Islandman wrote: I think that you're doing the right thing, we need to have confidence in work performed by others we've hired to do a job. Sure sometimes a mistake is made, but by and large good firms stand behind their work and you'll have no problems. Do you do your own dental work, how about plumbing or electrical work around the house? Besides you've helped the employment situation a little! As Nick noted above, $45 is fair and you probably should go back to them in the spring for dewinterizing. Wouldn't hurt to have them explain what they do so you can maybe attempt to do it next fall by yourself.
Perhaps those who fear typical RV'n DIY procedure should travel with licensed electricians, plumbers, etc. to ease self induced lack of confidence...
IMHO taking the initiative to learn the ins & outs of 'Class B' travel shouldn't be an option...
Good point, Jack: or have we hit the point where the average person doesn't know how to change a tire, check their radiator fluid, add a quart of oil or wiper fluid? Winterizing is easier than changing the oil, since you don't have to jack up the unit.
I wonder how many RVers travel with a tool kit...
Quote: And fret like a mother hen that I'd done something to ruin my beloved Cookie.
And making a mistake won't ruin your RV. It might give you a chance to learn a bit about plumbing, at worst. A handy skillset to have and easy to acquire.
Wow, didn't mean to open a hornet's nest here. The place doing the work is a place I have dealt with and trusted since 1986. Great experienced folks. Small town USA at it's best. If they say it will be done right, it will be. Perhaps they'd even be willing to SHOW me the proper way to do things. Reading is one thing, especially with so many giving differing opinions. But seeing is better. I'm not that confident.
I can and do change tires. I can change oil,too. And check the radiator, buy and install a new battery when needed. All things I've been taught to do over the years. I worked side by side with my ex-husband when we built our house from scratch, the ground up...from levelling the footings in the basement to nailing shingles on the roof. Yes, including plumbing. It's all PVC. Point here is, I've not learned to winterize an RV and yes, a mistake can ruin something.
It's not rocket science - even I do it myself (a non-handy female) Just drain all the tanks, flush the grey and black tanks then leave the drains open for a day or so afterwards so everything has a chance to dry out. Also drain the water heater and leave the plug out so that drains completely too. Then close it all back up and dump some of the pink stuff into the toilet, bathroom and kitchen drains.
We've done it this way for 5 years now and never had a problem.
I have to admit though, I cheated this year and drove my B to work (at a car dealership) so that I could pull it into the nice warm garage and do the work.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
I do understand the fear of the unknown. Until I bought my B 5 years ago, I had never been in any rv for more than a couple of minutes.
However, learning isn't that hard. I have an idea for you, try doing it yourself, then take it with $45 and have the rv place check it, and tell you if it was done correctly. If not, then have them tell you what you missed.
No hornet's nest LOL. Just making the point that a) you can do it and b)there's nothing to ruin.
Topless has a good idea.
Reminds me - haven't done mine yet and it went down to 28F last night. It was drained and everything left open, but I'll take the compressor to the lines this afternoon. Prefer a dry de-winterizing since we use the unit in winter.
abc40kids wrote: You could always pick up a couple gallons of pink stuff and hit all the traps,sinks,toilets yourself after you get it back only cost you a few bucks.I paid the local rv guy about the same to do mine the first year but not again and it was'nt so much the money but the pain in the rear to haul it out there and back.Maybe I need to advertise a mobile winterizing service.
This is also my thinking. I would not take my rv in even if it was free because it is easier for me to do it myself than drop off my rig and pick it up when they are done with it.
Would someone please go up to Maine and help this lady out. I just finished my first winterizing. She can do it with confidence if someone who has experience will just show her how, this first time. Have her set up a video camera to record for future reference.
juliev wrote: It's not rocket science - even I do it myself (a non-handy female) Just drain all the tanks, flush the grey and black tanks then leave the drains open for a day or so afterwards so everything has a chance to dry out. Also drain the water heater and leave the plug out so that drains completely too. Then close it all back up and dump some of the pink stuff into the toilet, bathroom and kitchen drains.
We've done it this way for 5 years now and never had a problem.
I have to admit though, I cheated this year and drove my B to work (at a car dealership) so that I could pull it into the nice warm garage and do the work.
From my experience, the above procedure eliminates one important step, i.e., using a gravity drain method does not get the water out of the toilet flush value. I had my toilet flush valve freeze and break the first winter, so now I use air pressure to blow dry the valve. I attach an air valve fitting to the city water inlet, open the city water valve, depress the toilet flush valve, and then blow air at approx. 40 psi. To verify that I got the water out, I put a dry paper towel in the bowl, as I do this from outside the RV. I generally do this twice. Everything else can be gravity drained as you describe. I agree with most posters about how easy this is once you learn how, but I never put anti-freeze into my fresh water tank, only in the P-traps, and black & grey tanks, which I always empty and flush before winterizing.
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