Community Forums

Brad W · 12-11-2016, 12:36 PM

Hi,

Don't have a MH yet, still in the learning and research process

I've got a question about winterizing.

We will be in warm climate most of the time, but one of the reasons we want to get a MH is to be able to go up to Portland Oregon area during Christmas. ... the details of how and why aren't important....

If we are actually using the rig and keeping it warm, do we need to be concerned about being in an area that could possibly have below freezing nights?

The Tiffin I've narrowed in on says it has a heated tank area, but I don't know how that works, if I'm supposed to be moving for it to be effective, etc.

Thanks for your feedback

Hooligan · 12-11-2016, 01:49 PM

Normally the propane furnace is ducted into the tank areas and as long as the living area is heated by the furnace the tanks are also. If you use electric cube heaters, no heat goes to the tanks. If you have 2 furnaces, probably only one heats the tanks.
Really cold may require a light bulb in the plumbing area (extension cord) and leave cabinet doors open so heat gets into those areas.
Some MH's have electric heated pads under the tanks.

Brad W · 12-12-2016, 09:48 AM

thanks for that info.

So, if I'm using propane, the tanks are getting warmth... Does this mean the pipes and plumbing will be OK as well?

Fred and Bonnie · 12-12-2016, 11:51 AM

Brad, so much depends on how the manufacture has routed the utilities and whether the owner runs the propane furnace at night.

We live in SoCal during the winter, never winterized, however we were in a early SD storm with temps down to 10 degrees and a fair amount of snow. Since we don't like running the LP furnace at night, I turned on the compartment lights, everything was fine for the 3 days of freezing temps.

I believe the short answer is, it depends.

Fred

Brad W · 12-12-2016, 03:27 PM

lol "it depends" ... those are the best answers

thanks though. I think it sounds like we would be fine being that we'd be living in the unit during the cold.

S Bradley · 12-14-2016, 08:06 PM

As stated above depends on how it is built.
Before you buy an RV personally check out the plumbing yourself. If any plumbing is outside the unit it may freeze, several places to note are the low point drains and the outside shower. It is possible to winterize those areas and simply leave them winterized.

If the tanks are outside with heat pads you can use them "it takes a lot of juice to heat those pads".

When I travel in the spring (Alaska) I just leave it winterized. Using the RV in the winter/spring, use antifreeze to flush the toilet and add a gallon to the fresh water tank, it might turn to slush but doesn't freeze.

slickest1 · 12-15-2016, 02:26 PM

We have traveled in our Imperial in freezing temps. and the only problem we encountered was the dump valves for the tanks froze. A little heat with a hair dryer cured that. Normally when we leave home in the winter we are already winterized and leave it that way until we are far enough south no to worry. We don't put water in the tank but instead carry a couple jugs of water to cook and wash with and that goes in the black and grey tanks that already have antifreeze. We flush the toilet with water from the jug as well.
It is only for a couple of days so it works for us.