Community Forums

98winnie · 11-18-2019, 04:41 PM

We recently winterized our motorhome, but are already wishing for warmer weather. If we decide to take a trip to a warmer clime (south Florida) in January, do we just leave our tanks and lines empty till we arrive at our destination? I don't want to risk having a water line break. We can live without fresh water, but it would be convenient to have the bathroom available along the way. We live in Oklahoma so winters aren't horrible, but it does get below freezing regularly.

Opinions?

1st-tt2018 · 11-18-2019, 04:51 PM

If it were me I would dump a gallon of rv antifreeze into the gray and black tank and flush with gallon jugs filled from water source before you leave...same with hand washing

98winnie · 11-18-2019, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1st-tt2018

If it were me I would dump a gallon of rv antifreeze into the gray and black tank and flush with gallon jugs filled from water source before you leave...same with hand washing

Hadn't even thought about the problem with not having a shower along the way. My wife wouldn't be able to tolerate the smell after a couple days. Guess I need to do some thinking and planning before we would take off. Just wishing we lived in a warmer climate this time of year.

gmc70 · 11-18-2019, 05:12 PM

I am a bit taken back by all the fear of frozen pipes. Back in the 70's I had a Winnebago that I used as a mobile show room. I traveled MN. Iowa. NB. N and S Dakota. It gets COLD in these states. I stayed in the MH at night, showered in the morning and worked in it all day. It was always heated and in the 197,000 miles I put on it I had one pipe split and that was in Minot, ND and the temp was -45. The insulation was not as good back then so if you keep coach heated and doors open in OK. I don't think you'll have a problem

98winnie · 11-18-2019, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc70

I am a bit taken back by all the fear of frozen pipes. Back in the 70's I had a Winnebago that I used as a mobile show room. I traveled MN. Iowa. NB. N and S Dakota. It gets COLD in these states. I stayed in the MH at night, showered in the morning and worked in it all day. It was always heated and in the 197,000 miles I put on it I had one pipe split and that was in Minot, ND and the temp was -45. The insulation was not as good back then so if you keep coach heated and doors open in OK. I don't think you'll have a problem

Well I do have an enclosed basement, with heater ducting to that area. It's probably fine, all things considered. We just haven't tried traveling anywhere in the winter.

I have seen a couple rvs for sale cheaply due to burst pipes. Probably from sitting all winter without winterizing.

Skiddy · 11-18-2019, 06:32 PM

I do it all the time, just run the furnace. I haven't driven in minus degree weather though

HJLowell · 11-18-2019, 06:44 PM

Watch the weather reports.

A one day drive should get you to a safe zone temperature wise.
As long as daytime temps are above freezing.
Dont you have a propane furnace or ???
Electric heat ?
Spend the night at a campground and fill up.
Dewinterize after a days drive south.
Then head on South East.

Or
I know people that will stop at a motel for a night, or shower at a truck stop.

Damion · 11-18-2019, 07:01 PM

Planning to leave Northern Wisconsin in March! Run with fresh water tank dry for a day or 2 till get good weather! RV some Antifreeze in black tank!

jacwjames · 11-18-2019, 07:01 PM

I actually moved to Northern Michigan in late March 2011 and lived in my coach, it still gets cold at that time. Best thing I did was get a remote temp monitor for my wet bay. I did mount a small cube heater in the basement plugged into the 120v plug, and ran the generator as needed. I stopped at a Walmart in Northern Wisconsin on my way north, it was a deep freeze with +10' snow piles around the perimeter of the parking lot. Not saying I didn't get cold sometimes but I survived and had not freezing pipes.

Waiter21 · 11-19-2019, 10:00 AM

On my 1999 Southwind, all the plumbing and tanks are in heated areas, so as long as the furnaces are running, we're good to travel in sub freezing weather with full use of the water system.

On my Ole 2001 Mirada, this wasn't the case. We'd leave it winterized until we were in warm weather. While traveling from NW Ohio to the south, we'd use the toilet and flush it with RV antifreeze or sub zero windshield washer fluid. We would not use the sinks.

mike625 · 11-19-2019, 10:36 AM

Several years ago in our Tiffin, We left northern Il with a full tank of water and temp around 14 & drove all the way to AL "which was about 20 when we got here" without an issue. Just monitor the basement temp and run the furnace as needed to keep the temp up. I had everything setup "furnace running" in the driveway for a couple of days before we left.

Reacher · 11-19-2019, 11:43 AM

No mention of year and type of MH. As Waiter21 said you should have no issues from OK to somewhere warmer. Most modern motorhomes allow you to run the furnace while underway and maintaining a comfortable temperature in the coach will keep the bays warm also. Enjoy your trip.

Crasher · 11-19-2019, 02:04 PM

Oklahoma doesn't know what cold is.

If it were me, I would heat up the coach with the furnace, fill up the fresh water tank, add food, clothes and fuel. Then head any direction but north. That's what we did leaving from WI many winters and below zero several times. Never a frozen pipe.

BigEvi · 11-19-2019, 03:18 PM

I'm about to test this out. Driving from NE PA to NE IN for Thanksgiving next week. Will stay in moho for a few nights and then come home. Hasn't been super cold but it's been below freezing almost every night for the last couple weeks.

-E