anything in particular, draining water, fluxhing antifreeze etc...? thanks for the help, going into first winter with trailer and dont want to have any problems in the spring

 

It is my opinion that you should drain all the water from the entire system including the hot water heater. What year is your 5vr? It may have a low point drain.
tom

 

2005 model

 

I drain my hot water tank & leave the thermal rod out. I drain my fresh water tank & make sure my gaywater & blackwater tanks are empty. I take my air compresor & open one faucet at a time & blow them clear,including the toilet, don't forget outside shower if you have one. I pull the plugs on the low spots of the system & let them drain. I pour rv antifreeze in all drains, sinks, shower, etc.
I don't know how cold it gets where your at, but here we only hit into the 20's* once in a great while & we use our rv all year long. If you don't then you may want to pump rv antifreeze into your plumbing & tanks, but be sure to close your bypass valve so it doesn't go into the hot water heater.

 

I guess being from AZ where it never gets below 40 in the winter my opinions are a little short on experience.
Is RV antifreeze the same as auto antifreeze?

 

no rv antifreeze is potable, if you use the other stuff you will be in the hospital.

 

If your'e LUCKY you'll end up in the hospital. Most likely you'd end up as
buzzard bait.

 

Here it goes, I drain everything as stated above,I then use RV Antifreezeit is different than regular antifreeze. Make sure that after you drain your water heater tank, you close the bypass, so as not to put 6 or more Gallons of antifreeze into that tank,it's not needed. I than take off the suction side of the on demand pump and put a correct size(mine is..500 by about 3'-4') hose onto the pump and the other end goes into the gallon jug of antifreeze.Be sure the switch for the pump is in the on postion(located by your tank level gauges).At this point I open all hot and cold faucets one at a time until the antifreeze comes out, shut it off and on to the next,flush the toilet until antifreeze comes out.If you have an onboard filter system you should remove the filter, drain it and do what you have to to bypass it as well.I know that this sounds like alot of messing around but after the first time doing it,it only takes me about 15 min. and I'm done.I've used this mythod for many years and never had any problems at all.(-15 degrees at times)Remove the hose and reattach the factory hose and wait for spring. Then hook up your water and run everything till it comes out clear.Happy camping (Oh, you'll proberly use 2 gallons or less of antifreeze,it depends on your rig)

 

I don't think it was mentioned in this thread but if you have an outdoor shower don't forget that.

I've also been told once you’re pumping in RV antifreeze to start from the furthest faucet.

Don't really know for sure but I'm doing mine this weekend.

Bill.

So you run the hot water, bypassed from the water heater, until red and then the cold?

 

I tend to blow my water lines out. The stock air to garden hose fitting is pretty restrictive, and works much better with the insides drilled out and an air hose clamped to the outside of the schrader thing.

After draining all the tanks and the water heater, I switch the valves on the water heater, blow out the lines, then suck in anti freeze, and finally pour in anti freeze in all the traps.

For a few bucks, I installed one of those winterizing kits. It's a little brass fitting with a valve that installs on the water pump pickup line. You remove a cap off a threaded fitting, thread on a hose that somes with the kit, flip the valve on the fitting and suck in anti-freeze w/o having to use tools or undo any hoses.

 

Yep, that's the way.
Start with the furthest faucet from the pump.

 

Bring her to Florida, don't have to worry about the winterizing. You'll have a good time as well.

Dave