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Old 10-06-2019, 07:51 PM   #1
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When to winterize

I am new owner of a 2018 Coachman Freelander.
At what temperature do you need to winterize? I live in the Pacific Northwest and it gets down to the mid-20's this time of year but goes up to 60 degrees during the day. I really want to take it on one more road trip before winterizing.
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Old 10-06-2019, 08:01 PM   #2
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You'll be ok until it gets consistently below freezing during the day. If the below freezing time during the 24 hour day exceeds the above freezing time it's time to start draining the tanks and lines and adding the pink stuff.
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Old 10-06-2019, 08:01 PM   #3
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Depends on how you want to do it. We have camped in 16 degree overnight weather and had our MH sitting until we used it again. I blow it out 3 times after draining tanks and filter housing and put AF in the traps with about a half gallon in each tank to protect the valves. I mad do this several times before we head south for a couple months. It does get cold in NJ.
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Old 10-09-2019, 10:58 PM   #4
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I live in the Pacific Northwest as well. Typically I winterize by the end of October and de-winterize the 3rd week of March. That doesn’t stop us from camping or day trips in the other months if there are some nice days. For those, we use bottled water, enjoy the heater, etc. If we absolutely have to use the toilet, we use antifreeze in place of water and dump the black water tank at a nearby sanitation/sewage plant or a state park if it is one that stays open.
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Old 10-10-2019, 03:52 AM   #5
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I live in Michigan, much like my boat, I wait til the absolute last minute to winterize.

As soon as it starts getting below 32 degrees at night I drain the low point drains when not in use. It's quick and easy and allows me to sleep at night not worrying.

As soon as they predict lower than 32 for more than several hours the pink stuff goes in unless we're planning one last weekend.
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Old 10-10-2019, 09:36 AM   #6
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Talking It's easier in Arizona...

Here in southern Arizona winterizing is a lot simpler than most of the country. We generally don't see sub freezing temps until late December or even January but it can vary from year to year. Temps even in the upper 20's are not much of a concern as they only happen just before dawn and usually only last for an hour or two which is insufficient to do any damage. We camp and travel throughout the winter but naturally stay at the lower elevations until spring and yes, those clear desert nights can get nippy.

If and/or when we start getting consistently in the mid 20's for lows I do what I like to think of as "Winterizing light". I open the all of the water drains from the coach and just drive it around for a few minutes, this clears the lines. I add a cup of pink RV antifreeze to each of the sink and shower drains and then a quart or so to the black and grey tanks... that's it.

I've been using this method for 12 years through a number of RV's {couple of trailers and now our Class C} and have never had a problem. I do make sure that there is at least a gallon or two of the pink stuff in the coach so that when we travel {and often encounter colder temps then found at home} I can cover any temps.

Having a 35,000 BTU furnace on a very well made/insulated 24' Class C helps keep things toasty and we have tank heaters. The last step in my "Winterizing Light" routine is to be sure and restock the bar... Brandy is my beverage of choice and splash of Bourbon now and then but whatever floats your boat.

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Old 10-10-2019, 09:40 AM   #7
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We just did our last trip till we leave around Thanksgiving to head south. Not knowing what kind of weather we will get before then, I am going to winterize now. Nice when you can take your time rather then rush.
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Old 10-10-2019, 09:57 AM   #8
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The day before the first big, lengthy freeze. You just have to figure out when that is and beat it.
I really hate to winterized in the snow or freezing rain though.
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Old 10-10-2019, 10:33 AM   #9
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Before we decided to spend the winters south, we use to camp several times in Gettysburg during the winter. So after every trip, it was winterize again. That could be 4 to 6 times a winter!
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Old 10-10-2019, 10:44 AM   #10
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We live near Medford, OR where I would guess temps are a bit milder than some of the locations mentioned. Even so it does freeze and I do winterize, but If I plan to use the RV sometime in the near future I will put off winterizing and place an electric heater in it with as many doors open to allow heat to get to the water lines as possible.

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Old 10-10-2019, 07:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rossa View Post
I am new owner of a 2018 Coachman Freelander.
At what temperature do you need to winterize? I live in the Pacific Northwest and it gets down to the mid-20's this time of year but goes up to 60 degrees during the day. I really want to take it on one more road trip before winterizing.


I live in Southern Virginia, I have had RVs for 15 years, I have only winterized once. I drain my lines and water heater but never put the pink stuff in. I just keep 5 gals of water in my tanks and leave my tank heaters on and also keep a small electrical heater on set low and open all my cabinets. On my present coach I don’t have pee traps so no problem there. I have never had a problem. It depends where you live and really how long your temp will be below 32 degrees. Yes I guess I take a chance but it’s a calculated chance. Knock on wood but never a problem yet. Do I recommend that to everyone no, but it just all depends where you store your RV.
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Old 10-10-2019, 08:02 PM   #12
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I recommend using air to blow out lines. Then just use the anti freeze to protect drain traps. Then there is no "taste" in the water in spring.
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Old 10-12-2019, 12:02 AM   #13
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Use rv antifreeze that does not contain ethanol. Then you won't get the taste. As a bonus propylene glycol is not flammable and does not dry out seals in your plumbing like ethanol does. If you just blow out lines there is a chance that some water can remain in valve bodies and crack them.

If the stuff at your local Walmart or whatever says it's propylene glycol but also has a flammability warning, then it also has ethanol in it. Keep looking.

This year my local walmart did not have any of the ethanol-free stuff. Went to Home Depot and theirs is ethanol free.
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Old 10-12-2019, 06:02 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tcg View Post
I live in Michigan, much like my boat, I wait til the absolute last minute to winterize.

As soon as it starts getting below 32 degrees at night I drain the low point drains when not in use. It's quick and easy and allows me to sleep at night not worrying.

As soon as they predict lower than 32 for more than several hours the pink stuff goes in unless we're planning one last weekend.
Never having winterized before I'm curious about the "drain the low points" statement. I thought that the low point drains would drain everything except the tanks and traps, because, you know, they're the low point of the water system.

Or do I not know what a "low point drain" is?

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