This is my chore next weekend. We may use it one more time this weekend. Already looking forward to next year and our first full camping season with it!
Winterizing campers DIY
- Thread starter giles
- Start date
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What do you do when the slide derails and rips a three-foot gash in the bedroom wall.
Dave: "Nothing you can do but hold the button and listen to the money pop and crack"
Dave: "Nothing you can do but hold the button and listen to the money pop and crack"
Yikes......sorry to hear that dave.
Think of the black tank as a bucket. You always want to clean the bucket so the remaining solids don't dry out and accumulate. Everytime you flush, run it for 10secs extra to get a little extra liquid in each time, helps with smell and allows for a more thorough drain. Figure put a way to have 5 gals or so left in the H2O tank to use to flush/rinse at dump station with the valve open. Then close and add deodorizer and put 3-5gallons in it to keep the bottom wet. Think about how clean porta John's work. Lastly, the dump valve is usually the first thing to fail. Keep it clean and lubricated and life is good.
That said, for the cheap cost of of rv antifreeze, I dump a couple gallons into the black tank for winter storage.
Think of the black tank as a bucket. You always want to clean the bucket so the remaining solids don't dry out and accumulate. Everytime you flush, run it for 10secs extra to get a little extra liquid in each time, helps with smell and allows for a more thorough drain. Figure put a way to have 5 gals or so left in the H2O tank to use to flush/rinse at dump station with the valve open. Then close and add deodorizer and put 3-5gallons in it to keep the bottom wet. Think about how clean porta John's work. Lastly, the dump valve is usually the first thing to fail. Keep it clean and lubricated and life is good.
That said, for the cheap cost of of rv antifreeze, I dump a couple gallons into the black tank for winter storage.
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
- 9,497
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Best way to take care of them is NOT BUYING A FUCKING CAMPER! Fuck a camper, better to have good friends that own one.
I talked to the dealer last Thursday, they don't want to cover the slide. I will call the manufacturer tomorrow.
I'm winterized. Low of 27* tonight, I wasn't taking any chances.
I'm winterized. Low of 27* tonight, I wasn't taking any chances.
Looks like the same day last year I did this.
Smawgunner2
Active Member
Excellent write up. My cabin has a rain barrel and the water system is exactly what RVs have. Where did you buy that nipple? Gotta run to Lowe's today, I'll look for one.
Sorry, a little side tracked.
It is a brass plug that I drilled out and then tapered the edges with a larger drill bit. I then applied dish soap to a standard valve stem that I had in an old off-road kit. It worked pretty easy. But the original way with the yard sprayer ain't bad either.
Next year I might try and find one of those lock on style (with the release trigger) air fillers. I could make this a one man operation that way.
I will also add that I was a little concerned about pressure. So I dialed my air down to 40 psi.
Would removing the valve stem “core” be of any help. That way push air then remove hose too relieve it? That is if what’s in it doesn’t come back out at you?
Smawgunner2
Active Member
Did the garden sprayer deal work well? I’d rather not lug my compressor down there. The white nipple thing is what I’m trying to find.
Oh, gotcha. Yes, any hardware store should have it. I went with Brock a year or two ago to build the set up. Walked in a You-Do-It, opened the box for a sprayer and built it on the spot. Went to the counter and cashed out. Pretty simple really.
Having spent over half a year for the last 12 years living in these things (year round) for work. We wrap the gray and black drain pipes in heat wrap so fluids and traps don’t freeze. Also when a unit will be down for a week or so in the winter, we also dump a Cup or two of windshield washer fluid down the sink and shower to fill the trap. ( the u shaped pipe under the sinks an tub/shower. ) as well as winterizing as mentioned above.
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Good thread to bring back up this time of the year. I winterized ours a few months ago when she found a new home. 
Currently in route to RK for antifreeze and some new storage totes to accomplish the same.