From: John De Armond
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
Subject: Re: Winterization
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 00:08:28 -0400

Ben wrote:

> I just had my Winnebago Minnie Winnie winterized. Would I still be able to
> use it during the winter if its winterized? or does it have to be
> un-winterized before we can use the water, shower, toilet  etc...

You have to de-winterize to use the MH unless you want to forgo all
conveniences and just use it as a heated box.  My experience with
Winnebagos is that they design their water system quite well for
quick winterizing.  Drain valves at low points, properly sloped
lines and the like.  That is certainly the case with my Itasca (a
Winnebago brand).  Winterizing consists of little more than pulling
the drain valves on the fresh water tank and water lines, draining
the water heater, running the pump until it is empty of water and
putting some pink stuff in the traps.  The whole process takes
perhaps 15 minutes.  De-winterizing is even simpler.  Just close the
valves and fill the tanks.

We go somewhere every weekend year round.  When the temperature is
predicted to go into the teens, I fill the fresh water tank with hot
water directly from the hot water tap.  The tank will hold enough
heat to stay above freezing for several days, certainly long enough
for a weekend trip.  I've never had anything freeze while camping
but since some of the plumbing is in contact with the metal frame, I
leave the cabinet doors open a bit at night to let warm air
circulate under those conditions.

Around mid-winter last year I got tired of even the minimal amount
of work necessary to winterize so I just put a small electric heater
in the thing, left the cabinet doors open and did nothing else other
than draining the fresh water tank.  Costs me just a little
electricity but saves me labor.  When we're ready to go, I fill the
tank and we're off.