Winterizing Question - R-pod Owners Forum

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techntrek

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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Topic: Winterizing Question
Posted: 04 Oct 2015 at 9:53pm

At least you know the antifreeze made it up the shower lines!

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

2rsinapod

Newbie

Joined: 29 Apr 2014
Location: s/w Ontario
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Posts: 16

Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 8:57am

Just a heads up to all (though I suspect I'm the only one to do this). I winterized the POD on my own last fall and all went well. Used it many times this summer and during a 5 night stay in Algonquin Park a week ago, where we were dry camping I decided to have a shower. First time the shower was used this year. You guessed it! I would not recommend a pink shower to anyone! But it rinsed off quite well. :-)

'15 r-pod 178
'17 F150 2.7L ecoboost

Appocalexx View Drop Down

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Location: AK
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Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 9:06pm

After i filled my system up with the pink stuff i oppened the low point drains just a lil bit till it was dripping and within a few drips they were already pink so i think the low points get filled when you pump the pink stuff through your system. In theory they should be ok. Let me know if im wrong.

techntrek

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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 7:45pm

The low points in the PEX are actually the least susceptible to damage. PEX is flexible and the water will expand in both directions up the line.

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

Podamus

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Joined: 29 Jul 2015
Location: Camas WA
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Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 2:01pm

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate the candor. Where we are (SW Washington State) the temperature rarely gets below 25F for very long. However, it does happen.

But we do get out year round so the winterizing/de-winterizing thing happens more than just once a year. I was curious about the low points in the lines requiring antifreeze more than anything else.

Jim

Jim
Camas WA
2015 RPod 179
2014 Ford F250

fwunder

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Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Posts: 1676

Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:30pm

Yep. Didn't wan't to minimize the effort. Do make sure pink stuff is flowing through valves and pump. Just think folks spend more time worrying about it than they should. It's so easy.

fred

2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062

Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:25pm

More than once on various forums I've seen someone spend more time arguing against using the antifreeze than it would have taken to just put it in. Then they come back in a year or two and say "oh yeah, my sink valves froze this year and I had to replace them". It is impossible to get all of the water out of the valve seats and other low points. You'll notice the first spurt of antifreeze that comes out is diluted by the remaining water. You can't beat $6 worth of antifreeze and the extra 10 minutes for peace of mind.

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

fwunder

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Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Posts: 1676

Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 8:39pm

I cobbled together this thing a few years ago to blow out lines @ 20 psi before adding (via winterize valve) 1/2 gallon or so of pink stuff or leftover Everclear. I pour some in the traps too. Haven't had a problem yet, but I haven't tested below 0F or so and every so often I do heat up the Pod for a football game or to hide from DW for a few hours - she's sooo cute. Confused

Oh, I do drain HW tank and low point drain and FW tank. Gray water and black water tanks (flushed) are drained at last campsite with dump station. If I can't dump, I do have option of backyard dump 'n flush - acreage helps.

2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down

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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
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Posts: 1447

Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:36pm

I blow things out then use antifreeze. But I wear a belt and suspenders. I camp with a guy that removes the pump and takes it in the house for his peace of mind. You can most likely do fine just blowing things out.

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

Podamus

Newbie

Joined: 29 Jul 2015
Location: Camas WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6

Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:27pm

All,

I read the winterizing guide in the instruction manual here but have a pretty basic question. If you blow out the water from the pipes and the HW heater is it really necessary to fill the pipes with antifreeze? On our last trailer (not a Pod) I would blow everything out thoroughly, make sure the tanks were drained, put antifreeze in the traps and that was pretty much it.

Are there low spots in the lines that are being safeguarded?

Thanks,

Jim

Jim
Camas WA
2015 RPod 179
2014 Ford F250

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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	Topic: Winterizing Question Posted: 04 Oct 2015 at 9:53pm
	At least you know the antifreeze made it up the shower lines!
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

2rsinapod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2014 Location: s/w Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 8:57am
	Just a heads up to all (though I suspect I'm the only one to do this). I winterized the POD on my own last fall and all went well. Used it many times this summer and during a 5 night stay in Algonquin Park a week ago, where we were dry camping I decided to have a shower. First time the shower was used this year. You guessed it! I would not recommend a pink shower to anyone! But it rinsed off quite well. :-)
	'15 r-pod 178 '17 F150 2.7L ecoboost

Appocalexx Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 01 May 2015 Location: AK Online Status: Offline Posts: 77	Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 9:06pm
	After i filled my system up with the pink stuff i oppened the low point drains just a lil bit till it was dripping and within a few drips they were already pink so i think the low points get filled when you pump the pink stuff through your system. In theory they should be ok. Let me know if im wrong.

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	Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 7:45pm
	The low points in the PEX are actually the least susceptible to damage. PEX is flexible and the water will expand in both directions up the line.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Podamus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Location: Camas WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 2:01pm
	Thanks for the responses. I appreciate the candor. Where we are (SW Washington State) the temperature rarely gets below 25F for very long. However, it does happen. But we do get out year round so the winterizing/de-winterizing thing happens more than just once a year. I was curious about the low points in the lines requiring antifreeze more than anything else. Jim
	Jim Camas WA 2015 RPod 179 2014 Ford F250

fwunder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676	Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:30pm
	Yep. Didn't wan't to minimize the effort. Do make sure pink stuff is flowing through valves and pump. Just think folks spend more time worrying about it than they should. It's so easy. fred
	2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

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	Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:25pm
	More than once on various forums I've seen someone spend more time arguing against using the antifreeze than it would have taken to just put it in. Then they come back in a year or two and say "oh yeah, my sink valves froze this year and I had to replace them". It is impossible to get all of the water out of the valve seats and other low points. You'll notice the first spurt of antifreeze that comes out is diluted by the remaining water. You can't beat $6 worth of antifreeze and the extra 10 minutes for peace of mind.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

fwunder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676	Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 8:39pm
	I cobbled together this thing a few years ago to blow out lines @ 20 psi before adding (via winterize valve) 1/2 gallon or so of pink stuff or leftover Everclear. I pour some in the traps too. Haven't had a problem yet, but I haven't tested below 0F or so and every so often I do heat up the Pod for a football game or to hide from DW for a few hours - she's sooo cute. Oh, I do drain HW tank and low point drain and FW tank. Gray water and black water tanks (flushed) are drained at last campsite with dump station. If I can't dump, I do have option of backyard dump 'n flush - acreage helps.
	2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!

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: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:36pm
	I blow things out then use antifreeze. But I wear a belt and suspenders. I camp with a guy that removes the pump and takes it in the house for his peace of mind. You can most likely do fine just blowing things out.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

Podamus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Location: Camas WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:27pm
	All, I read the winterizing guide in the instruction manual here but have a pretty basic question. If you blow out the water from the pipes and the HW heater is it really necessary to fill the pipes with antifreeze? On our last trailer (not a Pod) I would blow everything out thoroughly, make sure the tanks were drained, put antifreeze in the traps and that was pretty much it. Are there low spots in the lines that are being safeguarded? Thanks, Jim
	Jim Camas WA 2015 RPod 179 2014 Ford F250