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Topic ClosedWinterizing Newbie question - Event Date: 22 Sep 2013 - 30 Sep 2013
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Winterizing Newbie question
    Posted: 17 Oct 2013 at 8:39am
Just untill it blows air.. It won't hurt it to run longer, but you just want to clear the line from the holding tank, and the pump head. If you are going to use pink stuff through the pump, then you don't have to worry about the pump head. 
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1077 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Oct 2013 at 6:42am
furpod, you mentioned running the pump dry.  approximately how long can you safely run the pump in doing this?  like 30 seconds?  hogone
Jon & Pam
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1077 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2013 at 9:38am
Good advice Bob.  I will definately winterize before I pull out of Florida. 
Jon & Pam
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2023 F150
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Sleepless View Drop Down
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Posts: 556 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2013 at 8:51am
Many years ago we took our TT to Florida from NW Indiana for a 2 week vacation.  No problems going down but coming back the weather suddenly turned cold.  We camped near Champaign IL and I had the water hose connected. Next morning, the hose was frozen solid and our dump valves were also frozen.  I spent over an hour with my wife's hair dryer, thawing the drain valves and the water hose connection. 

If there is any question about weather conditions, I would winterize, at least on your return trip.

Bob
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hogone View Drop Down
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Posts: 1077 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2013 at 6:58am
ya, this is my dilemma.  reside in st louis and heading to florida in mid november.  really do not want to do the full blown winterizing either before i leave.  how long does one run the pump dry?  i think i will go with draining everything, run pump, and use a heater until then.  any thoughts?  hogone
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2013 RP177(sold Nov 25)
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Posts: 58 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 5:34pm
We're near Jonesboro....right where the Ozarks end and the rice fields begin. Yeah, I know, experience is the best teacher---already given me confidence in tank dumping, LOL
There's only one way...
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 5:31pm
We left one in the pod last winter, set around 45 degrees, didn't notice a hit at all on the bill. it's a 1000 watts, running a couple hours a day max, here, that is literally 20 cents a day. We had winterized..

Don't know how northern AR you are, but when we lived in FT Smith, while we didn't have a TT then, I wouldn't be worried about winterizing before late November. Might be a little worried if you are in the Ozarks. But not a lot.

Oh, and you will get over most of these worries with experience.. don't sweat it.
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Posts: 58 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 4:47pm
Starting from northern Arkansas, would head to Florida. Remember, I'm the one who didn't wanna run the propane fridge while driving, LOL . . . . 

Running a heater all winter would really jack up our electric bill Sleepy
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 4:44pm
Where are you starting from?

If you are starting out in a couple weeks, you may not need to winterize now. I wouldn't if I didn't have to. If it's "doable" just put a small ceramic heater in the pod to keep the lines in there from freezing. Drain the FW holding tank, and run the pump dry. Dump gray and black. Should be fine. If it's below freezing when you pull out.. turn on the propane and heater.

I have actually considered that if the holding tanks are all empty, and the water pump run dry, a heater keeping the pod warm will protect it all winter.. just like your home. I have not tested this theory.. but it should work.. lol
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Posts: 58 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 4:33pm
Our "plan" is to winterize with pink stuff in a couple weeks...then take a 'southern' trip in early January, 'de-winterizing' somewhere along the way at a KOA, e.g. when the weather warms up...then after a nice little stay down south, return northward, and winterize once again before we get too far into the colder climate. Is this the 'general' idea when making a cold-weather trip southward? Suggestions, warnings, etc are most welcome! LOL

One of the big questions I do have is "how much water needs to run through the city water input to get rid of all the pink? Obviously, when the 'pink is gone', it may not be r-e-a-l-l-y outa there...so I'm curious...
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