dewinterization ettiquette
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5462
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2025 at 3:30am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: dewinterization ettiquette
Posted By: Bonjour
Subject: dewinterization ettiquette
Date Posted: 22 Oct 2014 at 8:22pm
|
We are 1st time camper buyers and just purchased a lightly used 179 (in fact it isn't even picked up yet). I don't think we will have the chance to use it in Minnesota this year so we are now making plans for a maiden voyage to the south when the snow blows in. The camper will be winterized when we leave but needs to be dewinterized when we arrive and then rewinterized before we return. Any advise on where and how to do this task so as not to annoy, irritate, and offend others? I'm mostly thinking about water and pink stuff that might run on the ground. Thanks p.s. - I appreciate all of the useful advice. This is a great forum. Bonjour
|
Replies:
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 10:14am
|
Water and pink stuff both are fine to run onto the ground. The antifreeze is non toxic. When dewinterizing I"d just grab a campsite with full hookups, and clean it there. If at a campground even though it's non toxic they may not want you dewinterizing right on the ground in camp itself, so I see what you mean. I'd say just do it at a dump station too but on a site with full hookups you'd have a bit more time to do it at your pace. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 11:28am
|
It will all just go into your waste tanks so nothing to worry about. Except maybe an outside shower, then just use a bucket or pan to collect the waste. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
|
Posted By: Bonjour
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 9:49pm
Posted By: Bonjour
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 9:50pm
| Thanks for the advise. That makes sense to me. |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 7:32pm
|
We wash it out at a campground with full hook ups. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 9:35am
|
It's going to depend on the campground. With full hookups you can dump straight into the sewer with no issues I suppose. At some campgrounds, all of the National Park campgrounds in the Great Smokey Mountains, for instance, you'd have to do it at the dump stations because you are not allowed to put any waste water (grey or black) on the ground. The rules don't always coincide with what people actually do. As for the flushing the antifreeze into the grey holding tank, that's true, except you may want to flush the whole system, including the potable tank; maybe not if you are going to have hookups. If you do a whole system flush the grey tank will have to be drained. And still, you will need to open the low-point drains to get rid of any anti-freeze there. Depending on where you are, you can drain those into a bucket. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 10:03am
That is the truth! We just returned from a week at Mt Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park Service. Lots of rule violations, generators running outside of posted hours, tents in the RV loops, chainsaws being used to cut firewood, even had a side x side or ATV running around one night, didn't see it but for sure heard it  I've been going there for at least 40 years and it used to be when I camped there one would see the Law Enforcement rangers riding through often. Never saw one that week in the campground and we were there quite a bit, also was there once in the spring and once in September, never saw one on those trips either. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: blondie
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 12:35pm
|
Did you check with the rangers and the department about this? Was there a way to contact them when this was going on? We camp in state parks in a Midwestern state and have always been able contact the park rangers or the local police would come out. Some campers set off fireworks and were kicked out of the park.
We stayed at a private campground where people were walking through our site the first day. We blocked it off with the picnic table and informed the staff. No change so then we insisted on talking to the owner directly. Still an attitude that it was our responsibility to handle it. We left and did not give a good review. Then the true owner found out and sent us a coupon for 2 free nights. But no phone call. Rules are only good if individuals self regulate and if the owner/etc. backs up the rules and laws. Communication is best, I would talk to the owners/people who run the campground. |
Posted By: Jdub
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2014 at 9:33am
| Rangers like that are missing everywhere. Just another casualty of the Great Recession and the tea party. If it wasn't for the non paid volunteers we see at the national parks I don't see how they could say open. |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 5:30am
|
To answer a few questions and comments- The campsite we were in had no cell coverage, so no, NPS wasn't contacted. There was no host at this campground, he left in June and was never replaced. The non LEO Ranger was informed of some of these issues when seen the next day, his comment was- We'd have stopped it IF we had seen it. Of course they are only there 8-5. LEO Rangers were indeed present on the parkway and one was seen at the gatehouse chatting with the non LEO Ranger- but AFAIK they never bother to actually ride through the campground, at least we never saw them do so. Stating the Tea Party is responsible for the lack of patrol in the campground is ludicrous, and that is a nice way of stating it, that won't get me kicked off the forum.  BTW the NPS was just given the OK to increase entrance fees. I always found it interesting that the most visited park in the US, the Great Smoky Mountains, does not charge entrance fees. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 9:56am
|
I read somewhere recently that the road in the Smokies was owned by the state, and when they turned it over to the NPS they stipulated that they can never charge a fee to drive on that road. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 10:08am
|
I agree that any sort of enforcement presence is almost totally lacking in the Smokies at least. I see some really flagrant rules violations and other bad behavior. And there is no way to deal with issues on an immediate basis other than with confrontation or trying to ignore them. They blame lack of supervision or patrols on lack of funding, but it appears to be more of a matter of resource allocation to me. Much of the land for the GSMNP was donated by the people of NC and TN -- children donating pennies, literally, and the states have roads running through the park that they didn't want to become, essentially, toll roads, so the states made free entrance to the parks a condition of their gifts. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 11:24am
|
On the other hand, we were in Michigan - Van Buren last year, and they do not fool around up there with the rules. Discretely consuming any alcohol was advised by the rules and absolutely no noise after 11. I had my one beer in the cozy, however, the group of underage party kids were ejected automatically and promptly at 10 the first night they were there. Two left in the back of the Rangers car.
Our campfire banter was advised to turn down the laughter at 10 another night (it was the women's fault). Still a great place and plan to return 2015. We have close friends in South Haven. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 11:27am
|
When I made reservations this summer at the nearby Clifty Falls in Indiana, I was asked if I wanted the louder playground/tent loop or the quieter rv loop. So, at least they're trying to separate. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 11:39am
|
Camp hosts aren't always the best person to be nearby. I saw the camp host at Miami Whitewater tow in a 30 ft decrepit monstrosity with a front wheel drive Cadillac of similar condition. He must not have liked the way it was intended for the site and parked it sideways on no less than 20 cinder blocks and a large tree trunk. After that he ran 250' of hose to the bathhouse for water and had some contraption for reaching the dump station the same distance. Then a golf cart showed up. It was very entertaining and he was the exception, all the other campers seemed respectful. Including the first time young'ns next to us. I got to help them start their first fire. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 11:44am
|
For the original poster. You should be fine with a site with full hookups and three gallons of the pink. Bring a bucket or pan for the low point drains and put it back in the sink or toilet. Follow the instructions in Techs post for winterizing and your process should go smoothly. Someone should post a link to that... I don't know how to do it from my phone. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2014 at 1:37pm
|
Link is in my signature, below. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|