New RVer Question on Dewinterizing/Winterizing

[toddlafond]

We picked up our first RV, 2005 Forester 2861, a few weeks ago and it was winterized. My wife and I decided to take it out this weekend and I'm looking for some a Forester specific videos to De-winterize it and then winterize it again on Sunday when we get back. I have no idea how long it will take and if it's even worth doing it for the weekend. Any suggestions will be gladly accepted and appreciated.

[BooBoo23]

There are lots of YouTube videos on the subject but finding on specifically for a Forester may be difficult. The winterizing and dewinterizing is pretty generic for any RV. The main thing is to get access to the back of the water heater to get to the bypass valves. Next locate the water pump and see if you have a valve on the input side that has a short length of hose attached to dip in the antifreeze source.

When you dewinterize you will need to fill the WH tank when hooked up to city water. Open the relief valve on the WH until you get water coming out of it to make sure it is full. Turn the bypass valves to allow flow into and out the WH and close the valve between them to turn off the bypass. Then just open all the faucets to remove the RV antifreeze. Do the opposite when winterizing. When you winterize the WH you will remove the plug on the tank to drain it, make sure you relieve pressure before you take the plug out or you will get an unexpected bath. If you have a Suburban WH it will have an anode in it and is expendable so it will eventually need to be replaced. If you have an Atwood WH it will have a nylon plug (no anode). When you fill or drain the WH make sure the heating element is turned off. If it is on while the tank is empty it will destroy the element.

[n-e-d]

Its that time of year for Winterizing,check with the search engine for sunseeker/forester winterizing and there will be a bunch of threads detailing the procedure

[MNtraveler]

I would say it's not worth it for a weekend, but it's a judgment call of how much time you have. As someone new to it, it will take you 30-60 minutes to de-winterize and probably 60-90 minutes to winterize - only because you will keep running back here and to YouTube to make sure you have all the steps done right so you can hibernate peacefully for the winter.

Also as to whether or not alternate facilities will be available to you where you are going and the willingness of all crew members to use them.


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

[MNtraveler]

...short of re-winterizing, if it's not in the freezing range you could still use the toilet using jug, bucket water or antifreeze to flush. Then you would have to drain and flush the black water tank when you return and add a cup of antifreeze to the bowl.

You could use cold or stove heated water to wash yourselves and dishes and put it down the sink drain. Then when you return you would need to fill the P-trap(s) with antifreeze letting the water in the trap(s) spill over into the gray water tank and then drain out that tank.

These are just second-best options to avoid having to re-winterize. You would not have used the cold or hot water lines, nor the water heater. Also subject to crew acceptance.


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R