Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

Winterizing campers DIY

5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,291
212
North Central Ohio
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.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Looks like the same day last year I did this.
20211101_174257.jpg
 

Smawgunner2

Active Member
1,230
63
Athens County
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.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Valve stem just pressed in?
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.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,739
274
North Carolina
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?
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
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?
Sure? Maybe? I actually made this this summer when my buddy had a leak in his camper. So we pressurized the system and listened. It was easier than chasing the sounds of drips. These underbelly "covers" suck for trying to track down leaks.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting 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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smawgunner2

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
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.
 
Last edited:

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Good thread to bring back up this time of the year. I winterized ours a few months ago when she found a new home. 😢