When to dewinterize...
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2418
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Topic: When to dewinterize...
Posted By: secretbard
Subject: When to dewinterize...
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2012 at 10:15pm
I am getting a terrible case of the spring pod fever. It hasn't been in the teens here in more than a month, but it has been in the 20s on the occasional night. When is it ok to dewinterize? The weather here has been an average of 33 to 55 during the day and 23 to 37 at night.  ------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Replies:
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2012 at 10:57pm
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S Bard, I am with you brother, I almost did it last weekend, then the 6 inch snow hit as a reminder. I am thinking 2 or 3 weeks, the old saying around here is frost free by april 23, actually its around april 12 or so, but a frost overnight will not hurt the pod or damage the plumbing, if the holding tank is full of 50 degree water a slight dip into the 20's will not freeze the tank. so I am thinking we are closeer than you think. I would like to get out before school is out, when spring is showing and the camp grounds are vacant, nothing against kids, but Donna and I like the quiet woods. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2012 at 2:08am
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I hear you. That is precisely why I want to get out... before school lets out. I enjoy the quiet as well. ------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2012 at 7:07am
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Soon, very soon... ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2012 at 7:32am
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Here in the NJ area, we've always used April 01st as the day.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2012 at 11:26am
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You probably wouldn't have trouble with the larger tanks...however, a good freeze in the plastic water pipes could crack them.
------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2012 at 5:55pm
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Two or three hours of sub-freezing temperatures overnight will do no harm. And, you can always turn on the furnace if you get an unexpected cold spell. But, I'd suggest waiting until the long-term forecast low in your area is above the freezing mark. For me, living just outside Toronto, I've got my fingers crossed to dewinterize on Saturday March 24th. Hopefully, I'll be able to do the bearings and adjust the brakes next weekend. With luck, I'll be out on April Fool's day  ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2012 at 11:47pm
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I have a prev owner RPod. I winterized but I' thinking ... What's the best way to check for leaks? A. Hook up to city water hose? B. Fill up water tank, turn on pump? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 7:22am
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A or B will work, although A won't show any leaks from the fresh water tank to the water pump, and B won't show any leaks in the city water connection. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 7:32am
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Start with B. It will allow you to quickly determine "almost" every leak you could have. Since the pump will pressurize the system, just listen for the pump to run even if you have all the faucets turned off, after you already fill and pressurize them with water.
- add water to onboard fresh water tank.
- turn on pump.
- listen to pump as it should stop after a few seconds or so.
- run all the faucets and toilet to get the air out of the system and allow the water to fill the lines.
- you'll hear the pump running during this time.
- turn off the faucets.
- the pump will stop.
- now just listen for a period of time.
- as long as your not losing pressure (IE: don't have a leak), the pump will stay silient.
You've just confirmed 95% of the system this way, leaving just the city water connections/pipe in question.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 10:43am
Thanks for the leak test suggestions ... I should be able to make a plan  ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 11:15am
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Well, all this talk about camping and de-winterizing put me over the edge. I just de-winterized my RP-151. Got all the pink stuff out, got the fresh water tank cleaned and sanitized and confirmed the hot water heater is working. The Mrs. and I have decided to do a quick 1-nighter at a local campground tomorrow night. I just couldn't handle just "talking about camping". ------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 6:44pm
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Well, I just dewinterized the pod tonight. Hopefully nothing will freeze. It looks like there are a couple of nights this week that will be in the twenties, but the rest of the nights will be in the forties. I'm ready to camp. It is really strange how a full tank of water will change the tongue weight by 100 pounds. The tongue weighed 325 without water, and 225 with water. Strange. I think I'm going to the weigh station this week to weigh the whole pod. ------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2012 at 7:16am
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Can't believe it. It's forcasted to be in the mid-70's next week here in NJ. That's 20-25 degress over average. Weather man said this will be the warmest March on record.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: tpierce220
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2012 at 10:38am
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Ray, it's supposed to be 70 here in Chicagoland on Wednesday and mid to upper 60s for the other days. I'm so ready to do get out though not much is open yet. ------------- Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys. |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 2:55pm
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We returned an hour or so ago. It was a nice trip to confirm that everything is still working. It was a bit chilling and breezy yesterday and down right cold last night. The heater ran quite a bit, even though it was set low. It's much warmer today and will approach the mid-70's this upcoming week. ------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Snowbound
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 5:04pm
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How we envy you! It is spring here and the robins are back but we have to wait a month to get back to camping due to work pressures. Also it is just a little too early to de-winterize with our changeable weather. It is nice to read your adventures down there in the south and dream a little. ------------- Tom and Bette in our 177 "The Gastropod" |
Posted By: markbnal
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 8:59pm
Spring is here in Alabama. I got pod ready to go today...... Hope to go next weekend ------------- markb |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 9:49pm
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Yup, it will be above 70 for 6 of the next 7 days here, too. Almost too bad that our kids have their dance recital next Saturday otherwise I'd try to fit a trip in.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 10:40pm
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Secretbard, the fresh water tank is behind the axle so as it gets heavier behind the axle the tongue gets lighter, I wish I could figure out how that would work on my body, OOhhh lets eat some ribs, salad, french fries, fried green tomato, potato salad, a side of baked beans, and ohhh my gosh I got on the scales and lost 5 lbs. It does not work that way for me, however Donna and I had a great flavorful supper tonight, lean breakfast pork chops (one each) with a light emeril lagause dry rub, Donna did a spinach salad with a home made bacon vineagarette dressing and some store bought potato au gratin. Dog gone that was good, i love those potato's ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 10:52pm
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In Southern Indiana the weather man is calling for showers monday, clearing and hi 60's tuesday, sunny and 77 wednesday, and I am thinking the cover is coming off of the pod late next week, pull her up into the I am ready to go position and start planning the first trip out, I can't wait, Donna is already talking about where we are going first, we ar lucky to have 4 or 5 nice places within 50 miles of home. I want to do some mushroom hunting to. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: tpierce220
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2012 at 11:12am
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If this isn't spring weather, I don't know what is.   ------------- Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys. |
Posted By: Chuck
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 9:06am
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OK, I know that there is a checklist for dewinterization somewhere her on the forum but I'll be danged if I can find it. Does someone remember the link? Or have one handy? This is our first spring and I know that it's not that difficult but I follow instructions better than freelancing. ------------- Z-pod Chuck Janet & Bogie the dog '12 RP 177 1972 Shasta 1400 2005 Ford F-150 5.3L V8 |
Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 9:35am
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Most 'dewinterizing' lists do not include giving the axles a shot of clean high-pressure grease. I do not remove and re-grease the axle bearings every fall, if I have not put on a lot of mileage. But before the first spring trip, I pop off the axle covers, wipe out any old grease out of the cups, and inject enough new grease so that some of the clean grease oozes out of the exit ports. I also do this after each long trip. ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: tpierce220
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 12:34pm
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Try this: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1634&title=dewinterizing-checklist ------------- Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys. |