Winterizing on the Way Home

[blkdth1313]

Hey Y'All:

Heading back from Panama City to PA tomorrow - it makes me sad thinking about it - and would like your advice /opinions on when to winterize.

First night will be in Pine Mountain, GA and temps will be above freezing.

Second night in Ft. Chiswell, VA and nighttime temps will drop to mid to high 20's.

From there we head home to PA where the night time temps will also be below freezing.

The wife would like to be able to use the galley/bath through the second night in VA. I guess I would, too vs. the bath house.

Do you think we would be OK winterizing in VA the morning before heading home or even that afternoon when we arrive in PA?

We will have full hookups in VA and will end up using the heat I am sure, but am not sure what effect the below freezing temps will have on the tanks/outdoor shower, etc. while traveling/camping.

Thanks as always you guys. You have been invaluable to us.

Health, happiness, prosperity, and peace to you and your families in 2016 and always.

[harley]

Don't take a chance. it is nicer winterizing in nice weather. Plus you can "rough it" for 2 days,I hope.

[DavisK]

I winterized mine at Talladega Speedway before we left in October.

[concreteman]

You need several hours of temps below freezing to cause damage. I dont see any worry getting home. It would be much easier to do it when you get home.

[Loneoak]

We drive down to Florida in December and our trailer is winterized before we leave. We flush out the anti-freeze when we get here. This means two and a half days on the road (two nights) in a winterized unit. The only water we have is what we carry in jugs. This is used to flush the toilet, brush our teeth, wash up, etc. We obviously have to forego showers, but we can "sponge bath". This is our eighth year doing this and we have always survived.

[loogie17]

Like Concreteman said usually have to be parked for 8-10 hrs with temps 25 or below for water inside to freeze(interior temps comfortable & storage, basements above freezing). When you are traveling the vibrations of movement keeps the water active(rippling, sloshing, etc.) which acts similar to a moving stream & prevents icing. NOW I'm not saying sitting at below 25 with no heat it won't freeze but haveing used this formula moving freezable liquids cross country for mannny years it works.

[MartyinSC]

I took a trip around Thanksgiving in the Midwest where evening temps got down to about 25. I used water from the fresh tank, because a hose connection would freeze. I kept the interior warm, using both propane and electric. The tanks are under the floor, but inside the underbelly. No problems at all.

[harley]

You may want to take hose and sprayer off the out shower and pack the area with foam or insulation or newspaper to stop that area from freezing. Unless you installed shut offs on the inside of the shower assembly. And if you have a sink in an out kitchen , keep door closed.

[vacationer]

I winterized mine on the way home from Talladega as well. I left it in Mooresville nc. we are heading to the 500 for 2-1/2 weeks then home again. will be winterizing again. Only takes 1/2 at most when I finely found the valve for the pump in my Lincoln. Then pick it up in april off to Bristol then the weather should be ok in Ontario by then

[blkdth1313]

Thanks for all of the input. We ended up winterizing the morning we left Pine Mountain, NC before we got far enough North to get below freezing. It's so easy with this rig that it's really no worries.
I think we probably would have been OK to wait, but this gave us enough daylight at home for a thorough cleaning inside and wash outside before we parked her again until our next adventure.
Funny thing and what gave us further encouragement to winterize is that the furnace didn't work when we tried to turn it on in NC. The fan would blow and it would ignite three separate times for a few seconds before shutting down the fan. We did run it the morning an FL and had it set at 66. I remember turning it off manually when it was at 69.
I never thought I wold say this, but thank God for Walmart! There was one about 18 miles away that was open New Year's Day and night where we picked up a few ceramic heaters.
Need to address a few warranty items so this will be added to the list.
Hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!

[blkdth1313]

PS: Both the FT Chiswell, VA and Pine Mountain, NC campgrounds are great off season pass through locations if you are ever heading North or South on 81/185. Would imagine the NC campground gets pretty packed during the summer time...