Thank you so very much Chad, very good informative video. It was a blessing.to all who have an RV that puts it into storage in the winter. Really looking forward to the video on your Furrion Tankless upgrade. And last but certainly not least, Prayers for that precious lady of yours; Tara. Please keep us informed. You and Tara be blessed.
HI CHAD & TARA & THE CUTE PUP ❤ THANK YOU CHAD FOR YOUR INPUT FOR EVERYONE ! BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏ENJOYED ☺️ 🙏 HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR TARA ☺️ 🙏GOD BLESS YOU BOTH & THE PUP ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WINTER SEASON ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏
for you icemaker on most Residential units there is a button on the bottom of the ice maker you can push that will cause it to manually actuate an ice dump cycle. this will draw in Antifreeze when winterizing and you can use the same process when de-winterizing it will dump liquid into the ice bucket but that is an easy clean up.
Great video. Hope everything goes well for Tara. On our Jayco, we have to take the screen/washer that is in the water inlet (where you connect your water hose) and flip the screen backwards to be able to pump from a bucket into the coach. Hope that makes sense...
Been subscribed for yrs. The very first thing I do within the first few seconds of your video's is hit the like button ( thumbs up ). There is no way in the world I would not like one of your video's. We just got back from a visit to our daughter that just moved to Vancouver, Washington. We are in GA. While she was at work all week, we did the tourist stuff. Saw he on the weekend. Took her and her boyfriend to Haystack Rock on the Oregon coast at the end of a long day of sight seeing along the coast. Was not sure how to get to the rock. My wonderful bride picked a spot to stop. Low and behold, driving up we looked over and there it was. Found a place to park, which is not easy. Glad we were there in the off season. While we were walking up to the stairs that lead down to the water, my bride screamed out OMG. We looked over and saw in the neighborhood next to us 2 Elk walking down the road. We stood there and they crossed the main road along the shore within 30 feet of us. Then came 6 more. We went down to Haystack Rock not even knowing it was low tide. We got to walk all the way to the rock and spend about 30 minutes there. Was wonderful. On the way back to our car down the same road, 3 bulls and more female elk crossed in front of us into a small field in between some apartments. Even the locals were out there taking pictures like that never happens. My bride counted 18 total elk in that small patch of grass. Then the just started crossing the road back in front of us again, some just 20 feet away like we were just a usual event in their day. AMAZING !!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to send you the pics, I would. Point being, If it was not for you and Tara showing us places to see around America. We would not know the wonderful places to go. All the RV community I keep track of. I have seen people at Yellowstone get close to wildlife, not a good thing. But, we stood totally still. The bull and other elk looked at us 20 feet away, like someone passing you on the street as to say hello. Just another day. WE did not want to spook them so we froze. It was such a beautiful sight. Me and my daughters boyfriend did get out in the road to stop traffic for the elk to cross. Traffic backed up, everyone was out of their cars. What a beautiful sight for everyone. It was one of those once in a lifetime things that could new happen to me. We all were holding back tears. Not to mention, how beautiful Haystack Rock is at low tide and a setting sun. OMG !!!!! OMG !!!!!!! OMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK BOTH OF YOU !!!!!!!!!! TARA & CHAD !!!!!!!!! Yes, I put Tara first. Because my BRIDE is always first. Without her, there is no ME !!!!!!
Batteries...I permanently mounted a battery tender. A good Battery tender allows the batteries to go down to a certain value...say 90% and will fully charge and then shut off again. I tried keeping my RV plugged in all winter, but found the constant charging ruined my batteries. Battery tenders are cheap, and easy. My 2 cents. I had a class C, so one battery tender at engine, then another for house batteries. Simple and solved all my long winter Alaskan battery issues, and, cheap on the electric bill.
Thanks for video. My camper has valves on side(not your nautlilus) so mine is quite similar. Pretty easy. I don't have the fridge so easier for me. For my rodent prevention I buy dryer sheets from sams and throw them in every bin drawer and all over the place. Been doing that for 3 years no rodent issues so far. Next to corn fields. I didnt think of the spray for rodents on bottom side. Thanks for the tips!!
Hey Chad, Kevin from BJC RV here. I have a tip, when pumping the pink stuff through the city water inlet, pull out that little cone shaped screen and flip it around and then screw your hose in. That will depress the check valve and makes it a lot easier to get the pink stuff in through the RV. (Then remember to flip it back around when you're done). Oh, also, the pink stuff does freeze, it just doesn't expand to burst the lines. So maybe your pink ice cubes froze with undiluted pink stuff (but didn't expand).
Too many people doing that and the Furrion tankless water heater will trap moisture. Then they try to claim warranty in the spring. I'd advise if you have a tankless, antifreeze is highly advisable.
@@joestephan82 you must not have the Furrion like we're talking about and was shown in the video then. Even Lippert & Furrion will tell you to use antifreeze for temps below 34°. Keep doing it if it works for you, but anyone else that does not want to take the chance and have to replace the $800 Furrion instant water heater in the spring, will use antifreeze.
Great video. Only additional thing I do is keep a few faucets open to ensure the system doesn't build up pressure. Usually belches a little pink stuff first few good freezes. When you do get to de-winterizing, 100% sanitize the entire system while you go to flush out the pink stuff. Great way to ensure you get rid of it all and the system is clean and ready for use.
We love storing our Solitude in the local limestone mine, they store records, old cars, and carnival equipment....temperature controlled at about 56 F year round and don't winterize!!!!! prayers and hugs to both of you and Daisey too! Speedy recovery to Tara!!!
There’s a switch/button inside the ice maker up under there. You press/hold and it’ll run a cycle immediately for 10 seconds to flush water through. You do this 7-10 times to make sure it’s fully filled with antifreeze and shut the ice maker valve in the nautilus bay to off and you’re done.
One note on some residential refrigerators (GE). It may have a filter in the line. It does a great job of filtering out the pink coloring. You will never see pink ice cubes come out of the ice maker. But the ice cubes will look different.
The bottom of the ice maker has a button to force the ice tray to cycle through filling and dumping the ice tray. Push the button then close the drawer until it fills again. Maybe 6 or 7 times and antifreeze will appear. Same with de-winterizing in the spring.
Tara, need to ask you. Since we just got back from seeing Crater Lake. It has been on my bucket list of things to see. When we got to our first overlook spot, my bride said. And I kid you not. She said, I THOUGHT THE LAKE WOULD BE BIGGER. Now, I did my homework before hand. The lake is not just a lake, it is a caldera. It is 5 miles wide and 6 miles long. It is just short of 2,000 feet deep. At the time it imploded, it was 4,000 feet higher than it is now. It is so clear that you can see 120 feet deep. It is so blue due to light and that it is only filled by runoff, no outside water coming in from streams, etc. My jaw hit the floor. Like saying I thought the Grand Canyon would be bigger, which we have seen. Good gosh. I thought it was what I thought. STUNNING !!!!!!!!!!!! Watch your driving. When they say, no shoulder. They are not kidding. You see the white line on the right, another 12 inches. You are off the mountain with a 45% grade or worse. Mt. Rainier says narrow roads. Not much a shoulder in spots, but those are very few. Had a mid size SUV on the drive, No problem. Even a full size pickup or SUV, not a problem. Now if you are going from Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge to Horsetail Falls. There is a VERY NARROW BRIDGE between the two, even though they are close. I drove through in a mid sized SUV and passed a mid size SUV. TIGHT !!!! Not sure 2 full size pickup's could fit, rock walls on each side of bridge. I see paint pealing. Horsetail Falls is worth seeing though.
I understand the expense of tanks and the pain of refilling. We installed gas logs in our house 3 yrs ago. Luckly, we did not have to update the flew. Just install the logs. But I did get 2, 70 gallon propane tanks from Tractor Supply at $ 179.00 each. When I we this past winter to fill both of them up. Still had the original stickers on them with the price. The guy behind me asked when I bought them. Said 3 yrs ago, he looked stunned. I asked why. He pointed over to the new ones close to us. They are now $ 249.00 each. OUCH !!!!!
Chad, been using the cheaper stuff and the antifreeze method in several RV’s over the past 50 years, one for 18 years, for the entire winter (northern Minnesota) with no problems on piping or fixtures. Just saying, works for me. I’ve helped a number of friends who blew out the lines and had a little pooling of water in a connection point or the water pump that froze and broke causing a problem when they got ready for a new season…. Thanks for your “how I did it” videos. Hope all goes well for her procedures. 🙏🏼💓
If you're dealing with serious (northern Minnesota would certainly qualify!) cold the antifreeze method (or blow out and antifreeze) is the best. We use our RV all winter, but we rarely see temps below around 20, so blowing out with a heater on in the wet bay has always been fine. I wouldn't trust that at 20-30 below though!
Just to add one extra small step to your water heater, make sure you open the pressure relief valve to get antifreeze through there too. I've replaced one the froze and broke there despite pumping antifreeze through the water heater.
Hey Chad! I think leaving all the faucet’s open when done will also decrease the probability of a line bursting as well. Just in case. Also, send out 🙏🏻 and ❤ to Tara! Hopefully she gets some nice R and R after her procedures!
Chad, Personal experience shows take all cans out if you live in an area the can freeze, I had cans of vegetables blow out in the past due to freezing.
Hello Chad, you are so organized! We don't have an RV, just a van and an Indian, still we watched. I hope that Tara's surgery and recovery go well. She's a darling, and so are you. 🙏
We use various rodent deterrents but always add old fashion Victor snap traps around areas of entry. This is how we know if the deterrents are working. We usually get mice in the traps early on, then fewer, then none. The traps help us gauge rodent activity.
I can’t imagine putting any antifreeze in tank you will drink out of. We have winterized campers for 45 years in Minnesota . The latest a 35 foot Montana with a washer dryer. Never a problem . It gets very cold up here.
Chad look at your refrigerator manual for the ice maker test function. They all have a test function this is how I winterize my ice maker . Also works to dewinterize.
Nice video, Chad. This really looks like the best method. My wife's great uncle had me help him winterize their rv's for several years. He was always adamant about getting all lines and drains filled with anti freeze. He always said that if you ever have freeze damage, you get a lot better st winterizing. I pray, Tara will come through her procedures ok. God bless and y'all stay safe whatever you're doing.
Hey Chad, the ice maker freezes the "antifreeze" that you used. This type freezes but does not expand until the "burst temperature". Your water lines will freeze i believe around 15 degrees but are protected from expansion up to -50. The downfall is if you need to use the rv urgently in the cold winter months your lines can be frozen and you will have to wait to use the system until the heat thaws them out. I use prestone rv with a lower freeze temp incase i need to use the rv for an emergency.
Good video and not saying anything you did is wrong. But have you ever thought about putting a 500 gallon propane tank in and connecting to the camper. It would be easier the taking tanks to get filled, they deliver it.
Good info. Might add to disconnect solar system if removing the batteries, either by a dedicated solar panel disconnect or pulling the solar panel wires from the charge controller and isolating them with electrical tape.
This is for your viewers Tara. If you go to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The first parking you will come to if you are coming from the west. A small spot that will charge you $20 dollars to park for the day. They will tell you, you can park across the highway for free. Makes it sound like a long way. Go 75 feet, turn left and go straight under the freeway and park. FOR FREE. Only about a 150 yard walk to the visitors center. Found out from a National Park employee that the pay lot is leased from the railroad because it is on their right of way and they can charge whatever they want. PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR FREE, ONLY WALK 150 YARDS TO THE FALLS !!!!!!!!
Chad, I thought the only one that was "food grade" was the propylene glycol....wow! They used to put that in soft ice-cream...and then they removed it for some unknown settled out of court reasons...? Good video guys! Wishing Tara all the best.
In 1976 I used the antifreeze method but haven’t used anything but air since. So that’s a lot of winterizing with absolutely no issues ever. And that includes 2 travel trailers and 7 fifth wheels. I can de-winterize in just a few minutes and about 30 minutes to winterize again. Which is a good thing since I use my camper several times each winter.
One other thing if you have a water pressure regulator on you hoses bring that regulator into you house I’ve ruined two by leaving them in the RV over the winter.
You guys are fun to watch! It was a good idea to have a home base for when health related issues arise. I hope Tara is okay 😊 Always watching from BC Canada 🇨🇦
Chad, what about the lines from your fresh tank/tanks to your water pump. My manufacturer recommends running water pump with empty fresh tank until nothing from air at faucet!
I added a switch in the wet bay so I can turn pump off and on when winterizing. Its easier than running inside to turn off / on pump when antifreeze jug runs low .
@@ChangingLanes Forgot to mention out residential refrigerator has a water dispenser and I can see it turn pink as I run water out of the dispenser. I never bother putting antifreeze in ice maker . I figure as long as the lines going into refrigerator are pink and dispenser is pink I’m good.
Chad, don't forget to back flush your water pump suction line going to your fresh water tank. I just use a cheap hand suction pump to push antifreeze thru that line. I also pump a small amount into the drained water heater, although I know many people that don't do that and have never had an issue.
Just go to a little Beach town in South Florida and you can save a ton of money on heating cost.. I know the perfect little town if you are interested.. I am an old man with arthritis and the cold weather affects my arthritis in a bad way.. I am living out my retirement in the Philippines and married to a beautiful Filipino woman.. we watch your channel because I want to show her the snow in America.. we are planning a trip this winter or next winter for sure.. I am from deep south southern Louisiana so I do not have much experience with snow.. I have worked in areas of the USA like Wyoming and Montana and Alaska and I have had a few experiences with the snow.. when I was young the cold did not bother me but as an old man it does.. I know for a fact in the cold cold climates there are tricks you have to learn to survive and live comfortably in the cold cold areas of the USA.. my wife and I enjoy you showing us and telling us all the little tricks that you know..really enjoy your channel and all of your great information.. thanks 👍👍🍺🍻😎🇺🇸
Hey Chad! I hope you and Tara are well. My question: we are heading to Daytona 24 Hours race from Ohio. Once we get there we de winterize. But then winterize again. Do you think the Dewalt tire inflator is good to blow out water lines? I know you have one
Talk to your local propane dealer and get a 500 pounder tank where they refill it brought to your trailer for the winter alot easier and cheaper then you won't have to worry about changing tanks
Your ice maker should have a button on the bottom that each time you push it, it will cycle your ice maker. Someway between 5 to 10 cycle the ice maker will be winterize. Takes about 10 minutes to winterize our ice maker.
It's always tough to calculate time as it takes much long when filming it. I'd bet I could do this whole thing in about 2 hours. The antifreeze is about $4 a gallon and I used 8.
I have an Atwood tankless water heater, it is NOT sufficient to open the T&P valve and drain the heater. You either need to blow the system out or do not bypass the system and pump antifreeze into it and then bypass it an pump antifreeze through it. Fortunately my heat exchanger is copper and I just soldered the breaks and everything is now fine, but it could have been a $1,300 or so mistake. What I'm saying is be careful.
I winterize our motorhome the same way. As for rodents and one $1700 dollar repair bill because of them chewing a wiring harness I upped the game. Besides peppermint sprays and packers I use the most deadliest poison pellets known to man that will kill “everything”. If the bunny eats them, oh well. You gotta be dirty unless you want thousands in repair bills because of the mouse or cute squirrels.
The problem with Grand Design's piping system is that its a spaghetti mess. There is no standardized layout that they follow, its basically just run wherever its possible to get from point A to point B. You would think they would secure the pex in a well ordered system, so repairs would be simplified and putting less materials in, saving money. Same goes to their electrical lines.
A moment of silence is required for those who are forced to be winterizing their RVs for the season. Fortunately, my winterizing steps are turning a/c off and open windows until @ 3pm, then Windows closed a/c back on.
That might not be just your electric for your RV. Our electric bill on our house has gone up almost 75%. I guess they got to make up for what they lost during the virus days.....
You do want to get your cans out. They have liquid that will freeze. You might have green beans plastered all over things. We remove any liquids like shampoo, liquid soap, hair products or any other liquids. We even remove our first aid kit. Might be a little over kill but…. Our TV says that 4 degrees ruins it, also.
Thank you so very much Chad, very good informative video. It was a blessing.to all who have an RV that puts it into storage in the winter. Really looking forward to the video on your Furrion Tankless upgrade. And last but certainly not least, Prayers for that precious lady of yours; Tara. Please keep us informed. You and Tara be blessed.
Prayers for Tara with her upcoming medical procedures. With you as well Chad.
I think a good thing to do during winterizing your RV is checking exterior seals, especially the roof.
HI CHAD & TARA & THE CUTE PUP ❤
THANK YOU CHAD FOR YOUR INPUT FOR EVERYONE ! BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏ENJOYED ☺️ 🙏 HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR TARA ☺️ 🙏GOD BLESS YOU BOTH & THE PUP ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WINTER SEASON ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏
for you icemaker on most Residential units there is a button on the bottom of the ice maker you can push that will cause it to manually actuate an ice dump cycle. this will draw in Antifreeze when winterizing and you can use the same process when de-winterizing it will dump liquid into the ice bucket but that is an easy clean up.
Great video. Hope everything goes well for Tara. On our Jayco, we have to take the screen/washer that is in the water inlet (where you connect your water hose) and flip the screen backwards to be able to pump from a bucket into the coach. Hope that makes sense...
Been subscribed for yrs. The very first thing I do within the first few seconds of your video's is hit the like button ( thumbs up ). There is no way in the world I would not like one of your video's.
We just got back from a visit to our daughter that just moved to Vancouver, Washington. We are in GA. While she was at work all week, we did the tourist stuff. Saw he on the weekend. Took her and her boyfriend to Haystack Rock on the Oregon coast at the end of a long day of sight seeing along the coast. Was not sure how to get to the rock. My wonderful bride picked a spot to stop. Low and behold, driving up we looked over and there it was. Found a place to park, which is not easy. Glad we were there in the off season. While we were walking up to the stairs that lead down to the water, my bride screamed out OMG. We looked over and saw in the neighborhood next to us 2 Elk walking down the road. We stood there and they crossed the main road along the shore within 30 feet of us. Then came 6 more. We went down to Haystack Rock not even knowing it was low tide. We got to walk all the way to the rock and spend about 30 minutes there. Was wonderful. On the way back to our car down the same road, 3 bulls and more female elk crossed in front of us into a small field in between some apartments. Even the locals were out there taking pictures like that never happens. My bride counted 18 total elk in that small patch of grass. Then the just started crossing the road back in front of us again, some just 20 feet away like we were just a usual event in their day. AMAZING !!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to send you the pics, I would.
Point being, If it was not for you and Tara showing us places to see around America. We would not know the wonderful places to go. All the RV community I keep track of.
I have seen people at Yellowstone get close to wildlife, not a good thing. But, we stood totally still. The bull and other elk looked at us 20 feet away, like someone passing you on the street as to say hello. Just another day. WE did not want to spook them so we froze. It was such a beautiful sight. Me and my daughters boyfriend did get out in the road to stop traffic for the elk to cross. Traffic backed up, everyone was out of their cars. What a beautiful sight for everyone. It was one of those once in a lifetime things that could new happen to me.
We all were holding back tears. Not to mention, how beautiful Haystack Rock is at low tide and a setting sun. OMG !!!!! OMG !!!!!!! OMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK BOTH OF YOU !!!!!!!!!! TARA & CHAD !!!!!!!!! Yes, I put Tara first. Because my BRIDE is always first. Without her, there is no ME !!!!!!
Praying for Tara's upcoming surgery and recovery.
Excellent video Chad!! All the best with Tara's upcoming surgeries and treatments - hope she heals and recovers quickly.
Batteries...I permanently mounted a battery tender. A good Battery tender allows the batteries to go down to a certain value...say 90% and will fully charge and then shut off again. I tried keeping my RV plugged in all winter, but found the constant charging ruined my batteries. Battery tenders are cheap, and easy. My 2 cents. I had a class C, so one battery tender at engine, then another for house batteries. Simple and solved all my long winter Alaskan battery issues, and, cheap on the electric bill.
Thanks for video. My camper has valves on side(not your nautlilus) so mine is quite similar. Pretty easy. I don't have the fridge so easier for me. For my rodent prevention I buy dryer sheets from sams and throw them in every bin drawer and all over the place. Been doing that for 3 years no rodent issues so far. Next to corn fields. I didnt think of the spray for rodents on bottom side. Thanks for the tips!!
Hey Chad, Kevin from BJC RV here. I have a tip, when pumping the pink stuff through the city water inlet, pull out that little cone shaped screen and flip it around and then screw your hose in. That will depress the check valve and makes it a lot easier to get the pink stuff in through the RV. (Then remember to flip it back around when you're done).
Oh, also, the pink stuff does freeze, it just doesn't expand to burst the lines. So maybe your pink ice cubes froze with undiluted pink stuff (but didn't expand).
Been blowing mine out with just air for the past 15 years. I’m in mid Michigan with zero problems
I wouldn't trust that with our style of plumbing.
Very similar 45 foot xlr thunderbolt 413 amp
Too many people doing that and the Furrion tankless water heater will trap moisture. Then they try to claim warranty in the spring. I'd advise if you have a tankless, antifreeze is highly advisable.
@@Itsa_Mea 6 years with tankless and just blow through it and leave it open. With all valves open. No problems
@@joestephan82 you must not have the Furrion like we're talking about and was shown in the video then. Even Lippert & Furrion will tell you to use antifreeze for temps below 34°.
Keep doing it if it works for you, but anyone else that does not want to take the chance and have to replace the $800 Furrion instant water heater in the spring, will use antifreeze.
Great video. Only additional thing I do is keep a few faucets open to ensure the system doesn't build up pressure. Usually belches a little pink stuff first few good freezes. When you do get to de-winterizing, 100% sanitize the entire system while you go to flush out the pink stuff. Great way to ensure you get rid of it all and the system is clean and ready for use.
For the refrigerator in spring. Just let it make ice like normal. The pink antifreeze becomes slushy, but doesn't grow in size.
We love storing our Solitude in the local limestone mine, they store records, old cars, and carnival equipment....temperature controlled at about 56 F year round and don't winterize!!!!! prayers and hugs to both of you and Daisey too! Speedy recovery to Tara!!!
Thoughts and prayers for Tara's upcoming procedures and wishing her a speedy and complete recovery.
I also put Damp Rid container in all the sinks. Just in case there is moisture during storage.
There’s a switch/button inside the ice maker up under there. You press/hold and it’ll run a cycle immediately for 10 seconds to flush water through. You do this 7-10 times to make sure it’s fully filled with antifreeze and shut the ice maker valve in the nautilus bay to off and you’re done.
One note on some residential refrigerators (GE). It may have a filter in the line. It does a great job of filtering out the pink coloring. You will never see pink ice cubes come out of the ice maker. But the ice cubes will look different.
Very organized and systematic. Thank you for this informatilon.
Tara will be in our thoughts and prayers ❤, and as always, a great informational video ,thank you
Thank you for the timely reminder. It is much easier to get RV antifreeze now versus the day before the freeze hits.
The bottom of the ice maker has a button to force the ice tray to cycle through filling and dumping the ice tray. Push the button then close the drawer until it fills again. Maybe 6 or 7 times and antifreeze will appear. Same with de-winterizing in the spring.
Tara, need to ask you. Since we just got back from seeing Crater Lake. It has been on my bucket list of things to see. When we got to our first overlook spot, my bride said. And I kid you not. She said, I THOUGHT THE LAKE WOULD BE BIGGER. Now, I did my homework before hand. The lake is not just a lake, it is a caldera. It is 5 miles wide and 6 miles long. It is just short of 2,000 feet deep. At the time it imploded, it was 4,000 feet higher than it is now. It is so clear that you can see 120 feet deep. It is so blue due to light and that it is only filled by runoff, no outside water coming in from streams, etc. My jaw hit the floor. Like saying I thought the Grand Canyon would be bigger, which we have seen. Good gosh. I thought it was what I thought. STUNNING !!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch your driving. When they say, no shoulder. They are not kidding. You see the white line on the right, another 12 inches. You are off the mountain with a 45% grade or worse.
Mt. Rainier says narrow roads. Not much a shoulder in spots, but those are very few. Had a mid size SUV on the drive, No problem. Even a full size pickup or SUV, not a problem.
Now if you are going from Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge to Horsetail Falls. There is a VERY NARROW BRIDGE between the two, even though they are close. I drove through in a mid sized SUV and passed a mid size SUV. TIGHT !!!! Not sure 2 full size pickup's could fit, rock walls on each side of bridge. I see paint pealing. Horsetail Falls is worth seeing though.
To avoid air in the lines, fill that 5 gallon bucket with a few gals. of antifreeze and put your hose.
Get well soon Tara!
I understand the expense of tanks and the pain of refilling. We installed gas logs in our house 3 yrs ago. Luckly, we did not have to update the flew. Just install the logs. But I did get 2, 70 gallon propane tanks from Tractor Supply at $ 179.00 each. When I we this past winter to fill both of them up. Still had the original stickers on them with the price. The guy behind me asked when I bought them. Said 3 yrs ago, he looked stunned. I asked why. He pointed over to the new ones close to us. They are now $ 249.00 each. OUCH !!!!!
Chad, been using the cheaper stuff and the antifreeze method in several RV’s over the past 50 years, one for 18 years, for the entire winter (northern Minnesota) with no problems on piping or fixtures. Just saying, works for me. I’ve helped a number of friends who blew out the lines and had a little pooling of water in a connection point or the water pump that froze and broke causing a problem when they got ready for a new season…. Thanks for your “how I did it” videos. Hope all goes well for her procedures. 🙏🏼💓
If you're dealing with serious (northern Minnesota would certainly qualify!) cold the antifreeze method (or blow out and antifreeze) is the best. We use our RV all winter, but we rarely see temps below around 20, so blowing out with a heater on in the wet bay has always been fine. I wouldn't trust that at 20-30 below though!
Put Borax under the tires and the jack bottoms. Keeps the bugsbfrom crawling up.
Get well soon, Tara! Hopefully, everything goes smoothly with your surgeries!
Just to add one extra small step to your water heater, make sure you open the pressure relief valve to get antifreeze through there too. I've replaced one the froze and broke there despite pumping antifreeze through the water heater.
Hey Chad! I think leaving all the faucet’s open when done will also decrease the probability of a line bursting as well. Just in case.
Also, send out 🙏🏻 and ❤ to Tara! Hopefully she gets some nice R and R after her procedures!
Chad, Personal experience shows take all cans out if you live in an area the can freeze, I had cans of vegetables blow out in the past due to freezing.
Good tip! I didn't think about that! 👍🏼
Enjoy your cabin
Best wishes to Tara on her upcoming medical
Good to hear your tips and tricks on this subject Chad 👍
Hello Chad, you are so organized! We don't have an RV, just a van and an Indian, still we watched. I hope that Tara's surgery and recovery go well. She's a darling, and so are you. 🙏
We use various rodent deterrents but always add old fashion Victor snap traps around areas of entry. This is how we know if the deterrents are working. We usually get mice in the traps early on, then fewer, then none. The traps help us gauge rodent activity.
I can’t imagine putting any antifreeze in tank you will drink out of. We have winterized campers for 45 years in Minnesota . The latest a 35 foot Montana with a washer dryer. Never a problem . It gets very cold up here.
Great information video chad!!!! You really help people understand exactly how to do things bro!
Chad look at your refrigerator manual for the ice maker test function. They all have a test function this is how I winterize my ice maker . Also works to dewinterize.
Nice video, Chad.
This really looks like the best method.
My wife's great uncle had me help him winterize their rv's for several years. He was always adamant about getting all lines and drains filled with anti freeze. He always said that if you ever have freeze damage, you get a lot better st winterizing.
I pray, Tara will come through her procedures ok.
God bless and y'all stay safe whatever you're doing.
Thanks. This is the first time I'm doing it, too. That was a huge help. I hope your wonderful wife's surgery comes out fine.
God Bless guys. Hope everything goes smooth with Tara’s surgeries.
Hey Chad, the ice maker freezes the "antifreeze" that you used. This type freezes but does not expand until the "burst temperature". Your water lines will freeze i believe around 15 degrees but are protected from expansion up to -50. The downfall is if you need to use the rv urgently in the cold winter months your lines can be frozen and you will have to wait to use the system until the heat thaws them out. I use prestone rv with a lower freeze temp incase i need to use the rv for an emergency.
Thanks for the tip! 👍🏼
Good video and not saying anything you did is wrong. But have you ever thought about putting a 500 gallon propane tank in and connecting to the camper. It would be easier the taking tanks to get filled, they deliver it.
Best wishes to Tara and heal quickly.....God bless you!
Good info. Might add to disconnect solar system if removing the batteries, either by a dedicated solar panel disconnect or pulling the solar panel wires from the charge controller and isolating them with electrical tape.
I had not considered the black tank flush line...thanks for that. Great, thorough job as usual.
This is for your viewers Tara. If you go to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The first parking you will come to if you are coming from the west. A small spot that will charge you $20 dollars to park for the day. They will tell you, you can park across the highway for free. Makes it sound like a long way. Go 75 feet, turn left and go straight under the freeway and park. FOR FREE. Only about a 150 yard walk to the visitors center. Found out from a National Park employee that the pay lot is leased from the railroad because it is on their right of way and they can charge whatever they want. PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR FREE, ONLY WALK 150 YARDS TO THE FALLS !!!!!!!!
Great, thorough video on how you winterize your RV. - Jim & Michelle
Chad, I thought the only one that was "food grade" was the propylene glycol....wow!
They used to put that in soft ice-cream...and then they removed it for some unknown settled out of court reasons...?
Good video guys! Wishing Tara all the best.
God bless you guys with the upcoming surgeries. I was just thinking this. What is it to “winterize” an RV and what does it do??
Ty for the video.
Well Done Sir!
Chad thank you. That was a very informative video on how i did mine. Tara i pray everything goes good for ya.
Only thing I would do differently is to blow out the lines first with an air compressor at about 40 pounds. Then fill with antifreeze.
God Bless you two.
In 1976 I used the antifreeze method but haven’t used anything but air since. So that’s a lot of winterizing with absolutely no issues ever. And that includes 2 travel trailers and 7 fifth wheels. I can de-winterize in just a few minutes and about 30 minutes to winterize again. Which is a good thing since I use my camper several times each winter.
Great video, thanks!!
One other thing if you have a water pressure regulator on you hoses bring that regulator into you house I’ve ruined two by leaving them in the RV over the winter.
Man, its been a while since I watched a video of yours. I see snow, I click like lol
You guys are fun to watch! It was a good idea to have a home base for when health related issues arise. I hope Tara is okay 😊 Always watching from BC Canada 🇨🇦
This year I'm going to put some kind of dehumidifier in the RV
Chad, what about the lines from your fresh tank/tanks to your water pump. My manufacturer recommends running water pump with empty fresh tank until nothing from air at faucet!
I added a switch in the wet bay so I can turn pump off and on when winterizing. Its easier than running inside to turn off / on pump when antifreeze jug runs low .
I didn't show it, but we have a switch in our wet bay. 👍🏼
@@ChangingLanes
Forgot to mention out residential refrigerator has a water dispenser and I can see it turn pink as I run water out of the dispenser. I never bother putting antifreeze in ice maker . I figure as long as the lines going into refrigerator are pink and dispenser is pink I’m good.
Get well Tara
Chad, don't forget to back flush your water pump suction line going to your fresh water tank. I just use a cheap hand suction pump to push antifreeze thru that line. I also pump a small amount into the drained water heater, although I know many people that don't do that and have never had an issue.
Great point! 👍🏼
I use “Fresh Cab” packets probably the same as stay-away packs
Put a screen over the black water outlet to air out your
black water tank
No need to air it out. Small amounts of leftover water on the bottom of those large tanks can freeze with no ill effects.
Just go to a little Beach town in South Florida and you can save a ton of money on heating cost.. I know the perfect little town if you are interested.. I am an old man with arthritis and the cold weather affects my arthritis in a bad way.. I am living out my retirement in the Philippines and married to a beautiful Filipino woman.. we watch your channel because I want to show her the snow in America.. we are planning a trip this winter or next winter for sure.. I am from deep south southern Louisiana so I do not have much experience with snow.. I have worked in areas of the USA like Wyoming and Montana and Alaska and I have had a few experiences with the snow.. when I was young the cold did not bother me but as an old man it does.. I know for a fact in the cold cold climates there are tricks you have to learn to survive and live comfortably in the cold cold areas of the USA.. my wife and I enjoy you showing us and telling us all the little tricks that you know..really enjoy your channel and all of your great information.. thanks 👍👍🍺🍻😎🇺🇸
Hey Chad! I hope you and Tara are well. My question: we are heading to Daytona 24 Hours race from Ohio. Once we get there we de winterize. But then winterize again. Do you think the Dewalt tire inflator is good to blow out water lines? I know you have one
Talk to your local propane dealer and get a 500 pounder tank where they refill it brought to your trailer for the winter alot easier and cheaper then you won't have to worry about changing tanks
I was told our black water flush was a self-draining style. We have never winterized it in at least 2 different campers.
Ours are likely like that also.. But, knowing how the water lines can be run, I feel better using antifreeze.
Your ice maker should have a button on the bottom that each time you push it, it will cycle your ice maker. Someway between 5 to 10 cycle the ice maker will be winterize. Takes about 10 minutes to winterize our ice maker.
Good to know.. we will try that when I de-winterize. 👍🏼
Question: do you ever drink from your tap? The fresh water tank?
Do those filters allow for the fresh water tank to be able to drink from?
Thanks
Hi Chad, Tara, and Daisy
I use a slotted donut cut from a pool noodle to keep my fridge doors cracked open.
You can get 100lb propane tanks
Will you get pink ice or pink antifreeze liquid?
What was the electric cost vs the propane cost?
Wondering how long it took you and how much you spent on this winterization Chad!
It's always tough to calculate time as it takes much long when filming it. I'd bet I could do this whole thing in about 2 hours. The antifreeze is about $4 a gallon and I used 8.
I have an Atwood tankless water heater, it is NOT sufficient to open the T&P valve and drain the heater. You either need to blow the system out or do not bypass the system and pump antifreeze into it and then bypass it an pump antifreeze through it. Fortunately my heat exchanger is copper and I just soldered the breaks and everything is now fine, but it could have been a $1,300 or so mistake. What I'm saying is be careful.
I winterize our motorhome the same way. As for rodents and one $1700 dollar repair bill because of them chewing a wiring harness I upped the game. Besides peppermint sprays and packers I use the most deadliest poison pellets known to man that will kill “everything”. If the bunny eats them, oh well. You gotta be dirty unless you want thousands in repair bills because of the mouse or cute squirrels.
Walmart anti freeve is only $3.00 a gal
Yea.. Lowe's was about the same.
The problem with Grand Design's piping system is that its a spaghetti mess. There is no standardized layout that they follow, its basically just run wherever its possible to get from point A to point B. You would think they would secure the pex in a well ordered system, so repairs would be simplified and putting less materials in, saving money. Same goes to their electrical lines.
A moment of silence is required for those who are forced to be winterizing their RVs for the season. Fortunately, my winterizing steps are turning a/c off and open windows until @ 3pm, then Windows closed a/c back on.
Just blow the water out of the water lines & leave the faucets open
That might not be just your electric for your RV. Our electric bill on our house has gone up almost 75%. I guess they got to make up for what they lost during the virus days.....
You do want to get your cans out. They have liquid that will freeze. You might have green beans plastered all over things. We remove any liquids like shampoo, liquid soap, hair products or any other liquids. We even remove our first aid kit. Might be a little over kill but…. Our TV says that 4 degrees ruins it, also.
The energy industry was much cheaper pre nov5 2020
Hopefully it will be again.