Newbie question about de winterizing and dumping

[Cynger]

File this under dumb questions Google can't answer lol....

This is our first time de winterizing.

We can muddle through it I am sure lol.... but here is the question:

Where do we do it?

We store our 5th wheel on a site without services. We can't bring the 5th wheel to our home (against the rules). Our first trip is early May at a site that has water and electric services (we drive to the dump station after a 3 day stay). Should we book a full hook up site for the first outing so we can dump the antifreeze pink stuff?

I am sorry this sounds so dumb.

Thanks!

[AZ Traveler]

Just dump it into your gray and black tanks. You have plenty of capacity and its just a few gallons plus flush water.

[Derby6]

You can do it anywhere. Parking lot if needed.
Lots of way and you can search on here for procedures, air, pink antifreeze, or both.

I just use pink stuff.
Get rig ready to go and do final gray/Black dumps, rinsing as best you can.
Close dump valves.
Disconnect from water and drain fresh water holding tank.
Release pressure from lines, especially hot water heater. (I catch water in a pan and dump outside.)
Drain hot water heater.
Bypass Hot water heater.(This procedure varies based on year and model)
Drain lines at lowest point if possible.
Find water pump lever that controls from fresh water holding tank to winterize. (This procedure varies based on year and model)
Hook hose from 2nd water pump hose (likely in place) or marked area where it states winterize in to pink jug.
Close all open lines you opened to drain/release pressure.
Turn on water pump.
Go to lowest or furthest point and open cold. (If going in to a tank, I catch water in a pan and dump outside.) Once it turns pink let run a few seconds into drain. Switch to Hot and do same thing. NOTE: You will get immediate pink, then water and then back to pink.
Continue to do above step at each and every sink, faucet, toilet, bath, shower, Washer, etc. Don't forget Washer and outside shower. You will have to switch out pink jugs 1-2 times as this will likely take 2-3 gallons.
Once ALL the lines are full, turn off water pump. Open several or all the faucets, showers, toilet, etc to release pressure. (I don't leave them open).
Take remaining pink stuff and dump enough to fill all the P traps and will get some in gray and black tanks. I use a fourth gallon for this.
Wipe out sinks and showers and see ya in the spring.

In spring simply put some water in the fresh water holding tank.
Find water pump lever that controls from fresh water holding tank to winterize. and put back to fresh water.
Turn on pump and rinse the pink stuff out of all the lines.
Un-Bypass Hot water heater.
Continue to use on pump or reconnect and switch to regular water.

[Daryles]

Yes, first trip out I would go to a full hook up site and dewinterize. You will have water to flush the pipes and sanitize (look it up) the freshwater tank and system. Let it sit overnight then flush it out where you have a sewer hookup. For us it takes about 3 tank fulls of freshwater to get rid of the chlorine smell. Maybe do it at your first overnight stop on the way to your Campground.

[MandK]

We do the same as above. We stay the first night heading south at a koa in southern Virginia that stays open until mid December with fhu. Not necessary but easier.

[Gonefishing]

If you can’t do it at home then do it at the first camp ground you stay at. It’s an easy task. Hook up to fresh water. Open all the faucets and let them run till the water is clear. Once clear put your rod back in the water heater and turn the bypass. Your good to go

[DutchmenSport]

We travel back and forth between (home) - Indiana and the Southern States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana), back and forth over the winter months.

When traveling "South" we are usually winterized. We'll select a full hook-up site once out of the freeze zone states and unwinterize. This stop is usually just an overnight on our way to our destination. Once we reach our destination, we are already good to go.

On the return (if it's still freezing in Indiana), we do it just the opposite. We travel to the farthest destination North that is still NOT in the freeze zone and winterize. Then finish our trip home.

Fortunate for us though, we park our camper on our own property (country) and have no issues dumping grey water on the ground. For Black Water, we have a septic tank system and I transport the black tank contents using my Blue Barker Sewer Tote since the septic tank system is too far from where the trailer is parked to septic tank.

[twindman]

Sorry I just can't resist! Just move here to AZ and forget about winterizing and de-winterizing! LOL

[BuckandTeresa]

Oh, but then you have to cut another hole in the ceiling and add a third oversized air conditioner!����

[AZ Traveler]

We have cool mountains for the summer.

[MandK]

I just need her to give up that big Thanksgiving shindig at the homestead before heading south. I’m working on it. We don’t go back till it’s safe.

[ReneT]

I would just dump it on the ground while you are flushing the lines with fresh water. The pink stuff is bio degradable and it won’t hurt anything from what I’m told