Winterizing the New Roo (Oh My So Easy)

[ChooChooMan74]

We did our final campout this weekend at Normandy Farms. I have my final week of vacation, so perfect time to winterize Bertha. I am a belt and suspenders man, so blow and pink stuff for me. I already had a home made blow out adapter, so I just got some tubing and a barbed nipple to make a antifreeze suck tube. Also made a water filter bypass. Well winterizing this thing is a piece of cake with the factory setup.

My AF suck tube


My water filter bypass.


I used up 2 gallons, including pouring a bunch down each P trap. I had bought 3 when we had a 20 degree night a few weeks back, where I blew out the lines and added some to the P traps. So, I got 2/3 of a gallon left.

[Thunderbolt75]

Looks great!
We're off on a four day weekend later this week but that exercise isn't far away for us either.

[Bobaloo]

I did mine last week, felt good and bad at the same time. It's gonna be a long winter.


Bob

[Kanga99]

I was winterizing my Roo today. Removed filter. Emptied hot water tank. Switched bypass valves. Switched pump input to anti-freeze line. I also emptied all 3 tanks and the low point drains and blew everything out. I closed the three drains.

When I pumped in the anti-freeze I got nothing coming out the hot water side of any faucet. Is that normal? The plug is out of the hot water tank so I know it is not going there? Does using the bypass valves effectively switch the system to all cold?

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by Kanga99

I was winterizing my Roo today. Removed filter. Emptied hot water tank. Switched bypass valves. Switched pump input to anti-freeze line. I also emptied all 3 tanks and the low point drains and blew everything out. I closed the three drains.

When I pumped in the anti-freeze I got nothing coming out the hot water side of any faucet. Is that normal? The plug is out of the hot water tank so I know it is not going there? Does using the bypass valves effectively switch the system to all cold?

Doublecheck the 3 bypass valves on the hot water side. You should get AF on both sides.

[CNYCamper]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

Doublecheck the 3 bypass valves on the hot water side. You should get AF on both sides.

X2

[itat]

The valves should look something like this. Closed position is when the handle is perpendicular to the water line. Open position is when the handle is parallel to the water line.

In this picture the valves on the cold and hot lines are closed and the valve on the bypass line between them is open.

[PenJoe]

It is possible that you have all 3 valves closed at the HW bypass. If you have a 3-valve bypass system, the cold-in should be in the off position, the center valve open, and the hot-out closed. This will allow antifreeze to bypass the heater.

[jizmo3]

got a 16 shamrock 233s, was wondering what to do so i didnt have to use anti freeze to fill the water filter housing.
is there a bypass on there factory installed or was that added after?

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by jizmo3

got a 16 shamrock 233s, was wondering what to do so i didnt have to use anti freeze to fill the water filter housing.
is there a bypass on there factory installed or was that added after?

There is no factory water filter bypass. I use the Camco 12" water heater bypass. It also gives you the option to bypass the filter if it clogs up. But, if your water source is clogging your filter, you may not want to bypass it.

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[Summer2Go]

The low point drains in a Roo183 are where? I see a sticker where my fresh water tank is labeled fresh water drain. Would like to try my 1st winterization, but I can't find these drains.


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[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by Summer2Go

The low point drains in a Roo183 are where? I see a sticker where my fresh water tank is labeled fresh water drain. Would like to try my 1st winterization, but I can't find these drains.


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There are 2 sets on mine. First set, left side, just in front of the wheel. 2nd set, back right corner.

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[Summer2Go]

Wow! Thanks ChooChoo! I finally found the set in the back corner under the bathroom. Can't find the other one though. My freshwater tank maybe the reason though, it has a little plastic knob to completely empty the fresh water tank, on the bottom of the tank. Maybe that is a 2016 thing? I want to see if I can blow out the lines and use minimal antifreeze, I have to get the toilet fixed, it doesn't hold water.


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[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by Summer2Go

Wow! Thanks ChooChoo! I finally found the set in the back corner under the bathroom. Can't find the other one though. My freshwater tank maybe the reason though, it has a little plastic knob to completely empty the fresh water tank, on the bottom of the tank. Maybe that is a 2016 thing? I want to see if I can blow out the lines and use minimal antifreeze, I have to get the toilet fixed, it doesn't hold water.


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I have a 2015 183.

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[Summer2Go]

Do you have a white plastic drain on the bottom of your fresh water tank? I'm thinking that is why I don't have the extra drain in front of the wheel. I have a sticker on the outside of the trailer labeling the fresh water drain.


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[Summer2Go]

Sorry it wouldn't post.


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[ChooChooMan74]

Yes, I have a fresh water drain. Maybe my 2 low point drains are a goof up?

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[JWHybrid2B]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

We did our final campout this weekend at Normandy Farms. I have my final week of vacation, so perfect time to winterize Bertha. I am a belt and suspenders man, so blow and pink stuff for me. I already had a home made blow out adapter, so I just got some tubing and a barbed nipple to make a antifreeze suck tube. Also made a water filter bypass. Well winterizing this thing is a piece of cake with the factory setup.

My AF suck tube
Attachment 93592

My water filter bypass.
Attachment 93593

I used up 2 gallons, including pouring a bunch down each P trap. I had bought 3 when we had a 20 degree night a few weeks back, where I blew out the lines and added some to the P traps. So, I got 2/3 of a gallon left.

ChooChoo. What size of plastic tubing did you use 1/2"? What type of fittings did you use to connect to the A/F line? It looks like a garden hose fitting. Is the barbed nipple the piece that connects to the female garden hose fitting? Is the pump strong enough to suck the A/F through the plastic tubing. Sorry for so many questions. Just want to do it right.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by JWHybrid2B

ChooChoo. What size of plastic tubing did you use 1/2"? What type of fittings did you use to connect to the A/F line? It looks like a garden hose fitting. Is the barbed nipple the piece that connects to the female garden hose fitting? Is the pump strong enough to suck the A/F through the plastic tubing. Sorry for so many questions. Just want to do it right.

I believe I used 1/4 ID, but don't quote me. I built this contraption at HD. I got the 3/4 Male Garden Hose and I believe the female is 1/2 NPT. My nipple for my air compressor is 3/8 NPT, so I had to step it down with a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter. I then got the 3/8 NPT to 1/4 Barb with tubing. I thought it would suck slow, but it did quite well.

Mod Idea. If you have an AF inlet, I was thinking of modding a valve from the pump outlet to the tank. Then, you can pump water into your tank when boondocking.

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[yetavon]

Originally Posted by jizmo3

got a 16 shamrock 233s, was wondering what to do so i didnt have to use anti freeze to fill the water filter housing.
is there a bypass on there factory installed or was that added after?

I removed the filter element and used a 20 once tea bottle to take up the space.....