Winterizing your RV

At first thought, you may think the best time to go travelling in an RV rental is in summer; endless days by the beach, driving along with the window down and wind whisping through your hair and barbeques at sunset, enjoyed next to the comfort of your motorhome, await you.

However, to some, the thought of snuggling up in your homely RV on a chilly winter's night, may sound just that little bit more appealing than pitching a tent in the blistering cold.

Preparing your RV for a winter trip is often referred to as "winterizing" your vehicle. It is a process of ensuring your vehicle will be able to handle the cold, so that enough heat is emitted to keep you nice and warm when the temperature drops.

The process is not too complex, but it does involve quite a few steps, so be sure to pay careful attention to ensure that it is done properly.

Before you get started you will need to drop in at your local RV parts store and pick up a few supplies, including:

Non-toxic RV antifreeze
A water heater by-pass kit
A wand to clean out holding tanks
Water pump converter kit
Some basic hand tools to remove drain plugs

All these tools are essentially for winterizing your RV's water system, and will ultimately prevent it from freezing. From here on in, it is a step-by-step process that will vary, depending on the type.

If your RV is equipped with an inline water filter, be sure to remove and bypass it before starting.
Drain the fresh water holding tank.
Drain and flush the gray and black holding tanks. To do this manually, use either the wand or a cleaning product such as Flush King, which can be used in both the black and gray tanks.
The water heater also needs to be drained. Do this by removing the drain plug and opening the pressure relief valve, BUT be sure never to do it while it is hot or under pressure.
Open all hot and cold faucets, including the ones for the toilet and outside shower.
Locate and open the low point drain lines for both the hot and cold systems. Using the water pump will help force water out, but turn it off as soon as the system is drained.
Recap all drains and close all faucets.
By-pass the water heater.
Install a water pump converter kit, or disconnect the inlet side of the water pump (the line coming from the fresh water holding tank). Connect a piece of clear tubing to the inlet side of the pump and put the other end into a one gallon container of non-toxic RV antifreeze.
Turn the water pump on and pressurize the system. Starting with the closest faucet, slowly open the hot and then cold valves until antifreeze appears. Replace the antifreeze container as required.
Repeat this process on all faucets from the closest to the farthest away, including the shower.
Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears.
Turn the water pump off and open a faucet to release the pressure. Go outside to the city water inlet. Remove the small screen over the inlet and push in on the valve with a small screwdriver until you see antifreeze. Replace the screen.
Pour a cupful of antifreeze down each drain. Pour a couple of cups in the toilet and flush into the holding tank.
Finally, make sure all faucets are closed.

Congratulations! Your RV is now winterized!