Winterizing Minnie Winnie B25, put Antifreeze in the Fresh Water Tank?

[Sabine&Joe]

So... we are going to do our first winterizing of Minnie Winnie, she gave us a few beautiful trips this first summer! We've read through manuals, watched youtube videos, and located valves and tools. We have found that there is no winterization hose/three way valve connected to the inlet side of the waterpump, so not sure how this was winterized by the pervious owner. The inlet side of the waterpump has a little filter connected and an elbow valve with the line that comes from the water tank. It's in a tight spot, so we are considering if it would be easier to add antifreeze to the fresh water tank and pump it throught that way instead. Anyone done this? Pros and cons for doing that instead of connecting a hose directly to the pump?

 

[be happy]

I am sure someone will come on that has done it that way before. Not ever doing it through the fresh water tank I feel it easier to install the diverter value to the water pump. There are many to choose from on Amazon or any RV shop should have them. Its a simple DIY project.

It takes me about 4-5 gal to do my coach. I do over kill the usage but rather spend the extra on a gallon than deal with broken plumbing in the spring. For you I would think 2-3 gal might be enough. I would think many more would be needed it you went the fresh water tank way. I would all so think the spring de-winterizing would be harder clearing the lines of the rv antifreeze.

Good luck on your decision

 

[Morich]

There are at least four different bui8old dates that may change some parts of the fresh water plumbing, but they all appear to be the same layout in this part of the fresh supply. You may want to verify this info by going to the plumbing and then fresh water here:

Parts Catalog

But I would not do much to mod the plumbing as it is only a one a year deal to add antifreeze. Jus t doesn't seem required for me?
On RV that have no siphon tube built in, I have used two different ways to get the antifreeze into the system. I have added it in the fresh tank and let the pump move it around.
The better method is to have a short length of hose to screw onto the fresh inlet port and just use a funnel to pour the antifreeze in and let it run to the tank. I always seem to have a junk hose that needs to be repurposed!
But if no junk on hand, just screwing the full length hose on the port, filling the hoes with anti and then "chase" it on through the full hose and into the tank will work. Just a bit more bother!

On your RV, one way to avoid needing lots more anti to get it to cover the outlet from the tank to the pump, you might consider parking so the RV front is an inch or so higher than the rear. The way the pump and plumbing are located on the rear wall of the tank, that slight slope will let you put less antifreeze in the tank and still get the pump to draw it out. Lifting the front even higher is not a problem, but just a bit of slope will help!
See if this drawing helps make sense of what I'm saying?

You want the RV semi-level left/ right and a bit higher at front so anti going in at bottom reaches the outgoing line right next to it!
Only hazard if not leveled is that more antifreeze may be left in tank but that is not always a problem as it is a somewhat small amount to drain and flush in the spring! RV antifreeze is safe for drinking but I don't like the "feel" for showers if I leave too much in there!

 

[Pointyears]

So... we are going to do our first winterizing of Minnie Winnie, she gave us a few beautiful trips this first summer! We've read through manuals, watched youtube videos, and located valves and tools. We have found that there is no winterization hose/three way valve connected to the inlet side of the waterpump, so not sure how this was winterized by the pervious owner. The inlet side of the waterpump has a little filter connected and an elbow valve with the line that comes from the water tank. It's in a tight spot, so we are considering if it would be easier to add antifreeze to the fresh water tank and pump it throught that way instead. Anyone done this? Pros and cons for doing that instead of connecting a hose directly to the pump?

If I was going to do that I'd do what some genius guy did here and pump in the cheapest vodka he could buy.

 

[RayIN]

Morich covered it; adding RV antifreeze to the fresh water tank is a bad idea. You can never completely drain the fresh water tank unless the drain is in the bottom of the tank instead of the side near the bottom.
Then you have the dilemma of how to remove the remaining RV antifreeze from the fresh water tank, you cannot drink it due to the bad taste.
Buy and install a winterizing bypass kit, it's a one time expense. I'd bet you already have one though. It should be covered in your owners manual.

 

[Eagle5]

I believe winterizing your 25B would be similar to how I use the blow-out method to winterize my 22M:

Winterizing a 22M using the blow-out method

To keep my water lines clean, I purchased a new oil-free compressor and a new hose. BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor, Oil-Free, 6 Gallon Air Compressor Hose Blowout plug adapter Here is the process I used. Assured that the Black and Grey tanks are empty, and then close their dump valves. Open...

www.winnieowners.com

Eagle5

 

[klook]

I don't use air. I winterize rigs for customers. I built a pressurized system from an old pump and a bucket. The easiest method is to just install a T and a ball valve to pull from a gallon jug like someone has mentioned already. Yes there is a kit. I fix campers every spring that get blown out with air improperly. Depends where it is being stored.....

 

[TheMaloneys]

So... we are going to do our first winterizing of Minnie Winnie, she gave us a few beautiful trips this first summer! We've read through manuals, watched youtube videos, and located valves and tools. We have found that there is no winterization hose/three way valve connected to the inlet side of the waterpump, so not sure how this was winterized by the pervious owner. The inlet side of the waterpump has a little filter connected and an elbow valve with the line that comes from the water tank. It's in a tight spot, so we are considering if it would be easier to add antifreeze to the fresh water tank and pump it throught that way instead. Anyone done this? Pros and cons for doing that instead of connecting a hose directly to the pump?

I have the exact same Minnie Winnie as you and just got done winterizing it for the first time. I installed the Camco winterizing kit and it worked absolutely perfectly. I know what you mean about the elbow coming out of the water filter next to the pump being pretty close to the outside wall. i just unscrewed the four screws holding the water pump down and turned the pump on an angle a little to make some clearance to add the valve from the winterizing kit. doesn’t take any tools to install. just unscrew hose from the filter , screw in the valve and screw the hose back on the new valve. i also added a little hatch door on the inside of the rear storage compartment which gives me access to that area without pulling up the mattress. i ran the hose from the winterizing kit through that hatch door and siphoned from the jugs of antifreeze using the water pump. worked like a charm. i attached some pics of the hatch and the kit installed. let me know if you have any questions or want links to the winterizing kit or the hatch door.

 

[paof6]

So... we are going to do our first winterizing of Minnie Winnie, she gave us a few beautiful trips this first summer! We've read through manuals, watched youtube videos, and located valves and tools. We have found that there is no winterization hose/three way valve connected to the inlet side of the waterpump, so not sure how this was winterized by the pervious owner. The inlet side of the waterpump has a little filter connected and an elbow valve with the line that comes from the water tank. It's in a tight spot, so we are considering if it would be easier to add antifreeze to the fresh water tank and pump it throught that way instead. Anyone done this? Pros and cons for doing that instead of connecting a hose directly to the pump?

Another 25B owner here.
The Maloney's thread pretty much nails it although we completely removed the small panel they built their access door into.
The water pump is in a very tight space but you won't look back after you install the winterization kit.
I don't think the 25B fresh tank can be gravity filled making adding pink stuff to it a real chore.

 

[Cooperhawk]

If I was going to do that I'd do what some genius guy did here and pump in the cheapest vodka he could buy.

That would be me. I did that for several years with our old Airstream 345 Diesel, and I would bypass the water tank and pump the cheapest vodka I could find through the system. It sanitized, protected from freezing, and in the Spring you could have quite a party with it coming out of all faucets for a bit. Our present Journey is so easy to gravity drain and blow out that I stopped doing it. Anti Freeze leaves a horrible taste that takes a while to go away.

 

[TheMaloneys]

That would be me. I did that for several years with our old Airstream 345 Diesel, and I would bypass the water tank and pump the cheapest vodka I could find through the system. It sanitized, protected from freezing, and in the Spring you could have quite a party with it coming out of all faucets for a bit. Our present Journey is so easy to gravity drain and blow out that I stopped doing it. Anti Freeze leaves a horrible taste that takes a while to

That would be me. I did that for several years with our old Airstream 345 Diesel, and I would bypass the water tank and pump the cheapest vodka I could find through the system. It sanitized, protected from freezing, and in the Spring you could have quite a party with it coming out of all faucets for a bit. Our present Journey is so easy to gravity drain and blow out that I stopped doing it. Anti Freeze leaves a horrible taste that takes a while to go away.

Seems like that has to do with the type of antifreeze you use. cheap stuff with ethanol or ethanol blend have a distinct smell and after taste. if you spend a couple extra bucks per gallon and get propylene glycol only, i’ve never had any smell or any after taste at all after flushing it out.

 

[Joe & Sabine]

I have the exact same Minnie Winnie as you and just got done winterizing it for the first time. I installed the Camco winterizing kit and it worked absolutely perfectly. I know what you mean about the elbow coming out of the water filter next to the pump being pretty close to the outside wall. i just unscrewed the four screws holding the water pump down and turned the pump on an angle a little to make some clearance to add the valve from the winterizing kit. doesn’t take any tools to install. just unscrew hose from the filter , screw in the valve and screw the hose back on the new valve. i also added a little hatch door on the inside of the rear storage compartment which gives me access to that area without pulling up the mattress. i ran the hose from the winterizing kit through that hatch door and siphoned from the jugs of antifreeze using the water pump. worked like a charm. i attached some pics of the hatch and the kit installed. let me know if you have any questions or want links to the winterizing kit or the hatch door.

Nice, thank you!

 

[Joe & Sabine]

Wow, great replies, thank you everyone! We will decide tomorrow, shop for supplied and get it done Saturday. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[Joe & Sabine]

So, just to update, We followed "TheMaloneys" suggestion and did end up installing the winterizing kit. Once we unscrewed the water pump from the bottom it was much easier than expected. Just remounted the water pump in a slightly different position. In the future winterizing should be a breeze!

 

[TheMaloneys]

glad it worked out for you! was really happy with how easy it was to install and use!