Community Forums

needragr · 12-15-2012, 09:51 PM

So picked up this super clean older coach this summer and put it to use during (college) football season tailgating

While its pretty moderate weather wise here in the PNW it does get below freezing of & on during the winter.
Ive read I need to "winterize" my rig but Ill be danmed if I can find a comprehensive "how to" guide on my specific motorhome. Chieftan 27RU?

The 1st thins I did do was empty the sewage tank, easy enough.
Im told Im carrying fresh water but ill be damned if I can figure out where? Shouldnt there be a tank visible below the coach with a drain valve or something?

sdennislee · 12-15-2012, 10:04 PM

Hi and

I never looked under a 1987, but I would think the tank is not visible from underneath. It it was visible it would be exposed to road hazards. I would think if there was a drain point for the tank it might be in the wet bay where you found the valve to drain your black tank.

Contact Winnebago or a local Winnebago dealer to request a copy of the owners manual for your MH.

pwf16129 · 12-16-2012, 06:12 AM

just some generic advice your water tank is in the coach mine is under the dinette, run your pump until it quits moving water then drain the tanks again
if you have access to compressed air you can buy an adapter that goes on your city water hookup which should be on the drivers side looks like a garden hose fitting.find your water heater it will be behind a exterior door most likely open the handle on the over pressure valve put air on the system no more then 40 or 50 psi blow out until no more comes out.
if it has a bypass kit the shut it if not get about ten gallons of rv anti freeze or may be more but ten did mine ok and put in your water tank,the fill should be a smallish plate/door that slides out for you to manually fill your water tank.run the pump starting at the farthest end open faucets shower etc until it runs very pink then go to the next until all done.
run it thru you toilet an I leave a little setting in the bowl i the shut my tank valves this worked well for me on mine and some others in the group can expand on this but this will give you a good start

needragr · 12-22-2012, 10:19 PM

Hmmm, so far the advice is is still a bit over my head.
So I am to understand there IS a tank for fresh water, but it WONT be accessible from below the coach and the only way to evacuate it is to power the coach run the pump and .... drain it, into the the grey water tank~!?
I know little to nothing on the coach's systems and although it came with every conceivable receipt and booklet it has no "Operators" manual telling you where to find something and how to use it.
I did some looking around and there is an aluminum tank under the sink the size of a normal propane bottle or slightly larger, is that it?

blackf3504dr · 12-23-2012, 04:38 AM

You should have "low point" drains under the coach. Two lines with shut off valves that allow you to drain the fresh water system without running the pump. The tank in a lot of motor homes is located under the bed (it lifts up). You can buy a fitting that threads into the city water fitting on the side of the coach that allows you to pressurize the system to force the water from the lines. Then add RV antifreeze to the drains and lines.

srh · 12-23-2012, 05:22 AM

I would take it to an RV shop and have them winterize it. More importantly, ask them to show you so you can do it next time. Some shops have specials like $60. A great way to learn about your coach when you are new and do not have the manuals. Do it soon before it freezes - that will be real costly to fix then!
Good luck!

needragr · 12-23-2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackf3504dr

You should have "low point" drains under the coach. Two lines with shut off valves that allow you to drain the fresh water system without running the pump. The tank in a lot of motor homes is located under the bed (it lifts up). You can buy a fitting that threads into the city water fitting on the side of the coach that allows you to pressurize the system to force the water from the lines. Then add RV antifreeze to the drains and lines.

Perfect - thank you

needragr · 01-06-2013, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needragr

Perfect - thank you

Well spoke too soon.
I did a thorough inspection under the coach ...no drains as described.
Nor is that tank back under the bed (dbl bed absolute rear of the coach with ext. storage access below).
It looks like the only way to drain this sucker is to run it, pump on then drain it to the waste tank and dump.

blackf3504dr · 01-07-2013, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needragr

Well spoke too soon.
I did a thorough inspection under the coach ...no drains as described.
Nor is that tank back under the bed (dbl bed absolute rear of the coach with ext. storage access below).
It looks like the only way to drain this sucker is to run it, pump on then drain it to the waste tank and dump.

Okay.... Where is the fresh water fill located on the outside of the coach? The water tank can't be too far from the fill, usually within a few feet. Once inside the coach check the area that corresponds to the water fill on the outside and start looking. Could be under the couch, cabinet or in a basement compartment.
There should be low point drains in the system to drain it with out running the pump, I can't imagine Winnebago hiding them but ya never know.....

fishseeker · 01-07-2013, 06:41 AM

I had a 79 23' winne that had the freshwater tank on the wall under the sink. That was not a good design! the drain was in the cabnet below the sink.

KAttkisson · 01-07-2013, 07:16 AM

I agree with the man who says to take it to a dealer-etc to do it once and be shown how to do it in the future.
I had a Winnebago lesharo of the same vintage and it had plug valves on the inside of the unit that you just pulled up and the water drained out of short hoses thru the floor on the ground.

One thing-- You are getting a lot of replies about installing antifreeze in the system. Be aware that antifreeze will not get beyond your onboard pump to protect anything because it has a built in check valve. That pump suction section always has a valve in it that drains the storage tank also.

TQ60 · 01-07-2013, 01:57 PM

Tank should be near the pump, so look for area near the pump that a tank can hide.

Should be a door or cap on the outside somewhere for water fill, still can be a distance from there, but not too far.

Winnie should be able to provide manuals, get your VIN and serial number from the ID plate and use their WEB contact us tool to see what you get.

In the mean time, use air pressure to purge the lines.

KAttkisson · 01-08-2013, 02:14 AM

Run your pump. Listen. Design practice is that your pump is always close to your tank. Your ears will guide you. Pipe thru the floor--they are probably there-- not big and this is not a spring chicken rig--probably covered over with crud or rotten off below floor level.