When to dewinterize your camper

[mdvs]

SW Michigan. I winterize using air to blow out the lines and only put antifreeze in the traps and waste tanks. This way I don't have to mess with flushing the lines when we're ready to camp. Just got back from camping in TN. Only difficulty is finding a dump station open in Michigan this time of year. If I can't find one I use a 12VDC macerator to pump out the tanks into my septic tank.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by wny_clipper

No, it's not safe to do it yet. Your lines will freeze overnight.

If the outside temps get above freezing during the day and only dip below freezing at night you can safely dewinterize.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

If the outside temps get above freezing during the day and only dip below freezing at night you can safely dewinterize.

Maybe. It really depends on how warm it gets during the day and how cold it gets at night. The folks that pull that off are mostly warm days with a brief dip below 32 not the one's with highs in the 30's and lows in the low 20's.

[Yosemite77]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

If the outside temps get above freezing during the day and only dip below freezing at night you can safely dewinterize.

I live about an hour north of the OP. It was 22° this morning. That’s a big dip below freezing. We were in the low 50’s yesterday for a high, so it’s tempting. It’s way too early to de-winterize around here.

[Waiter21]

I'm in NW Ohio (16 degrees this morning) I usually wait until about a week before our first trip (usually mid May), if no freezing is forecast, then de-winterize, sanitize, and fill the fresh tank...

My 1999 Southwind has basement heat, so if I'm de-winterized and its going to drop below freezing, I make sure to leave the heat on inside the MH..

[tcg]

Originally Posted by chris174

Hello everyone just wanted to get some opinions. I live in Illinois and the weather will be in the upper 40s low 50s during the day and at night upper 20s low 30s do you think it's safe to drain the antifreeze out?

Just drain the anti freeze? Sure.

Put water in? Not yet. Your pipes would probablly be safe but it's all those pesky connections and valves that are the weak point.

[Phil Perrin]

I live in Charlotte, NC. I dewinterized a couple weekends ago. Warm, 40-60s, during the day. Dipped below freezing a couple times at night since, upper 20s.
I took our TT to the dealer to get the water heater working under warranty. They asked if I wanted them to drain the lines or winterize it again. I just had them drain the lines and WH.

[Winemaker2]

I guess I'm missing something in this post / question...
To me the biggest determinant is when are you going to use the MH / RV???
I dewinterized mid Feb in NY when we were getting packed & loaded to head south.
If you aren't going to use it why dewinterize? If you heading out then dewinterize for use?

[hitekrdnk]

We're in North West Pennsylvania and are leaving on a cross country trip to Arizona on April 2nd. While I would love to de-winterize now, I am going to wait until the day before we leave to do it. I will also allow the furnace to run during the overnight hours to keep things from freezing up. Temps are now getting into the 40's during the day and 20's at night. Can't wait to get away from this long drawn out winter.

[Forkyfork]

Originally Posted by Phil Perrin

I live in Charlotte, NC. I dewinterized a couple weekends ago. Warm, 40-60s, during the day. Dipped below freezing a couple times at night since, upper 20s.
I took our TT to the dealer to get the water heater working under warranty. They asked if I wanted them to drain the lines or winterize it again. I just had them drain the lines and WH.

I live on lake Hickory. Usually the last freeze is the middle of march but the local weather guy says he recommends the last freeze as in the first day to plant is April 15th tax day.

Im glad I didn't dewinterize when it was in the 80s in February. Out of curiosity I keep a piece of clear tubing outside away from the sun filled with water to see what temps equate freezing. There have been a few nights where it froze.

Granted my rig is fairly insulated. Its stress and worry I don't need and saves on running the hard to get filled propane out.

[znt1186]

We live in Asheville. Dewinterized last month and went wander about for a few days. Have not winterized again and don't plan to. If temps are not lower than mid 20's at night and up to mid 40's during the day, I don't worry about it. It has actually been upper 20's overnight and mid 30's for daytime here recently and I didn't do anything. If temps will get below the mid 20's for any length of time, I set the furnace thermostat to about 40 overnight and that is about it.

[chris174]

Thanks everyone like the feed back enjoy your up coming camping season 🔥🍻