Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MOC Technical Forums > Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-09-2015, 09:42 AM   #1
RailroadMike
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 119
M.O.C. #5807
Winterizing

How do I use the freeze guard system on a 3500?
 
RailroadMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 10:10 AM   #2
Tfthorp
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Greenport
Posts: 216
M.O.C. #8571
Talk about being prepared!! I'm still trying to stay cool.
Tfthorp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 10:19 AM   #3
RailroadMike
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 119
M.O.C. #5807
Because of a work situation it has to go into storage and I might not be around to do it. Any help would be appreciated!
RailroadMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 12:09 PM   #4
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Different model, but similar year.

I bought a 10' white fresh water hose and cut it in half (slight angle on the cut). I set a jug of antifreeze on a step ladder near the convenience center and at about the same level to make suction easier. Also where I can see the jug out a window. I connect one piece of the hose to the winterizing connection and drop the cut off end in the jug. Put the water heater switch in the bypass position. I start the pump and go back outside and open a low point drain valve to establish flow, and close the valve when I see pink. Then do the same with the other low point drain. Then back inside and one by one open a valve until I see pink and close it until I have seen pink from every water valve, including shower and toilet and outside shower. I watch the jug out the window to stop before a jug goes empty. Takes about 4 gallons.

Edit: Forgot to mention putting the selector switch in the winterize position before starting pump.

I have a washer/dryer and winterize according to Splendide instructions.

Then I connect a hose from the outside shower to the black tank flush and run antifreeze thru the flush line.

Drain water heater and fresh water tank. Waste tanks also drained.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 12:43 PM   #5
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
If you have trouble with holding suction some folks have had good luck with putting a second washer in the hose so they can get the connection really tight.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 04:21 PM   #6
RailroadMike
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 119
M.O.C. #5807
Thank you very much!
RailroadMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 04:34 PM   #7
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
As Dick said, some had to add a second washer to get a tight connection. If it sucks any air at all it will not suck the antifreeze. BUT. I had the opposite problem. I could not get a tight fit with one washer because it would only allow one or one and half threads on the hose fitting. If I tightened it too tight, the hose just popped off. If I did not tighten it enough, it would suck air. I had to take the washer out and sand it thinner so that I could get enough threads on the fitting to tighten it enough to seal.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:19 PM   #8
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
Railroad Mike, you need to do more than just pump antifreeze through the system. I assume you know that, but in case you don't, you need to drain your water heater. Then put water heater bypass on so you're not filling the heater with antifreeze. Set the anode rod back in. Don't forget to drain the fresh water and low point drains. Also, you might want to consider removing remote batteries. Also, you may want to set mouse traps. And potentially remove the 12v batteries. If you are experienced at winterizing, forgive my intrusion.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 02:32 AM   #9
JandC
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
Don't want to hijack Mike's thread, but this October will be the first time I will have to winterize my Montana. Based on how we used to winterize our motor yachts with similar systems, this was how I had planned on doing it:

Empty and flush all three holding tanks, then close.
Drain and bypass hot water heater.
Unhook from city water and then drain fresh water tank.
Add about 5 to 7 gallons of RV antifreeze to fresh water tank.
Turn on all faucets (one at a time) until pink comes out.
Cycle washing machine to get pink running through it.
Flush toilet until pink comes out.
Make sure all holding tanks are empty.

Is there anyone that winterizes this way, or is it better to suction out of jugs one at a time? I don't mind buying more pink I just want to make sure everything is covered for the winter.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
JandC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 04:16 AM   #10
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
I do not want to have to worry about flushing antifreeze out of the fresh water tank. It drains so slow I don't know you could ever get it all out. Not toxic, but don't want it in the fresh water. That is why I do it directly from the jugs.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 04:50 AM   #11
kdeiss
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
I having been sucking out of the gal bottle for over 20 years I use about a Gal and 3/4 of pink keep in mind do not have a Washer. No need to fill black tank flush line it is self draining do not forget the outside shower if you have!
kdeiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 07:01 AM   #12
Tfthorp
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Greenport
Posts: 216
M.O.C. #8571
Don't forget to put anti freeze in your sink and shower traps.
Tfthorp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 02:17 PM   #13
sambam
Montana Master
 
sambam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Bridgewater
Posts: 1,196
M.O.C. #13166
I can do the camper with no more than 4 gallons, and that is putting a decent amount in the tanks and traps. I do it through the jugs like Bill. If I were to use the fresh water tank, I'm sure I'd need more than 4 gallons. Of course, I don't have the washing machine to worry about although I do run the pink through that line as well. Can't believe I'm talking about this so soon. It'll be that time before you know it.
__________________

2010 Montana 3455SA, Mor/Ryde pin, wet bolts, TST 507, Progressive HW50C, GY G614
2019 Silverado D/A 3500HD LTZ DRW CC
B&W Companion
sambam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2015, 10:57 AM   #14
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by kdeiss

I having been sucking out of the gal bottle for over 20 years I use about a Gal and 3/4 of pink keep in mind do not have a Washer. No need to fill black tank flush line it is self draining do not forget the outside shower if you have!
Here is a picture of my black tank flush line and shower lines after winterizing. As you can see the pink antifreeze did not drain from the flush line. Neither would water.

__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 09:53 AM   #15
biznsa
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 73
M.O.C. #8999
Can someone explain the difference between the Freeze Guard Winterizing System located in the storage area and using the fresh water inlet? Is there a difference? Montana calls it a "no fuss" winterizing system, whatever that means.
biznsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 10:58 AM   #16
vangoes
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Crossville
Posts: 184
M.O.C. #10367
Bill,
I do not think that the water pump will have any suction through the fresh water inlet. The freeze quard valve will switch the pump suction from the fresh water tank to the antifreeze inlet or pickup hose (whichever you have).
__________________
Crossville, TN
2012 3455SA
2013 Ram 3500 Swd
vangoes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 11:49 AM   #17
biznsa
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 73
M.O.C. #8999
Vangoes, does that mean when I connect to the Freeze Guard inlet, I turn the water pump on to pull antifreeze from the jugs? It just amazes me that Keystone doesn't mention a word in their manuals or videos about use of their trademarked Freeze Guard System.
biznsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 12:19 PM   #18
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
When you turn the switch to the winterize position it changes the pump suction from the fresh water tank to the winterize port.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 01:08 PM   #19
biznsa
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 73
M.O.C. #8999
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by BB_TX

When you turn the switch to the winterize position it changes the pump suction from the fresh water tank to the winterize port.
What switch are you referring to?
biznsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-27-2015, 01:34 PM   #20
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
On mine, in the convenience center there is a two position switch labeled "winterize" and "normal" (I think, not there right now) along with the water heater bypass switch (bypass/normal) and battery disconnect switch (off/on).
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Winterizing Twopetes Maintenance 12 12-03-2016 04:23 AM
Winterizing with the pump and winterizing switch? jfaberna General Discussions about our Montanas 23 03-01-2014 03:50 PM
Winterizing??? davidfrafaly General Discussions about our Montanas 13 11-29-2013 03:26 AM
Winterizing Sierra 117 Maintenance 6 12-11-2010 08:57 PM
Winterizing mperk Maintenance 4 09-22-2009 04:58 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.