else, practice makes perfect, right?

Terryallan wrote:

Depends on when you are planning to use it again. If not until Thanksgiving. You should winterize it. At least blow out the lines. Only takes a few minutes, and won't cost hardly anything. Getting the water out of the valves in the faucets is most important. Should it freeze in the faucets. It will damage the seals. WalMart sells an adapter to hook air to your city water connection.

Yes it does get cold enough in Rock Hill to freeze lines in the winter. Especially in December, Jan, and Feb.

Our next trip is the second weekend in November and then one more time in December possibly. I'll look into the blower. Will probably winterize it after our Nov trip.

Come down and visit in Rock Hill sometime!

After you've done the process one time, you'll see that you can do the whole thing in about 20 to 30 minutes and with less than a gallon of $2.88 pink RV A/F from walmart.

Cheap insurance if you ask me.