Winterizing - R-pod Owners Forum

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codycountry View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 26 Jan 2014
Location: Wyo
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Posts: 168

Topic: Winterizing
Posted: 30 Oct 2015 at 10:17am

The main point: All your lines need to either be full of air, or full of the pink stuff. The drain traps too. Open up your low water drains and empty them out, then no worries. They can't freeze if nothing is in there but air. Smile

Idaklee

Groupie

Joined: 18 Sep 2015
Location: Minnesota
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Posts: 46

Posted: 30 Oct 2015 at 9:15am

He did drain the water heater. First thing he did.

Ok. So, if I open the low point drains, I'll lose what little antifreeze is in there. What if I add antifreeze to all the drains in abundance afterwards? Will that make its way to the low points? I DO live in Minnesota and planned to leave the pod out in my driveway.

Marcia from MN
13 177 R Pod
06 Dodge Grand Caravan
Max, Gracie & Greta

Tars Tarkas View Drop Down

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Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1454

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 10:29pm

Well, at this point, if you open the low-point drains you'll drain the antifreeze. What you have in the lines now is probably antifreeze where you need it in the line and a mixture of water and antifreeze in the low water pipes, which is probably okay unless you live in Minnesota... might be okay even there.

You didn't mention whether they drained the water heater!

Antifreeze in the drains in essential too.

TT

2010 176
FJ Cruiser

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 8:28pm

codycountry - actually you are welcome to add a positive or negative review in the Dealer Review section.

Idaklee - don't worry too much. Yes, blowing out with air first is optional, but you end up using more antifreeze if you do. As mentioned above, open up your low point drains and you'll be ok there. The dealer only using 1/2 gallon, especially on a slide-out model which has more pipe, is something to worry about BUT some of that is probably because he forgot to put some down the shower and sink drain traps. You can fix that by buying a gallon of it and pouring a cup down each drain. It doesn't account for all of the missing antifreeze, though.

On my 171 I used a little under a gallon each time. I used maybe a gallon and a half on my 30-foot Salem.

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

Idaklee

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Joined: 18 Sep 2015
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 46

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 7:52pm

Thank you and no! I asked him why he didnt blow out the lines and he said it wasn't necessary since the pink stuff was being used.

I'll get my son to unscrew those drains this weekend!

Marcia from MN
13 177 R Pod
06 Dodge Grand Caravan
Max, Gracie & Greta

codycountry View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 26 Jan 2014
Location: Wyo
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 168

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 7:28pm

Hi Marcia,

To answer your question, drain both the low water drain lines. An empty line can't burst.

Lots of people here are more qualified than I am, and I also own a 2013 177.

It takes me a gallon and a half to run all the lines properly, could probably do it with a gallon if I was really professional, and it only takes me 10 minutes.

You can crawl under the driver side wheel, in back of it, and drain both those low water drain lines. I'd sure do that if I were you. It's easy.

I question the quality of this dealer.

This web site should start a "Name that dealer" link for experiences just like this.

Maybe the dealer blew it all out with air, added the pink stuff for the pump and drains. But the low water drains don't blow out unless they are open, and still might have pure water and freeze and burst.

Good luck!

Idaklee

Groupie

Joined: 18 Sep 2015
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 46

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 6:08pm

I just spent $78 at my local RV service, to have my pod winterized. I asked if I could observe so I can perhaps do it myself next time. It took him about 10 minutes! I'm kind of sick to my stomach because he didn't do hardly anything in the list I got from this forum!!

In reading over it now, he didn't bother to unscrew either low point drain! Huh??? He also only used 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff. I'm sure there are many other short cuts ihe used but these are the two that are bothering me the most. What do you think I should do now??

Thanks, Marcia

Marcia from MN
13 177 R Pod
06 Dodge Grand Caravan
Max, Gracie & Greta

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codycountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2014 Location: Wyo Online Status: Offline Posts: 168	Topic: Winterizing Posted: 30 Oct 2015 at 10:17am
	The main point: All your lines need to either be full of air, or full of the pink stuff. The drain traps too. Open up your low water drains and empty them out, then no worries. They can't freeze if nothing is in there but air.

Idaklee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 18 Sep 2015 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 46	Posted: 30 Oct 2015 at 9:15am
	He did drain the water heater. First thing he did. Ok. So, if I open the low point drains, I'll lose what little antifreeze is in there. What if I add antifreeze to all the drains in abundance afterwards? Will that make its way to the low points? I DO live in Minnesota and planned to leave the pod out in my driveway.
	Marcia from MN 13 177 R Pod 06 Dodge Grand Caravan Max, Gracie & Greta

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: 1454	Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 10:29pm
	Well, at this point, if you open the low-point drains you'll drain the antifreeze. What you have in the lines now is probably antifreeze where you need it in the line and a mixture of water and antifreeze in the low water pipes, which is probably okay unless you live in Minnesota... might be okay even there. You didn't mention whether they drained the water heater! Antifreeze in the drains in essential too. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

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: 29 Oct 2015 at 8:28pm
	codycountry - actually you are welcome to add a positive or negative review in the Dealer Review section. Idaklee - don't worry too much. Yes, blowing out with air first is optional, but you end up using more antifreeze if you do. As mentioned above, open up your low point drains and you'll be ok there. The dealer only using 1/2 gallon, especially on a slide-out model which has more pipe, is something to worry about BUT some of that is probably because he forgot to put some down the shower and sink drain traps. You can fix that by buying a gallon of it and pouring a cup down each drain. It doesn't account for all of the missing antifreeze, though. On my 171 I used a little under a gallon each time. I used maybe a gallon and a half on my 30-foot Salem.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Idaklee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 18 Sep 2015 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 46	Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 7:52pm
	Thank you and no! I asked him why he didnt blow out the lines and he said it wasn't necessary since the pink stuff was being used. I'll get my son to unscrew those drains this weekend!
	Marcia from MN 13 177 R Pod 06 Dodge Grand Caravan Max, Gracie & Greta

codycountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2014 Location: Wyo Online Status: Offline Posts: 168	Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 7:28pm
	Hi Marcia, To answer your question, drain both the low water drain lines. An empty line can't burst. Lots of people here are more qualified than I am, and I also own a 2013 177. It takes me a gallon and a half to run all the lines properly, could probably do it with a gallon if I was really professional, and it only takes me 10 minutes. You can crawl under the driver side wheel, in back of it, and drain both those low water drain lines. I'd sure do that if I were you. It's easy. I question the quality of this dealer. This web site should start a "Name that dealer" link for experiences just like this. Maybe the dealer blew it all out with air, added the pink stuff for the pump and drains. But the low water drains don't blow out unless they are open, and still might have pure water and freeze and burst. Good luck!

Idaklee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 18 Sep 2015 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 46	Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 6:08pm
	I just spent $78 at my local RV service, to have my pod winterized. I asked if I could observe so I can perhaps do it myself next time. It took him about 10 minutes! I'm kind of sick to my stomach because he didn't do hardly anything in the list I got from this forum!! In reading over it now, he didn't bother to unscrew either low point drain! Huh??? He also only used 1/2 gallon of the pink stuff. I'm sure there are many other short cuts ihe used but these are the two that are bothering me the most. What do you think I should do now?? Thanks, Marcia
	Marcia from MN 13 177 R Pod 06 Dodge Grand Caravan Max, Gracie & Greta