For many of the folks in the Midwest, it’s already beginning to get cold.  When we lived in Wisconsin I would already be thinking about winterizing the trailer when October rolled around.   Now that we live in Texas I really don’t worry about winterizing until much later in the year. It rarely gets below freezing here but winterizing is coming.

For those folks in the upper part of our great nation; winterizing the travel trailers signify the end of one season and the beginning of the next.  The “next season” is the unloading of the trailers and the clearing of water lines, water heater, and prepping the sink drains and toilet for winter.

For many years we stored our Travel Trailer off site, about five miles from our house.  The location was convenient and secure but the location was near a heavily wooded and bushy field.  Needless to say, an environment like that is ripe for rodents and other critters.

To be safe, we always take anything chew-able out of the trailer.  Napkins, Paper Towels, Paper Plates, etc…  These are all items that make great nesting materials for mice.  In addition we double check to make sure we haven’t left any food in the trailer.  We always unload our food after every trip just to eliminate any possibility of rodents or ants in the camping season.  We also remove any soap or cleaning supplies.  If there’s anything else in the trailer that you think may freeze and burst, take it out.

The next step we usually take is to put some d-Con (Mice poison) under the bed; and in the bathroom behind the toilet as a safety measure.  We have been doing this for 25 years and I have never seen any evidence of mice in our trailers; but you know what happens the first time you don’t do it!  So one big thing to remember about mice bait is that it will kill your pets, no doubt about it.  If your pets have access to you trailer at all in the off season you need to make sure they cannot get near this bait.

You may want to do an inspection under the trailer.  Make sure that there are no openings that any critters can use to set up house over the winter.  Since you are already on the ground looking you might as well pump up the tires.  I like to put an extra five pounds in my tires because I know it will be sitting for a couple months before I take it out on the road again.

My last step has always been to bypass the water heater and run safe antifreeze through the hot and cold water lines and down the train traps and toilets.  Surprisingly almost every trailer I’ve had was slightly different in its configuration for by-passing the water heater.  In fact the ’24 Jayco that we had was such an awkward set-up,  that you almost had to be double jointed to reach the by-pass handles.   The Coachmen Travel Trailer that we owned required me to crawl under the bed, unscrew a panel;  then lay on my side to accomplish the task – not fun at any age.

This year I’m going a slightly different route.   I’m going to blow the lines out with air.  A simple air line fitting, just like the one below available from Amazon,  attaches to the city water line valve on your trailer, and then a compressor set at no greater than 50 PSI pressurizes the water lines and pushes existing water out the taps, shower, toilet, etc…  I’ve heard other folks use much greater PSI to blow out their line, so feel free to do your own research on the subject.  Then it’s simply the same procedure for the sink traps – pour some safe antifreeze in the lines.  Note: The water heater will still be drained and bypassed before blowing the lines.

So why the change?  I just do not like all the foaming and antifreeze coming our the lines in the spring.  I live in a climate now where I feel my risk factor for freezing is substantially less than when we live in Wisconsin.  If I was still living there I’m not sure I would feel that comfortable with the new process, but that’s just me……

Regardless of the choice you make on winterizing, don’t wait until your hands are numb to protect your investment.  Finally,  always read you owners manual to decide how to proceed and what will work best for you.

To read about the step by step process we use to winterize our travel trailer click here.