Camper Winterization Guide

Winterizing a camper is an important part of maintenance that many RV owners need to take care of year after year. Here at Rte. 125 RV & Marine, we want to make sure you can get the job done right so we’ve put together this guide to getting through the camper winterization process. If you have any questions or need parts or service, come in and see us at our dealership in Rochester, NH.

Empty Your Holding Tanks

Drain out your freshwater, gray, and black holding tanks. Your black tank will need to be rinsed with a black tank wand (if you have a black tank flush, use that instead). The water heater will also need to be drained. Open the pressure relief valve at the top of the water heater tank, and then pull the drain plug and wait for the water to drain out (this may take a few minutes). Next, close the valve and replace the plug when you’re done.

Empty your Pipes

Open all the faucets in your camper, including the shower (and outside shower, if you have one). Locate the low point drain beneath your RV and remove the plug. Turn on your water pump and let it run until the water has been pushed out of the pipes. Replace the low point drain plug, and close all the faucets.

Winterizing the Plumbing

Now you’re going to start pumping antifreeze into your camper. Hook up a water pump converter kit (a hose that snaps into the inlet side of your pump) and insert the hose into your jug of antifreeze. Turn on the water pump and find the faucet closest to your pump. Open the cold water valve and let it run until you see antifreeze flowing, then switch to the hot water valve.

When both hot and cold valves have been winterized, move on to the next closest faucet. Make sure you remember to winterize your shower, and outside shower as well during this process. Flush your toilet until you see antifreeze there. When all the faucets have been winterized, shut off the water pump.

To finish up, you’ll need to winterize any other appliances that use water, including washing machines and ice makers. Consult the respective owner’s manuals for these appliances for instructions on winterizing.

We hope that this guide is helpful when you set out to winterize your camper for storage. Remember that if you need help with any repairs, we’re here to help at Rte. 125 RV & Marine in Rochester, NH. We welcome all our patrons in Massachusetts and Maine.