Winterize Questions
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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=8983
Printed Date: 26 Jun 2025 at 8:39pm
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Topic: Winterize Questions
Posted By: Tim
Subject: Winterize Questions
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 8:07am
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Couple of questions: If the grey, black @ fresh water tanks are empty, and the WH is empty, do I need to open the low point drains? Secondly, do the valves at the WH need to be switched? There have been different posts about how to do this. I plan on using air compressor. ------------- 2019 Coachman RBS192 2014 178 (sold) 2018 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 9:19am
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I'll take a crack at trying to answer your questions. Low point drains? Yes. Open them. It drains water from the lines, not the tanks. You can wait until after you have blown out the lines. I did it while I had the compressor connected. I went through and did the bathroom sink and toilet, the kitchen sink, and the outside shower first. There was not much water left when I opened the drains, but there was enough that it was a good idea to drain them. I did bypass the water heater first (see below) and drained the tank by removing the anode rod. That not only drained the tank, but gave me a chance to check the condition of the anode rod so that I could replace it if it were needed. For the water heater, it depends on the valves. Mine has three valves. One is on the cold water inlet line. A second is on the hot water output line (red). The third is on a line that goes between the cold and hot water lines. To by pass the hot water heater, close the cold water and hot water valves and open the bypass valve. To use the hot water heater, close the bypass valve and open the cold and hot water valves. If yours has a different valve setup, you will need to refer to whatever instructions you were given for that setup. The main reason for bypassing the hot water heater is if you use the RV antifreeze. It is very corrosive to the anode rod. If you have removed the anode rod and drained the tank and blown the water out of the rest of the system, I suppose you could skip the bypass and leave the tank inline. If there is a chance of you using the antifreeze though, you should bypass the water heater. ------------- 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: Tim
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 12:27pm
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Thank You! I really appreciate your help....as usual! ------------- 2019 Coachman RBS192 2014 178 (sold) 2018 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 1:04pm
| Remember to turn the air pressure down to around 40 psi. at the compressor. I have a drain plug somewhere out in the weeds by the barn from forgetting to turn the air pressure down on the pickup camper years ago. |
Posted By: Tim
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 1:42pm
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Will do! Thanks ------------- 2019 Coachman RBS192 2014 178 (sold) 2018 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 2:45pm
Thanks for covering the part I didn't. You must have had some air pressure! Since the pump puts out about 50 psi, 40 psi on the air line is great to make sure nothing blows out. Drain plugs are easy to replace. Water lines would be more of a pain.
------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2016 at 9:07pm
+1.  ------------- 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: Jewel59
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2016 at 9:15pm
| Another winterizing question. If temps dip below freezing temporarily overnight during the winter months, do you need to winterize. I live in SC, there is not a good deal of freezing weather but it does happen occasionally. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2016 at 10:21pm
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For the occasional dip below freezing you may not need to winterize if the temperatures will be above freezing the next day. However, the only time we did this, we had the heater running. If the temperatures are expected to be in the low 20's or teens, especially if there is no source of heat, it would be better to play it safe and winterize. If you are not going to be using it, then don't risk your plumbing. Winterize it and you will have the peace of mind that nothing will freeze and break. ------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 6:49pm
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+1. ------------- 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: Jewel59
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 11:17am
| Thank you, I'm going to have the rpod out twice in November and just before Christmas (each in warmer locations). After that, I think I'll go ahead and winterize it. It will sit for a couple months after that, roughly late December-early March. Will I have issues not having a heated water hose if temps briefly go freezing overnight (I'm talking like 28-32 degrees at the coldest and warming to above freezing during the day)? Trying to decide if I need to buy a heated water hose. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 11:44am
I'm assuming you are thinking about while you're camping. If so, the easiest solution is to disconnect the external hose at night. Make sure you have plenty of water in the FW tank and use the pump at night. Works great. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 12:38pm
| Thank you so much....I'm still a newbie with a change in season. Good solution! |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2016 at 6:28pm
You're very welcome. If you disconnect both ends of the external hose and take 20 seconds to drain it you can reconnect in the morning and have plenty of water immediately. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2016 at 2:00pm
+1, again.  ------------- 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: texman
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2016 at 3:53pm
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Can we discuss camping in freezing temps ? by that i mean freezing at night to say mid 20s. my thinking is if you are heating the interior, no worries really as long as the tanks are not full and could potentially burst. my question really is what damage are we worried about? the water pump obviously, but it is inside and will be heated. the exterior lines appear to be a pex type material and should expand if frozen. is that correct? what else is there to consider? texman  ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2016 at 10:07am
i think i didnt post this correctly. Trying again. Texman  ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |