Question about de-winterization

[JavaCheeks]

First, We have a trip planned for this week (live in southeastern Pa). was considering de-winterizing once hooked up at campsite but not sure if I should wait till our trip in May to do it...

Also, I was hoping for others input, I read that it's safe as long as it will not be getting below freezing for sustained periods over 8-12 hours... My opinion is that once water freezes in a fitting it would cause immediate damage. Thoughts?

This is our first camper and trying to do things right.. appreciate everyone's input!

 

[Kirk]

It takes water at 28 degrees some 6 hours to freeze but inside of the RV it will take additional time for the water to reach that temperature. Also, modern PEX RV plumbing will survive some freezing without damage. Water at 20 degrees takes about 2 hours to freeze.

 

[TheBar]

If I were staying for more than just a weekend I would de-winterize and re-winterize when I got back. A broken pipe can destroy an RV.

If just for a couple nights and surviving without a shower, I would fill my two water containers upon arrival instead of de-winterizing. They sit beside the kitchen sink and the bathroom sink. They have spigots to turn on to wash your hands or fill a 16 oz cup to flush the toilet manually. If we have to go #2 we use the campground restrooms. And remember a charcoal grill, paper plates, and plastic utensils are your friends. Washing pots and pans on a campout is ridiculous.

 

[John From Detroit]

I had to make a sub-0ºC trip and ... well two 5 gallon containers INSIDE the Motor home
Tanks (And lines) full of..... air The air did not freeze.

 

[UTTransplant]

Look at the forecast before you decide. In Iowa our last average freeze is April 15. Worst case is 15 May, and that is for tender perennials. We have gone out in April a number of times when we had our trailer and not re-winterized when we get back.

 

[JavaCheeks]

Thanks guys for all the advise. Were back from our trip, looking at the forecast for our trip there was a night that was going to go down to 26 degrees. So.. I decided to hold off until we go away in a few weeks to dewinterize. That being said, there was a lot of other campers there and almost all of them were hooked up to water and sewer. I felt like I was being left out of a vital piece of info.. But this is our first camper and it's less then a year old so not taking any chances. We've camped for years without water and sewer hookups van camping so this was still a great trip.

 

[Derby6]

Once you were hooked up you would have been fine with a heated hose as long as you were also heating inside.