Winterizing Question
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=7040
Printed Date: 20 Jun 2025 at 10:28am
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Topic: Winterizing Question
Posted By: Podamus
Subject: Winterizing Question
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:27pm
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All, I read the winterizing guide in the instruction manual http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723&PID=14739&title=creating-an-instruction-maintanence-manual#14739 - here but have a pretty basic question. If you blow out the water from the pipes and the HW heater is it really necessary to fill the pipes with antifreeze? On our last trailer (not a Pod) I would blow everything out thoroughly, make sure the tanks were drained, put antifreeze in the traps and that was pretty much it. Are there low spots in the lines that are being safeguarded? Thanks, Jim ------------- Jim Camas WA 2015 RPod 179 2014 Ford F250 |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 7:36pm
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I blow things out then use antifreeze. But I wear a belt and suspenders. I camp with a guy that removes the pump and takes it in the house for his peace of mind. You can most likely do fine just blowing things out.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 8:39pm
I cobbled together this thing a few years ago to blow out lines @ 20 psi before adding (via winterize valve) 1/2 gallon or so of pink stuff or leftover Everclear. I pour some in the traps too. Haven't had a problem yet, but I haven't tested below 0F or so and every so often I do heat up the Pod for a football game or to hide from DW for a few hours - she's sooo cute.  Oh, I do drain HW tank and low point drain and FW tank. Gray water and black water tanks (flushed) are drained at last campsite with dump station. If I can't dump, I do have option of backyard dump 'n flush - acreage helps.  ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:25pm
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More than once on various forums I've seen someone spend more time arguing against using the antifreeze than it would have taken to just put it in. Then they come back in a year or two and say "oh yeah, my sink valves froze this year and I had to replace them". It is impossible to get all of the water out of the valve seats and other low points. You'll notice the first spurt of antifreeze that comes out is diluted by the remaining water. You can't beat $6 worth of antifreeze and the extra 10 minutes for peace of mind. ------------- 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: fwunder
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2015 at 10:30pm
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Yep. Didn't wan't to minimize the effort. Do make sure pink stuff is flowing through valves and pump. Just think folks spend more time worrying about it than they should. It's so easy. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Podamus
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 2:01pm
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Thanks for the responses. I appreciate the candor. Where we are (SW Washington State) the temperature rarely gets below 25F for very long. However, it does happen. But we do get out year round so the winterizing/de-winterizing thing happens more than just once a year. I was curious about the low points in the lines requiring antifreeze more than anything else. Jim ------------- Jim Camas WA 2015 RPod 179 2014 Ford F250 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 7:45pm
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The low points in the PEX are actually the least susceptible to damage. PEX is flexible and the water will expand in both directions up the line. ------------- 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: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2015 at 9:06pm
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After i filled my system up with the pink stuff i oppened the low point drains just a lil bit till it was dripping and within a few drips they were already pink so i think the low points get filled when you pump the pink stuff through your system. In theory they should be ok. Let me know if im wrong. ------------- |
Posted By: 2rsinapod
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2015 at 8:57am
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Just a heads up to all (though I suspect I'm the only one to do this). I winterized the POD on my own last fall and all went well. Used it many times this summer and during a 5 night stay in Algonquin Park a week ago, where we were dry camping I decided to have a shower. First time the shower was used this year. You guessed it! I would not recommend a pink shower to anyone! But it rinsed off quite well. :-) ------------- '15 r-pod 178 '17 F150 2.7L ecoboost |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2015 at 9:53pm
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At least you know the antifreeze made it up the shower lines! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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