checklist to winterize my travel trailer

Checklist to winterize my travel trailer how to#
Checklist to winterize my travel trailer cracked#
Checklist to winterize my travel trailer plus#

While the water is draining from the system, open and flush the toilet-flushing valve. Open all drain valves including drain plug or valve on water heater and exterior water service valve.Ĥ. Turn the water pump switch to the ON position to expel water from the storage tankģ. Level the travel trailer from side to side and front to rear. Step-by-Step Instructions for Winterizing Your Airstream Travel Trailerġ. Keep in mind also that – while the main consideration in winterizing your travel trailer is to guard against freeze damage – proper winterization for long-term storage also involves removing batteries, cleaning out cupboards and removing any leftover food or crumbs to help deter pests. Instructions for both methods are outlined below. An optional, additional method involves pumping non-toxic RV antifreeze through the system. The typical process for winterizing begins with draining all plumbing lines and then using an air compressor to blow any remaining water out of the system. Water that remains in the plumbing system can freeze when the temperature drops below freezing, and can potentially damage pipes, valves, and sensitive mechanical equipment. When done correctly, winterizing your Airstream travel trailer removes all the water from the plumbing lines, the holding tanks, the faucets, and water heater.

Checklist to winterize my travel trailer plus#

Read on for the hows and whys of winterization, plus step-by-step instructions for doing it yourself. Proper winterization involves flushing all the water out of your Airstream's plumbing system, and then removing batteries and cleaning out any food that might attract pests. The oral toxicity of propylene glycol-based antifreeze is very low and large quantities are required to cause perceptible health effects in humans.If you're an Airstreamer who lives in northern latitudes where it regularly freezes in the winter months, winterization is an essential process to protect and preserve your Airstream investment. ethanol antifreeze, which can cause damage to rubber seals and washers.

Now you’re ready to fill and hit the road. A final flush can be performed by filling your freshwater tank and running all flow paths and allowing the water to drain on the ground. Make sure to dispose of all antifreeze properly at a service station or mechanic shop and do not pour it down a drain or on the ground. Fill your freshwater tank with about a gallon of water and run all fixtures until the tank is empty. Now make sure your gray water drain valve is open or you have a catch container ready to collect the drain water. When the weather warms up again, you can drain the antifreeze from your freshwater tank. Step 5: In the spring: drain, flush thoroughly, and fill. This will ensure the pump, lines, and fixtures are filled with anti-freeze and prevent issues during cold temps. RV-specific antifreeze is typically pink and relatively easy to see once flowing. Step 4: Turn on your pump/pressure switch and run the faucet and sprayer just long enough to see the color of the antifreeze flowing through.

Step 3: Add just enough RV antifreeze to the freshwater tank to allow the pump to draw antifreeze from the tank.įor a small teardrop camper like the Vistabule, pouring ¼ to ⅓ of a gallon into the 9-gallon freshwater tank is enough. Step 2: Close up freshwater drainĪfter draining the water, close the freshwater tank drain back up and move to step three. For extra protection, blow compressed air through your lines to ensure every last bit of moisture is ejected. Next open all fixtures - faucets, sprayers, showers - to allow as much water as possible to drain out. Gravity is your friend here so the first thing to do is open the drain valves on your freshwater tank and gray water tank if you have one. Here’s a step-by-step guide to prepping your trailer for cold temps: Step 1: Drain water from all tanksĮven a small amount of water left behind in your system can cause cracks when it freezes. We will address fresh and gray water systems here and leave black water systems for the big guys. Larger trailers can include fresh, gray and black water systems including multiple sinks, shower, and toilet. Unlike larger RVs, a teardrop trailer will have at most a freshwater tank and a gray water tank. Teardrop camper trailers are usually easy to winterize because the water system is so simple.

Checklist to winterize my travel trailer cracked#

This is crucial to prevent expensive damage from cracked or burst pipes. The objective of winterizing your travel trailer’s water system is to remove the water and replace it with a small amount of RV antifreeze.

Checklist to winterize my travel trailer how to#

How to Winterize Your Teardrop Trailer Water Pump