De-winterizing checklist |
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mountain mist
Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426 |
Topic: De-winterizing checklist Posted: 30 Mar 2011 at 9:28am |
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Hello Podders. Although the weather is still looming, wet and cold, I have been casting an eye at Escape Pod. Like being to early when looking for plants for the garden, I am practicing restraint on getting out too early to camp. Only time to have your pick of any site at Elkmont in the Smokies.
I had been wondering just how to de-winterize, this being my first time.
First, have I heard correctly that the anti-freeze is ok to put in a dump station?
Now, when you have flushed the lines, which holding tank does this go into?
Asking since adding the chemicals to the black tank will have you just dumping them when you go to the dump station.
Now I have to learn all over again how to follow my checklist for getting the thing out of the driveway and on the road. Would have liked a whole year, instead of 4 1/2 months of practice, which was not very many trips off as a newbie with no experience pulling anything, much less the proper care and prochedures to learn. And not running over someone As in many places this year, the creeks are still rising , so probably will wait until May to get serious. Will be gone to Texas for most of April anyway.
I have been reading this site however. Always very good questons and information.
Happy Podding
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'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley |
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 6:34am | |
I took the day off of work yesterday and started looking things over on the camper. As usual, I noticed some cracks in the caulking/sealers and repaired those. It seems that the temperature extremes of winter can sometimes cause cracks. I check around windows, clearance lights, roof, etc. - everything.
Even small leaks can cause big problems, if not addressed.
I also like to check the torque of the wheels several times throughout the season. Aluminum and alloy wheels tend to expand and contract more than steel wheels. This can cause the lug nuts to loosen over time.
It's also a good time to lube things, such as the tongue jack, stair steps, door hinges, etc. A small can of Rustolium semi-gloss black comes in handy for touching up chips on the tongue, frame and steps.
While you're up top, it's good to clean the coil on the A/C unit. Unless it is really bad, compressed air or just a garden hose should do the trick. Don't forget your filter inside, also.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 10 Mar 2011 at 1:44pm | |
Good catch, I've switched things around.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 09 Mar 2011 at 5:21pm | |
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photog
Groupie Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Alberta Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 80 |
Posted: 08 Mar 2011 at 9:11pm | |
That's the way I have always done it.
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Heinrich and Elly
2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab 2010 Prime Time Tracer 205M |
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drdrew
Groupie Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Location: missouri Online Status: Offline Posts: 88 |
Posted: 08 Mar 2011 at 8:01pm | |
My understanding was to flush the antifreeze first THEN switch the water heater valves...is that incorrect??
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172T
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waterlover63
Newbie Joined: 09 Dec 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10 |
Posted: 05 Mar 2011 at 3:55pm | |
Awesome - this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
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Kathy
Southwest Ohio 3 Aussie-dogs (or more when fostering) 11 R-Pod 182G 04 Chevy Colorado |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 at 3:02pm | |
- Make sure the tire pressure is at the max pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire.
- Grease your wheel bearings if necessary. Official word is do this every year, with the few miles put on every year I usually go 2-3.
- Refill propane tank if necessary.
- Reinstall battery if you kept it elsewhere over the winter (storage outside on the tongue is fine and can actually extend the life of the battery as long as you charge it twice over the winter).
- Hook up your hose (white hose not necessary for this, but make sure you use a white hose in camp).
- Make sure the valve near the water pump, used to suck up antifreeze, is set properly.
- Pressurize the water system, then open each valve on the sink, shower and toilet one at a time until they run clear. - Switch all 3 bypass valves opposite of how you kept them over the winter (during the summer the ones on the hot and cold lines should be parallel to the water line, and the one in the middle should be perpendicular).
- Add chemicals as necessary to the black tank, filling with several gallons of water.
- Check/replace the batteries in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.
- Hook up the Bargman connector to your car and check all exterior lights.
If anyone thinks of additions I'll add them.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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waterlover63
Newbie Joined: 09 Dec 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10 |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 at 10:22am | |
My 182G has been sitting forlornly in my driveway for what seems like an
eternity. Okay - so maybe I've been sitting in my house gazing
forlornly at the Pod I'm ready to hit the road and camp, but I'm a checklist kind of person - reduces those OCD moments of checking the locks three times before leaving. I'm looking for a de-winterizing checklist to prepare for my maiden voyage. I'm also interested in beginning/end of trip checklists.
I'm a novice when it comes to travel trailers. I've always tent/car camped and there's a lot to this whole travel trailer gig. I want to get it right - don't like learning things the hard/expensive way |
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Kathy
Southwest Ohio 3 Aussie-dogs (or more when fostering) 11 R-Pod 182G 04 Chevy Colorado |
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