What is this 1/2” line used for?

[ken8246]

[ATTA

2013 Cardinal 3O30RS

I have been trying to get this info from Forest River Service Rep but so far have only received bogus info.
His last message to me was:
“Looks to be an something added in the system if I was guessing it would be a city warter connection”
Anyone having a cardinal knows the fresh water inlet us in the rear of the coach’s yard the fresh water inlet in a compartment by itself. I told the rep this and yet to have an answer back.
One would think the factory reps would know how their units are built??
Guess not.
Any help in letting me know what this line is would be much appreciated
Ken

[Mr. Dan]

Looks like my Wildcat suction line to draw in antifreeze for winterizing.

[CHICKDOE]

antifreeze inlet port

[ken8246]

Thanks Dan could be but I have found nothing on line to show how to winterize this Cardinal 3030RS
THE FACTORY is almost useless in getting any correct info from them
Hopefully someone who has one of these units will respond to my inquiry

[ken8246]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

antifreeze inlet port

Thanks Chickdoe
I’m guessing this line goes to the winterizing valve so when the valve is in the winterizing position the antifreeze is pumped into the water system and bypasses the water heater.
Sure would be nice to have a video or instructions showing exactly how to perform this service on my exact model number.
My last unit a class A safari cheetah had a large book showing everything one needs to know about the rig.
Again thank you for your response
Hopefully someone might find a video or instructions on my exact unit I can download.

[CHICKDOE]

i know there are many different configurations of the water bay in various models and years of the cardinal so there is not one straightforward 'do this' answer. there will be a valve the directs the water pump to suck from either the fresh water tank or from this antifreeze inlet port. what i don't know is if that valve is accessible from the water bay or not. i suspect it is. can you post a picture of the top of your water bay where i suspect the various valves are?

but that is not the only thing that needs to be changed during winterization. other items include:
bypass water heater
drain via low point drains
remove water filter
address residential refrigerator / ice maker (if equipped)
address washer (if equipped)
pour antifreeze into drain traps
drain tanks
drain water heater

the winterization process is not difficult. basically you are going to set the valve to have the fresh water pump suck antifreeze from the bottle via inlet port. getting an extension hose may help. once this is done you are going to pump it through all water lines out out all faucets. bypass the water heater so you get antifreeze into it. also make sure you do not pump antifreeze into the fresh water tank.

[CHICKDOE]

do not assume that the valve that allows the water pump to suck antifreeze from the inlet port ALSO bypasses the water heater! there is probably a separate valve, or valves, for that!

[ken8246]

Here is my convenience center has heater and winterizing bypass valves top right

[ken8246]

[ken8246]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

do not assume that the valve that allows the water pump to suck antifreeze from the inlet port ALSO bypasses the water heater! there is probably a separate valve, or valves, for that!

[Mr. Dan]

Read the red words above the red valve handle and
read the blue words above the white valve handle.


They will explain what we're saying.

[CHICKDOE]

I see similarities to our cardinal with one major omission. The top blue valve is for winterizing. In the normal position it connects the pump suction intake to the fresh water tank. In winterize the pump will suck from the antifreeze hose you asked about. The red valve is the hot water bypass valve. In normal it will route water into the hot water tank. In bypass it will rout water around the tank. What I don’t see is a valve to allow you to fill the fresh water tank. On ours we hook the city water hose up to the black garden hose connector and you can route it to fill the fresh water tank or set it to supply the internal plumbing lines. Yours may just supply the internal plumbing lines and you may have a separate intake to fill the fresh water. I don’t know. I also see the water filter wrench so you are familiar with it.

[RiderBloke]

You could try it out with plain water and see what happens when you turn the pump on. It will either suck it in or not. You could connect a hose to it and have a low flow of water and see what that does.
Plain water won’t hurt either way.

[jacknife]

I have a 2013 30-30. The city water fill and tank fill are in the rear as is the tank. I think that has to do with winterizing.

[jacknife]

Your water pump is right there. I can only surmise it is for wiin terizing . I live in SOUTH Cal so the need has never arisin.