Draining water lines for travel

[si camper]

I'll be traveling with a 5th wheel RV during this next cold front. The first 2 days of the trip are not a problem but by the 3rd day I expect to be traveling during sub-freezing temperatures for several hours. LOw 20s to 32. Before leaving the campground that morning, would it be enough to just drain the water lines or should I winterize again?

 

[Oldgator73]

Good question. Seems like a PITA to winterize just for a couple of hours. Maybe empty your tanks including fresh water and leave faucets open. I used to open the fresh water drain on the way home from trips and let the water drain down the highway.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I'm not aware of too many RV's that can simply be "drained", if it were that simple this wouldn't be a discussion. The options are compressed air or antifreeze. I've always used compressed air because I winterize at home where I have a big compressor. A tire inflator won't cut it. For 32F I wouldn't do anything but low 20's and it gets iffy especially while underway with wind. I haven't taken too many subfreezing trips but my backup plan is to carry a gallon of RV antifreeze with the idea I could do a quick winterization if I had to. Yeah, sucks to have to wash all that out the next day or whatever but that's easier than fixing busted plumbing on the road. It's always worked out that it never got as cold as predicted wherever I was at and I've never needed to do it, so maybe be ready to winterize then only pull the trigger if it looks like you really have to. Don't worry about your tanks, that's not cold enough long enough for those to freeze. I've often wondered for situations like this if putting a hose adapter on the faucets and running return lines back to the fresh tank wouldn't be a useful stopgap for short term freeze mitigation. Sometimes you just want to get through a brief cold snap like this and recirculating would be easier than antifreeze and flush. If one had the eco-hot deal the majority of stuff is already there.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Kirk]

Before leaving the campground that morning, would it be enough to just drain the water lines or should I winterize again?

If you will be staying in the RV when you stop, why not just leave the furnace & water heater on in the RV? We did that many times.

 

[si camper]

Mark B, Thanks for the reinforcement of the way I was leaning. I've already drained my antifreeze, but I haven't added water yet, thinking I would do that at our first stop. Now I think I'm going to wait until our 3rd stop. We'll be in SW Texas then and hopefully out of freezing temps for awhile.

 

[si camper]

If you will be staying in the RV when you stop, why not just leave the furnace & water heater on in the RV? We did that many times.

Does leaving the furnace on while traveling keep it warm enough underneath the floor to keep the water lines free.

 

[Kirk]

warm enough underneath the floor to keep the water lines free.

If your water lines are where they are heated when living in it they would be but if the water lines are under the floor where they are exposed to the weather, I would expect them to freeze, even if you are staying in the RV.

 

[si camper]

If your water lines are where they are heated when living in it they would be but if the water lines are under the floor where they are exposed to the weather, I would expect them to freeze, even if you are staying in the RV.

I'll have to give this more thought. It would just be for the morning drive maybe. Thanks

 

[PancakeBill]

Takes about 8 hours to freeze at 20 degrees, ballpark figure, and if the water can be move, like jiggled wile traveling, I would just go. That is for me, if you are the least bit concerned, drain.

 

[DutchmenSport]

In your situation, blowing the lines is probably the best way to go. After using the RV antifreeze, the lines will need to be flushed. That's time consuming and uses a lot of water. So, if you are traveling, blowing is a good option.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You probably have a greater risk of the waste & fresh tanks freezing than the lines, which are probably more sheltered. And like Pancake Bill said, several hours isn't a long time, especially when in motion.

But there are too many variables to be sure of anything. What is the temperature of the water line & tanks when you leave the campground? Is it closer to 33 or to 50? Makes a difference. How much of the water system is exposed to the air - any pipes actually under the rig and outside? How cold is it really - 28 is probably no worry, but 22 might be if soaked in it for 8-12 hours.

 

[si camper]

Thanks everyone for the replies. My water lines are enclosed and only the low point drains are exposed, but they have screw on caps and so no valves to freeze up. With your input I feel confident enough that with the water lines drained I'll be good to go for that possible 4hr drive. I'll watch the weather and adjust as necessary.