Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: poolenglish on August 31, 2014, 04:45:19 pm

Title: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: poolenglish on August 31, 2014, 04:45:19 pm
Does anyone know how I can get the rv antifreeze in the fresh water tank on mu U225? should I pour it thru the overflow under the hood? thanks again!..... just trying to be prepared.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: cwickham on August 31, 2014, 04:55:37 pm
It is not necessary to put RV antifreeze in your fresh water tank. Take the inlet hose off of your water pump make up a 3 or 4 foot hose with a 90 degree elbow on it attache where the inlet hose connects the other en will go in your RV antifreeze jug turn on your water pump it will suck the antifreeze to all of your faucets. I can walk you through the whole process if you would like.I do several a year for people here in Illinois.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Carol Savournin on August 31, 2014, 04:59:36 pm
Uhhhh.  Don't think you want antifreeze in your fresh water tank.  Just drain the fresh water.  Leave the spigots open all over the coach and use an air line to blow compressed air into your entire system.  It will blow all the water out of the lines. You can then put antifreeze into the traps in the drains, the toilet, etc.  Someone here has a detailed, step by step list, I am sure.  There is a handy part that lets you attach the air line easily. OR ... you can use your water pump, as the last poster said ... or both.  Don't forget to take off the extra filter for your drinking water (under the sink) and shut off the water feed to that dispenser and your ice machine (assuming yo have one).  Just keep asking questions!!  That is why we all look at these posts, and we have ALL asked exactly the kind of thing you are asking now!
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: poolenglish on August 31, 2014, 05:17:05 pm
thx wickham, I forgot about that... using the pump!  will do, I hope it will get the icemaker too. I will blow out afterwards.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Tom Lang on August 31, 2014, 05:45:13 pm
Foretravels were designed to be winterized by being driven south.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: D.J. Osborn on August 31, 2014, 06:03:59 pm
Foretravels were designed to be winterized by being driven south.

We definitely hope to "winterize" ours that way at some point in the future!
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: John Haygarth on August 31, 2014, 06:07:53 pm
I would not put it in the ice machine either. I do not put any anti freeze in the system just the drains and toilet. I attach an air line to city water hose connection and put it at around 30lbs pressure then blow out all lines one at a time and of course use the low point drains too Do it twice to catch all condensed air and you will be fine. We had a cold winter here and our lake froze up but the coach did not. If you have 120v power handy it is nice to put a small heater in lower bay by tanks and leave that on as it will move around a bit and also migrate up to living area.
JohnH
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on August 31, 2014, 07:53:33 pm


I found this somewhere a couple years ago.  A Foretravel specific winterizing guide.  I think the author is Joseph Alford.

Roger

This is a pdf on winterizing your Foretravel

Roger
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Kemahjohn on August 31, 2014, 07:58:25 pm
Yep, move to Texas and you wont have to pay state income tax OR winterize your RV.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Michelle on August 31, 2014, 08:04:50 pm
Yep, move to Texas and you wont have to pay state income tax OR winterize your RV.

Unless you're in the DFW area like us.  We winterize every year.  Drain all the tanks first, then pull the potable pink antifreeze into the fresh system using the water pump, opening both hot and cold of each water supply until pink comes out..  The AquaHot and Splendide require antifreeze vs. blowing out (and I suspect the Vacuflush prefers it, too)

It's really not that big a deal.  We try to do it before it gets too cold and windy.  We use about 6-7 gallons total and it doesn't take that long.

That said, we are thinking about relocating a little further south in Texas and finding a winter home base with heated, indoor storage/living for the coach and us.  Just need to find a nice barndominium or house with RV garage with shop space for Steve....
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: D.J. Osborn on August 31, 2014, 08:44:09 pm
Unless you're in the DFW area like us.  We winterize every year.  Drain all the tanks first, then pull the potable pink antifreeze into the fresh system using the water pump, opening both hot and cold of each water supply until pink comes out..  The AquaHot and Splendide require antifreeze vs. blowing out (and I suspect the Vacuflush prefers it, too)

It's really not that big a deal.  We try to do it before it gets too cold and windy.  We use about 6-7 gallons total and it doesn't take that long.

We did that, too, except for last year when we had it in heated storage. It is definitely best to use the pink antifreeze rather than hoping the blowing-out-the-lines method will be sufficient.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on August 31, 2014, 09:24:05 pm
6 gallons of RV antifreeze - less than $25.  A lot cheaper than replacing plumbing or a leak you can't easily see due to a frozen line.  Once our tank and water lines are drained it takes less than an hour to remove the filters, fill the water lines and traps with antifreeze and be ready for winter.  When we are in a warmer place or time it takes no more time than that to flush everything out and be ready to go.

-18° when we left last Minnesota winter.  Flushed system and filled lines in Alabama.  Better safe than sorry no matter where you are.  My RV barn (as nice as it is) is not heated.  Even if it was I would still winterize. 

Roger
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: sedelange on August 31, 2014, 10:37:11 pm
I feel so spoiled.  I don't think I reached freezing here last winter.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on August 31, 2014, 11:34:31 pm
Me too,  we have Foretravels.

We are out of here in the first week of January for 4 months.

Roger
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Tom Lang on September 01, 2014, 12:30:34 am
I feel so spoiled.  I don't think I reached freezing here last winter.

Same here, although it occasionally drops into the high twenties for a few minutes.  Never any frozen pipes.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: John S on September 01, 2014, 07:06:40 am
You need to winterized the ice maker and the washer if you have them. The pump will pump it then do not forget the fresh water fill either.  It is not hrd as I did it for years but now have a building.
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Kemahjohn on September 01, 2014, 07:48:25 am
Just in case I ever go north of I-10, where do I find the pink antifreeze-- what brand etc?
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: Michelle on September 01, 2014, 08:15:44 am
Just in case I ever go north of I-10, where do I find the pink antifreeze-- what brand etc?

Camping World, Walmart in the RV section, RV dealers.  Camco is the likely brand.  Comes in a round gallon jug. 
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: John S on September 01, 2014, 09:55:19 am
I cut my tube connected to the water pump on an angle and just push it in the top.  Also, you can put the hose on with a y valve and always have it connected too. 
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: TAS69 on September 01, 2014, 05:29:24 pm
Foretravels were designed to be winterized by being driven south.
Giddy Up!!!
Title: Re: winterizing my U225- where do i put the rv antifreeze in?
Post by: krush on September 01, 2014, 09:50:28 pm
How do ya'll do the ice maker and filter? The icemaker runs through the filter, right?