Winterizing...Never Done It...Till Now

[The Gritz Carlton]

Going to Wakarusa for December 10th appointment and they say to winterize the coach. Never had to before as days of freezing weather here are few. I've spent hours reading through the forums(s) and watched a few videos but this is one of those few things I just can't get my arms around. Owner's Manual is a joke and all floorplans are different. If anyone has a detailed process, please share it. Nothing in the manuals pinpoint where all the low point drains are or anything else. I think this makes the 2 millionth Thread on this subject.

[JamieGeek]

Well I did post this a long time ago and it did become a sticky (long ago enough that all the referenced images vanished):
http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8/...ific-2448.html

I believe that Ed took it and put it in the Axis/Vegas manual including the images.

Sure its Axis/Vegas specific but the procedure is pretty much the same for any motorhome. You just have to find all the mentioned parts.

If you have the Thor diagrams, specifically the plumbing ones, they do list where the low point drains and all the valves should be.

[Bob Denman]

First: The best of luck to you!
Second... you've got to get the water out of "everything": What does that mean?
I'm pretty sure that you've got a:
Kitchen sink
Bathroom sink
Shower
Toilet
Hot water system

What else?

I was looking at Youtube videos about this sort of thing... You can find information about any of the above hook-ups. You just have to "string together" the information, and work out a plan of action.

Good luck!

[TurnerFam]

if you're going to the service center, and their rv park, for a service appointment, then you'll be 'living' in the coach during that time, I would assume. Therefore, it's not necessary to relieve water from all of the lines or apply any 'pink stuff', as some folks do, but only to be aware that they are saying that the temps could be low enough that there could be some possibility of frozen outside water hoses.
If you are in the coach during the time you are there, you'll have the furnace or electric heaters and such on if the temps are really that low anyway, keeping the coach warm, and generally the basement areas as well. While in the service center during the day, between 7am and 3pm, their doors will be closed if the temps are that low.

The best bet is to prepare t0 simply use your onboard water and water pump during your stay, and insulate your basements well, such as any hatches or areas where air can infiltrate.

Your water tank will be fine, it takes a LONG time at very LOW temps to ever create any issues with it - and all of your interior water lines are within the coach and the basement, so those should be well above any temps that would create any problems. With your water heater working, you can also circulate hot water thru all of your lines every several hours, if the overnight temps get really low.

We were there in February of '16, during one of the worst winter storms the area had seen in many years, for several overnights during warranty work, and had no issues, even though there was 6" of snow, ice everywhere, and below freezing temps the whole stay. I even put a small electric heater in the wet bay area to minimize any low temps because we prefer electric heat to propane, though propane provides heating to our wet bay, when it IS used.


enjoy : )

[The Gritz Carlton]

I'm dropping it off and renting a car to go visit friends in Michigan. That way, it can stay in the shop overnight and lesson the chances of freezing. That's what they really prefer as they don't have to button everything back up each day. He said it cuts the repair time by 50%. One of the issues to repair is the furnace making a horrible loud noise and water heater doesn't work on the electric side. Been using gas since I got it. I'll winterize and drive straight there non-stop. Only 600 miles.

[revjeffrey]

actually winterizing a motorhome is Embarrassingly Very Simple 20 min. 2-3 gallon procedure. You are just replacing fresh water tank with your New water tank a gallon of RV Antifreeze. I take suction line off at pump and stick it in 1 gallon RV Antifreeze bottle. Turn on fixtures one @ a time hot then cold till pink. Open all drain valves. I always took out Hot Water heater Plug. I have seen my fair share of exploded hot water heater tanks.

[Bogie]

I found my low point drains all the way in the back of the RV underneath about where the shower sits. Bypassing the water heater lets you save about 6 gallons of antifreeze, just remember to drain it out and leave the plug out.

Just don't do what I did and force open the city water inlet. It took me longer to replace that than to winterize the RV.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

...
We were there in February of '16, during one of the worst winter storms the area had seen in many years, for several overnights during warranty work, and had no issues, even though there was 6" of snow, ice everywhere, and below freezing temps the whole stay. I even put a small electric heater in the wet bay area to minimize any low temps because we prefer electric heat to propane, though propane provides heating to our wet bay, when it IS used.

I was there in February of '17 and it was 60 degrees out! LOL

[The Gritz Carlton]

Thanks..gonna start this process...I see low point drain lines popping out everywhere underneath. Jamie...that makes sense...just bypass the water heater (drain it) and run pink panther through everything else. Pour a little in the drain traps and be done. Sounds simple. For the washer/dryer connections I can run a bit of water through each line into a bucket, huh?

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Thanks..gonna start this process...I see low point drain lines popping out everywhere underneath. Jamie...that makes sense...just bypass the water heater (drain it) and run pink panther through everything else. Pour a little in the drain traps and be done. Sounds simple. For the washer/dryer connections I can run a bit of water through each line into a bucket, huh?

Do you just have the connections or do you have the washer/dryer?

With just connections: Yeah I'd just run a little into a bucket or into the drain there (shouldn't there also be a drain by them?).

If you have the washer/dryer (well ok washer)...not sure what I'd do for that. Run it enough to see pink?

[The Gritz Carlton]

No washer/dryer. That huge closet is used for trash can, long clothes and Mountain House foods (all light stuff). It's on the full wall slide and I wouldn't put that much additional weight on it. It works great like it is. I actually use the cold water spigot to run water through black tanks with a short hose inside the coach during dumps.