RV Newbie here! We just bought a jayco jayflight 17' trailer and need to use it in the blue ridge mtns during the winter. As I understand, the issue with pipe freezing is having water in them. Is it possible to fill the water tank when we need to use it, use the sink/shower/toilet, then drain immediately after? We have septic hookup. Would that keep the lines from freezing? Tks!!

Draining all the lines every time you use the water would not be practical or easy. How cold will your trip be? Most newer RVs have at least some type of passive air flow from the furnace to keep the pipes from freezing if it' not too far below 32F, and you can use a light bulb in the wet bay to keep the pump from freezing. A lot of it really depends on your particular RV. Most TT's are 2 season, maybe 3. Very few are truly 4 season. Without some serious modification and a LOT of propane, you might not have a lot of luck. Also, your post might get more attention in the travel trailer forum instead of Class A.

Without blowing the lines, you will never get enough water out. If much below freezing temp, lines will freeze, if just draining the low point lines. Jerry

it ain,t worth the risk, a frozen line behind a wall could cost 5figures to fix.

Someone with actual experience in really cold temps should come along with help. There are a lot of RVers who use their rigs across the northern states and even Alaska in the winter. It can be done. But I can’t tell you how they do it. Nor tell you you can’t.

Howdy. I'll mention that in addition to the good responses here, make sure to read your RV owner's manual, assuming you have it. If not, you might search for a digital copy online or buy one on EBay or the RV dealer. If you find ANY trailer manual online, such as for a Fleetwood, etc., you might review that manual's winterizing section since it should have similar protocols to your Jayco.

Grey water use help | Good Sam Community

canoe_on_top
Explorer
Oct 17, 2023
Are your waterlines above the floor or below? Is the underbelly enclosed and heated? How cold are you anticipating? The 20s one thing. 0, quite another. As mentioned, some RV antifreeze in the holding tanks might help keep the dump valves from freezing.Will you have electric hookup? Some TTs do reasonably well in winter. Many do not, especially if you want to use the water system.Some people get by with winterizing the trailer and using water jugs for drinking and cooking and, maybe, for flushing the toilet? Some Jaycos have insulated and heated underbellies. How long are yoou planning on staying? Lots of questions to be answered before being able to give you a more diffinitive answer.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 17, 2023
This thread has some excellent advice.

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24160748.cfm
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2023
As has been stated, "draining the lines" is woefully insufficient. You either have to pump them full of RV antifreeze, or blow them entirely out with an air compressor.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 16, 2023
RickLight wrote:
"No permanent damage" is the important fact.
Yes I dodged a bullet there. I used 2 gallons of antifreeze in each waste tank. So I "think" I may have been able to force the valves open to dump... But we really did not need to, and it just wasn't worth the risk.
RickLight
Explorer III
Oct 16, 2023
"No permanent damage" is the important fact.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 16, 2023
RickLight wrote:
Does that trailer have a covered underbelly?

If yes, then keeping the furnace running (45-50min) should keep the plumbing happy. If not, then only 'skirting' trailer to the ground and a heater in there, will prevent freezing.

Note that freezing lines takes time and if you're as low as 25-30F for a few hours at night nothing will freeze up. Even if it does, the plastic lines and tanks stretch and are OK.

We camp in snow and live in snow all winter territory.
The fittings will freeze. They won't stretch.
I have camped at 12 degrees once with a open underbelly.
That TT had all of the freshwater tank/lines inside the heated space. I put a lot of antifreeze in the waste tanks. and ran a generator 24/7 along with the furnace which never shut off. When we left we could not drain the tanks as the valves would not move. No permanent damage.
RickLight
Explorer III
Oct 16, 2023
Does that trailer have a covered underbelly?

If yes, then keeping the furnace running (45-50min) should keep the plumbing happy. If not, then only 'skirting' trailer to the ground and a heater in there, will prevent freezing.

Note that freezing lines takes time and if you're as low as 25-30F for a few hours at night nothing will freeze up. Even if it does, the plastic lines and tanks stretch and are OK.

We camp in snow and live in snow all winter territory.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 16, 2023
Semi solid idea for gray/black water. But doesn’t address fresh water.
Not that many pipes in a small camper. You have to find them and figure out how to keep them above freezing.
SAR_Tracker
Explorer
Oct 16, 2023
In addition to draining your tanks and opening the low point drains, check for an "under counter" filter for (usually) the kitchen sink, and be sure to open that up and drain it (and remove the filter).
TCBear
Explorer
Oct 16, 2023
Howdy. I'll mention that in addition to the good responses here, make sure to read your RV owner's manual, assuming you have it. If not, you might search for a digital copy online or buy one on EBay or the RV dealer. If you find ANY trailer manual online, such as for a Fleetwood, etc., you might review that manual's winterizing section since it should have similar protocols to your Jayco.

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