How To Winterize a Trailer

[cpaharley2008]

Just a reminder, we are expecting our first frost here in central Pennsylvania tonite, I had winterized a couple of weeks ago but took a gallon of antifreeze out to trailer and poured a cup down each drain (there are 3 if you have a bath ) to winterize the "P" trap. Trailer is now ready for winter.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Just a reminder, we are expecting our first frost here in central Pennsylvania tonite, I had winterized a couple of weeks ago but took a gallon of antifreeze out to trailer and poured a cup down each drain (there are 3 if you have a bath ) to winterize the "P" trap. Trailer is now ready for winter.

Thank you Jim for your post . We winterized our trailer last week and your post reminded me that I forgot to put RV antifreeze in the shower drain .
We had snow this morning which is a sure sign that winter is coming

[Cher MN]

I forget things so easily that I make my own cheat sheets for the trailer. Attached, for what it's worth, is our winterizing protocol.

Eric

[cpaharley2008]

Do not forget to release the fresh water supply pressure by removing the mesh filter and push the pressure release plastic pin. Pictures later

[Bobbie54]

Q. What does bypassing the hot water tank do?

[daniel108]

I did this for the first time yesterday. One thing I think could be improved on the process is the air compressor fitting (using the one supplied by Escape and available widely). Maybe I am wrong, but the only way I could drive air into the fitting was to physically push a schrader tire nozzle against the fitting. This made it a 2 person job - one to hold the air compressor nozzle and another to run around the trailer opening and closing water valves. It would be much better to have fitting that I could just attach and walk away. If something doesn't exist to purchase then I guess I will make one for next time.

Does anyone use a Viair compressor for this? It would be handy to be able to run a compressor off 12V but since there is no pressure regulator (and again, the fitting isn't very handy) I thought it better to use my garage air compressor...which meant plugging into the outlets at the storage site....probably frowned upon. Of course the Viair would be slower but I imagine it would get there eventually.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

Q. What does bypassing the hot water tank do?

Prevents putting six gallons of antifreeze into the tank.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by daniel108

I did this for the first time yesterday. One thing I think could be improved on the process is the air compressor fitting (using the one supplied by Escape and available widely). Maybe I am wrong, but the only way I could drive air into the fitting was to physically push a schrader tire nozzle against the fitting. This made it a 2 person job - one to hold the air compressor nozzle and another to run around the trailer opening and closing water valves. It would be much better to have fitting that I could just attach and walk away. If something doesn't exist to purchase then I guess I will make one for next time.

Does anyone use a Viair compressor for this? It would be handy to be able to run a compressor off 12V but since there is no pressure regulator (and again, the fitting isn't very handy) I thought it better to use my garage air compressor...which meant plugging into the outlets at the storage site....probably frowned upon. Of course the Viair would be slower but I imagine it would get there eventually.

You can either make or purchase a quick connect to hose connection adapter.

As to the ViAir compressor, since most don't have a storage tank, it is difficult to get a long burst of air to clear the plumbing. If you use a large stationary compressor, be sure it is either oilless or has a filter to remove the oil. Getting the oily taste out of the trailer pluming is difficult.

[Fox hunt]

oooh forgot the shower train! i don't really pour it down the other drains because when I'm doing the water faucets it pours down the drains. it usually takes about a gallon and a half am i using too little?

[MyronL]

It is 19°F here in NM and snowing lightly all day. Have the trailer on shore power in the yard and the furnace on, set all night at 60 degrees . This is a good thing since I have not winterized yet.

A check of my lithium battery a few moments ago shows it is now down to 11.4 volts from 13.4volts yesterday when the sun was shining. Guess will be upgrading my WFCO.

[UncleTim]

I'm winterized but still running the heater at about 45°. Might go out again sometime next week or later. Water is now down for the season.

Got about a foot last night. Still a little wet. This is a night for shrimp bisque soup.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Fox hunt

oooh forgot the shower train! i don't really pour it down the other drains because when I'm doing the water faucets it pours down the drains. it usually takes about a gallon and a half am i using too little?

Hi Kate
A gallon and a half is what I usually use. When done pumping the antifreeze through the system and all taps run pink etc, we put a couple glugs in the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, and the shower drain on the 21. Since I pump the pink stuff in through the city water hookup, I know that the backflow does not need pressed. But I do take the hoses off the water pump and make sure there’s no fresh water perched in the pump. I’m ready with a towel when I do this and it’s usual for some fresh water to appear. Doing it this way since 2017 and since our unheated, soffit vented building gets down to -15 F a few times each winter and I’ve had no damage, I’ll probably keep on doing it this way. We put the winterizing T valve on the 2010 19
and it worked well too. On that one I had to push the city water connection valve. Either way, not a big deal. We remove the cushions, top off the battery and take any vermin attractants out of the Escape and we use painters masking tape to cover all the vents except the battery vent.

Tally Ho, had a red in the back yard a couple weeks ago.
Iowa Dave

[gbaglo]

i am curious about the bath plumbing. If I pour antifreeze in the sink, does it end up in the same p-trap as the shower?

[BC_Camper]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

i am curious about the bath plumbing. If I pour antifreeze in the sink, does it end up in the same p-trap as the shower?

In my 17B the kitchen sink and bathroom sink share the same trap. The shower trap is separate.

[gbaglo]

Thanks. Guess I have one more chore.

[LoonCall]

Some previous posts owners have bravely confessed some stupid mistakes, so I feel emboldened to reveal a very foolish (and potentially dangerous) mistake in winterizing. The fresh water tank and the water tank were empty. I used the intake hose to pump in RV anti-freeze but had failed to properly isolate the water heater. Upon recognizing I was dumping anti-freeze into the water heater, I then properly isolated it. Before removing the water heater anode to drain the heater, I failed to release the pressure valve first. As I unscrewed the anode, it flew out under pressure, and I was doused with about three gallons of anti-freeze. I spent the next half hour washing my eyes. I was surprised the water heater was still under pressure. Please don't make this mistake. Result? Eyes are fine. Memory questionable.

[Iowa Dave]

Don’t feel bad, the “I didn’t release the pressure before pulling the anode” accident has been experienced by many. In my life I’ve been lucky most of the time.

I made a similar mistake on our 19. However mine was removing the anode under pressure with hot water in the tank as I’d left the propane on till just before starting on the anode. By chance my fingers touched the tank and I sensed it was hot, the light came on and I wondered if it was under pressure. Into the camper, I opened the tap with the pump off and the water ran hot for a little bit till the pressure went down. Back outside, I took the anode out carefully, stepped aside and watched the water drain. Could have turned out differently, I was just lucky.

I’ve seen nasty industrial accidents with water pressure, chemicals, high speed grinders, the release of metal, wood, etc under pressure, snapped cables, chains and rope.

Close call today and you’ll not forget it in the future. Your post is a service and commendable.
Iowa Dave

[oldwave]

I use a small portable air compressor by Lowe’s brand Kobalt. It locks on the nipple of the adaptor and you can dial pressure you want not exceed. Worked great . Cheap, as I own batteries for other tools in the system .

[rubicon327]

A recent winterization video from Escape which is pretty good. Covers both methods- compressed air and antifreeze. Thankfully he does include depressurizing the hot water heater tank before pulling the anode as pointed out above.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh85oc9bijE

[75thRanger]

Originally Posted by daniel108

I did this for the first time yesterday. One thing I think could be improved on the process is the air compressor fitting (using the one supplied by Escape and available widely). Maybe I am wrong, but the only way I could drive air into the fitting was to physically push a schrader tire nozzle against the fitting. This made it a 2 person job - one to hold the air compressor nozzle and another to run around the trailer opening and closing water valves. It would be much better to have fitting that I could just attach and walk away. If something doesn't exist to purchase then I guess I will make one for next time.

Does anyone use a Viair compressor for this? It would be handy to be able to run a compressor off 12V but since there is no pressure regulator (and again, the fitting isn't very handy) I thought it better to use my garage air compressor...which meant plugging into the outlets at the storage site....probably frowned upon. Of course the Viair would be slower but I imagine it would get there eventually.

I have a device I bought at Campingworld that screws onto the water intake and has a quick connect on the other end for an air hose. Makes it a one person job. I have a tank and dual compressors on my truck. Set the pressure and I'm in business.