RV Camping; Tips, tricks & repairs

[nzwasp]

So if it sloshes around it will just come out the bottom drain like when I run the pump it pumps through and comes out the bottom too.

How do people winterize the hot water tank unless emptying is good enough?

And no I have no outside shower

Also for some reason putting antifreeze in the drains caused my co alarm to go off

[Tik-Tok]

There's a small bit left in my hot water tank, maybe a cup. I can probably siphon it out, but honestly it doesn't matter as the tank is made for the pressure of hot water. Expansion from freezing that little won't hurt it as it has lots of room. It's the lines that matter most.

[Thaco]

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So if it sloshes around it will just come out the bottom drain like when I run the pump it pumps through and comes out the bottom too.

How do people winterize the hot water tank unless emptying is good enough?

And no I have no outside shower

Also for some reason putting antifreeze in the drains caused my co alarm to go off

But leaving the drain open will allow the water to slosh out, leaving the pump to run dry while you drive around is bad news for the pump, it needs the water for cooling.

empty water heater is good enough, the only time water will cause damage is when it has no room to expand, i normally leave the water heater drain out for the winter

Antifreeze is stinky, it wouldnt surprise me that it set off the co alarm, some are very sensitive

[Tik-Tok]

Re: the co2 alarm... Did you sanitize your tanks and lines with bleach prior to using antifreeze?

[nzwasp]

Nope only antifreeze and the air before hand.

So if I did have the hwt bypass would the process be as simple as pouring antifreeze in the water tank and turning the pump on?

[Thaco]

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Nope only antifreeze and the air before hand.

So if I did have the hwt bypass would the process be as simple as pouring antifreeze in the water tank and turning the pump on?

you could but i wouldn't, it makes your fresh tank stink and takes a lot of work to flush it out in the spring, most rv's have a tank bypass hose that you place in to the antifreeze jug, on my previous trailer it didn't have one so i just took the pickup hose off the fresh tank and added a small extension hose so it'd reach the jug placed on the ground... but i have been doing the air blow out method for a few years now and its been good.

[ExtraSlow]

Yes, no antifreeze in fresh water tank. Never. If you don't have a separate winterizing valve and hose, just get your freshwater pickup hose off the tank and stuff that into a jug. Both methods work.

[nzwasp]

Nothing to see here

[nzwasp]

Couple of questions now that I have it parked at a storage lot.

1. Do you bother covering your wheels while its parked over winter?

2. When it snows heavily do you go out there and attempt to brush the snow off the roof?

[ExtraSlow]

I don't worry about removing snow from the roof in winter. It usually blows or melts away pretty efficiently. I cover the tires on the south side of mine, because Princess Auto had a sale on tire covers. You want to keep the UV rays off the rubber as much as possible.

[Thaco]

you should be changign your tires every 5 years anyway, IMO they wont rot or be impacted by UV enough over the winter in 5 years to have a significant impact, and yeah, dont worry about the snow.

[nzwasp]

I’m unsure either side of my unit is going to see much sun where it’s parked between two much bigger trailers in the storage yard

[ExtraSlow]

Reminder that dehumidifiers are a decent idea for rv storage. Most dollar stores sell something like this :

[Tik-Tok]

Is that even needed here though? Our winters are so dry.

[suntan]

Yes, they are absolutely necessary.

[ExtraSlow]

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Is that even needed here though? Our winters are so dry.

Totally agree that our climate is super dry through the winter, but . . . . . A sealed up RV will have enough temperature swings that I'll feel pretty musty by spring. I don't know if they are "required" but I use them. I think even better would be to leave a window or vent open to let it breathe, but well, that is a fine line between letting moist air out and letting snow in. I just leave everything closed.

[Tik-Tok]

I just leave a Costco sized box of dryer sheets spread through out. Keeps mice out (allegedly), and takes care of that musty smell until I air it out come spring.

[ExtraSlow]

Yeah, I've heard of the dryer sheets. No idea if it really deters mice or not.

[mzdspd]

Is everyone removing their batteries during the winter?

I have 2 6V batteries that charge off of solar. They are in a difficult place to remove so that is why I am wondering if I need to take them out or not.

[Tik-Tok]

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Is everyone removing their batteries during the winter?

I have 2 6V batteries that charge off of solar. They are in a difficult place to remove so that is why I am wondering if I need to take them out or not.

I leave mine on trickle charge. I park in my own yard though. If I was leaving it at a storage place, I'd take it out and bring it home.