Help! New owner needs help winterizing

[BWILLIAM73]

We bought a 2017 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite Travel Trailer this summer. We need to winterize but can't find the hot water heater by pass valve. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Ontherock]

On my 2010 X-Lite, they are directly behind the water heater which is accessed by removing 4 screws and lifting the plywood under the mattress for the lower bunk.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by BWILLIAM73

We bought a 2017 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite Travel Trailer this summer. We need to winterize but can't find the hot water heater by pass valve. Anyone have any experience with this?

Locate the heater inlet and exhaust ports outside, the bypass valve and piping is just inside the coach. Maybe behind a false wall removable with screws.

[Flybob]

As mentioned. Locate the outside panel of the water heater. Inside the trailer behind the outside panel you should see a panel held in place by square head screws. Remove the screws and you should see the bypass valves.

[PJMIDFLAK]

Make sure you drain the water heater. Easy to do by removing anode .. need a 1 1/16 socket

[NO3putt]

Make sure when removing te anode rod that there is no water presure in the tank by opening an hot water facuet.

[mike.t]

Keep in mind if you have trouble locating it not all Forest River TT have one.
Mine doesn't.
Side note. Wear an old tee shirt when you remove the anode rod.

[Sebourn]

I have the 230bhxl 2016. If you have the bunks, it may be like mine. WH is at rear and below the lower bunk. Remove the matress and I had two flat plywood panels. I removed the rear panel and and exposed the by-pass. It is a little hard to get to but it is manageable.

[byrdr1]

IF you are in NC you had better be sure yours is winterized by Thursday afternoon. it's going to be in the teens over the next few nights.
randy in central NC

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by NO3putt

Make sure when removing te anode rod that there is no water presure in the tank by opening an hot water facuet.

Shhh, don't give away all of the secrets.

[Gidyupgo]

It drains much faster if it's pressurized, as well as providing entertainment for those around you.

[pashooter]

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

It drains much faster if it's pressurized, as well as providing entertainment for those around you.

And in my case, since I don't have an anode rod but a simple screw-in nylon plug, it provides the added adventure of going on a scavenger hunt to try and locate said plug.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by byrdr1

IF you are in NC you had better be sure yours is winterized by Thursday afternoon. it's going to be in the teens over the next few nights.

randy in central NC

I live in NC and I keep the heat on and never fully winterize. I have tank heaters and I leave the hot water tank on


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[Gidyupgo]

LoL pashooter

[pashooter]

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

LoL pashooter

Yeah...

I had already drained the system and was blowing it out with air when it occurred to me that I hadn't drained the water heater. I shut the air down and started unscrewing the plug. It should have clicked when water started weeping out well before I had the plug completely out. Then BAM!

I was drenched and the plug was... nowhere to be found.

Then it dawned on me - check valve. I had disconnected the air supply but the system was still pressurized because of the built-in check valve at the city water connection. All I needed to do was open one of the low point drains, but...

Lesson learned.

[sherman12]

Pashooter, I never found my plug either on my first rig, a Tiffin Allegro, the first time attempting to winterize. Holly cow did that thing fly! And I was soaked too.