Keeping pump from freezing while driving

[mikeborny]

Heading back to the fridgid north tomorrow:-(. Does anyone know how to keep the water pump from freezing while driving? I do not see a way to run a power cord there.

[cavie]

drain it.

[benchmarks]

Originally Posted by cavie

drain it.

Excellent start........finish for that matter.

[Herk7769]

I would not de-winterize until I could keep the camper above freezing while traveling. Keep a few gallons of water in the truck for coffee, washup, and flushing until you are below the freeze line. Moving it back and forth between the truck and camper is not that great a hassle when compared to a frozen fitting or pump.

Once you are below the freeze line, de-winterize and enjoy the rest of the trip.

Be sure to winterize on the way home before crossing the freeze line northbound.

Oops. Berk forum; sorry. Principle still the same.
However you also have the option of putting a 100 watt light bulb in the pump compartment and running the generator while driving. Just make sure the bulb won't touch anything flammable.

[mikey]

First off, if you own a Berk, you know that the inverter provides a limited amount of 110 v.a.c. Depending on inverter type, you might put a very small space heater that receives 110 v.a.c. while motoring down the boulevard. Be mindful of the load placed on the inverter & know the type of inverter - modified or pure sine wave. Know your equip limitations!

Secondly, why do people who don’t own or operate this equipment type, feel qualified to respond to this type of post?

Mike, I own & operate a 2018 Berkshire XL-40B

[mikeborny]

There is no way to get a power cord to that bay that I can find. The only electrical outlet is in the first bay and the enging block heater outlet.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by mikey

First off, if you own a Berk, you know that the inverter provides a limited amount of 110 v.a.c. Depending on inverter type, you might put a very small space heater that receives 110 v.a.c. while motoring down the boulevard. Be mindful of the load placed on the inverter & know the type of inverter - modified or pure sine wave. Know your equip limitations!

Secondly, why do people who don’t own or operate this equipment type, feel qualified to respond to this type of post?

Mike, I own & operate a 2018 Berkshire XL-40B

Using your rational I would ask ",People who own and operate this type of equipment know everything so they Don't have to ask for Help"? Youroo!!

[wmtire]

Ok guys, this is getting rude and there is no need for that. Our members are always trying to help one another no matter what RV they own or operate. Let's always remember that and move forward as a community of fellow RV'ers.

[KFX450RXC]

I'm curious. Where is the "frigid north" for the OP? How long will they be traveling below 32F?

Might not be that big of a deal or it might be extremely critical.

[gordonsick]

Originally Posted by mikeborny

There is no way to get a power cord to that bay that I can find. The only electrical outlet is in the first bay and the enging block heater outlet.

If you are from the frigid north, you can likely find those little in-car heaters that can sit on the floor and blow warmed air into the car.

I put one of those in my water bay, on the passenger side. I removed some needless vanity panels that FR installed, and that improves air circulation. It keeps the water pump and fresh water tank from freezing.

Then, I went onto the middle pass-through bay on my Berk and noticed a big electrical box in the ceiling (mounted below the floor above). It had wires for the fridge, microwave and something else (might be the kitchen plugs). I tapped off of the microwave, which is a 20 amp GFI circuit. I can run the microwave and heater at the same time without blowing a fuse.

My power cord for the heater is flat, so I just run it between the two bays and close the doors. I can also drill through the wall to get the wire through, or take it up to the chassis level, and bring it back down in the other bay.

Your inverter can power the microwave (including while driving). The generator powers the house batteries for the inverter. I'm not sure whether there would be a net drain on the house battery. If it is a problem, you can drive with the generator on.

BTW, this also heats up my bathroom floor, which is nice on a cold day.

BTW(2), the engine block heater outlet is not powered from the inverter output, so don't waste your time trying to make it work off the inverter while you drive.

–Gordon

[mdr]

Originally Posted by gordonsick

If you are from the frigid north, you can likely find those little in-car heaters that can sit on the floor and blow warmed air into the car.



I put one of those in my water bay, on the passenger side. I removed some needless vanity panels that FR installed, and that improves air circulation. It keeps the water pump and fresh water tank from freezing.



Then, I went onto the middle pass-through bay on my Berk and noticed a big electrical box in the ceiling (mounted below the floor above). It had wires for the fridge, microwave and something else (might be the kitchen plugs). I tapped off of the microwave, which is a 20 amp GFI circuit. I can run the microwave and heater at the same time without blowing a fuse.



My power cord for the heater is flat, so I just run it between the two bays and close the doors. I can also drill through the wall to get the wire through, or take it up to the chassis level, and bring it back down in the other bay.



Your inverter can power the microwave (including while driving). The generator powers the house batteries for the inverter. I'm not sure whether there would be a net drain on the house battery. If it is a problem, you can drive with the generator on.



BTW, this also heats up my bathroom floor, which is nice on a cold day.



BTW(2), the engine block heater outlet is not powered from the inverter output, so don't waste your time trying to make it work off the inverter while you drive.



–Gordon

Great advice Gordon.

I just came across the country through the -20 windchill days and cracked my water filter canister during the day while driving even with the tank heaters and the propane furnace on. I’ll be making this type of mod for sure.

On a side note - Andy at FR parts was able to get me a new canister delivered to snowy Colorado the next day. Kudos to him.

[TheWolfPaq82]

If you're coming across Eastern Nebraska today, our high is -3 and low tonight is predicted to be around -15 with -25 to -40 windchill.