Need Recommendations On Cold Weather Water System Setup

We are going to take our 2350 PC to Indianapolis next weekend for a 2 day dog agility competition. The temperature is supposed to go down to 26 degrees, I've never taken my PC out in freezing weather and would appreciate any recommendations on what to do with my water system.

It is presently winterized with the hot water system bypassed. I live south of Indianapolis and I do not expect any freezing weather after next weekend in my area. When in Indianapolis I'm just mostly interested in using the toilet and grey water storage tank. I'd be using bottled water for cooking and drinking.

Right now I plan on:
1. Continue to keep the hot water tank bypassed ?????
2. Turn on tank heaters
3. Add fresh water to fresh water storage tank, but not worry about flushing out anti freeze because I'm only using it to flush toilet.
4. Keep furnace on at least 60 degrees.   

We just finished a four day trip south to Florida from  New York of which the first day and a half were freezing conditions. The inside temperature while driving was fine just from the cab heat. I had the water heater on (propane fired) with no problems. I did add rv antifreeze to tanks as an extra measure. Your plan sounds good to me, especially with the use of tank heaters. I assume you will have shore power at your stops and aren't dry camping.

Have a good trip.

Jake

Hi Zolman!

Based on my limited (but recent) experience, I don't think you'll have any problems.

I picked up my new 2552 in Elkhart on February 12.  I had them put about 3/4 tank of water in the tank, and spent the first night at the Phoenix lot, and the second night at the fairgrounds near Elkhart.  Both nights we received substantial ice and snow, with a tough wind and temperatures dipping below 20 degrees.  After two days of familiarization and evaluation, I picked up my Jeep tow conversion at Dan's in Elkhart, and started back to Oklahoma the afternoon of the 14th.  I ran down through Indianapolis and over to St. Louis, but because of continuing snow, poor road conditions, and (slowww) congested truck traffic, it took all of both days to make it through Indiana and Missouri.  I ended up overnight at Cracker Barrels by Terre Haute and St. Louis the nights of the 14th and 15th--again with both nights in the mid 20's.  I ran the tank heaters on the black and grey tanks and the LP on the water heater, and with the Ford cab heater during the day and furnace at night, the interior never got below 60.  I used all the coach systems over the four-day period with no problems.  As soon as I got back to Oklahoma, I drained, dumped, and winterized--since we've still got some winter left here (temps in the single digits tomorrow).  I think you could either leave your water heater bypassed, or if you want hot water, you could open it up and keep it running with LP or electric just fine.

I can't recommend taking delivery of an RV in northern Indiana in February as ideal, but I have to say that the rig performed without a glitch over the four days in pretty difficult conditions.  I don't plan a lot of winter travel in the future, but this experience convinced me that the PC can do it if necessary.

All the best,    Mike

Just take a few gallon jugs of tap water to use to flush the toilet, that's what we do since we often travel in iffy weather .Here with Colorado weather you never know, too, and why worry? A half-gallon jug sits next to the toilet always, and can be used when the "flush" is less than stellar.   And you don't have to re-winterize.
Plus, in our PC if you don't get all of the air out of all of the water lines, the pump keeps cycling if left on. The outside shower is the most vulnerable to freezing. I cut a few pieces of insulation and stuff it in the shower access door for good measure. I wish PC would have an inside shut-off for the outside shower.
Dougn

I cut a few pieces of insulation and stuff it in the shower access door for good measure.  Dougn

As long as you drained the plumbing to the outside shower, and you closed them tightly, the air in the line should be enough protection.  But your extra insulation there is a wise move, not just for the shower itself, but everything behind it.

In our 2007 2350, the inside of the outside shower is located in the lower portion of our vanity with a false front making a shallow lower shelf.  I assume removing the false front would gain access to the outside shower.  If I were camping in winter, I would consider installing a small louvered vent into the angled side of the vanity to allow more heat to get to the back-side of the outside shower for additional freeze protection.  It doesn't have to be big, maybe 2" round that you can easily drill with a hole saw.  Spray paint it to match your wood vanity.  Don't mount it too low to avoid kicking it.

We are going to take our 2350 PC to Indianapolis next weekend for a 2 day dog agility competition.

Hi from another agility enthusiast!  I live in Florida so don't have your issues, but it is nice to know that someone else out there uses their PC for agility trials.  LOL

Peg