winterizing pu - how much antifreeze?

[outdoors5]

Once again thanks for all of the past help.

This will be the first time I will be winterizing my PU myself.  I have instructions but it does not tell me how many gallons of RV antifeeze to buy.  How many gallons of RV antifreeze should I buy?  I will be putting the antifreeze into the fresh water tank and pump it through the rest of the system.

Thanks for answers in advance.

P.S. - In 2006 got out camping for 27 great nites, mostly in the summer.  Sad to winterize   but New England frost will soon be here.  Already thinking about next season , sounds like we will be traveling the east coast MA to FL?

[mike4947]

Well since RV antifreeze comes prediluted adding it to the fresh water tank, which will have several gallons of water left even with the drain open, won't give you much protection.

Best bet, drain the water tank, and take the trailer for a ride. The ride will slosh the remaining water around and get most of it out of the tank. Drain the water heater if you have one. Install a bypass for the water heater so it won't fill with antifreeze, and look into one of the inexpensive valve kits that will allow you to draw right from a gallon jug to the pump and the lines.
The water heater and fresh water tank will be fine empty and even a slight amount of water won't cause any freeze damage.
The pump will draw up the antifreeze and run it through the lines remember to open all the faucets/etc and let them run until you see the full anti freeze color. That means all the water is out.
The average PU will use about a 1/2 gallon, maybe a little more if you let it run from any fixture to long and pour a lot into the drains of a sink or shower.

[tlhdoc]

If you are putting the antifreeze into your empty water tank you will need 3 gallons.  The first 2 will just bring the level up to the water lines, so the pump can pull the antifreeze through the lines.  Then you will need to add some from the third gallon so that you can pump it through the water lines.  I purchased an RV antifreeze hand pump and only use about 1/2 gallon of antifreeze each year.

[bassknuckles]

This checklist has all the info:
http://www.camping-canda.com/winter_checklist_e.htm

[mars00XJ]

I think this is the link Bass was trying to post....Winterizing

[CampDirt]

Hey, thanks.  This is a great list.  I also bought a DVD from www.rveducation101.com called "Winterizing Your RV".  It doesn't have much for PU, but has lots of info and a checklist.  They also have a wonderful DVD called "PopUp 101".

[tlhdoc]

They also have a wonderful DVD called "PopUp 101".

Hersheygirl is the current owner of the PU in the DVD, although you wouldn't recognize it now.  She has made it over into her own PU.