Winterizing questions

[runningwriter]

David,

How many years have you been using your method?  

[david]

Less than one year.

David

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Good thought on emptying the pump filter bowl. While you're at it remember the toilet flush valve. I'm not sure which toilet is in the smaller CLs, but my 21 has a foot flush peddle with the flush valve at the base and a short hose up to the rim. The plastic flush valve is NOT freeze resistant. They are also easily available and easily replaced, but not cheap. There are even instructions in the manual on replacing the valve when it freezes. I wonder why!!! Be sure to actuate the flush valve after all water supplies are disconnected and/or disconnect the hose and drain the valve as described in the manual. I can tell you from experience: they freeze and break!  $$ $$
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[runningwriter]

Our toilet is a Thetford Electra Magic.  It is a recirculating marine type toilet.  As such it has its own electric pump.  It must be filled with antifreeze once it is emtied into the black tank, at the end of the season.

 

[runningwriter]

Worked on winterizing the camper today.  Besides the problem that I knew of (no bipass on the water heater), I realized that Livin Lite had left me no means of draining the heater.  The drain was left to simply spill out on the floor under the sofa.  I had to cut a washing machine hose, attach it and drain it through the hole in the floor that accomodates the other hoses.

i must have the first trailer that they ever put a water heater in.  It may be a collector's item.

[mitch]

You do seem to have a bit of an odd duck.  Maybe it was the first camper they ever built.

[nmken]

I was wondering if anyone has a cover for their trailer that has worked out well?  We are buying a 16 TBS, live in a very sunny climate and so mostly want to keep the sun off the trailer.  We have looked at national discount covers and rv covers direct - prices all seem reasonable but as far as a fit to the 7' wide trailer and radius front, the fit seems pretty hit or miss.  Thanks for any suggestions - hopefully just a week away from picking it up!

[daplumbr]

While winterizing/sanitizing the water system, I couldn't figure out why the freshwater tank didn't seem to be draining completely. Then I discovered the tank drain valve well hidden behind the red/blue plumbing drain valves. Oh well. The bad part is that my wife was the one who had me look more carefully and I hate it when she's right.

[david]

All of us guys have that problem ;-). Learn to live with it!!!

David

[ron]

I have a gold line cover I like very much.  It is not water repellant, butch sheds most of the water.it dries very quickly, and has tons of full side zippers that allow me to open them easily to insure that everything inside and out dries very quickly.

 I also built a lightweight PVC contraption with empty milk crates and kids polystyrene noodles (for swimming) that goes on the roof.  Only the noodles  and milk crates touch the roof, and this roof "truss" system keeps the cover off the roof, and allows for airflow under the cover.

It is a pricey gold line cover, $500 for one that fits a 14db, but it would should fit a 16' too.  Amazon.

Good luck

[kodabear]

[quote source="/post/4742/thread" author="@ron" timestamp="1415020429"]
It is a pricey gold line cover, $500 for one that fits a 14db, but it would should fit a 16' too.  Amazon.




[/quote]Link?

[daplumbr]

All in all, I've found tucking the camper in for the winter a fun project. Attempting to outsmart -20 degrees F in the water system, protecting the tires to live to fight another day, and installing screens to keep out the smaller mammals that would love a cozy spot out of the weather as much as I do has been interesting and new as a first-timer. I've kept careful records as part of the whole process of making this addition to our driveway our own.