Posted 2010-10-27 5:30 PM (#126329) Subject: Do I need to winterize trailer
Veteran
Posts: 198 Location: Iowa
We have had a really, really gorgeous fall so far, with nice warm weather, and I've been going camping a lot. So I haven't winterized my Sundowner trailer with LQ...toilet, sink, shower. Now, all of a sudden with little warning, a cold front is moving in and they say it's supposed to get down to 26 degrees tomorrow night...first hard freeze of the year. Will that freeze my water lines? Do I need to winterize it tomorrow after work? Thanks for any input.
Posted 2010-10-27 10:55 PM (#126347 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by Flooper on 2010-10-27 5:30 PM
We have had a really, really gorgeous fall so far, with nice warm weather, and I've been going camping a lot. So I haven't winterized my Sundowner trailer with LQ...toilet, sink, shower. Now, all of a sudden with little warning, a cold front is moving in and they say it's supposed to get down to 26 degrees tomorrow night...first hard freeze of the year. Will that freeze my water lines? Do I need to winterize it tomorrow after work? Thanks for any input.
My opinion I would say NO. I would just drain all water and leave the faucets open just a little.
Posted 2010-10-28 5:41 AM (#126348 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
I'd get it winterized soon. You can't get all the water out just by draining and opening facets. Particularly the toilet, the foot valve is susceptible to water being trapped inside it and expensive / time consuming to repair. I've had a cold snap sneak up on me before and usually one night of hard freeze isn't enough to penetrate the camper to the point of freezing water lines unless they are exposed. But I've always took that as a warning and winterized the next day.
Posted 2010-10-28 8:45 AM (#126351 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Veteran
Posts: 198 Location: Iowa
Thanks everyone...great input. I think I'll run over and winterize it after work, just to be safe. It's got one of those pump valves where all I have to do is flip the hot water cutoff switch, then stick the rubber tube in the antifreeze and run it through the lines. My neighbor has an RV, and he said he's never had a freeze problem with early cold snaps, so he's not worried about his RV...but I sure would kick my butt for a long time if I ended up having to spend a bunch of money to fix a problem caused by frozen waterlines, etc.
Posted 2010-10-28 10:34 AM (#126356 - in reply to #126348) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by hornet on 2010-10-28 5:41 AM Particularly the toilet, the foot valve is susceptible to water being trapped inside
The trailer in question is a SUNDOWNER and will have a shut off valve on the toilet so there is no chance for water to be trapped anywhere on it... The good thing about Sundowner is they install valves all over the place to drain water. 2 under the sink, 1 on the toilet, 1 on the water heater and 1 on the fresh water supply. All you need to do is open every one of them, crack the faucets and be done. Simple as pie..................
Posted 2010-10-28 8:00 PM (#126385 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Regular
Posts: 90
Don't fret too much...if it is just going to b cold a couple of nights, and you want to go camping again, put in a little ceramic heater...open cabinet doors...if your water pump is under the sofa...or wherever, open the sofa or cabinet so heat can get in. I put the heater in the bathroom pointed toward living/dining/kitchen area...works great. Wind break would be a good idea too. THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION...just for those little cold spells before winter really sets in & when you still have good riding/camping days left.
Posted 2010-10-28 10:31 PM (#126387 - in reply to #126384) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by hornet on 2010-10-28 7:16 PM
No the flush valve will have water in it, regardless of how sundowner plumbed, they didn't plumb the inside of the toilet.
WOW, I guess I got lucky and got an odd ball unit. I took mine apart tonight after draining the water and flushing the toilet to remove the rest of the water and the valve had no water in it.
Posted 2010-10-29 7:24 PM (#126439 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
Hogtown,I think you're confusing what I'm saying. The valve inside the housing of the toilet, not the one where the shit goes through, the one that turns the water on. The way that valve is plumbed even blowing air through the line could result in water getting trapped in the water lines inside the toilet housing. And unless you did some major disassemble, you can't see this valve.
Posted 2010-11-03 2:56 PM (#126626 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Veteran
Posts: 198 Location: Iowa
I ended up winterizing it the easiest way of all! Took me 10 minutes. Drained the main water tank, then turned the valve position to the winterizing tube they have under the couch hooked into the water lines, stuck it into a container of RV antifreeze, and then ran the kitchen, bathroom and shower faucets plus the toilet until the pink fluid ran out of each one. Dumped a little antifreeze into each drain. EZ as could be! Also drained water heater, but put no antifreeze in it.
Posted 2010-11-04 4:04 AM (#126644 - in reply to #126329) Subject: RE: Do I need to winterize trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
Not necessary to blow out the lines. As long as the pink comes out all faucets and runs thru your toilet and shower your all set its a dilution process according to the directions on the bottle.
I like to make sure I flush enough to get a 1/4 gal in my holding tanks and then drive it to slosh it around. I even leave it in my toilet to cover the seal.
We just picked up a small BP and this will be the first winter our LQ sits still till spring. So I am taking extra precautions not to forget anything.
Do I need to winterize trailer
