Winterizing
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2901
Printed Date: 02 May 2024 at 5:19pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Winterizing
Posted By: Brigs
Subject: Winterizing
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2012 at 7:13pm
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Had anybody found or have a video of how to winterize the rpod. I know there are written instructions but I feel more comfortable with learning visually ------------- 2012 Ford F150 FX4 2011 Rpod RP176T |
Replies:
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2012 at 8:14am
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Come on now. It's just now getting into the camping season. No talks about winterizing already. :)
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Brigs
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2012 at 9:47pm
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Well being in the army they decide when I have to close up shop early, so I guess the next question is,
Do I have to use a blow out plug on the city water line, or can I just draw the coolant into the system? I don't have access to an air compressor and I'm running seriously short on time ------------- 2012 Ford F150 FX4 2011 Rpod RP176T |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2012 at 10:20pm
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I never use a blowout I just draw antifreeze until the water runs pink out of all the taps and the toilet flush. I also open the low point drains to make sure the water is out of there as well.
. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Brigs
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2012 at 11:18pm
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So by low points do you mean the 2 just behind the axle near the hot water tank or those 2 plus the fresh water tank? ------------- 2012 Ford F150 FX4 2011 Rpod RP176T |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 6:35am
Yes that's them all 3. While you mention it you need to drain the hot water tank and leave the the plug out. I also leave the drain plug on the water tank out. Don't worry if there is a little water left in the fresh water tank it won't hurt anything. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 8:49am
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Brigs, thank you and your family for your service to our country. God Bless. ------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 9:48am
 His profile says that Brigs is in Alberta so that is probably service to our country. Oh well we are allies. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 10:25am
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We are all in this together. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 11:24am
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Full instructions found in the first item on this list: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723&title=creating-an-instruction-maintanence-manual - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723&title=creating-an-instruction-maintanence-manual With no compressor and/or the blow-out plug, one alternative is to do the rest of the winterization first. You may need to use a little extra antifreeze to ensure you have displaced all of the water. Once the system is full of antifreeze carefully remove the screen on the city water connection, you can then press in the one-way valve with your finger. That should allow antifreeze to escape to displace the water in that connection. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 11:45am
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We're still in the camping mode here, however winterinzing has been on my mind. Our winters here in Portland, OR are usually relatively mild. Just a few days below 32 degrees. I have our Rpod parked in our front yard with an electrical connection to the house. I'm planning to keep the ceramic heater set to about 50 degrees during the winter and I believe that should do it without having to add anti-freeze to the system. Curious if anyone else agrees with me. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 12:26pm
| If it works for a house, it should work for the pod too. I would make sure all the tanks are empty though, since they're not insulated. |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 12:38pm
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Which brings up another interesting question. Since ice expands in volume, and the tanks would not be more than one third full, let's say, wouldn't I still be safe if they do freeze and the ice just climbs up in the tank with lots of expansion room? Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:21pm
Before you do this step (should be the very last step in winterizing as far as I'm concerned), turn on a faucet for a second to relieve the pressure in the system, then turn the faucet off, then proceed with this step. You don't want pressure in the sytem when your press that "tit".
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:29pm
. Unfortunately the expansion is in more than one dimension. In the case of the tanks it would also expand in width and length and possibly break the tank or damage the frame/mounting hardware. This is why food containers that are approved for freezer use have slanted sides. It allows the frozen material to just rise up as it gets wider. Ice cube trays use the same approach. If your ice cube trays had straight walls it would just shatter the tray when the cubes got wider.You can have a very small amount of water at the bottom of the tank (fraction of an inch) and it should freeze and expand without harm because it's not confined in any dimension.
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 1:40pm
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Wow. Had no idea. Now that I think about it, I do recall that ice cube trays have slanted wall, but never gave a thought as to why. Live and learn. Well, will have to be diligent and empty both tanks before retiring the Rpod for the winter. Thanks so much for that info. I thought I was home free. Hope that helps others, too. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 3:14pm
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I mention this in step 16 in the link I gave, above. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Brigs
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 5:38pm
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Seanl and this_is_nascar
While yes I am canadian, I just came back to canada after being deployed with 10th mountain division (ny state) for a year in Afghanistan, and the year before that I was in ny state in fort drum with 10 mountain. So I guess I can say it was a fun 2 years working with the US army. ------------- 2012 Ford F150 FX4 2011 Rpod RP176T |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2012 at 5:49pm
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As was said before: thanks for your service. We appreciate it! ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 7:16am
US or Canada, I don't care which country you fought for. You and your family have scacraficed for the benefit of others. For that, I say thank you.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 7:56pm
Amen ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: The E Train
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 9:04pm
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+1 !!!! ------------- "What happens in the POD, stays in the POD." 2002 Dakota (pulling a) 2012 R-Pod 176T |