Hello from Colorful CO
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Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10738
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2025 at 8:34pm
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Topic: Hello from Colorful CO
Posted By: RayS58
Subject: Hello from Colorful CO
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2017 at 2:57pm
Howdy from a couple of newbies to the RV world and starting it off on the right foot with a slightly used 2017 RP-179. Thanks for all of the great info so far. We've been reading and using this forum to help us decide if this would be the right purchase and to prepare for operating the unit. Still a couple months away from having "no deadlines" so we'll have the chance to play around in our driveway before we take it for a loooooooooong road trip.
Printed off techntrek's 2011 Winterization checklist and will go for that soon. The only thing that's been bugging me about that is I've read somewhere in this forum that folks will leave 10% pink-treated water in the black tank over winter so it doesn't dry out and other's go so far to drain & blow it all out before adding pink. We get to -15F sometimes around the Denver Stock Show. Sounds to me like I should be doing my best to drain & pink everything except HWH. All we have is a little clean water in the fresh tank so...maybe has to do with geography!?
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Ray & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 179
2017 Tundra
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Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2017 at 5:25pm
You will find a lot of different people will winterize using different methods and formulas. We just returned from a 2 week trip to RMNP as well as the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Cotopaxi, and other great areas in the Rockies. This is our destination every other year and we look forward to visiting again in 2019.
I just winterized our 177 today. I use compressed air (60 psi) always keep 1 line open and go through all 5 lines (4 from the 2 sinks and 1 from the toilet) Takes about 1 minute to go through the process. I then take 1 pint of pink rv antifreeze and pour it down the 2 sink and 1 shower trap. As far as the 3 storage tanks are concerned, fresh water is drained out (leaving about 1 - 1.5 gallons in the bottom of the tank. The black and gray water tanks are drained out as well but I use a concoction of the following in each to sweeten the smell inside the tanks over the winter months. 1 cup borax, 1/2 cup Pine Sol and 3 tablespoons of ammonia in a 1 gallon milk jug. Add enough hot water to make 1/2 gallon of final solution. Shake up until mixed and pour half down the toilet and the other half down one of the sinks to get into the gray water tank. I then add a gallon of water to the black and gray tank. Been doing it this way since winter of 2012, no issues, and the tanks smell ok in the springtime when we get ready to go podding once again. Temps in northern Michigan where we reside will get to -15 or more during the cold snap in January. Lastly I pull out both our 12v deep cycle group 24 batteries and place on the cement floor in our unheated garage. I will give each a 2 amp trickle charge, this will take about 1 day / battery to bring to full charge. The following spring I will repeat this process again, usually around the end of March or the first week of April. Works for us, the batteries are nearly 7 years old now and get used a lot as most of our camping is where no electricity is available as in our national parks.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2017 at 7:57pm
I'm a bit more paranoid. I use air at no more than 50 psi. Then I use the winterizing connection to pump RV antifreeze through the pump and plumbing (after isolating the hot water tank). I find that even after I have blown the system out with air, I usually see some clear water being expelled before the pink gets to the faucets and toilet valve. I finish by pouring some RV antifreeze into the traps. Because I use a biological treatment, I don't do as Jim does since I don't want to kill the bacterial culture that breaks down the solids. I use TankTechsRx or similar products, and the odors seem to be minimal. I also make sure there is some RV antifreeze in the toilet bowl to keep the seals from drying out.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 2:30am
Originally posted by StephenH
I'm a bit more paranoid. I use air at no more than 50 psi. Then I use the winterizing connection to pump RV antifreeze through the pump and plumbing (after isolating the hot water tank). I find that even after I have blown the system out with air, I usually see some clear water being expelled before the pink gets to the faucets and toilet valve. I finish by pouring some RV antifreeze into the traps. Because I use a biological treatment, I don't do as Jim does since I don't want to kill the bacterial culture that breaks down the solids. I use TankTechsRx or similar products, and the odors seem to be minimal. I also make sure there is some RV antifreeze in the toilet bowl to keep the seals from drying out.
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+1
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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 7:52am
Two years ago I just blew out the lines and I ended up having to replace the toilet valve, which developed a hairline crack and sprayed a fine mist on the wall behind the toilet when I dewinterized. It only cost about $30 for the parts and I fixed it myself, but it wasn't the way I wanted to spend a Saturday morning.
What happend to me may have been a fluke, but antifreeze isn't expensive. When I dewinterize I disinfect the potable tank and the rest of the system with bleach, but before that I run a tank full of water with vinegar through the lines -- then the bleach. I don't have an issue with the taste of antifreeze in the water.
All that said, just blowing out the lines will obviously work most of the time if you do it right.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Posted By: RayS58
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 10:08am
Thank you for all of the helpful advice. Bottom line is leave some A/F treated water in the tanks lines and traps and this makes total sense. Thanks all! I'm sure you probably haven't heard the end of me.
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Ray & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 179
2017 Tundra
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 7:29pm
Appreciate the comments on air pressure. That being said, I make sure 1 line is always open so that you don't get a huge buildup of air pressure in the line, and causing a potential problem! My neighbor uses 90 PSI in his 5th wheel when he winterizes but always keeps a line open. He told me a couple days ago: "I've been doing it this way for over 25 years and have never had a problem." I tend to be a bit more cautious than my neighbor and the end result has been the same, no problems. I did forget to mention that (like Stephen H posted) I also put a little bit of rv antifreeze in the toilet bowl to keep the seals wet and lubricated.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: RayS58
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 8:20pm
Southwest CO is "the bomb." I hope you haven't missed Mesa Verde and Black Canyon is a quiet gem. If you ever want to stray from your routine, I'm quite familiar with southern WY especially the Snowy Range and Platte Valley. The Snowys are like a mini RMNP but empty. Looks very uninteresting as you might cruise past Laramie on I-80. My escape from Front Range chaos.
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Ray & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 179
2017 Tundra
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Posted By: RayS58
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 8:35pm
I will add that when I finally got to the water pump and HWH, I discovered a bypass line with no bypass valve. 😖😮🤔. I know a little about piping configurations since I've been in power plant operations for 33 years. I also learned that Home Depot, Ace and Walmart are limited on RV plumbing parts and Canping Workd is closed on Sunday. Dang! It'll wait a day.
Thanks again!
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Ray & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 179
2017 Tundra
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 9:56am
Originally posted by jato
Lastly I pull out both our 12v deep cycle group 24 batteries and place on the cement floor in our unheated garage. I will give each a 2 amp trickle charge, this will take about 1 day / battery to bring to full charge. |
I don't know if it's an issue or not, but I have read in various places that it's not a good idea to store lead acid batteries on concrete; especially in a climate where it's below freezing temperature. Based on this, I never put the batteries directly on the concrete, but put a block of wood (like a piece of 2x6) under each battery under my workbench.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 10:47am
Originally posted by GlueGuy
Originally posted by jato
Lastly I pull out both our 12v deep cycle group 24 batteries and place on the cement floor in our unheated garage. I will give each a 2 amp trickle charge, this will take about 1 day / battery to bring to full charge. |
I don't know if it's an issue or not, but I have read in various places that it's not a good idea to store lead acid batteries on concrete; especially in a climate where it's below freezing temperature. Based on this, I never put the batteries directly on the concrete, but put a block of wood (like a piece of 2x6) under each battery under my workbench. |
That was my understanding years ago also. I think it is OK now with the plastic cases but I can't bring myself to put them on concrete either.
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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 5:39pm
Furpod got me up to speed on this issue about 5 years ago. He told me that batteries that were made in the 1950's and earlier were not produced with a plastic enclosure; hence by putting that on concrete the battery would slowly discharge.
I have been doing this with my batteries since winter of 2011, they are nearly 7 years old and it seems as though they are good for at least another year; time will tell.
Ahh, Colorado, we just returned from a 2 week trip out there recently (2 weeks is NOT enough). Plan on returning in 2019. YES, YES, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a must see, as impressive as the Grand Canyon IMHO, reminds me a lot of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but even more impressive.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 6:21pm
+1, to me it is like the old philosophy of putting your spare batts in a fridge. Old school.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 6:43pm
Old habits are hard to break.
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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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