Community Forums

janniemac · 12-29-2018, 08:32 AM

We are heading from Denver area to Yuma next week. Newbie snowbirds aren't sure how we need to prepare for 4-5 day/nights of traveling through freezing temps. Our 18 Ventana 4037 is now winterized. What steps should we take to make sure our pipes don't freeze until we get to Yuma? Thanks!

Cooperhawk · 12-29-2018, 08:42 AM

We travel south from Minnesooota in the Winter all the time. No problem.

Carry several gallon jugs of water and use them to flush the john, wash dishes after heating, drinking, ect.

We generally eat out for the few days it takes us to get to warmer weather so we don't need much.

Run your furnace while on the road. Not a problem. That will also help keep things thawed out.

We carry sleeping bags and if it's really cold we spread them on top of the bed covers. We also have an electric radiant heater that we can plug in and warm up cold spots.

If it gets up to 40 or 50 degrees during the day, and down to the 20s at night you should be able to dewinterize with no fears.

If your rig is diesel either be sure you have a winter blend of fuel or some anti gel additive.

Don't worry about it, it's not that hard.

NealC · 12-29-2018, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janniemac

We are heading from Denver area to Yuma next week. Newbie snowbirds aren't sure how we need to prepare for 4-5 day/nights of traveling through freezing temps. Our 18 Ventana 4037 is now winterized. What steps should we take to make sure our pipes don't freeze until we get to Yuma? Thanks!

Nothing to fear. In sub-freezing driving temps I turn on the diesel burner and/or AC I and on the thermostat put front and rear furnace on to whatever you desire, I set something like 68 or 70 as it's just me and the dog and I use the dash heat.

As for camping, all normal ops except don't leave the water connected to the hookup. Do a manual fill if you want and once the fresh tank is full stow the water line. Or you can use autofill during the day and disconnect at night as long as you don't forget.

If it makes you feel better install a temp sensor in the wet bay so you can see that it's just fine. I have one in mine and it maintains around 60 deg F.

kerrbe · 12-29-2018, 09:07 AM

Not sure how far you want to drive in a day, but we are 40 miles north of you. When we leave for Arizona we drive all the way to Albuquerque the first day and then we fill our tank and flush out the lines. We carry gallon jugs of water for flushing on the way. Never have had a problem.

JMH · 12-29-2018, 10:09 AM

Like Neal said, turn on oasis burner and set both zones to warm. Will keep everything in good shape. We normally don’t drive our Newmar in winterized mode (antifreeze in water system). Have made the i25 trip through front range in winter several times. But if it makes you more comfortable, just make sure you have jugs of water to drink and for flushing toilets until you get to a latitude you can de-winterize.

redbaron73 · 12-29-2018, 10:21 AM

X3 on NealC advice

winniman · 12-29-2018, 10:38 AM

We drive to Arizona from Ontario each winter. We put a five gallon pail of water with a lid in the shower for flushing the toilet. We bring water bottles or jugs to drink and make coffee. We put a gallon of rv antifreeze into each waste tank so as not to be able to freeze with the added water. We do not put water in the fresh water tank.We generally can get below the freezing zone in one to two days drive. We will then fill up the fresh water tank. As stated, run the propane furnaces to keep your under bays warm, and yourselves of course. If returning before thaw time up north, we will rewinterize part way home, and use public washrooms as required. Draining the waste tanks when we get home is an option as well, but finding an open rv dump station is pretty hard in the off season.

redbaron73 · 12-29-2018, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winniman

We drive to Arizona from Ontario each winter. We put a five gallon pail of water with a lid in the shower for flushing the toilet. We bring water bottles or jugs to drink and make coffee. We put a gallon of rv antifreeze into each waste tank so as not to be able to freeze with the added water. We do not put water in the fresh water tank.We generally can get below the freezing zone in one to two days drive. We will then fill up the fresh water tank. As stated, run the propane furnaces to keep your under bays warm, and yourselves of course. If returning before thaw time up north, we will rewinterize part way home, and use public washrooms as required. Draining the waste tanks when we get home is an option as well, but finding an open rv dump station is pretty hard in the off season.

With newmar coaches there is no need to winterize when traveling. You can have all tanks in use safely.

ptw · 12-29-2018, 01:33 PM

Do not to use the engine brake if the roads are slippery...

GaryKD · 12-29-2018, 01:45 PM

Hi janniemac,
Temp needs to get to 29 degrees for 5 hours for water to freeze. Consider getting a remote thermometer and place it where you are worried the most. Also, you can put a saucer of water in the area you are worried about. If the water is still liquid your okay.

For me, I have never had difficulty traveling in freezing temps, The furnace is on and I have a remote thermometer to provide the warm fuzzy.

10 fan · 12-29-2018, 02:50 PM

I bought the one that DSDon posted a link to with 2 extra remote sensors. I have one in the generator compartment for outside temp and one in the wet bay, one in the battery compartment.

winniman · 12-29-2018, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbaron73

With newmar coaches there is no need to winterize when traveling. You can have all tanks in use safely.

The rv is already winterized. No point in tempting fate by putting water in the tanks. You could break down, have an accident, or who knows what. Traveling for one day using the water in the pail works for us. Generally, we drive one long day, and we are far enough south to un- winterize the coach.

RiverBurt · 12-29-2018, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi janniemac,
Temp needs to get to 29 degrees for 5 hours for water to freeze.

See, that’s the kind of over-simplification that drives me nuts.

You wanna make book on that, betting having usable water pressure, much less blowing a valve or joint?

Prevailing wind or conduction to previously-chilled concrete can freeze water in minutes with the ambient temperature above freezing.

Stuart W · 12-29-2018, 09:53 PM

One more “don’t” to add to Neal’s advise, don’t leave your stinky slinky out once you have used it, water gathers in the bottom creases and will freeze! I learned this the hard way in Albuquerque @ at 3 degrees. So in addition to putting the fresh water hose away after each use, do the same for the SS.