Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Winterizing

September 07, 2017, 11:18:29 am

This is the first year that I'll be winterizing my coach. I'm not too concerned with most of the water and drain lines,however I am not sure about the water lines to the washing machine. Can someone instruct me as to the best way to ready it for winter?

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Re: Winterizing

Reply #1 – September 07, 2017, 12:49:21 pm

  Hello Tom,
    If you have the Splendide WD2100XC model --we follow their winterizing procedure and it is working well for us.

      http://www.splendide.com/QR-RV_2100XC_QuickOp_Winterize.pdf
 
                                  JIm

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Re: Winterizing

Reply #2 – September 07, 2017, 12:52:57 pm

If you have a washing machine or AquaHot, you need to winterize with the pink stuff and make sure the potable antifreeze is pulled into both hot and cold lines and gets pushed through and into drain lines.  To do this, you need to suck the antifreeze into the lines and doing a fill that uses both hot and cold water, then draining it.  We recommend doing so twice, and usually did it as the last thing after winterizing all the other faucets and water lines.

All due respect to Westland Sales, but if you follow their procedure it seems like all you're doing is protecting the drain, not the coach fill lines going to the machine.

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Reply #3 – September 07, 2017, 01:11:44 pm

Thanks for the valuable info!

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Reply #4 – September 07, 2017, 02:23:02 pm

Am I the only one who has had such a stink from the pink antifreeze getting into my water heater? I think it was on my boat and it has been so long ago I almost forgot about it...

Jim

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Reply #5 – September 07, 2017, 02:28:29 pm

Works fine for me and no stink.

There have been a few winterizing tips shown on here over the years.  I have used "Roger & Susans" system and it works well.  It takes about 5 1/2-6gals of the pinks stuff to do the job properly/well. That is for a 40ft 2001,U320 with Aquahot but no WD.

Speedbird 1.

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Reply #6 – September 07, 2017, 02:40:05 pm

I have experienced it and have a friend that has also. Both were with boats. Think friend replaced heater and I finally rinsed mine.

Jim

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Reply #7 – September 07, 2017, 02:50:38 pm

If a coach is being winterized without bypassing a propane hot water heater, 10 gallons of potable antifreeze will be needed just for the heater.

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Reply #8 – September 07, 2017, 03:52:14 pm

I just googled "stink in water heater from pink antifreeze".  Evidently I'm not the only one that has experienced it...

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Reply #9 – September 07, 2017, 04:40:42 pm

Tom, here is a pretty good all purpose winterizing guide.  It only takes an hour or so and maybe $20 worth of pink stuff.  Much cheaper than a water line failure due to freezing.

I use 15-20 psi compressed air to blow out everything first and then suck in about 6 gallons of the "pink stuff" (RV antifreeze) until it comes out of every faucet  and water line drain, both hot and cold.  The ice maker and washing machine need special attention.  The washing machine connections in our coach is under a panel in the floor of one of the closets.

I catch everything that comes out of the drain lines and put a couple cups in every drain.

There are no second chances on this in MN, no shortcuts.

Others can give you more details on the washer dryer.

Roger

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Reply #10 – September 07, 2017, 04:49:29 pm

Basic one I designed for my RV customers. Of coarse other accessories need further attention. This is just simple stupid. Blowing out is not required, as the anti freeze will push all the water out. If you have compressed air, it certainly doesn't hurt.
Probably winterized a 1000+ coaches, never had an issue
As a FT tech, we had a cart with a 30 gallon RV water tank full of anti freeze, and 12 volt battery with a RV water pump. We pumped it in the city fill. Took care of everything. I have done a similar thing in the field when I couldn't hook up to the water pump.Just used a RV pump and hose with my screw gun battery. Any coach that doesn't have a WH bypass valve, I install a basic one for the job, then take it out.
Cheers

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Reply #11 – September 07, 2017, 05:42:40 pm

Jim, here is what I did to remove that godawful water smell from the water heater.
I filled the water heater with (6) one gallon jugs of 5% vinegar and water. Then I turned on the water heater propane for 24 hours. This "cooked" the water heater insides clean. Removed my faucet screens and then flushed the vinegar solution.
(by the way, that 5% vinegar will kill weeds & grass so either catch it or make sure you don't get it on anything you want to live)
I let the fresh water sit overnight and then ran all faucets and the water pump several days in a row. The vinegar smell & taste will gradually clear up and you will have good smelling(?) water,
I did get some brown colored water a few times but then it cleared up.

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Reply #12 – September 08, 2017, 07:57:28 am

I think it is only a problem if the pink stuff is heated...

Jim

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Reply #13 – September 08, 2017, 09:22:04 am

I never heated the pink stuff, but the smell got gradually worse over five years until I couldn't stand it anymore. Watched the solution on Youtube, tried it, and it worked!
Apparently the scale buildup on the heater walls is what causes the odor. Bleach or hydrogen peroxide merely sanitizes the system.
Our water heater is now 28 years old and who knows how the coach/heater was stored or used. It did sit (I was told) in storage for about 10 years.
So, all I really know is the water stunk BAD, and now it doesn't.
Our water heaters have an aluminum wall and do not have the sacrificial anode rod, mainly because it is not needed with aluminum walled heaters.

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Reply #14 – October 25, 2017, 04:49:59 am

We have our first freeze forecast for this Friday. I have a pretty full fresh water tank. What is the easiest way to empty it if my RV is on safety stands and no seats installed? DW says to just turn the water faucets on, fill the gray tank, and dump it (mostly fresh water anyway) in the back yard.
 
I want to avoid having to empty the water lines into a five gallon bucket and carry it to the driveway. I usually do that after I drain the tanks. This year is different.
 
Hey, if I use the water fill hose, remove the end plug, and turn the pump switch on instead of the fill switch, will it pump water out the hose? With fingers crossed, I await your knowledge.
 
Thank you,
 
Trent and Jean

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Re: Winterizing

Reply #15 – October 25, 2017, 05:23:52 am

Tulsa Trent, You have a fresh water drain valve to empty the fresh water tank, it is right next to the cold and hot low point drains by the water pump.  See Rogers "Winterizing Your Foretravel" in PDF format above.

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Reply #16 – October 25, 2017, 08:44:41 am

I took an old hose and cut two pieces off so they were about 6" long. I then fit them over the short drain hoses that stick thru the floor of the coach. I can either place a pail under the hoses or slip a hose over a repair connector (one of those plastic double ended hose repair thingees you get at a hardware store). I then can drain the water from the coach thru the hose out into the street or the lawn, or use a pail. Works slick!

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Reply #17 – October 25, 2017, 09:17:40 am

I have a 5 gallon bucket with the top 6 or 8 inches cut off that slips under the drain points on the coach when it is at its normal height.  I put in a hose connecton on the side and with a short hose I can drain the coach tank and lines and water the lawn or garden. 

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Re: Winterizing

Reply #18 – October 26, 2017, 09:31:45 am

If you need the water to go someplace that gravity alone won't take it, you can connect a garden hose to the outside wet bay faucet, and use your onboard water pump to send it wherever you desire. 

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