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GearJerker · 08-28-2015, 09:04 PM

There was snow on the hills by the house this morning (Alaska) and I figure I have another month or less until I have to winterize the trailer. Last year I took it to a dealer but this year I'd like to do it myself. I'm away from the trailer for the moment, but I was wondering if anyone knew off hand where the pickup tube was for the antifreeze. We have a creek side 23 BHS.

Highway 4x4 · 08-28-2015, 10:38 PM

Just hook it up and drag it to So Cal, 103 deg in my back yard today. I could cook a turkey in the Trailer. Looking forward to the bitter cold of the low 50's soon.

brulaz · 08-29-2015, 07:05 AM

Heh, seriously. I'm getting ours ready for the annual trip to Florida.

On ours the anti-freeze is sucked in from a tube and 3 way valve that's located right next to the pump. Requires lifting a panel to get to it. And the hot water tank bypass valve is close by as well. And the two under chassis drains are around the middle of the trailer.

But each model is different, so ...

By the way, read something about anti-freeze earlier, so now I'm using the more expensive, non-alcohol based RV anti-freeze. It's the stuff that does not have the flammable symbol but is still non-toxic. Apparently the alcohol isn't that good for seals and valves in the plumbing.

Dog Folks · 08-29-2015, 11:40 AM

Tie a snow blower to the front bumper of the truck.

Head south until the people start asking:"What's that on your bumper?"

At that point you are far enough south.

alaska04 · 08-29-2015, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GearJerker

There was snow on the hills by the house this morning (Alaska) and I figure I have another month or less until I have to winterize the trailer. Last year I took it to a dealer but this year I'd like to do it myself. I'm away from the trailer for the moment, but I was wondering if anyone knew off hand where the pickup tube was for the antifreeze. We have a creek side 23 BHS.

GearJerker I to live in Alaska and also have a Creekside 23BHS. Have you thought about just blowing out the lines with compressed air? I have done this with 3 different trailers over the years and never have had a problem. I know there are people on the site who say you shouldn't do it in such a cold environment but of the all the people I know who do it have never had a problem. Just a thought.

nothermark · 08-29-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaska04

GearJerker I to live in Alaska and also have a Creekside 23BHS. Have you thought about just blowing out the lines with compressed air? I have done this with 3 different trailers over the years and never have had a problem. I know there are people on the site who say you shouldn't do it in such a cold environment but of the all the people I know who do it have never had a problem. Just a thought.

No quite. Most of us will tell you that if you blow long enough and hard enough it probably will work. OTOH antifreeze will work as long as one gets it in place properly. It even helps to blow out the lines first but that does not take much blowing. ;-)

FWIW if you have not used it before antifreeze will freeze down around zero deg. The difference is that it shrinks as it freezes while water expands as it freezes. Expansion is usually what breaks things. Turn each valve on long enough to let some anti freeze pass through to make sure the valve body is loaded with antifreeze, not water. ;-)

alaska04 · 08-29-2015, 11:19 PM

I do have the advantage that the TT is parked in my driveway and get do several cycles of blowing the lines out over several days. I'm very touchy about the water and its taste and just don't like the after taste of having antifreeze in the lines.

Hopefully we can get 2 more trips in this year before the sadness of taking it to the RV storage lot.

brulaz · 08-30-2015, 06:07 AM

True about taste.
We're pretty fussy as well, especially the wife with her tea, so I pump gallons of fresh water into all the waste tanks to get rid of it. It can be done, but does take a lot of water.

wa8yxm · 08-30-2015, 03:43 PM

I am in S.E. Ga.. it should get down to freezing once or twice this winter but you won't need to worry about it.

If you choose to winterize farther north and put it into winter storage.> Consider the DRY method of winterizing.. Open all valves INCLUDING LOW POINT.. And blow Gabriel blow the lines out compressed air regulated to 50 PSI.. then cycle the ice maker so it sucks the water out of the lines and blow again, then wait 5-10 minutes and blow again and again (Like 10 times) Then close all valves (Optional leave low point open).

Oh drain and bypass water heater first

Pour pink stuff in drains and toilets to winterize them

And come spring.. All that nasty pink stuff you need to flush out of the system... Well the only pink is in places were "Flushing" is kind of ... Easy.

jayman_1975 · 09-01-2015, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Folks

Tie a snow blower to the front bumper of the truck.

Head south until the people start asking:"What's that on your bumper?"

At that point you are far enough south.

That's golden! And so true. You could also just loop your block heater heater extension cord around your mirror and do the same thing.