Winterizing
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=7015
Printed Date: 19 May 2024 at 6:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Winterizing
Posted By: AKGirl
Subject: Winterizing
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2015 at 6:05pm
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I have looked at the pink video and read everything I can on the site. One more try to see if anyone knows anything different about where the antifreeze goes in. I have a 2014 177 and have looked under the bed and under the sink. I have emptied everything out and don't want to pay the $115 to get it done at the dealer. Thanks. ------------- Alaska Girl |
Replies:
Posted By: codycountry
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2015 at 6:22pm
| I just winterized my 2013 hood river 177 an hour ago. On mine, it's under the bed, attached to the line that comes from the main h20 tank in the upper front water heater area. There are also three valves there that you turn to winterize. There is a good description of that process here elsewhere on the forum. It all is right in front of you as you lift the mattress on my 177. Maybe they changed in 2014, but I doubt it. There is a quick connect on the main water supply line there by one of the shut off valves. You must remove/disconnect from the main supply line and install a suction fitting and short suction line. Mine has a little blue tab you move to the left about a half inch, and then pull out and remove that part and install your suction part. Easy. You need to know what brand of pump you have to get the right fitting, then you order a quick connect with a couple feet of suction line that goes into the rv antifreeze bottle. This being the second year, with a helper, I did my system in less than 10 minutes. Advise you call Blue Dog RV in Post Falls, Id. to order your part, they told me how to do all this, and then sent me the proper parts once I told them my pump model. It's easy with the right info and materials, but Forest River sure isn't giving away the info. You have to dig a bit. Drain everything before you start this of course. Good luck. |
Posted By: AKGirl
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2015 at 6:53pm
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Thanks Codycountry. I have a good friend who just moved there. I will look. The dealer here said I could probably get the part I needed at 6 Robles but will get the pump type before I go. I have the mattress up and have emptied everything . I thought I read everything. Is the quick connect hooked on with an allegator clip? or how does it come off? I will go look and come back. ------------- Alaska Girl |
Posted By: AKGirl
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2015 at 9:11pm
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I Can't seem to find anything that looks like it will disconnect. I see blue and red tubes. I took some pictures but I can't find a model # or anything on the Pump. Thanks anyway. Peg ------------- Alaska Girl |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2015 at 8:58pm
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You should find the pickup hose next to the water pump - between where the water line comes up through the floor and the pump. There was a model year or two when FR dropped the permanent winterization kit and you had to get your own, that may be true for yours. ------------- 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: AKGirl
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2015 at 9:50pm
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Thanks. I think you may be right because I don't see any additional hose. I'm taking it into the dealer tomorrow and letting them finish the process and show me ------------- Alaska Girl |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2015 at 10:45pm
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Two options - crawl underneath and disconnect the line from the fresh water tank, or disconnect the line from the intake side of the water pump and attach your own 3-foot hose. ------------- 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: AKGirl
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2015 at 11:05pm
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I'll definitely let you know what I find out tomorrow. ------------- Alaska Girl |
Posted By: AKGirl
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2015 at 9:38pm
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I finally got it winterized and put away. Went to the maintenance shop at the dealer and he gave me a hose with a screw on at one end. He told me which tube to take off and went over the directions again. It worked fine except I had to keep opening up the faucets because the pressure would build up and I thought all the antifreeze went in at once. He did tell me one thing that was not on the list. He said to leave the plug out of the water tank and just set it on the shelf inside the cover. Not sure why. He also said the last thing I should do is open up the low level drains outside one last time to drain more water out. ------------- Alaska Girl |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2015 at 8:24pm
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If you mean the anode rod in the water heater, you should leave that in to prevent rust on the threads. It can't hurt to open the low point drains again but I doubt you'll see any water. ------------- 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: AKGirl
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 6:18pm
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I did see water come out so maybe I hadn't gotten it all the first time. I don't know why he said to take the anode out but he was the shop supervisor for a big RV rental place in town. He was kind enough to just give me the piece of hose with a connector on it and I did finally get it done myself - just before it snowed about 3 inches. ------------- Alaska Girl |