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cold temps/water lines

rtreptow7
Explorer II
Explorer II
So having all this free time in the days of social isolation, last Friday I drained all the rv antifreeze out of my lines and flushed them good and got the camper ready for the summer...if we get a camping season. Put water in the fresh tank and ran it into the lines and we even had a meal in the camper last weekend. Anyway, now I see a few days coming up with overnight temps in the 20's and daytime temps in the 30's. Thinking of just draining all the lines and blowing them out with air and emptying the fresh water tank. Or, would just leaving the lines pressurized with the pump on be safe? Suggestions?
2018 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD Crew Cab 6.0L 4.10
2019 KZ Durango 1500 286BHD fifth wheel
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew CAb 6.0L 3.73 REPLACED
2004 Chevy 2500HD Exteneded Cab 6.0L 4.10 gears REPLACED
2004 KZ Frontier 2453P-F fifth wheel-REPLACED
11 REPLIES 11

rtreptow7
Explorer II
Explorer II
I did go drain all the tanks and lines and blew them out with the compressor. My camper does have an "all season insulation package" but I didn't want to risk it.
2018 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD Crew Cab 6.0L 4.10
2019 KZ Durango 1500 286BHD fifth wheel
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew CAb 6.0L 3.73 REPLACED
2004 Chevy 2500HD Exteneded Cab 6.0L 4.10 gears REPLACED
2004 KZ Frontier 2453P-F fifth wheel-REPLACED

grizz272
Explorer
Explorer
After all the snow showers we had off and all day today I would blow the lines out. I plan on waiting another week or two before i de-winterize.

bukhrn
Explorer III
Explorer III
Son of Norway wrote:
Are the water lines all inside the camper and accessible by cabinet doors, etc.? That is the design of my HR. On cold nights I turn up the furnace, leave the lower cabinet doors open and run a little electric heater into the water pump/water tank compartment. We have camped comfortably and used the water system in temps well below 20 deg.
Are the water lines all inside the camper and accessible by cabinet doors, etc.? That is the design of my HR.This is the same on my Forester,fresh water tank and ALL water lines (except low point drains) are above the floor, as someone else said, set the furnace, or electric heater to 50 and forget it.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2014 Ford Focus
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund

Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Explorer II
Looking at your rig in your signature I would imagine it has decent cold camping capabilities and would just drain all tanks including WH, set furnace to keep interior temps comfortable. Our rig has a fully exposed underbelly and would still just drain all fluids from rig under scenario you stated. That is us, of course do what you deem necessary to have peace of mind.

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
Cheapest is just to re-winterize with a couple gallons of antifreeze. On ours, we can do it in about 15 minutes.

Since that appears to be your normal process, just follow the normal process. Yeah, in theory, you could open the drains, blow it out or keep the heat on...but probably better to stick to the process you know works.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

Mike134
Explorer
Explorer
I'm facing the same temps so I drained the tank and hot water heater and just blew out the lines. Easy to do and takes 5 mins.
2019 F150 4X4 1903 payload
2018 Adventurer 21RBS 7700 GVWR.

Dick_B
Explorer
Explorer
Did you sanitize the lines after draining the pink stuff?
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)

djousma
Explorer
Explorer
rtreptow7 wrote:
So having all this free time in the days of social isolation, last Friday I drained all the rv antifreeze out of my lines and flushed them good and got the camper ready for the summer...if we get a camping season. Put water in the fresh tank and ran it into the lines and we even had a meal in the camper last weekend. Anyway, now I see a few days coming up with overnight temps in the 20's and daytime temps in the 30's. Thinking of just draining all the lines and blowing them out with air and emptying the fresh water tank. Or, would just leaving the lines pressurized with the pump on be safe? Suggestions?


It's no different than camping late in the fall. I'd drain the fresh water tank, or turn tank heaters on if you have them. Then turn the furnace on about 50 for the overnight.
Dave
2016 F350 Lariat 4x4 FX4 SRW CC SB 6.7 Magnetic Metallic
2017 Forest River Cardinal 3850RL

Son_of_Norway
Explorer
Explorer
Are the water lines all inside the camper and accessible by cabinet doors, etc.? That is the design of my HR. On cold nights I turn up the furnace, leave the lower cabinet doors open and run a little electric heater into the water pump/water tank compartment. We have camped comfortably and used the water system in temps well below 20 deg.
Miles and Darcey
1989 Holiday Rambler Crown Imperial
Denver, CO

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
I’m for the safe way. Blow them out.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

C_Schomer
Explorer
Explorer
It would help to know what temperature the RV is designed for. If all the water parts are enclosed you could probably just turn the heat on inside and keep everything from freezing. Otherwise draining and blowing everything out would be safer. Craig
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW CCLB 4wd, custom hauler bed.
2008 Sunnybrook Titan 30 RKFS Morryde and Disc brakes
WILL ROGERS NEVER MET JOE BIDEN!