travel in freezing weather
We are headed to Bryce Canyon, Zion & Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks. I'm a little worried because it looks like the overnight temps are in the high 20's-low 30's. We have a 2016 Thor 22E that we...
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I disagree with those who say "don't worry". Depending on the topography, one could be parked in a spot that gets considerable colder than then forecasted temps. Also, there are usually plumbing lines routinely exposed to the outside cold air: the dump valves and low-point drain valves come to mind. On our 5er with "enclosed underbelly" - there was one drain line that ran the entire width of the RV (and sported enough "leak repair tape" from freezing and cracking, to look like a Barber Pole).
When anticipating below-freezing overnight temps, we dumped the tanks and added a half-gallon of antifreeze to each tank to protect the valves. We also disconnected the water; and opened the low-point drains (and used bottled water to brush our teeth at night and make coffee in the AM)
Of course, being Michiganders, we often camped in fierce cold. We had a 3-way valved added to the front of the pump, so that we could pump antifreeze throughout the system - we could winterize the whole RV in about 10 minutes. This is probably overkill if you seldom travel in cold weather - PLUS, I think your pump might be difficult to get to? But it's certainly mandatory for those of us who leave the cold northern winters to visit warm places for a few weeks. Which is why we've ruled out several RV brands or models due to difficult winterization, as we look for a new one.
When anticipating below-freezing overnight temps, we dumped the tanks and added a half-gallon of antifreeze to each tank to protect the valves. We also disconnected the water; and opened the low-point drains (and used bottled water to brush our teeth at night and make coffee in the AM)
Of course, being Michiganders, we often camped in fierce cold. We had a 3-way valved added to the front of the pump, so that we could pump antifreeze throughout the system - we could winterize the whole RV in about 10 minutes. This is probably overkill if you seldom travel in cold weather - PLUS, I think your pump might be difficult to get to? But it's certainly mandatory for those of us who leave the cold northern winters to visit warm places for a few weeks. Which is why we've ruled out several RV brands or models due to difficult winterization, as we look for a new one.
