| How cold is too cold? [message #298354] |
Wed, 30 March 2016 20:37  |
Dan
Messages: 99
Registered: August 2014
Location: Allentown, NJ
Karma: 0
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We enjoyed some early spring camping in Lancaster County PA last week, despite almost running out of gas on the way home  . My question is weather I should winterize my coach again? We are expecting some freezing over nigh temps in the next 10 days. I am leaning towards saying the coach will be fine as is since the number of hours it will be below freezing is low, but I defer to the wisdom of the board.
Dan
Dan DeLuca
1978 Eleganza II (http://imgur.com/gallery/YFHhK)
Parked at Evil Monkey Farm in
Allentown, New Jersey
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298361 is a reply to message #298354] |
Wed, 30 March 2016 23:45  |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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Drive it to work and back (if you can) and it will be warm enough to spend the night in 30 degree weather with no high wind exposure. If the daytime temp does not rise over freezing and the parked RV gets no sun, clear the lines or just put one of those oil-filled electric radiator heaters inside. The low setting on mine keeps the GMC (parked in the north wind) at about 46 degrees inside when it's less than 30 outside. I put the heater in the rear near the water tank and open the bathroom door and it keeps that rear compartment really nice, nice enough to sleep back there with just that heat source. The 46 degree reading was up on the dinette table when there was frozen snow on the outside.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298370 is a reply to message #298354] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 02:52 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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I am with Emery on this one. Anytime it is going below 30F for more than a couple of hours, I start worrying and winterize. I have had to fix a couple of frozen lines in the past and they never break where it is easy to get to.
I just blew out the lines in mine today because of the projected cold snap. I am leaving on Monday for Dothan and will not take on water until I leave, or I will fill up enroute where it is warmer.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298373 is a reply to message #298370] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 07:18 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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It has been my experience over most of the last decade that if you are going to disagree with Emery Stora or Ken Burton (there are others - too), you should have a very good and sound reason.
Unless you can keep absolutely reliable power power to your coach, re-winterize it. Whether you blow the system clear or do a special fill is your choice, but little line can freeze fast. The small size will work against you, and it both traps the frozen blockage and has less "thermal mass" to slow the process.
When I got my coach, it had been winterized badly just once and the repair was a major PITA. It doesn't matter if it has copper (like mine) or newer plastic, when it freezes, it may not break this time but it will sooner or later.
If you don't like dealing with the "potable" anti-freeze, do what one local owner did/does. He put a by pass on the water heater so it could be drained and fills the rest of the system with cheap vodka. This did cause some of its own problems.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298376 is a reply to message #298374] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 08:06 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
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I'd throw a small heater with a thermostat in it and call it a day.
A little 1500 watt heater should be more than sufficient to keep it above freezing, set the thermostat as low as it will go and you're golden.
Assuming you can run an extension cord to where you're parked.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
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| Re: [GMCnet] How cold is too cold? [message #298378 is a reply to message #298376] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 08:09 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Justin:
I’ve done that successfully as well.
I don’t know if it’s tempting fate
Dolph
DE N8JPC
Wheeling, West Virginia
1977 26’ ex-PalmBeach
1-Ton, Sullybilt Bags, Reaction Arms, 3.70 LSD, Manny Transmission, EV-6010
“The Aluminum and Fiberglass Mistress"
> On Mar 31, 2016, at 9:06 AM, Justin Brady wrote:
>
> I'd throw a small heater with a thermostat in it and call it a day.
> A little 1500 watt heater should be more than sufficient to keep it above freezing, set the thermostat as low as it will go and you're golden.
> Assuming you can run an extension cord to where you're parked.
> --
> Justin Brady
> 1976 Palm Beach 455
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] How cold is too cold? [message #298384 is a reply to message #298378] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 09:36 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Living in Tucson, AZ, I don't have much call for 'winterizing' my GMC. BUT, it does get down into the high 20s sometimes, usually only for a couple of hours at the most, and only a few nights in the winter. When I know that is going to happen, I plug the coach in and get out my little ceramic cube heater and turn it on inside and run an extension cord outside with a trouble light under the macerator. This is just what I do and it works for me in my location. Your needs may be different.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298386 is a reply to message #298354] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 09:47 |
gibsongo
Messages: 116
Registered: October 2012
Location: Montreal West, Quebec, Ca...
Karma: 0
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Re: Winterizing
Up here in the great white north, many RV owners put a bypass system in front of the hot water tank, then plumb in a T just before the water pump, with one side going to the fresh water tank, the other to a small (1 gallon) RV antifreeze reservoir - with shutoff valves on each branch. Winterizing is a simple matter - shut off the fresh water tank valve, turn on the anti-freeze valve, bypass the hot water tank then flush your toilet and turn on your taps till you "see pink". Drain your hot water tank. Takes 5 minutes. To go "the other way" shut the antifreeze valve off, turn the fresh water valve on, turn the hot water tank bypass off and fill. Then run the taps till the water is clear. Perhaps 10 minutes, tops.
Once you've made these small modifications, winterizing is so easy and fast that you won't have to wonder whether its worth the effort or not - you'll just do it.
Gordon Gibson
1976 23' Norris Upfit
Montreal West, Quebec, Canada
Gordon Gibson
1976 23" Norris Upfit
Montreal West, Quebec, Canada
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298417 is a reply to message #298386] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 16:53 |
Dan
Messages: 99
Registered: August 2014
Location: Allentown, NJ
Karma: 0
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I installed an hot water bypass when I put in the new water heater. I stopped and picked up the pump adapter today. Now it should be a simple process to winterize. Still have to take out the little cabinate under the sink, but this is so much easier than before.
Dan DeLuca
1978 Eleganza II (http://imgur.com/gallery/YFHhK)
Parked at Evil Monkey Farm in
Allentown, New Jersey
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| Re: How cold is too cold? [message #298432 is a reply to message #298373] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 22:39 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I just looked at the weather forecast for the rest of the week. It is suppose to hit 28 Saturday night. My coach has been at home all week. I drained the system today and blew out the lines. Saturday night it is going back inside my unheated hangar for the night.
Do not forget the macerator. It sits outside and underneath the coach exposed to any cold air. So heating the inside will not protect the macerator. I have often thought of wrapping it with heat tape.
If you have electric hot water and the coach has water in it, you might consider leaving the heater turned on overnight.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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