Winterize or Not

[teegee1025]

Hi! This will be our first winter in Mooresville, NC with our 5th wheel. Coming from Syracuse, NY, it would be just about time to winterize if we were still up North. I was wondering if winterization was still needed down here. I know the winter isn't bad down here and I am not sure of how long the season for using the fifth wheel is so I'm uncertain as to whether or not we could use it in the winter. Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Mickeyfan0805]

Dave H M wrote:
holy moley Mickey, mine takes 2 gal. :h

My lines take about a gallon and a half. Another gallon+ fills the p-traps. The final gallon is dumped into the black tank so that it doesn't sit dry for the 7-8 months our rig is not in use.

[Dave_H_M]

holy moley Mickey, mine takes 2 gal. :h

[Mickeyfan0805]

teegee1025 wrote:
Thank you all. We will winterize at the end of October. Now....our storage place up in Syracuse used to do this for us. Hoping it is an easy process. Google here I come!!! 🙂

The ease often depends on the rig, but it's not hard at all. Takes me 20 minutes and 4 gallons of antifreeze.

[sayoung]

I get tickled on all the rv forums I visit talking winterizing cause it's gonna be 97 here today . Also get a good laugh over on the Kubota tractor board, all the northern folks hooking up the snow blowers. Not makeing fun because I have been in the cold climates a few times it's just funny to me how early you must prepare. We don't even give an early morning frost a thought until usually mid November.

[teegee1025]

Thank you all. We will winterize at the end of October. Now....our storage place up in Syracuse used to do this for us. Hoping it is an easy process. Google here I come!!! 🙂

[Dave_H_M]

so if you don't winterize and get caught with your pants down, who is to blame? 😉

[Cummins12V98]

sayoung wrote:

gbopp wrote:
Just blow out your water lines and pour some pink stuff in the traps.
It's quick and simple. Then you don't have to be concerned with dropping temps and can do it after every trip during colder weather.

I will add open the faucets while blowing out & drain the water heater also. I open the low points, blow out, drain water heater , anti freeze in traps. But, I keep my heat on about 50 and it very seldom gets into the teens here.

Completely agree!

I didn't think about the "P" traps first time!

[Mickeyfan0805]

Do you have quick and ready access to the rig? If you can get out in the case of a surprise cold snap, then you could wait and watch. If there is any chance you might not be able to get to it during the winter, however, I wouldn't risk it! THe relatively small investment of time and money is a cheap insurance policy.

[rsgs]

I never listen to the weather report when fall comes around. I have two fifth wheels in different locations. At the first of September, I blow out lines, drain the hot water tank, and add red pop to the traps. This way I know if something unforeseen comes up and I don't get back to either one for a month or two, it's taken care of and I don't have to worry. It's ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry and it only takes a few minutes.

[Campinghoss]

The weather can change overnight. Since you are closer to the mountains than I am I would definitely winterize. Running the rv antifreeze is not costly nor difficult but replacing plumbing is a hassle. While looking at the average temp or historical temps is a good start it still does not count for the extreme changes NC can see. I keep my fiver under a shelter and it is a four season. I run antifreeze thru mine each year.

Just my two cents.

[rhagfo]

gbopp wrote:
Just blow out your water lines and pour some pink stuff in the traps.
It's quick and simple. Then you don't have to be concerned with dropping temps and can do it after every trip during colder weather.

X2

Your climate is about the same as we have in the PNW. Do you plan on using the 5er through the winter. We use to go out all winter long I would just keep an eye on the temps if it was going to drop below about 28 overnight, I would blow the lines and put pink AF in the traps.
If we went out and the weather was still mild would wait for the next cold spell before blowing the lines.
As we used the 5er through out the winter, would only blow and Pink if temp was going below 28 overnight.
We had unit stored at a storage yard, and I had/have onboard air so easy to blow the lines. Never an Issue.
Enjoy your new climate, get out and enjoy winter camping!! We would keep the 5er stocked with cloths and non perishable foods so only needed to grab perishable food from home refer.

[ppine]

watch the weather, then winterize.

[sayoung]

gbopp wrote:
Just blow out your water lines and pour some pink stuff in the traps.
It's quick and simple. Then you don't have to be concerned with dropping temps and can do it after every trip during colder weather.

I will add open the faucets while blowing out & drain the water heater also. I open the low points, blow out, drain water heater , anti freeze in traps. But, I keep my heat on about 50 and it very seldom gets into the teens here.

[philh]

Winterizing costs virtually nothing. Not winterizing could cost a lot. YMMV