First time de-winterizing the rig - thoughts

[s1njin]

So yesterday was the first time I dewinterized my rig. I was a little anxious to get the process going as my past campers were all Jayco products.

Some thoughts:

A. I like that the fresh water tank has a seperate hose connection/run from the outside in. My Greyhawk had a bunch of valves that you had to turn in particular combinations in order to get the water to go from city supply to city fill. This was, well, easier. Straight forward.

B. I like that the tank drain is next to the water filter. I like that the water filter is not taking up space in a bathroom cabinet. I like that they anti-freeze siphon is next to the water filter and the water pump. I'm sure I WON'T like that there is no way to turn the pump on from that compartment - making antifreeze time a 2 man job.

C. I'm still on the fence with having the fresh water connection in the same compartment as my sewer connection. I know Class A's do it this way too, but on my Jayco the fresh water was always far away from the dirty business.

D. Low point drains - just a twist of a cap on one of the hoses hanging off the bottom rear. Simple, I like that.

E. Water heater bypass - I wish the panel wasn't screwed in. I can see these screws getting loose over time going into all that particle board.

F. I just realized the bathroom faucet is plastic. Nice job w/ the finish - they fooled both DW and I.

G. Looking inside the cabinet where this faux metal fixture resides, I was pleased w/ how orderly the pipes were run, strapped, etc. Even the electrical was very tidy under there. This was never the case w/ any Jayco product I owned. *Yes, I was looking in the cabinet to see how hard it would be to replace said fixture*

That's about it - our shakedown trip is this weekend so here's hoping everything works as it should !!

[timfromma]

You might want to consider sanitizing your plumbing. You can add 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water in your FW tank. Use your water pump to circulate this solution through out the camper and let it sit for 24 hours then flush with fresh water.

Personally, I don't like using bleach, it leaves a bleach taste in the water that I don't care for. It's a bit pricier than bleach but I like this stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40207-T...ater+sanitizer

There is no aftertaste once you flush it out. I can sanitize twice with 1 bottle.

[geeman53]

On our 2250 SS , to flip the HW valves, I remove a drawer- nice.

[s1njin]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I also santized. All my lines smell like bleach, and I have a full treated tank sitting on the driveway right now. I'll drain it when I get home, and put some fresh water (~10 gallons) in it for utility use when I'm underway throughout the summer.

[Duckogram]

Good luck on first outing.
My thoughts are: Use everything to ensure it works correctly. If it is a dual fuel, try both.
Sanitize per FR recommendations such as: Do not pour bleach directly into your FW tank. Dilute it first. Then after you sanitize, flush the system well. Faucets and sinks (metal) will corrode if you leave sodium hypoclorite on/in them. Note: I do not open the water heater bypass until after I sanitze and flush.
If this is your first time dumping holding tanks, you may get construction debris out of them.
Enjoy

[s1njin]

My hot water tank was already put in 'use' mode. The dealer switched it back after I had antirfreeze in my lines. So - my hot water heater is full of bleach water now too.

[timfromma]

I always sanitize the water heater too.

[Duckogram]

Oh well. You may have to flush it (and the rest of the system) with baking sida to get the smell out. 1/2 cup diluted in a gallon of water. BTW: It’s a cold water heater.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Oh well. You may have to flush it (and the rest of the system) with baking sida to get the smell out. 1/2 cup diluted in a gallon of water. BTW: It’s a cold water heater.

But once it's hot... is it a hot water maintainer?

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Oh well. You may have to flush it (and the rest of the system) with baking sida to get the smell out. 1/2 cup diluted in a gallon of water. BTW: It’s a cold water heater.

One the water is already heated, it becomes a hot water retainer.

[s1njin]

I don't mind if my FW tank has residual chlorine smell - we never use that water save to flush the toilet if we're on a long road trip.

As to the rest of the lines, I'll run water from the house through the city inlet for awhile as I'm putzing w/ some of the other to-dos I need to get done before tomorrow.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by 5picker

But once it's hot... is it a hot water maintainer?

Originally Posted by timfromma

One the water is already heated, it becomes a hot water retainer.

Ha-ha... we posted at exactly the same time!
Two Tims thinking alike!

[RedLdr1]

Originally Posted by s1njin

C. I'm still on the fence with having the fresh water connection in the same compartment as my sewer connection. I know Class A's do it this way too, but on my Jayco the fresh water was always far away from the dirty business.

I'm not happy about that one... My floor plan already had it outside for years and FR moved it in to the "dump bay". Great product improvement by FR...not... If they had included a small hatch for the fresh water hose I wouldn't mind as much. But having to open the main hatch just for a fresh water hose opens a freeway for critters getting in to that compartment. Fixing that will be a early modification...

While we are in the "dump bay" I already purchased my first mod. A Lippert Waste Master "Back-To-Bayonet" Fitting that converts from the fancy new sewer hose and spigot back to conventional hoses. I have no plans to haul the Lippert stuff around. I already have plenty of "old school" hoses and fittings they don't take up nearly as much room as the Lippert "stuff"....

[s1njin]

I don't mind the Waste Master hose and I already bought the extension for it should I ever need it. I think the system seems pretty slick - though I haven't used it yet.

[tonyz1]

Great rig. Wish you the best camping adventures with it. One thought about the winterizing and pump issue, I installed a toggle switch near the water pump so I could winterize by myself. Before I put in the switch, I would pull the small inline fuse that is located next to pump but that got old quick. Anyway, just a thought.

[A32Deuce]

Originally Posted by timfromma

You might want to consider sanitizing your plumbing. You can add 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water in your FW tank. Use your water pump to circulate this solution through out the camper and let it sit for 24 hours then flush with fresh water.

Personally, I don't like using bleach, it leaves a bleach taste in the water that I don't care for. It's a bit pricier than bleach but I like this stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40207-T...ater+sanitizer

There is no aftertaste once you flush it out. I can sanitize twice with 1 bottle.

I use Spring Fresh to do the water system. Does a good job and no after taste/smell of bleach when done. Half fill the tank add the spring fresh and finish filling the tank. Take for a short ride to mix up well, run the pump and fill the system and let sit for a day then drain and rinse out a couple times.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by timfromma

You might want to consider sanitizing your plumbing. You can add 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water in your FW tank. Use your water pump to circulate this solution through out the camper and let it sit for 24 hours then flush with fresh water.

Personally, I don't like using bleach, it leaves a bleach taste in the water that I don't care for. It's a bit pricier than bleach but I like this stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40207-T...ater+sanitizer

There is no aftertaste once you flush it out. I can sanitize twice with 1 bottle.

Your not kidding it is pricy !!!
If you are smelling or tasting bleach,,, maybe you need to rinse more ???

[s1njin]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

If this is your first time dumping holding tanks, you may get construction debris out of them.
Enjoy

Well, you were right. My black tank 'seems' to be empty, maybe its not and I don't know. My grey was all backed up w/ debris. I knew b/c my valve wouldn't close and I was still getting a trickle of water even though my faucets were off.

So I undid the grey valve, saw a whole mess of wood and plastic, etc. clogging the pipe. Pulled all of it out, got the WHOOSH of water that kept on going and going and going ....

Made me not like that compartment some more.

Anyway its all back together now. I do get a small drip when I close the valve, but it seems leak free otherwise. I guess its a punch list item; my first.

[A32Deuce]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Your not kidding it is pricy !!!
If you are smelling or tasting bleach,,, maybe you need to rinse more ???

You dont use that much' Im still on my first container, about half since 2013.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

You dont use that much' Im still on my first container, about half since 2013.

That jug will treat 100 gallons. I have a 50 gallon FW tank so I get 2 years.