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Old 10-15-2018, 11:21 AM   #1
Robspen66
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Winterizing

How do i winterize a 38" mountaineer.one person told me to run a pump here disconnect there and im frustrated.nesr my fresh water hookup is a hook up for winterizing.dont i hook up a hose to that and turn the pump on i side?these dealers will gladly charge 100.00 to help.the nearest dealer is 70 miles away.any help would be great
 
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Old 10-15-2018, 12:05 PM   #2
Dallas47
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yes. Drain system then run a hose (rv usually comes with a hose with male fitting an no fitting on other end to put in rv antifreeze jugs) from antifreeze jug to connection turn pump on an flush. Takes two to switch out gallon jugs or you have to run ack an forth. I took a water can that had a fitting for a water valve so I could put antifreeze in it then hook up so I could stay inside an flush all.
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Old 10-15-2018, 02:35 PM   #3
BB_TX
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Assuming yours is similar to my Montana (not Mountaineer) and you have a Winterize connection in the convenience center, here is what I do when winterizing.
Start the fresh water tank draining.
Bypass water heater, remove anode rod to drain it.
Turn winterize switch to winterize position.
Pour 4 gallons of antifreeze in a bucket.
Connect a short hose to the winterize connection and drop the other end in the bucket. (I have a hose about 4’ long and set the bucket on step ladder near winterize connection).
Start water pump.
Open one low point drain valve until I see pink stuff and then close valve.
Repeat with other low point drain.
Open outside shower cold valve until I see pink from the hose.
Repeat with hot valve.
Connect outside shower hose to black tank flush connection in convenience center, open one shower valve for 10-15 seconds, then close. (My shower hose has a standard hose fitting, not s spray head)
Go inside and open the kitchen faucet cold valve until I see pink, then close.
Repeat with hot.
Repeat with bathroom faucet and shower.
Hold toilet flush until I see pink, then release.
For clothes washer I set water temp to cold, run washer until I see pink, stop washer, start spin cycle to drain.
Set washer water temp to hot and repeat.
If you don’t have a washer but do have washer connections you need to winterize those lines.
Turn winterize switch back to normal.
4 gallons is typically enough but I am generous with antifreeze do I buy 5 gallons.

Since mine stays plugged in to power in storage so I leave the battery in place and just check water lever periodically.

Your connections and switches may or may not be the same.
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Old 10-15-2018, 03:01 PM   #4
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Awesome thanku
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Old 10-15-2018, 03:29 PM   #5
JABURKHOLDER
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Read a lot of posts about winterizing. Don’t get why so many folks use sooooo much antifreeze. First, I turn on the water heater bypass then I blow out my lines with compressed air at 45psi. Next I hook up my 13” winterizing hose to the winterize port, insert hose into a 1 gallon jug of antifreeze and set jug in convenience center. Go inside and turn on the pump, open shower, sink, kitchen sink, toilet, etc valves one at a time till pink fluid comes out. Then outside for shower and low point drains. Takes less than 1 gallon. The left over I pour into the drains and toilet bowl. The RV sits in outside storage all through northeast Ohio winters. Been doing this routine for the last 13 years on three different units.
Different strokes for different folks.
JMHO
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Old 10-15-2018, 05:26 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER View Post
Read a lot of posts about winterizing. Don’t get why so many folks use sooooo much antifreeze. .....
I suppose it has to do with how a unit is plumbed. Mine will almost suck a gallon jug before pink comes out the kitchen faucet when the cold valve is opened. Repeat with the hot and it takes more than the one jug. Don’t know how those pipes are run, but also takes a long time to get hot water to the kitchen when washing dishes so apparently not the most direct route.
Washer also takes a jug or more to see pink in the washer window for both hot and cold. And I make sure to get enough thru there to get mostly undiluted antifreeze in the P trap since it is otherwise not accessible. Add in the bathroom lavatory, inside shower, outside shower, toilet, black tank flush, and low point drains and P traps and, yes, it takes 4 gallons for mine. Yours apparently is much different.
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Old 10-15-2018, 05:35 PM   #7
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You may have a point about the water lines and how they are plumbed. From my water pump to all the faucets is just a matter of a few feet. (Except the washer hookups)
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Old 10-16-2018, 01:27 PM   #8
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Everyone has there way of doing it. I personally don't mess with the winterizing port at all. Tried it once and it was a pita. I simply put 3 gallons in the fresh tank bypass the water heater and pump it through all fixtures. Done in less that 10 mins. Come spring, I run several tanks of fresh water through the entire system and I'm good to go. Very minimal antifreeze left anywhere if at all.
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Old 10-16-2018, 02:16 PM   #9
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I agree that everyone should do what works best for them. And try different ways to see if one works better. For me the winterizing port works great. And flushing antifreeze out of my fresh water tank would take a long time. My fresh water tank takes a long time to drain. To fill and drain 3 times to get the antifreeze out would probably take an hour.
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Old 10-17-2018, 04:36 PM   #10
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So, its a 3 beer job to drain and fill 3-4 times. Im ok with that LOL
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Old 10-17-2018, 05:26 PM   #11
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So, its a 3 beer job to drain and fill 3-4 times. Im ok with that LOL

you're clearly working to fast, takes me a 6 pack
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Old 10-18-2018, 04:13 PM   #12
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Lol,lol,lol
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Old 10-24-2018, 02:11 PM   #13
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On my M-295RKD Mountaineer, I follow the same process as BB_TX. I typically use 2-to-2.5 gallons in total, depending on how sloppy I am in turning on and off the various spigots. This includes the remaining pink stuff I pour down the drains.

Our unit sits in an open-air storage lot.
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Old 10-24-2018, 02:20 PM   #14
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Someone must have a high volume fresh water fill and a much larger drain than whats on my unit. I could never get it filled and empty three to four times an only be on my 3rd beer.
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Old 10-24-2018, 08:19 PM   #15
Renegade1LI
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I use air first followed by the pink stuff, usually always have twice as much, at 2.50 a gallon it really isn't much of a concern. I always go back & bleed everything a second time cant hurt.
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Old 11-05-2018, 08:36 AM   #16
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Don't forget the pressure regulator

One that bit me last year - I use a Valtera adjustable pressure regulator with a gauge on it. If you forget and leave it in the rig over winter it will screw up the gauge at a minimum and possibly split the body at worst. No way that I know of to get anti freeze up into the gauge tube nor will it just drain out.
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Old 11-05-2018, 11:02 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beeje View Post
Everyone has there way of doing it. I personally don't mess with the winterizing port at all. Tried it once and it was a pita. I simply put 3 gallons in the fresh tank bypass the water heater and pump it through all fixtures. Done in less that 10 mins. Come spring, I run several tanks of fresh water through the entire system and I'm good to go. Very minimal antifreeze left anywhere if at all.

Ditto, then rinse in the spring and good to go. we don't like the taste of plastic water anyway, we bring bottled water and beer. I actually just picked up 4 gallons for winterizing this week.
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Old 11-05-2018, 11:19 AM   #18
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Ditto, then rinse in the spring and good to go. we don't like the taste of plastic water anyway, we bring bottled water and beer. I actually just picked up 4 gallons for winterizing this week.
4 gallons of antifreeze or 4 gallons of beer? :-)
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Old 11-05-2018, 12:06 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER View Post
Read a lot of posts about winterizing. Don’t get why so many folks use sooooo much antifreeze. First, I turn on the water heater bypass then I blow out my lines with compressed air at 45psi. Next I hook up my 13” winterizing hose to the winterize port, insert hose into a 1 gallon jug of antifreeze and set jug in convenience center. Go inside and turn on the pump, open shower, sink, kitchen sink, toilet, etc valves one at a time till pink fluid comes out. Then outside for shower and low point drains. Takes less than 1 gallon. The left over I pour into the drains and toilet bowl. The RV sits in outside storage all through northeast Ohio winters. Been doing this routine for the last 13 years on three different units.
Different strokes for different folks.
JMHO
That is how I do it Chief, and have been for many years. Mine takes about 2.5 gallons; but I'm pretty generous with it.

I don't know if it will help anyone, but my winterizing checklist is attached. Just the way I do it; other methods also work.
Attached Files
File Type: doc Winterizing Montana.doc (99.5 KB, 91 views)
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