Camper Water Pipes/Tanks

[Chapo]

I still plan on using my camper in a week or two. With the temps getting down in the high-mid 20's am I needing to put antifreeze in the tanks/lines or am I good till it gets down in the 20's for a normal temp? Thanks for help.

[Phred52]

Chapo, How far North are you? I was just up to my cabin (Longville area) last week to winterize and glad I did. Though I only have a mobile home, it's a real mess if the pipes freeze and burst. I was in the mobile-home service business for ~5 years and that was quite a common problem. Do you have the pipes and tank in an enclosed area? Like skirting around the bottom of the camper? That'll definitely help...some, but if it gets to 26 or lower for any length of time it's a 50/50 deal. Wish ya luck, Phred52

[Chapo]

The bottom has the skirt directly under the frame but probably doesn't give to much insulation value, if any. My thinking is its cheaper to stick antifreeze in their twice then spend the money replacing pipes and tanks. Thanks.

[Chapo]

Sorry I am in Sauk Rapids.

[solbes]

If you have an air compressor, I would just open up the drain lines and blow it out. To be really safe you could drain your water heater as well. If you do a good job on getting the water out, the antifreeze is just a little extra insurance. I wouldn't add that until I was done for the year.

BTW, we winterized ours a week and a half ago.

[eyemaster]

I am using mine yet this year also, and am up in the Grand Rapids area. I don't think you have to worry about it unless it gets into the low 20's for an extended time. With our lows in the mid 20's it is really only below freezing for a couple of hours each night. That shouldn't be enough time to freeze the water lines or tanks...

[solbes]

I forgot to add that I didn't get all the water out one year. I had a split in the plastic water line underneath the shower. Was just out of reach. Took me about 2 hours to get that repaired and ended up with some pretty deep bruises over my arms. If it had been 6 inches further underneath, I would have had to haul it home to have it professionally repaired. I've been pretty conservative about it ever since.

[Chapo]

Just got done pumping anitfreeze through it, figured a case of antifreeze is cheaper than replacing pipes/tanks. Thanks for all the info.

[solbes]

A case of antifreeze? How many gallons is that? I used to use 3 gallons and have realized I can get by with 2. After turning the water heater bypass valve and draining water heater (hope you did this), I add about 1.5 gallons to the freshwater tank. If you didn't do this, you will want to. Any significant amount of water from water heater mixing with the RV antifreeze will greatly raise the freezing pt.

1.5 gallons is enough to completely fill the lines, both sinks, the shower, and the toilet lines. I spread the last half gallon evenly for each of the four drain traps. Drain the black/grey completely and done.

[upnorth]

How are you winterizing? I only use about 2 gallons to winterize our 5th wheel. The question that comes to my mind is do you have a T valve kit at the pump so you don't have to put the anti freeze in the fresh water tank?

[Chapo]

Case only has six gallons in it. I used three gallons to winterize this year. I have the bypass valve so don't need to fill water heater.