Community Forums

mrsbonzell · 02-20-2020, 05:53 AM

Is there a way to keep plumbing from freezing up?! Would like to leave next week for Idaho. I’m thinking day driving will keep plumbing from freezing up....how about night...run engine all night or will furnace be enough. Thinking furnace won’t help underneath rig but running engine will from exhaust. Thoughts?

yeloduster · 02-20-2020, 07:53 AM

If it gets as cold as Idaho can get your Class C with its external tanks and plumbing will freeze regardless of what you do. Running the engine while traveling or parked will not significantly heat the tanks in sub-zero weather.

When I have had occasion to use my motorhome in the winter I have left it winterized and used public restrooms, rv park showers and facilities, etc. I have taken bottled water to drink, cook and make coffee with. Just don't dump it down a drain.

Of course, you might get lucky and have mild weather and everything will be good! BUT....if it turns cold

avfordguy · 02-20-2020, 08:57 AM

It all depends on how your tanks are setup, my Fleetwood class c 2007 31m has heated tanks via propane furnace, have camped in the mid teens with no freezup, although you use a LOT of propane.

Dom · 02-20-2020, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeloduster

If it gets as cold as Idaho can get your Class C with its external tanks and plumbing will freeze regardless of what you do. Running the engine while traveling or parked will not significantly heat the tanks in sub-zero weather.

When I have had occasion to use my motorhome in the winter I have left it winterized and used public restrooms, rv park showers and facilities, etc. I have taken bottled water to drink, cook and make coffee with. Just don't dump it down a drain.

Of course, you might get lucky and have mild weather and everything will be good! BUT....if it turns cold

Did the same except purchased about 5 bottles of cheap windshield washer fluid, cut all in half with water, so total of 10 bottles. Used the bottles in and to flush toilets.

keymastr · 02-20-2020, 09:18 AM

Do not run the engine all night, you may not wake up and if you have neighbors they may also not wake up.

George Schweikle · 02-20-2020, 09:46 AM

Hi mrsbonzell.

For almost any query please identify what brand or model motorhome you have (You can add this to your signature). Next, you need to crawl under to find out if you have enclosed water & holding tanks or if they are just mounted and exposed underneath the motorhome. Some enclosed tanks have furnace vents that may keep them from freezing - it really depends on how things are designed. Exposed tanks, along with their pipes, will certainly freeze and are very difficult (and expensive) to insulate. Decades ago I bought 12V heating pads to attach to the exposed tanks on our class C motorhome so we could use it on ski trips. Everything froze and I couldn't check for any damage until the spring thaw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsbonzell

Is there a way to keep plumbing from freezing up?! Would like to leave next week for Idaho. I’m thinking day driving will keep plumbing from freezing up....how about night...run engine all night or will furnace be enough. Thinking furnace won’t help underneath rig but running engine will from exhaust. Thoughts?

Waiter21 · 02-20-2020, 04:08 PM

It really depends on if your rig is equipped with basement heat, heated tanks, etc..

ksg5000 · 02-20-2020, 07:17 PM

My waste tanks are exposed and unheated - as such I would dump the tanks b4 I leave - put some rv antifreeze or windshield wiper fluid in the tanks - and rely on public restrooms as much as possible.

luvlabs · 02-21-2020, 07:55 AM

Leave the coach winterized and the tanks drained. Carry water (in jugs) inside the coach which can be used to flush the toilet, brush your teeth, etc. Don't worry about anything freezing in waste tanks - you have a large volume and a minimal amount of material to freeze which will cause no damage.

yeloduster · 02-21-2020, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvlabs

Leave the coach winterized and the tanks drained. Carry water (in jugs) inside the coach which can be used to flush the toilet, brush your teeth, etc. Don't worry about anything freezing in waste tanks - you have a large volume and a minimal amount of material to freeze which will cause no damage.

You might think so but the drain pipe and the drain valve are not huge. I had freezing in the drain pipe between the tank and the drain valve. The freezing broke both! True, the tank was not damaged! I still had a mess to fix once it thawed.

You might get away with it if you put plenty of anti freeze in the tank. Personally, I would drain them, leave 'em dry and rely of other sources for toilet, showers etc.

THenne1713 · 02-21-2020, 11:04 PM

Most Class A/ Class C have plumbing in compartment and FURNACE has ducts that put heat into the compartments for both Clean and Waste; (exceptions may apply), but suspect you are fine as long as furnace operating/ LPG supply OK?

Steve & Bunny · 02-22-2020, 03:19 PM

I wouldn't attempt a cross country winter trip in an unwinterized RV. The minor inconvenience of having to carry drinking water and something that won't freeze to flush with could potentially save you a LOT of money. The crazy weather patterns we're having lately make it nearly impossible to predict exactly when you'll get a sudden cold snap.

As someone else noted: DO NOT RUN YOUR ENGINE ALL NIGHT!!!

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

marsingbob · 02-23-2020, 05:13 PM

Do not run the engine. Winterize, then use bottled water to drink and for cooking. Use the toilet with bottled water and start with a gallon of antifreeze and a gallon of water. Store the gray water or dump it.
Where in Idaho? Southwest idaho is not likely to go below the high teens in early March. High altitudes can go lower.