14 Proven Tips to Master Winter WITHOUT Winterizing Your RV

Winter RV Tips from a seasoned RV owner. You may decide NOT to winterize your RV after watching this.

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*DIY Reflectix Window Shade Video*

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[phonemd]

I'm an old electrical guy, we used to call that clay like stuff "DUM DUM" I keep it in my tool bag! Great video thanks for the tips!

[jamescampolo]

I have a 24' class c. I drain the tanks and water heater then blow air through all of the lines. This has worked for 20 years. All of the lines are PEX so just in case some water were to settle in a line somewhere, PEX is good well below zero F. A long time ago I used that RV antifreeze in my fresh water lines and it took forever to get the taste out. Did that once. In the black and grey water, it wouldn't make a difference.

[larrymiller]

We have the same identical motorhome. We live in ours. 6100 elevation. About 2 weeks ago our water pump froze in the compartment even with the basement heater running on and off all night. Apparently the heater does not produce enough heat in the lower compartments. Used your idea with 25 watt light bulb, works great, no problems. Even if you live in it, 15 degress stuff will freeze. Thanks for all your advice, very helpfull. PS pump was ok, still in one piece.

[igowhereimtowed]

We are spending the winter east of Quartzsite. Woke up this morning to 28°. We don't winterize our motorhome as the furnace. Keeps our tanks and basement warm.

One year, we had some issues with our furnace. Our investigation found mice had built a nest. In the squirrel cage of the blower. Not sure why, but they could not run in a straight line.

Safe travels and hope to see you around a campfire.

[jimsjacob]

Down here in So. Cal, I’ve never really done any winterizing either…. We get below freezing from time to time, but I’ve been dodging the bullet of frozen water lines…. Some great ideas for sure here and knowing the RV cover worked for you is the “Go Ahead” I needed to see. We do get some high winds however, so I’ll have to make certain to secure it very well. It could end up in AZ if I’m not careful. 😅😂

[michaelcain]

Thanks for the great tips, Brian! Another thing I like to do is keep my HWH hydraulic jacks down to level the motorhome. Takes weight off the tires and makes for better maintenance and use while stored. When I run the engine each month I clean the jack cylinders, drop the coach, and then level it again to operate the system. Also, I used to use the tubs of desiccant. Now I use a Frigidaire electric dehumidifier. Even on a low setting, it's amazing how much water it removes.

[jamescampolo]

On the windshield, that wraps around front side windows, I put a custom made cover on the outside (available for class Cs online) and I put reflective bubble wrap on the inside of all of the windows.

[UnitedWeStand]

All good tips as usual. I recently bought a roll of reflectix, it says on the label not to use on dual pane windows. I think using it in cold weather would be ok, but the summer heat is not a good idea due to the reflection of direct sunshine. The heat may be too much for the glass and seals. In Texas, it does get very hot between the reflectix and the window. Maybe on the outside of the glass is ok. Hope this helps prevent dual pane window damage to your viewers that don't read labels.

[philsmith]

All great info! I leave my RV plugged in, and I have an AT&T hotspot on so I can monitor the temp and humidity from afar (stored 13 miles from home, unfortunately), and I also have Alexa compatible plugs so I can turn the 100w heaters on and off as needed. Also using Blink cameras to monitor the RV. I am, admittedly, a geek...

[bobf.]

Steel wool works but will rust away over time. I've had the best luck, against critters, with brass wool.

[neilrankin]

Thanks Brian! I like to drive our motorhome periodically rather than just start the engine if it is sitting for more than a month.

[coreymerritt]

Great tips for the class a owners Brian I winterized my trailer I always air it out with the compressor then add anti freeze also a Camafro 90 watt heater and 2 driz air baskets thanks great video 👍

[WildGiraffe]

An additional thing that I do is to remove the water filter that is in my water bay. I did not do this one year, and the housing cracked! My unit has shut off valves on either side of the filter making isolating it easy.

[Tom-In-Ga]

Living in Georgia, we don't get very severe winters but it does go below freezing occasionally. When I know it's going to be below freezing in my 5er, I close off the bedroom including the heat vents. Then, like you, I add RV antifreeze to the tanks to protect the valves. I wish I could keep the slide outs closed but my heater vents are in the floor and they get covered up by the slide out. I leave the heat on at 40℉ and have never had a freeze up problem and I've been RVing since 1973. That said, I really did like some of your suggestions and will probably incorporate them into my cold weather routine. Thanks for the video and happy holidays!

[DirectCurrentu]

Really great information Brian! I use a lot of the ideas that You have mentioned in this video. I use my RV year round so it important to keep everything protected during the winter. I really like the way You did Your windows in your RV as well as your Class C. I do like using Armored heat tape for my drain lines just in case its super cold when I need to dump my tanks. My tanks then self are heated but have never needed to use them. Having thermometers and the ability to monitor all the areas of your RV that are vulnerable to freezing temperatures is really helpful. I do use an electric heater anytime I have extra Solar to dump as well. Keep up the great work and Happy Holidays!🎄👍

[josephhartman]

Great video. Live in PacNW so we just blow out the water lines and put the antifreeze in p traps and tanks. Like your light bulb tip.

[BoujeeBoondocker]

I always look forward to your videos. The topics and content always interest me.

[jamescampolo]

One problem with storing gas in the tank with ethenol in it is that after several months it starts to separate.

[DennisWintjes]

Thanks Brian for sharing! Like 59. I liked the magnets in your first curtains to reduce air currents. Since you have solar, do you need to run an extension cord out? Or do you just run all of this from solar?

[davidpatrick]

Very good. I will work with some of these ideas. I find condensation (without using propane) builds and so on. I thought of another thing worth doing when you do you vehicle run ... after doing the shift through the gears ... even backing up and and forward again will assure the brake lining from rusting or sticking so much. I was a Ford tech ... keep those caliper guides cleaned and lubed (use special caliper grease only).. good summer project. Semi metallic pads have metal and it will tend to rust if not kept free. Here in the PNW shoes and pads will make noise regardless until they warm up and dry. .., , Trivia, when coolant gets up to temp it doesn't mean the motor is warmed up... just the coolant .. think of where the water jacket and oil areas are in a motor, ... when the motor is 100% warm, the oil and coolant are nearly the same temp. Coolant warms up and cools off quicker than oil. Thus, when first ready to take out of storage and use.. doing all the same things you're doing, drive it easy for 15 to 20 miles and get that oil up to temperature... the motor will love you for doing that. 🙂