Guess What I'll Be Doing Today?

Frank P. Martin · 10-18-2009, 09:26 AM

...Heh...Heh...Heh...Winterizing the TT.

Fortunately, I brought it home after the Bedford trip instead of taking it to the storage yard. My plans were to scrub the roof and wash it down but it's been miserable here with rain every day.

The NWS is forecasting a freeze warning here tonight with lows in the twenties. Besides winterizing, I'll be removing all the food (along with everything we usually remove for the winter) and the propane tanks in preparation for the TT's winter vacation in the mine.

What a sad day, but it had to come eventually.

Jim Stewart · 10-18-2009, 01:45 PM

Winter sucks!

**NLOVNIT** · 10-18-2009, 10:49 PM

Yep, we brought our coach home today (after a COLD vacation trip to MI this past week) too instead of taking it to the storage lot. Emptying out, cleaning & winterizing is on our list of "things to do" for this week. Always sad to see the end of the rv-ing season arrive. I wish we were among those that "winterize" by heading south.

Lori-

Superslif · 10-20-2009, 04:52 PM

I'm holding out for one more weekend. Two years ago we were able to camp Thanksgiving weekend with 65 degree temps... I was thinking about you and Dave up in Michigan. If we were wet and damp, up in Mi. you must have seen some snow. I arrived last Wed. at West Branch where we had a misty rain till Thursday morning. The temps started in the mid 40's but slowly fell to highs of 40 on Friday and Sat. The sun came out at noon on Sat. Sat. night was cold (upper 20's).

This camping season has been the coolest / rain filled season in the last 20 years I can remember. Back in mid July while at Laurel Hill it got down to 40 degrees at 8 in the morning, and that was in the woods. I'm sure in the open field it was in the 30's. I think that 14 trip we got rained on 12 of the 14 days. It might have been a 10 minute shower for a day, but you had to plan your day as if you were going to get wet.....

TW · 10-20-2009, 05:28 PM

I did the same... winterized the MH and got it ready for our trip in January to QS. Maybe we'll not get it soooo low, that I had to do it, but...... with the Winter Olympics coming to Vancouver.... who knows?

Now is coffee time
TW

**NLOVNIT** · 10-20-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

...I was thinking about you and Dave up in Michigan. If we were wet and damp, up in Mi. you must have seen some snow.

It was cold enough during the nights for it (most nights were in the low 30's), but we missed it. The day we left Lakeport State Park to head west to South Haven, Lakeport got some snow that night. When it wasn't rainy, the evenings were too cold/windy for me with my electric blanket extension-corded out to the campfire. Had the Campfire-in-a-Can w/us & only got to use it 1 night.

We put in the pink stuff this evening & I'm just waiting on the icemaker to make me some "pink ice" so we can officially call it an end to the season.

Lori-

Frank P. Martin · 10-21-2009, 09:37 AM

Pink Ice??? I thought RV anti-freeze didn't freeze until around -50 degrees (F). Even if the icemaker reaches this temperature (or colder) I would think the "pink" ice cubes would melt again in the bin as most freezers operate around zero (F). Does the "pink" ice occur because the anti-freeze mixes with any water remaining in the line, thus, raising the freezing point, or am I just being a sucker for an inside joke? I'm curious, being that I've never owned a refrigerator with an ice maker; even at home.

I guess the rule is- Don't eat the yellow snow or pink ice.

Joe-K · 10-21-2009, 11:34 AM

I think confusion comes from the name "Pink Antifreeze" since it actually freezes at temperatures well above 0F. If the manufacturers change the name of the material to something more accurate like "Anti-expanding at at low thermal temperature liquid"

it would more properly describe the pink stuff.

In all seriousness, RV antifreeze does freeze at temperatures around 10 degrees F. As it freezes, it will form ice crytstals which cause the material to come to a slushy consistency and no longer flow. Even though the liquid does not flow, it is not frozen solid and will provide burst protection to water lines until it's rated temperature (typically -50F) which is sometimes called the burst point of the antifreeze.

When I winterize our rig, I also allow the icemaker to fill with antifreeze and make a batch of "pink ice" to insure the copper line behind it is protected.

Frank P. Martin · 10-21-2009, 01:48 PM

Ahhhh... I see. I was never aware that was how it actually worked. I always thought it worked similar to how anti-freeze works in cars. You learn something new every day. Thanks, Joe

It's nice and warm this afternoon and I stayed home today to do my post-season exterior cleaning (along with other outdoor maintenance). I'm going back to the roof now to scrub.

dajudge · 10-21-2009, 05:06 PM

If all you people lived in "god's country", south of the mason dixon line, you would not have to winterize. You could enjoy your rv all year!!!!!

**NLOVNIT** · 10-21-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank P. Martin

...Don't eat the yellow snow or pink ice.

So, when I offer you a "Blush Margarita", just say

.

On the same topic, we got a bit more than we bargained for. I went out to check the ice bin this morning & found some pink slush in the bin, but the majority of it (about 1/8") was a slushy mess at the bottom of the freezer compartment. The icemaker leaked again!

It seems the icemaker gets frozen up & leaks at left side of the maker instead of making cubes & pushing them into the tray. It did the same thing at the start of the season, after we blew out the pink stuff, flushed & then tried to make regular ice. It's as if, without the constant pressure of liquid to the maker, it freezes up before the liquid gets to the cube part & then leaks out the side (outside the confines of the cube bin) to freeze in a layer at the bottom of the compartment. Once we turned off the fridge, thawed out & cleaned up the layer on the bottom of the compartment & then started it up again, it made ice the rest of the season without leaking. I'm wondering if it's something wrong with the maker or if we'll just have to live with it. "?"

Lori-

Rick Long · 10-21-2009, 07:09 PM

Winterize? To cold to camp? Not here

Superslif · 10-22-2009, 08:36 AM

My parents were loading up their RV today and heading for South Texas in about 2 weeks. If my father had his way he would have been down there by now. I told him he can't leave till all his leaves fall and he picks them up. I'm not doing it.....