Community Forums

Rp1955 · 01-19-2014, 08:36 AM

Hello,

Traveling from Michigan to the south in February. Is it advisable to fill the fresh water tank or is there a chance of the water freezing while traveling causing damage? New at this so we'll take all the suggestions we can from people who have done it before. Thank you.

Rose

Tom3205 · 01-19-2014, 09:07 AM

Is it a motor home or trailer?, does it have heat in tank areas?. Do you really need water, or can you get by with bottled water until you are far enough South?. You should make it past Tennessee in two days, then you can fill up. If you think you need water for the toilet/shower/cooking/coffee, then you will have to chance it. Weather temps will help you decide. At or around freezing should be safe, but a hard freeze could result in expensive repairs. While in transit, the moving water will not freeze in the tank, but the lines may. Decide if you REALLY NEED water for the first 2 days. ps. you may make it to warmer climes in ONE day...

SeeTheUSA · 01-19-2014, 09:25 AM

Since you posted your question in the "Class A Motorhome" section, I assume you have a Class A Motorhome.

Is your fresh water tank located in the heated space of your motorhome? If so and you're traveling in it, I would guess it will not freeze. If the fresh water tank is not inside the heated space, then freezing of the fresh water tank would be a concern. Any water discharged into gray or black tanks, which are typically not in the heated space, would be a concern.

If your motorhome is winterized, then the previous poster's suggestion about using portable fresh water for a few "necessities" is a good one. Might be the safe thing to do.

Bfmorgan · 01-19-2014, 09:47 AM

Michigan has been really cold this winter. I would not de-winterize until I was far enough south to have above freezing temps. Take bottled water for your use and use the same RV antifreeze that you use to winterize your MH and pour into the toilets in place of using water. It won't freeze in the holding tanks.

Gormleys · 01-19-2014, 10:02 AM

We have always used bottled water until we made it far enough south to get away from hard freezes. Even then, we have always just attached (and detached) a hose for water to reduce the chance of the pump freezing.

al2ride · 01-19-2014, 10:30 AM

We took a trip down to FL from OH in the winter and everything worked out fine. Our coach has what's called "the arctic pack" and it's a nice option for that type of trip especially since we stopped at a wally world overnight. It keeps the holding tanks above freezing so that you don't have poopcicles. However, it does nothing for the fresh water tank. We filled it up about a 1/3 full and ran the heater. The fresh water tank in ours is located in an insulated compartment with a heating duct. It was nice so that DW and DSs could use bathroom, etc.

Jake21 · 01-19-2014, 10:38 AM

Rose,

It would probably help if you stated your coach make and year as all these class A models differ so much. For instance, I have a 02 American Eagle. My furnace warms my basements and keeps the temp at 40 in as low as 10 degrees outside. I haven't been in lower temps. I would check with the manufacturer or do some investigating on your model to see if it is designed to weather the colder climates.

spritz · 01-19-2014, 10:54 AM

Just take a couple 5-6 Gal waters with spickets.There is always a rest stop ahead why chance it? They have been having freezes everwhere this year. I would wait, this is what we are going to do.
JMO tb