Winterizing an RV
 

Any tips? Insights?

Uncle has a 2011 or 12 Winnebago View on a Sprinter Chassis. Generally we store it in the warehouse for the winters with my cars. However they are using it at the end of this month for a trip to Florida and may use it again early next year. So the question is, why don't we just winterize it so it can live outdoors in the space he rents year round for it.

I know nothing of RVs but I know a good number of people on here have them and figured I'd ask you guys before I join an RV forum and display my ignorance :rolleyes:

Is it as simple as RV anti-freeze in the water tanks?

My grandfather had a sailboat, and I would help him winterize it...it had an inboard diesel motor, so we added anti-gel to the tank and ran the engine for about an hour. We totally drained the fresh water tank before adding RV antifreeze to it, and I believe we added some sort of anti-freeze to the septic tank as well although I don't remember specifics (it's been about a decade since he sold it :eek:). Come spring we'd fill the water tank and run the sink until it ran clear for several minutes.

I'd imagine that an RV would be similar.

Drain the water tanks. Drain the waste tanks. Drain the hot water heater. Lots of people then suck RV anti-freeze thru all the water lines so they won't freeze. I installed a compressed air fitting in my system so i can just blow it out. Most water heaters have a set of diversion lines at the input and output so you can turn two valves and get the compressed air thru the hot water lines without going thru the water heater tank. I think the anti-freeze leaves a bad taste in the lines. Then put RV anti-freeze in the sink traps. Takes me less than half an hour to do that on our camper.

Remove drain plug from WH, and open release valve on spring to then drain.
Turn all 3 bypass valves to - from WH to closed position. Thereby isolating WH from needing RV Antifreeze.
Open ALL floor valves located along and through coach, including main water tank valve.
Once all water drained by gravity, close all floor valves.
Buy one gallon on RV Antifreeze (pink) liquid from Walmart Supercenter.
Open top screw valve on water pump. Attach clear 3' hose provided by RV manufacturer to water pump, with open end of hose into the open gallon of RV Antifreeze.
Turn on water pump and let it distribute RV Antifreeze to all points until it stops running. Then go to and open one water faucet at a time in interior of coach. When pink fluid comes out, close that faucet, going to the next faucet. Open commode valve with foot pedal until pink fluid comes out, then release. Leave some pink fluid in the commode bowl to keep O-ring that holds water stay pliable. Commodes (most of them...) also have a rinse-hose on their assembly. Be sure to let the pink antifreeze run through it too.
Your small coach' s plumbing is now set.
Replace water hose coupling at water pump.
Now, pour a few ounces of pink fluid in all 3 other drain traps to protect them too. Galley sink / shower drain / lavatory sink.
If the coach has an exterior shower faucet- let pink fluid run there too before then closing valve.
You may need to buy 2 gallons your first time through. Price should be $3.99 +/- a gallon @ Walmart. The cheapest I've found, BTW.
You're now good to -50F. Pink fluid will thicken, but not burst piping. RV Antifreeze is non-toxic, and rinses easily when flushing the system next Spring.

No need to put any RV Antifreeze in fresh water tank. I just noticed that Q. The water pump distributes the pink liquid where it needs to be. Tank is good even if a scant amount of H2O in it.
FYI: On board water pump is then sealed closed with RV ANTIFREEZE pink fluid in it for Winter.

Another method to winterize is to drain and isolate water heater and drain water with floor drains as above - then blow out the system with an oiless air compressor. I don't have the air compressor, but many use this method.

I was under the impression that many people tarp over their RV just so it doesn't get another few months of UV wear on paint, rubber, canvas etc... if it is was a newer/nicer camper I'd consider doing this also.

-Not an RV owner, but I camp with them often :)

Thanks guys! I appreciate it, my cousin and I will work on that when we get it back out in the next couple of weeks.