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techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062

Calendar Event: bypass
Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 9:53pm

A lively discussion of this topic in the last few days here: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5379&title=fresh-water-tank-winterize

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Budward

Senior Member

Joined: 21 Apr 2014
Location: SC/NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 438

Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:43pm

All I've ever down was drain then blow out the lines, has worked for me for 40 years. I used antifreeze one time only and was dismayed at how hard it was to get the taste out of the system. I do use it in the traps.

2014 179
Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel
Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!

rpodrog

Newbie

Joined: 28 Jun 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5

Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:35pm

I too have an interest in this method.

The RV tech that walked use through our 179 described the same thing.
Now I see you mentioned this.

The tech mentioned he does not even use the anti-freeze on his own unit. Just blows out the lines. We live in GA.

I wonder about hot water tank using this approach. That too is the bed.

BTW I left only one screw to hold the plywood down to ease getting under there

Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1447

Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:03pm

When we bought our 177 the tech asked if I wanted the screws put back in the plywood after he showed me the valves. I said no, and now to shift the valves I lift the mattress and plywood, hold it up with my shoulder and shift the valves. On the 177 the hose is under the sink.

I blow out the system first but always pump the system full of antifreeze. It is no big trick to flush out the antifreeze in the spring.

Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150

Tanager

Newbie

Joined: 09 Jul 2014
Location: Minnesota
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Posts: 6

Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 3:03pm

Sorry, the intake hose on the 179 is under the queen bed. Not an ideal location. You have to remove the mattress, then remove screws and prop up the plywood bed base. You could also reach it through the access door underneath the bed, but it is a tight fit and anyone with short arms or any bulk would not be able to reach in there and would have to remove the bed.

I purchased a blow-out valve that attachers to the city water inlet and has a quick connect fitting for an air compressor. The Forest River manual (wish there was an rPod manual!) says blowing out all the lines with the compressor set at no more than 30 lbs per sq in, then pouring antifreeze in all the traps, would work. This would also eliminate having to flush the antifreeze from the clean water system in the spring, just sanitize it.

Anyone else doing this? I'd be interested to know if you've had luck with this method.

Tanager

Tars Tarkas View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
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Posts: 1453

Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 8:26am

I don't know about a 179, but while you do need to flip the WH bypass valve as part of the winterizing process, you don't put antifreeze in there, or through the holding tank. The antifreeze intake hose and valve on my 176 is under the kitchen sink. It's an open-ended hose. You do have to remove a panel but you don't have to hold up a bed. That said, holding up a bed just requires some sort of prop -- a 2x2 cut to length, for example.

TT

2010 176
FJ Cruiser

rcamper

Newbie

Joined: 22 Sep 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 16

Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 7:41am

i was told to lift up the queen bed and unscrew the panel to get to the water heater bypass valve. it seems they could have made a access panel. imagine holding the queen bed up then unscrewing the board then pumping antifreeze through. the tech said this way i would use less antifreeze than going througe the holding tank. living in south carolina i think i will just drain the water system and dump some antifreeze in the traps this is a 178

gone camping

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techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Calendar Event: bypass Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 9:53pm
	A lively discussion of this topic in the last few days here: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5379&title=fresh-water-tank-winterize
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Budward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Location: SC/NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 438	Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:43pm
	All I've ever down was drain then blow out the lines, has worked for me for 40 years. I used antifreeze one time only and was dismayed at how hard it was to get the taste out of the system. I do use it in the traps.
	2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!

rpodrog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:35pm
	I too have an interest in this method. The RV tech that walked use through our 179 described the same thing. Now I see you mentioned this. The tech mentioned he does not even use the anti-freeze on his own unit. Just blows out the lines. We live in GA. I wonder about hot water tank using this approach. That too is the bed. BTW I left only one screw to hold the plywood down to ease getting under there

Keith-N-Dar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 8:03pm
	When we bought our 177 the tech asked if I wanted the screws put back in the plywood after he showed me the valves. I said no, and now to shift the valves I lift the mattress and plywood, hold it up with my shoulder and shift the valves. On the 177 the hose is under the sink. I blow out the system first but always pump the system full of antifreeze. It is no big trick to flush out the antifreeze in the spring.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

Tanager Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2014 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 3:03pm
	Sorry, the intake hose on the 179 is under the queen bed. Not an ideal location. You have to remove the mattress, then remove screws and prop up the plywood bed base. You could also reach it through the access door underneath the bed, but it is a tight fit and anyone with short arms or any bulk would not be able to reach in there and would have to remove the bed. I purchased a blow-out valve that attachers to the city water inlet and has a quick connect fitting for an air compressor. The Forest River manual (wish there was an rPod manual!) says blowing out all the lines with the compressor set at no more than 30 lbs per sq in, then pouring antifreeze in all the traps, would work. This would also eliminate having to flush the antifreeze from the clean water system in the spring, just sanitize it. Anyone else doing this? I'd be interested to know if you've had luck with this method.
	Tanager

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1453	Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 8:26am
	I don't know about a 179, but while you do need to flip the WH bypass valve as part of the winterizing process, you don't put antifreeze in there, or through the holding tank. The antifreeze intake hose and valve on my 176 is under the kitchen sink. It's an open-ended hose. You do have to remove a panel but you don't have to hold up a bed. That said, holding up a bed just requires some sort of prop -- a 2x2 cut to length, for example. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

rcamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 7:41am
	i was told to lift up the queen bed and unscrew the panel to get to the water heater bypass valve. it seems they could have made a access panel. imagine holding the queen bed up then unscrewing the board then pumping antifreeze through. the tech said this way i would use less antifreeze than going througe the holding tank. living in south carolina i think i will just drain the water system and dump some antifreeze in the traps this is a 178
	gone camping

bypass - Event Date: 28 Sep 2014