bleaux skies
Where the skies and water are blue
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
I am considering leaving my FW in the foot hills of NW CO for the winter (right at 8000 feet). I will be staying in it until after Christmas. There is a good possibility I will have to winterize during freezing weather and maybe even knee deep in snow  .
Has anyone every done this? Is it possible? Any tips or tricks? Am I out of my mind  ?
Alumascape 26' RKS
GMC 2500HD Diesel
|
Kenneth
Washington, the state
Senior Member
Joined: 03/20/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Are the tanks and piping insulated and heated? If not, find a way to do that now. Winterizing a warm trailer is no problem, just an inconvenience for you.
I'm free of prostate cancer for 5 years now.
All men over age 50 should get an annual PSA blood test. Mine had a low reading, but the yearly jump was significant. The biopsy showed cancer just entering the aggressive stage. Dr. Hackenslash removed it.
|
skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
The easiest method would probably be to simply pump antifreeze through your water lines, empty tanks (assuming you have the means to keep tanks thawed and if not it's already too late for that one). If holding tanks ARE frozen pour some antifreeze in on top of the (ice?) and hope for the best. If they thaw at some point the antifreeze should limit any re-freeze to slush after that.
Good luck / Skip
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
|
farside291
Fort Worth Texas
New Member
Joined: 02/08/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I used to winterize in the snow when I lived in Idaho. No problem. The water pump was in a cabinet in the trailer with the winterizing kit installed. First I would empty the hot water heater (after it cooled down) or just turn off the hot water heater and turn on the hot water faucet to let the cold water refill and replace the hot water in the tank then drain and replace the plug. Bypass the water heater and pump the antifreeze through all the lines making sure to open all the faucets one at a time. Don't forget to flush the toilet until pink stuff comes out there to. There is a chance that about a teaspoon full of water can remain in the flush lever valve (not the valve to the black tank) and can freeze breaking the valve. Don't forget to winterize and drain the low point drains and city water hookup or they will freeze too. If your holding tanks are not too full I wouldn't think that them freezing should pose a problem. You would think that as the tank freezes it would simply expand back up into the tank as long there is room. What does everyone else think?
2003 Chevrolet C3500, CC, LB, Duramax/Allison
2004 Coachmen Somerset 318RLTS
|
Jim2007
Greeley, Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: 01/18/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi farside291: What is a winterizing kit and where can I find one?
Thanks for the information. Jim2007
TV: Dodge 2004 Diesel
Rig: 2004 Flagstaff 5th Wheel 30'
|
|
|
bearsnob
Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2004
View Profile
|
I've had several partly filled holding tanks on several different rigs freeze solid. No problems. We've been in snow deeper than knee deep, so if you are crazy, we are too. One thing to consider is the weight of the snow on the roof. If you get a wet snow that is more than a few inches thick, you'll need to brush it off. Best way I've found is to have a soft bristled push broom handy and a ladder. most of the time, you will be able to get up on the roof to do it, but sometimes it can get icy under the snow if it gets cold enough. Also, keeping the snow off the roof in general is a good thing because if it melts and turns to ice (very easy to do because of the heat inside the rig), you'll soon have a real problem if it doesn't warm up. I remember once spending the better part of the day trying to get three inch thick ice off of the slides on our last 5er. I'm a little envious. We haven't had deep snow here in Oregon for several years.
Bill, Carol & Striker The Cat
2005 Everest 323k
1989 Ford F-350 Crew Cab, 460, 5 spd, 4.30 axle
Everest owners: check out the Everest Owners Club.
Make a small loan, Make a big difference: Kiva.org
|
bleaux skies
Where the skies and water are blue
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for all the responses. The snow on the roof is not something I will be able to remove once I head south and is one of my concerns. If there's no warmth in the rig will it still be a problem? I would have to rely on the sun and wind to handle it for me until my return in April.
Another issue I have not gotten comfortable with yet is that there is suppose to be 2 low water lines under the rig. One is obvious with a handle to turn to drain the FW holding tank. The only other line I can see is the over flow line and I don't know that I can "drain" that, unless it turns some how. Would there be another one? Could these lines freeze up while draining?
Still on the fence as to whether to leave it or take it with me, but if I get snowed in and CAN'T get it out I may have to be ready to winterize even if I don't want to be.
We got over 6 inches of snow night before last. Very pretty, but makes you think about all this stuff, for sure!
Happy Thanksgiving
|
Ray,IN
IN, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/22/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Jim2007 wrote:Hi farside291: What is a winterizing kit and where can I find one?
Thanks for the information. Jim2007
You may search for one at camping world, rvupgrades.com or, just go to any local RV supply store and ask for one.
The kit for a water heater consists of 3- 3 way valves and the necessary fitting to connect the bypass hose.
The water pump kit consists of a 3 way valve and about 3' of hose.
If your water pump is readily accesable you may simply remove the water hose from the fresh water tank and insert it into the gallon jug of RV anti-freeze. Then just push the water out of the lines with RV anti-freeze.
Concerning snow on the roof; drive by some RV sales lots and take note of how many they sweep the snow from.
|
bearsnob
Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2004
View Profile
|
bleaux skies wrote:Thanks for all the responses. The snow on the roof is not something I will be able to remove once I head south and is one of my concerns. If there's no warmth in the rig will it still be a problem? I would have to rely on the sun and wind to handle it for me until my return in April.
It really depends on how much snow there might be while gone. The only good stories I've heard of people having problems leaving their rigs for extended periods of time in winter were up in Glacier National Park in the winter. Some areas of the park close in winter and it is common that some RVs are left in those areas (usually, these are owned by the Park or some researchers associated with the Park). Anyway, what I hear is many years ago they came back in the spring and found structural damage to the RVs because of the weight of the snow. After this happened a couple more times, they started building structures around the RVs that were strong enough to handle the weight of the snow. But here is the interesting thing. They haven't done this now for nearly 10 years because the winter snows have not been anything like they were back then.
So, you will most likely be okay. I think not living in the rig will make a big difference, especially if you get strong winds from time to time. As for the observation that RV dealers don't brush the snow off of the roofs, again I think that becomes possible because their RVs aren't heated. Still, I think they would if they got a big dump of heavy wet snow. But, really, how often does that happen?
|
