winterizing 178 blue model
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10903
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Topic: winterizing 178 blue model
Posted By: zappapod
Subject: winterizing 178 blue model
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 5:45pm
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So just got back from Ocracoke Island and a stay at Teeter's campground. Awesome late fall weather. Two other Podders also camping. Back in Northern Virginia and facing an arctic front that leaves no room for lack of winterization, I began the research on this forum and you tube videos linked to the forum. Having bought the pod in spring 17 I've never winterized this particular camper (lots of others). Decided to go with the belt and suspenders approach and blow out the lines before filling them with pink. That went fine. A you tube video had showed on a green model 179 the pump next to the hot water heater and easy peasy fluid transfer. On the 178, it ain't there, instead a furnace. So turned on the pump and noticed a whine coming from below the range on the slide out kitchen. Got my flashlight out and looked above the bed framing and below the slide out channel and caught sight of a jumble of wires and some water lines! Further inspection allowed me to confirm that the water pump was boxed up in this impossible to get to place, but if one was willing to scrape, contort, and see with your hand, one might find a valve on a hose and an opening on the other end of the hose. This is what I was looking for, at least I could with some literal pain get to the valve and grab the hose. Only thing is that it wasn't long enough to stick in a gallon pink and go. So used a cut away gallon jug that allowed me suck up enough juice to get the pressure going. Job done.
------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 7:21pm
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That is one tough way to burn calories! For the past 6 years I have just blown out the lines (takes less than 1 minute) on my 177 and call it good except that I do use 1 pint of the pink to put in the 3 traps (2 sinks and 1 shower), so I literally get 8 years out of 1 gallon of rv antifreeze. Still using the jug I bought in fall of 2012, price I paid was 99 cents. Tonight's low is supposed to be 17, a bit cool for this time of year, but the pod is now fully hibernating, all is good. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 9:43pm
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yep. could of prob got by with just the air. but lots of guys were calling for both. guess it just depends on your peace of mind starting out. maybe next year I'll take the single approach with air. ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2017 at 10:11pm
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The way I see it is if jato who lives in the cold Great White North "gets by" with just using compressed air and little RV antifreeze in the traps, for many years, that should be testimony enough for us in more southern environment. Hmmm? In the end though its "to each their own" on how they want to winterize but it should give you pause for thought. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 5:28am
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Thanks Dave. I was skeptical my first year and went the 'traditional pink antifreeze' route. After hearing from others through our camping expeditions and from family members how they had used just compressed air for 'many years w/o issue' I thought I would give it a go. And how about that, they were right !
------------- 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." |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 6:34am
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and time for a beer rather than rapping knuckles against an enclosed space that no human was meant to gain access for a siphon tube. air next time. do you pop the valve on the inlet line? ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 7:42am
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Hi Zappapod,
Welcome. We have a 178 and to get to the hose take off the left panel under the sink and it's all there. Very easy to do. This was my first year of winterizing and I did just fine I hope. 
Ron ------------- Ronald & Lonna 2014 178 2016 Chevy 1500 |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 7:57am
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thanks. was that with the slide in or out? ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 8:44am
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I had the slide out when I did mine just for more room to work. ------------- Ronald & Lonna 2014 178 2016 Chevy 1500 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 5:47pm
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Definitely do this with the slide out. As far as "popping the valve on the inlet line" I am not sure what you mean by this unless you are referring to the valve on the city water connection. If that is the case I cannot speak from experience, I have never used that connection as we either dry camp or bring our own well water. Am sure someone who uses air and city water will let you know how they do it the proper way. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 6:01pm
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Was, especially if you don't air blow first. By rv fluid only, apparently because of that check valve the water in the inlet line stays put unless you push in the check valve button releasing the water out until you get pink. ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 8:32pm
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The past two years, I used a combination of air and RV antifreeze. This year, I decided on a different approach. I drained the fresh water tank and the hot water heater. I also removed the low-point drain caps and opened all the faucets so that any water in the lines could drain. Then I put the caps back on. I used the winterizing valve and hose to draw from a gallon jug and pumped it through the system. I started with the bathroom faucet, turning on cold, then hot until I got pink. Then I moved on to the kitchen and followed that by going to the outside shower and opening cold and hot there also until I saw pink. The toilet got the same treatment. After pouring some of the RV antifreeze in the drains, I saw how much was left this time. I had about 1/2 to 1/3 gallon of RV antifreeze left. Usually when I have done the air first, I have barely had enough. This time I had left over and still saw a good flow of pink at each faucet. I think I have found the method I will stick with. ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 8:39pm
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Sounds like good system!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2017 at 9:30pm
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thanks for your full response. the math in your equation suggests that not air compressing causes the fluid volume to be filled with less pink, therefore more water. I've read where a mix of water and pink can cause problems due to the areas where dilution of the water hasn't sufficiently occurred. If you are trying this for the first time, then only the spring will tell if this is the method you will want to stick with. Probably is, just that water in there bothers me. Had to winterize my mtn cabin today also. Same thing, blow out the lines, fill with pink. There is definitely a volume of water that is left over after simply draining. Anyone on whether this is a concern? ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 6:54am
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StephenH is located in North Carolina where the winters are not as severe as where I am in northern Michigan. The jury will be out until next spring when he can let us know how it all pans out. I am with you zappa in that I don't want any water in my lines when I winterize. Yesterday morning was 15 and it is not uncommon to hit the -20 degree range or more when winter hits in mid January. I doubt it gets anywhere near that in North Carolina during the winter, so if it works for him there - great!
------------- 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." |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 3:07pm
Jim, If the winter temperatures start hitting 20 below in the Tar Heel state then I'm moving to Florida or better South America! Burrrrr! The coldest weather I ever experienced in NC was once with the wind chill factor somewhere near -60 below and that was on top of one of the highest mountains in NC, Mnt. Pisgah. Where I long ago maintained and operated television and radio station transmitters. Not someplace you'd ever could get a camping trailer at to park needless to say. If it gets down to the 20's here in central or eastern NC for a night or two were thinking were freezing to death!  ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 4:21pm
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You are one brave soul Dave to work on those towers, those guys are TALL ! On the other side of the temperature gauge you could go to Guyana, South America. The last couple of times I've been there (December and January) it is not uncommon for the temps to go above 120 in the shade. How much above I don't know because that was as high as the gauge would read. Pretty tough working in those conditions, need to drink water every 15-20 minutes to avoid de-hydration. Bringing this back to the topic my point is that StephenH is probably very safe in his location even with some water in his lines. Even where you are in Lexington, temps probably don't get below 10 or 15 degrees do they?
------------- 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." |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 7:25pm
We may get a week total where the temps drop to around 15 degrees or below at night and may a day or two the high is around of 15 to 25. The last couple winters the only snow we received is a dusting. It's even milder as you go east as where StephenH lives in the state. Though believe it or not they have more snow to the east since there is more moisture coming off the ocean that runs into cold air. The only place in NC where you do have anywhere near constant cold temps through any significant part of winter is the mountains and then its only the upper elevations. When I lived in the mountains there would be many days it would be snowing at my house at the top and raining in the valley below. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 9:34pm
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Wake County falls in the eastern Piedmont region of NC (as opposed to the Coastal Plain or the Mountain regions. Our average January temperature is 28.93. I believe it has hit the teens, but most often, it gets into the 20's and is generally above freezing during the day. We have gone for a few days where the temperatures stayed sub-freezing. We are only a little over 300 ft in elevation. I don't recall there being much more water in the lines after draining them through the low point drains with the faucet valves open than there was when I used air to blow the water out. I don't think I need to worry about freezing water lines, even if the antifreeze was a little diluted. I did let it run until I saw a good flow of pink, so I don't think it is diluted. The RV antifreeze I used stated it was good to -75F. We did travel out west when the weather was in the low single digits. We did not have any problems, but that was a time where I used air plus antifreeze. We do get snow occasionally. What is bad is that we usually also get ice to go with it. Because it usually does not stay below freezing, it will melt, especially if it is a place where the sun will hit it. Shaded spots can be a problem as the snow and ice can stick around for several days. ------------- 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 |
Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2017 at 9:57pm
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sounds like you're all good. I'm in Fredericksburg VA, weather is fickle, just last night it was down in the lower twenties. You never know around here. Since it is easy to do the air, I'll probably do it again next year followed by the pink. All good. Thanks to all for their lengthy comments and observations. jim ------------- 2017.5 178 (Blue Bell) 2005 Tundra Double Cab Outer Banks Bound |