Preflight & Setup Checklist

 

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Thanks for the edits, is there a particular reason to keep water in the system? Will hauling her empty cause damage?  [/QUOTE]

I always keep some water in the fresh water tank.  It allows us to use the bathroom and other facilities while we are traveling, keeps a supply of water available for our dogs, wash our hands when necessary, etc.  Another good reason is that you are assured that the hot water tank is never empty should it accidentally be turned on.

We also turn on the electric to our water heater several hours before we leave home.  The water will stay hot during that day without using electricity or LP.  Pretty handy.  I normally just leave the electric heater in the tank on all the time and never have to worry about burning out the element.

Please note that we don't stay at only one campground on our outings.  During our last trip, we were gone 21 days and stayed at over a dozen different campgrounds.  When you are driving all day, the use of the bathroom is a great convenience, and being able to use the kitchen sink is often necessary. 

We sanitize our fresh water system at the beginning of the season (although in Florida the season never ends) and always travel with the water heater full and probably 5 to10 gallons in the fresh water tank.  

We just purchased our 171...camped in it all the way home from Ohio. I finished sanitizing today, and will winterize in a few days. Question...after I purge the sanitized water/bleach, do I need to rinse system prior to adding the antifreeze?

Thanks!