Chinook RV

We have some freezing temps forecast so I just winterized my rig. This is my first time winterizing, this is what I did and the order performed.

Drain fresh water tank.
Remove anode from hot water tank.
Bypass the hot water heater.
Added a few ounces of anti-freeze to the hot water tank via the anode access and reinstalled the anode plug.
Add anti-freeze to fresh water tank, 4 Gallons of the pink anti-freeze.
Turn on water pump and open all faucets one at a time, including outside shower.
Add anti-freeze to drains and toilet.
I checked all the cabinets for any liquids or anything that might freeze.



I opted for adding the anti-freeze to the "fresh" water tank because I don't ever see using my "fresh" water tank for drinking or cooking. Since I purchased my 98' this year, I don't trust what may have been put in the tank before I purchased it.... I'll only use the fresh water tank for flushing the toilet, and a quick shower now and again.

The concern with winterizing if damage caused by freezing water expanding and bursting whatever it is in. Typically that will be small confined spaces like pipes/lines. Most winterization procedures don't include the fresh water tank or hot water heater because they can be drained and any residual water (ounces) in those large spaces can't cause damage with expansion. The lines, traps, and joints of the water system are important to protect with anitfreeze.

Drain the water heater by removing the anode rod, open the two valves on the floor behind the driver's seat, open the fresh water tank drain on the floor next to the water pump motor. It can take a while to drain the fresh water tank through the small drain valve. Close drains. Put the two water heater supply line valve into storage position. Use a handpump to put the antifreeze into the City Water port (this bypasses the fresh water tank) while someone else opens the bathroom sink faucet (farthest valve in system from input) until pink antifreeze begins to come through. Do this for each side, hot & cold. Open toilet valve untill pink. Do same for bath floor sprayer that comes off the back of toilet (showerhead drains back to faucet so no need for that). Then move to kitchen faucet which should be real quick to do since the antifreeze is already in the supply lines. Don't forget the outside faucet in the service center. Put a few ounces of antifreeze into the bath and kitchen sink drain traps. A Concourse will only need just a little more than one gallon jug of RV antifreeze to do the winterization.

WhooHoo ... Winterized my Chinook Eagle (2004) Monday ... Just in time ... it got into the 30's last night, and still in the low 40's.

As an alternative method I always blow out the waterlines with my compressor and add RV antifreeze to all the traps. Living in a northern climate freezing in the winter is always an issue. In 35 years of owning trailers and motor homes I have never had a broken pipe or supply line.