New AS and sub-freezing night temps

[Brian R.]

Hi everybody! We're taking delivery of a new Caravel this weekend. I'm pretty sure that the dealer is going to fill with water. We're still seeing some sub-freezing temps here in SW Montana in the wee hours of the morning. While it's going up into the 40's and 50's during the day, lows are in the high 20's and on Monday a low of 18 is forecast.


I will have shore power. Do you think if I run the furnace at night that I'll be okay and not have to worry about pipes freezing? I can also put a space heater in it. How warm should I the try to keep temp at in the AS?


Thanks.

[NC-Serenity]

Set the propane furnace to say at least 45-50 degrees and you should be good. Not 100% about Caravel's but all the 25' and bigger trailers have a small duct off the furnace that blows into the tank compartment to prevent freezing. A space heater won't protect the tanks. If it is only getting into the high 20's likely not even an issue. 18F is perhaps another matter.

[uraljohn]

When you pick up your new Caravel (Congratulations!) your dealer "Walk Thru" or "Demo" meeting should take about 3 hours. Have them fill the fresh water tank and demonstrate each and every system. Video as much as you can. After your "Walk Thru" have them drain the fresh water tank and winterize the trailer. That means blow out all the water lines, empty water heater and add RV Antifreeze in the appropriate areas. The dealer should do this at no cost. If they won't winterize it for you for free pay the fee yourself. Should be around $100.00/$150.00. Your paying $$$$$$ for a new Caravel. Why take a chance?

Once your out of the night time freezes you can de-winterize and enjoy your new AS.

[OTRA15]

Bingo!

Well said uraljohn.

Brian, in my personal opinion, this is no time to be taking a brand new trailer home, without it being fully winterized. Suggest not putting antifreeze in the plumbing supply lines -- only in the waste water traps etc..

Happy Trails!

[Lily&Me]

Actually, if you’re buying this in Montana in April it should be winterized, in my opinion.

You can be shown all the systems work with Winterization fluid in it.

I wouldn’t dewinterize until you are past the point of freezing nights, because why?

My Interstate is still winterized, and will stay that way until next month.

Maggie

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

. . .
You can be shown all the systems work with Winterization fluid in it.
. . .

Ick!

Suggest never using AF in the H/C supply plumbing lines.

https://www.google.com/search?q=anti...=airforums.com

[Lily&Me]

Well, it’s a matter of opinion, Peter.

Many of us use the pink stuff every year.

Maggie

[Brian R.]

Thanks for the quick replies. I just communicated with the dealer and he said that they'll water it up for the walk-through and then re-winterize before I leave. Seems like that's safest.

[majorairhead]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Thanks for the quick replies. I just communicated with the dealer and he said that they'll water it up for the walk-through and then re-winterize before I leave. Seems like that's safest.

Smart move!

My rule is this.

If I'm wondering if I should winterize.....

I winterize.

[Halford1]

I never winterized my Flying Silver... not cold enough in SoCAL

[OTRA15]

Thanks Brian for that good news.

[Bcc75]

Congrats on the Caravel!
A few hours in the high 20’s will do no damage. A space heater will for the interior plumbing will suffice. Drain your tanks and open your low point drains and you shouldn’t have a problem.
As soon as those temps warm up a bit, get out there and enjoy! SW Montana is one of our favorite places on Earth. Really love the Bozeman area.

[Dennis C]

We camped in Santa Fe, NM a couple of weeks ago. The temperature was in the high 50s during the day, but it got down as low as 17 degrees one night. We had full hookups. I disconnected the city water at night, and we ran the furnace at 65 degrees. We burned through propane pretty quickly, but we had no freezing issues at all. I kept the water heater filled with the electric heating element activated.

[B. Cole]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

We camped in Santa Fe, NM a couple of weeks ago. The temperature was in the high 50s during the day, but it got down as low as 17 degrees one night. We had full hookups. I disconnected the city water at night, and we ran the furnace at 65 degrees. We burned through propane pretty quickly, but we had no freezing issues at all. I kept the water heater filled with the electric heating element activated.

Ok, thanks, but this is for new people.If you have full hookups ( shore power) turn the portable electric heaters that you should carry, on.
Why fill propane tanks, when you have juice through the black power cord??
Crank the heat up, heat the mass up, nothing is freezing.
I just don't understand, people saying turn the furnace to 45 degrees ( or whatever)...Why would you do that???
Put the heat to these metal tubes!!Crank it up!

[waninae39]

we use a portable quart oscillating heater, its very quiet
the furnace is FAR too noisy

[Dennis C]

Originally Posted by B. Cole

Ok, thanks, but this is for new people.If you have full hookups ( shore power) turn the portable electric heaters that you should carry, on.
Why fill propane tanks, when you have juice through the black power cord??
Crank the heat up, heat the mass up, nothing is freezing.
I just don't understand, people saying turn the furnace to 45 degrees ( or whatever)...Why would you do that???
Put the heat to these metal tubes!!Crank it up!

Believe me, I’ve tried it. Once it gets cold enough, the electric heat pump just blows cold air. I’ve used portable electric heaters before. They work well.

[GammaDog]

As a Floridian, my first question in “What is winter”? Ok... ok... we have camped in the low 20s... in Utah... in May. My belief is that on my 2015 25FB, only the propane furnace blows warm air into the tank boxes under the living space. For truly cold overnights, how does the heat from portable heaters in the trailer reach the spaces below the floor?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Thanks for the quick replies. I just communicated with the dealer and he said that they'll water it up for the walk-through and then re-winterize before I leave. Seems like that's safest.

Hi

Trust but verify

Since this is a bit of an odd thing to do, make a note to double check that it gets done.

Bob

[PatLee]

I agree with Maggie - keep this brand new beauty winterized until after last frost (as reported by your local weather man).

[Skhartzell]

Have the dealer do the winterization while you watch. This way you will know where the valves are and will know it is done right.