Summer is already coming to an end and it's time to prepare your travel trailer or fifth wheel for winter. Here are our tips for winterizing your travel trailer to protect it from the elements.
Empty the tanks and water heater
The most important thing is to remove the water from all the pipes and tanks in your trailer to avoid ending up with cracked pipes when spring comes. So you need to empty the water heater and tanks of your RV: the fresh water, gray water and black water tanks. Rinse thoroughly to ensure there is no waste in the tanks.
Draining the water heater is done by unscrewing the plug located outside in the water heater panel. The plug requires a 15/16'' "box" (socket) for the brand Atwood (plastic cap) and a 1'' 1/16 "box" for the brand S.
You will notice that the cap of a branded tank S is made of metal since it has an anode. This type of tank requires an anode in order to absorb rust and minimize wear inside the tank. An anode with holes on both sides is still good, it simply does its job. On the other hand, an anode with only a thin central rod of a few millimeters must be replaced.
If you are unsure, bring your anode into the store and we can tell you if it is only slightly worn or needs replacing. To make it easier for you when draining the water from your trailer's water heater, open the safety valve located at the top of the tank. It is important to remove any limescale deposits and rinse thoroughly.
It is also strongly recommended to empty the water lines before winterizing your trailer. Under your RV, you will find two pieces of pipe sticking out with a cap or valve at the end. In most cases, there is a blue pipe for cold water and a red pipe for hot water. Don't forget to replace the caps before circulating the antifreeze.
We also recommend that youremove pressure in city water inlet of your trailer (main outside water connection). This will allow any water trapped in the check valve to come out. To do this, you must remove the filter from the water inlet, if applicable, and then gently push on the tip of the check valve.
Close the water inlet
It is important to close the cold water inlet of the hot water tank and open the bypass (i.e. the "by-pass"). This will allow the antifreeze to circulate directly in the hot water circuit without entering the inside of the water heater, which could damage it. This is in fact the one and only use of the bypass (the "by-pass") of the trailer. It must be in the "open" position to winterize your trailer and in the "closed" position during the summer so that the water circulates normally through the water heater.
There are various bypass models: one, two or three valves:
- The single-valve bypass model has a T-valve at the intersection of the cold water and the bypass, in addition to having a check valve for the hot water. The valve is therefore rotated in the direction of the pipe to circulate the water to the water heater or perpendicular to divert the water directly to the hot water circuit.
- The two-valve bypass model contains a check valve at the outlet of the water heater. Therefore, there is only one valve for the water entering the water heater and the bypass valve.
- The three-valve bypass model has one valve at the water heater inlet (cold), one at the water heater outlet (top, hot water), and one in between. The one in between is the "bypass."
Pumping antifreeze with the water pump
If you don't already know where it is, you need to locate your RV's water pump. Simply turn it on and listen for the sound, which will lead you to the water pump. It may be located inside in a cabinet, under a bench seat, behind a screwed-on panel, or outside your trailer in a trunk.
Then disconnect the water inlet hose at the pump and connect an auxiliary hose to it to pump the antifreeze directly from the gallon of antifreeze. You can find this hose and antifreeze at the Roulottes Chaudière store to winterize all the pipes and valves in your trailer.
It is recommended to use a non-toxic antifreeze specially designed for RVs. You will also find it in store at Roulottes Chaudière.
Drain the antifreeze
When the bypass is open and the water pump is connected to the gallon of antifreeze, you must activate the pump and open a tap to create a request. Go one faucet at a time (hot water, cold water) starting with the one furthest from the pump. Wait for the antifreeze to flow through the faucet before turning it off and moving on to the next faucet. Don't forget the toilet bowl, shower head, outdoor spray or any other faucet, if applicable.
Once you have finished winterizing your trailer's pipes, turn off the pump and open a faucet to relieve the pressure inside the pipes.
Then pour the remaining antifreeze into the sinks and tub drains (the "S") to remove any remaining water. Then, to avoid any stains that may be caused by this product, it is advisable to wipe up the dripped antifreeze.
Proceed with caulking
Now it's time to caulk theexterior access refrigerator, the "wind" on the roof, the furnace chimney and any other access that can let snow in during the winter. Caulking your trailer is simply done by sticking a polythene or plastic bag in these areas to protect them from snow and ice. When the good weather returns, the accumulated snow and ice melt and thewater can seep inside, hence the importance of properly sealing your RV during winter storage.
Remove batteries and turn off propane
We suggest you toremove all batteries (marine and alkaline) in order to store them in a temperate place. During the winter, it is also preferable to charge (2 amers/hour) and let your marine battery discharge a few times. And don't forget to close propane tanks of your unit, if you haven't already!
Clean the trailer
The very last step – and not the least! – is to wash the interior of the trailer: cabinets, refrigerator and nooks and crannies. The idea is to leave your unit clean to avoid bad odors and unpleasant surprises when dewinterizing your trailer in the spring. You can also wash the exterior of your RV to remove any traces of dirt, once the camping season is over.
To do this, choose specialized RV maintenance products from brands renowned for their gentleness and high effectiveness, such as Magic-Boss VR, Mirage 2000 et CNET.
We hope that these tips have enlightened you for winterizing your caravan or fifth wheel. Do not hesitate to come and see us in store for ask your questions to our experts and find the parts for winterizing your trailer. We also offer a winterizing and trailer storage service during the winter, to keep your RV in a secure place. Enough to have peace of mind and start dreaming about your next camping season!
