As autumn settles in and peak camping season comes to a close, it is important to consider the details necessary for winterizing your RV. This is beneficial for two reasons: First, it is a preventative measure to help your RV from getting damaged. Second, it sets you up for easily de-winterizing in the spring. Whether you’ve recently purchased a New Class B+ camper or own any other type of RV, it is useful to know how to winterize your vehicle, and RVT has seven do-it-yourself tips to guide you in the process.
1. Buy the Essentials
Before you purchase winterization tools and get started on the process, check your owner’s manual as certain RVs may already be equipped with winterizing controls. Visit your RV dealer for supplies, including:Â
- Non-toxic RV antifreeze (a few gallons)
- Water pump converter kit
- Water heater bypass kit
- Basic hand tools
2. Drain & Flush Black & Gray Tanks
First, it is important to only drain the wastewater from your Class A Diesel RV or other motorhome at a dump station or a campground sewer hookup. Start with the black water tank and then drain the gray water tank. Clean both tanks by flushing them out with water. Use a cleaning wand and an external flushing system to clean out the tanks if your RV is not equipped with a built-in flushing system. Forgetting to drain and flush these tanks can be detrimental over the winter as the water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and the sitting wastewater has the potential to freeze over, which could damage your RV.
3. Drain & Flush Water Heater
Removing the water out of your camper’s water heater is also imperative. Make sure to turn off the water heater and let the water cool down before draining. Use a socket wrench to remove the drain plug and open the pressure relief valve. Once the water is drained, hook up city water to your RV to flush out the residual sediment in the water heater.
4. Apply Antifreeze
Applying antifreeze to your RV water system is an important aspect of winterizing, especially considering that RVs often lack significant insulation. It is safe to use RV antifreeze as directed by both your RV OEM and the antifreeze provider. However it’s also very important to de-winterize your system before using it again once the season changes. With the essential caveat that you should act only in accordance with the expert instructions from your OEM and the antifreeze provider, below is general guidance about what the antifreeze application process involves.
Bypass Water Heater
Most RVs nowadays are equipped with a hot water heater by-pass kit. This prevents antifreeze from entering the hot water heater. If your RV does not have a by-pass kit, consult with your RV dealer to get one installed.
Locate Water Pump & Connect to Antifreeze
Next, install the water pump converter kit to enable the antifreeze to run through your RV. Fasten the hose inside the container of antifreeze, open the valve, and turn on the cold-water faucet closest to the water pump. Once the pink antifreeze appears in the sink, turn on the hot-water faucet – this helps ensure the antifreeze has made its way thoroughly throughout the pipes.
External Faucets & Valves
Starting with the lowest valve, open the low point drain plugs to drain the water. Continue draining until antifreeze appears and then close the valves. Repeat this process, working your way up to the highest valves on the outside of the camper. If there are any outside showers or faucets, be sure to run both the hot and cold faucets.
Internal Faucets, Showers, & Toilets
Starting with one side on the interior of your Used Toy Hauler or other camper, open each valve to allow the water to completely drain out. Once antifreeze appears, repeat this process for all interior faucets. Next, repeat this process for the showers and toilets. It may take a few flushes until the antifreeze appears in the toilet bowl.
Antifreeze Down the P-Trap
After you have finished flushing both external and internal faucets and valves, it is also important to pour additional antifreeze down the drains of all sinks, showers, and toilets. This guarantees the antifreeze has made its way through all your plumbing and into the gray tank.
5. Prevent Pests
Remove all food and other consumables that can attract vermin. Spray anti-rodent foam in any cracks or crevices on both the interior and exterior spaces. Place ant and bug repellant or traps for additional preventative measures.
6. Prepping the Tires
Check your owner’s manual for off-season tire maintenance. General best practices recommend that you park the camper on concrete, set the parking brake, position wheel chocks, and engage leveling jacks to prevent your tires from developing a flat spot.
7. Manage the Propane
Refill all propane tanks as necessary and protect the fittings with plastic bags. However, if you are in a particularly frigid climate, it is beneficial to remove external propane tanks and store them in a safe, warm place.
Preparing your camper for the winter season is not only advantageous, but also necessary. If you plan to own your RV for a long time, it is crucial to follow these steps each winter to ensure a longer lifespan on your camper (and a higher value if you ever decide to sell your RV). Though this process may seem tedious, it will be helpful in the long run. And if you’re taking the offseason to look for your next RV, be sure to browse the new and used listings on RVT.com – from there, you can refine your search to find the best RV for you and your family to enjoy!
Important Disclaimer: Improper winterizing of your RV may lead to personal injury or property damage. Any winterizing procedures should only be done in consultation with your RV dealer and/or RV manufacturer, following any and all official guidelines provided by those entities. RVT is not an expert in winterizing and the content provided here is only intended as general guidelines, and should not be considered as specific recommendations for winterizing any particular RV make, model, or unit. When in doubt, have your RV winterized by a certified dealership service department.
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