Hello from new R-Pod owners in North Carolina
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Topic: Hello from new R-Pod owners in North Carolina
Posted By: mkolar007
Subject: Hello from new R-Pod owners in North Carolina
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 11:07am
 Hello All. We are happy new owners of an R-Pod 171 we purchased from a friend here in North Carolina. The photo is our only trip so far, to visit our mother in Texas showing our African Gray Congo, Rupert. We have a question on our R-Pod with the winter approaching. Can anyone provide us information on steps to winterize our unit? I found a YouTube video that references a document from a user here, but we have searched with no luck. Any help on this appreciated. Thanks. Mark & Shana Kolar ------------- Mark & Shana Kolar |
Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 12:39pm
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Mark,
You Tube is the right place, at least 3 videos I know of on winterizing. Both with air pressure and antifreeze. The videos are from forum members here. I live in TN and have used air pressure for years, with a small amount of antifreeze in traps and toilet. No issues. Steps are well detailed in videos. Just remember do not overlook anything, like an outside shower or the toilet flush valve. Happy Camping. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 12:44pm
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Mark,
Just checked - did search "You Tube Winterizing a Rpod" Many vids available, again both methods. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 12:56pm
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Welcome. +1 to mcarter, several good videos on winterization. But if you just bought your rPod and live in NC, why not enjoy it awhile longer before winterization? There is a good 6 weeks left, longer if you are near the coast, before it will be typically cold enough to have freezing problems in NC. Just getting down to 32 degrees at night won't cause a problem. I live in the SW VA mountains and I won't be winterizing mine till late November unless there some really unusually cold weather forecast. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 2:23pm
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Welcome and congratulations from another NC RPod owner. It sounds like you are off to a great start. I take it the parrot travels with you. How does he take the travel? I also agree that it isn't too hard. If you live in the Raleigh area, I would be glad to assist with winterizing your RPod.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2020 at 8:58pm
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Welcome to the forum. We are also NC owners and happy to answer questions or help if we can. We have winterized with air and antifreeze-not hard, just takes a little time. the second time is easy. we will be using our Pod for more travel this season, so not ready to winterize yet. We usually do that in late November. Each unit is slightly different, although the valves and tanks are pretty similar. Basically, you need to open all faucets, empty all tanks, empty the water heater, drain the shower hose, and open the low point drains. Once all of the water has drained out, close everything and then blow out the lines with low air pressure,using a blow out plug attached to the city water inlet. Open 1 faucet at a time to make sure that particular line is clear. then do the next faucet, etc. etc until you feel certain that all water has been removed from the plumbing system. Reset (close)the 2 valves(cold in and hot out) to isolate the water heater-you do not want antifreeze in the water heater. There is a short hose that doesn't go to anything-this is the uptake suction hose for the antifreeze.Then you can change the 3rd valve to suck up the antifreeze from a 1 gallon bottle into the water lines. check each faucet to make sure pink antifreeze is coming from the faucet and shut it off. After doing every faucet, add antifreeze to the drain traps of the kitchen sink and bath sink and also to the toilet to keep the seal wet. there are lots of good videos available to give more specific instructions. Good luck and safe travels Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: mkolar007
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2020 at 9:41am
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Thank you Mike. Mark & Shana (& Rupert) ------------- Mark & Shana Kolar |
Posted By: mkolar007
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2020 at 9:42am
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Thank you Vann and all for your response. Mark & Shana (& Rupert) ------------- Mark & Shana Kolar |
Posted By: Mom Dunn
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 5:33pm
| Do you have to use anti freeze? Not big on using chemicals in our drinking pipes. Live in Lexington, Kentucky so not horrible cold winters. |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 5:47pm
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I live in north TN, have not used antifreeze in 5 years. I use pressurized air. Works fine. Excellent you tubes on the process, or I can answer your questions. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 8:52pm
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I also use air to remove the water in the lines. I have used antifreeze in the past, but found air was easier to de-winterize and have had no issues so far in central NC.I add a small amount of RV antifreeze to the drains(kitchen and bath sinks, shower) to keep the P traps from freezing Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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Posted By: mkolar007
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 11:55am
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Thank you so much. I have a pancake compressor so I can do this.
Mark Kolar ------------- Mark & Shana Kolar |
Posted By: Dirt Sifter
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 12:36pm
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Welcome from OR. I live in the cold side of the state; use compressed air in the pipes and antifreeze in the traps. I set the air pressure at 40 lbs to match the recommended pressure in the water pipes - but some on here don't worry about that. Just make sure to have an open line somewhere while the air pressure is running thru, but only one at a time when drying things out. Be safe and have fun! ------------- Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
Posted By: Mom Dunn
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 12:43pm
| Thank you for the information. We both thought that would work ( husband is a plumber, does this all the time) but This is our first camper. I really want to take it south still in winter for a quick trip, but knew we needed to winterize while in Ky. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 8:33pm
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This is our 10th year winterizing our 177 and for the last 9 years we have used air to blow out our lines (northern Michigan). After blowing out lines a total amount of 16 oz. RV antifreeze is used for our shower trap, two sink traps and a little bit on top of the toilet to keep the seal moist throughout the winter. 1 gallon of antifreeze lasts 8 years. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |