Preparing Your Coach for Cooler Weather

GUEST COLUMN This article originally printed in Country Coach, LLC’s Destination magazine. Still valuable information today, I am pleased to share it here.

Preparing Your Coach for Cooler Weather  by Brian Keys, CC Engineering Dept Employee

With summer behind us and winter fast approaching, it is time for many of us to winterize our coach. There are two winterizing processes commonly practiced. The simplest and perhaps the most preferable option is to clear out any water from your coach's plumbing system using low pressure compressed air. The second option is to replace the water in your coach's plumbing system with RV antifreeze. This process is a little more time consuming both during winterization, and de-winterization when the RV antifreeze must be flushed completely from the system to eliminate the somewhat unpleasant taste from your water supply. If making decisions is not one of your strengths, then you may be glad to know that many of the current Country Coach models with a Royal Flush toilet, or diesel fired water heater can only be winterized with RV antifreeze as the compressed air process will not clear the water from some areas of the plumbing system. This includes all-electric coaches where the water heater cannot be easily drained.

There are many variations to the winterization process, and some will use a combination or both air and RV antifreeze especially when the coach will be subjected to extreme cold during the winter months. Which process you choose to use is mostly a matter of personal preference, but be aware that a coach with the Royal Flush toilet and diesel or electric water heaters will have some unique requirements as detailed below.

Before we begin, let us share a few words of caution.

* The water you will be draining from your coach can be very hot and may cause scalding!

 

* If you have chosen to use the compressed air process, you should ensure that the air supply is filtered to remove both particulate matter, and oil/water emulsion. The air pressure should be regulated to no more than 50psi to prevent damage to the plumbing system.

* If you decide to go with the RV antifreeze process, then please be aware of the correct terminology as used throughout this article. You will need to purchase 'RV Antifreeze', not 'antifreeze' or 'coolant' which is for engine use. The RV antifreeze you choose should be specifically designed for winterizing RV plumbing systems, and it should be non-toxic for obvious reasons!

 

* One last word of caution; wear old clothes! There are many opportunities for messes to occur that will present themselves as you winterize your coach. The RV antifreeze for example is usually colored and can stain clothing, plastic or paint. Spills should be cleaned up promptly!

Winterization using the air pressure process:

1. Turn off both heat sources for the water heater - electric and propane (if not an all electric coach). The electric heat source is typically turned off at the appropriately labeled breaker in the distribution panel.

2. Empty the holding tanks at a suitable location, and drain the fresh water tank also. Use the leveling system to lean your coach to the driver's side to empty the tanks as much as possible.

3. Open all the low point drain valves which are usually located behind the water pump access panel in the water bay.

4. Locate the drain plug at the bottom of water heater and remove it to drain the contents of the water heater tank. Opening the PTR release valve that is usually located above the drain plug will help the water drain faster. Replace the drain plug and close the PTR release valve when the water heater is empty.

5. Adjust the regulator of a clean air source to a maximum of 50psi then connect it to the city water connection using a winterizing adaptor. The city water connection on your coach will exist either as a retractable hose, or a female hose fitting in the water bay. The winterizing adaptor is commonly available at most RV accessory retailers.

6. When water stops coming out of the drain valves, close them and continue by opening the hot and cold faucets throughout the coach until only air comes out, then close them also. Draping a wet wash cloth over the faucet will avoid any undesirable splashes as the air purges. Don't forget to open the shower fixture and the faucet in the water bay.

7. Flush the toilet until air comes out and cycle the washer/dryer on a warm setting to clear water from those lines.

8. Cycle the icemaker (following the manufacturer's instructions) until air purges from the supply line.

9. Set your coach back into a level position and activate the fresh water fill to clear water from this circuit into the fresh water tank. With this step complete, disconnect the air hose from your coach and connect it momentarily to the sewer flush to clear its lines of water.

10. Now cycle the water pump for about one minute until it is only pumping air. Remove the bowl from the water filter housing and drain the contents. The filter should be discarded and the bowl replaced securely. You will need to install a new filter after de-winterizing your coach in the spring.

11. Lastly, protect the P-traps throughout your coach by pouring RV Antifreeze minto all the basin drains including those in the galley, bathroom and shower. Pour about a half gallon of RV antifreeze into your washer/dryer and run it through a cycle to ensure its P-trap is protected also, then fill your toilet bowl with the remaining half gallon.

Winterizing with RV Antifreeze:

If you chose this option, it is probably because you have an all-electric coach, or your coach has a Royal Flush toilet or diesel fired water heater. This process will require about ten gallons of RV antifreeze, which must be pumped into your coach's plumbing system using one of the three methods below.

* Pour the RV antifreeze into the fresh water tank after it has been emptied, then pump it into the plumbing system using your coach's onboard water pump. This method should be avoided because the water that cannot be completely drained from your fresh tank will dilute the RV antifreeze, thus reducing its effectiveness. It is also difficult to remove all the RV antifreeze from the fresh water tank and any that remains will make your water taste somewhat unpleasant.

* Pump the RV antifreeze into your coach's plumbing system through the city water connection using an external water pump hooked up to 12-volts. This method is preferred but it does require that you purchase a second water pump. This second pump can be retained as a spare, however, should the onboard water pump fail for any reason.

* Disconnect your coach's onboard pump from the fresh water tank and use it to pump the RV antifreeze into the plumbing system. This method may seem like the ideal solution, but disconnecting your pump from the fresh water tank requires a lot of patience and manual dexterity. There is also a risk of damage to fittings which can be difficult to repair. I would caution against this approach.

Now let's continue with the process itself!

1. Complete steps 1 and 2 of the above air pressure process.

2. Open all the low point drain valves, which are usually located behind the water pump access panel in the water bay. Now open all the faucets throughout the coach to help the water drain faster. Don't forget to open the water bay faucet and shower fixture, and flush the toilet repeatedly until water stops flowing.

3. Once the water stops flowing from the low point drains, the next step is to set your coach back into a level position then cycle the water pump for about one minute until it is only pumping air. Next, close all the faucets and remove the water filter bowl to dump the contents. Replace the water filter bowl securely to prevent leaks.

4.

With the low point drains still open, pump RV antifreeze into

plumbing system using one of the three methods above until it begins to flow from the low point drains. These drains can now be closed.

5. While still pumping RV antifreeze into the coach, now open the cold water side of the faucets throughout the coach until the RV antifreeze begins to flow then turn them off. Repeat this process for the hot water side of the faucets and be aware that this step will take significantly longer because the RV antifreeze must fill the water heater also.

6. Short cycle the washer/dryer on a warm setting to fill these lines and Ptrap with RV antifreeze. Next, cycle the toilet until RV Antifreeze fills the bowl.

7. Cycle the icemaker (following the manufacturer's instructions) until the ice tray fills with RV antifreeze.

8. If you chose to use an external pump to drive RV antifreeze into the plumbing system, it can now be disconnected and hooked up to the sewer flush to clear these lines using about 1/8th gallon of solution.

9. Last, repeat step 2 above to drain most of the RV antifreeze from the plumbing system. This last step provides some room for expansion should the system freeze in severe weather conditions. This is especially important for the water heaters in all-electric coaches which cannot be completely drained, and will not receive the same protection as the rest of the system because the RV antifreeze will have been diluted by the water that remained in the water heater's tank. This water that remains after draining will not cause any damage to the heater in the unlikely event that it should freeze. The same is also true of the holding tanks which also cannot be completely drained.

If you were able to winterize your coach in a timely manner while managing to stay clean and dry, then you are clearly proficient in the process and might consider winterizing your friends coach also; for a nominal fee of course! The following list of items should also be considered before storing your coach for the winter months.

Additional Steps:

1. Remove perishable items from your refrigerator and also remove any canned or bottled goods from your coach that may freeze and burst.

2. Replace the fluid in your windshield washer reservoir with a wash solution that has freeze protection.

3. Check the coolant in your engine and generator for adequate freeze protection. Also replace the oil and filters to eliminate the contaminants that can settle to the bottom of the oil pan, and acids that can cause accelerated wear to various components of your engine while stationary for long periods.

4. Fill your diesel tank to reduce condensation and add a fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from breaking down.

5. Make sure your batteries are fully charged to prevent them from freezing, and consider using solar panels to keep them charged if you cannot provide power to your coach during storage.

6. Increase your tire pressure to maximum rated pressure then park your coach in a location that is away from trees to avoid risk of falling limbs, and to minimize the buildup of difficult to clean tree sap on your coach's exterior.

7. Always remember to protect against undesirable visitors such as ants or mice that may find refuge in your coach while you are absent.
 
Taking the time to winterize your coach thoroughly will avoid any unpleasant surprises when it comes to de-winterizing in the spring.

 

Cake...and finding one's bliss

“Love is like a good cake; you never know when it’s coming, but you better eat it when it does.” – C Joybell C. I read that quote this morning and I started thinking….about Karen Smith…and finding one's bliss.

Karen Smith loves cake. Four words clearly defining sheer bliss for an old Country Coach Friend. Cake.  Chocolate, vanilla, cherry chip, Hostess Cupcake…it’s all good. Let us eat cake! That was her mantra. In fact, one birthday I recall I brought Karen a big box of Hostess Cupcakes for her to take home—not to share. Which is just as well, for take them home she did. Good memories of Country Coach friends.

We’re all looking for our “cake in life. That place, that state of mind or being, wherein we have that moment of bliss and know “Life is good.”

 For the Kellogg family of Colorado, they have found their “cake” in selling their home, loading up the 12 kids and hitting the open road in a motorcoach full-time. Home schooling all but the oldest in the mornings and enjoying life in the afternoons. “Every day is a weekend,” father Kellogg says. (You can read about their adventures at www.KelloggShow.com)

For others it may be weekend getaways—you close the office at 5 o’clock Friday and you head to the coast or the Cascades, or to a campground off the I-5 corridor in the middle of wine country here in Oregon to enjoy a wine tasting weekend. All from the comfort of your RV.

And then there are others, a younger set perhaps, who plan for that annual adventure in the motorhome (or tent, or toyhauler trailer). Like my second son Jack. The Anderson family makes an annual trip to Arizona. The parents (and their parents friends) winter in Arizona. The children, now age thirty-somethings,  and their children head out in late February and spend ten days playing in the sand with them every year. With motorhome loaded with toys for the kids, and towing the adult toy, their Jeep, behind, the kids and grandkids join grandparents for some multi-generational memory-making. It doesn’t get any better than this. Sheer Bliss.

When the kids were growing up, we loved to load up the pickup and the tent supplies and head to the coast, or to the Sisters, Oregon area to hike MacArthur Rim with our extended family …aunts and uncles, cousins…all enjoying the beauty of this Pacific northwest paradise while ‘roughing’ it.

I don't know what your “Cake” may be, but now is the time to eat it. For life is short. Take the trips, enjoy the adventures, create the memories. Whatever the flavor of your “cake”—pursue it with passion!

Winter Motorcoach Travel

Winter Motorcoaching  

by Guest Writer Mark Layton 

Mark and Darlene Layton were proud Country Coach owners for many years. Always avid winter sports enthusiasts, they made good use of their motorcoach throughout the winter. Mark authored this article he’s shared within this newsletter some time ago. Mark told us recently, “We are still wintering in Colorado and have a house in Glenwood Springs not too far from the ski areas. We enjoyed many ski adventures over the years while wintering in our Country Coach motorhome.”

     I meet people all the time that don’t understand that you can use your coach to go skiing or whatever you like to do in the winter at temperatures below freezing. I have been skiing out of a motorhome since 1970 and thought that I would like to pass on some of the things that I have learned. First of all, we are very fortunate to own a coach that is well insulated and makes things easier. You have to remember coach manufacturers don’t put a lot of priority into ensuring that nothing freezes, since most of their sales are to people that go to warm climates. When I ordered my last coach, a 2000 Magna with a kitchen slide and heated floor, I made sure certain things were done before I took delivery. The nice thing is they can all be done to any coach and at any time. 

     Besides what was done at the factory I had my tires siped* which helped a lot. You are going to say what the heck is that. That is exactly what I said when I first heard about it from a highway patrol officer in Idaho. One day I was talking to the officer and asked what kind of chains they use. His answer was, “We don’t use chains; we have our tires siped and therefore don’t need chains.” So I went to Les Schwab in Junction City and asked about it and was told most truckers get the tires siped for better traction. Since then I’ve found my tires wear better due to running cooler, and I have better traction on slick or wet roads.

   The freeze protection all manufacturers put in your coach is fine to a point. It takes care of the water and holding tanks but not the water pump. Since the water pump is at the lowest point of your service bay it will freeze if you don’t give it extra protection. There’s a small 12 volt heater available which I installed and hooked up to the thermostat to take care of freeze protection in the service bay.

     Your hot and cold water lines will need protection if you have a kitchen slide. We heat-taped all water lines to the slide and put insulation around them. Remember your refrigerator has a water line that goes to the icemaker. This line is plastic and you have to replace it with copper tubing before you can heat tape it as the plastic line will fail from the heat tape (I found this out the hard way). These are things you should do before going to really cold climate. Other things you should have ready when you get there are 60 watt light bulbs, three or four small electric heaters and a good snow shovel. Even though we don’t travel when it is snowing it is nice to be able to keep your place clean around the coach. Since I retired we don’t have to travel when the weather or roads are bad so that is not a problem. I carry a set of chains just in case they’ve been unused since we got the Magna.

      You ask what in the world are the light bulbs for? They are to plug into your bays. I get the light bulb attachments that have a socket on one side and two prongs on the other so you can plug them into any outlet. Usually the 60 watt bulbs are enough to keep things from freezing in your bays.

     Just about all the places we go have 50 amp hook ups. I put one of the electric heaters in the service bay and one in the bay that has the water filter. I found that at 25 below things will freeze even with the light bulbs going. As far as the service bay is concerned, you would not have to use the heater but why use your propane or diesel if you have power available? The heaters in the outside bays are plugged into a 30 amp cord with the right adapter (available at all camping stores). All the hook-ups I have seen have a 50 and 30 amp outlet. I use both 50 amp for the coach and 30 amp for the heaters. That way I don’t overload the coach breakers. I use two electric heaters in the coach to cut down on cost for diesel or propane and need to move the coach for refueling. 

    The other thing that is a must is to protect your cooling unit of your refrigerator. The manufacturer of the refrigerator tells you that all you have to do is to turn the switch on which keeps the light on inside the refrigerator. I found that not to be good enough in real cold weather. I use the foam insolating tubing that they use for water pipe and cut it to the right length and cover all but one row of the outside vents. Then I also put a light bulb in the area where the cooling unit is to keep it from freezing. No matter what someone may tell you, I have seen too many cooling units freeze and have to be replaced. Two years ago when we had a real cold spell in Breckenridge the service truck replaced at least five or six units in one day at the cost of about $2000.00 each. Mine was not one of these needing replaced; it was working fine--and still is.

    Now what to do about filling with fresh water and dumping. I see a lot of people making up and using water hoses with heat tape and insulation. I also see the problems they have some of the time with the faucets freezing because they are designed to drain back and are not freeze proof when the water is left on. I fill with water and dump when I need to and empty the hoses and put them away till I need them again. I do it this way so as to eliminate any chance of problems.

Since we usually go to the hot tub after a hard day of skiing and take our showers there, we don’t use a lot of water and therefore don’t have to fill and dump that often. Sometimes we do dry camp in the winter when we know that it is not going to get too cold. Then you have to be prepared to run your generator more often.

    If you have a kitchen slide, bring your kitchen slide in at night when temperatures are at their lowest, so that your furnace will keep everything in good working order.

    After I retired, we went to Tiger Run RV Resort in Breckenridge, CO for longer periods of time and found that there were only a hand full of RVers there in the winter.  As I originally wrote this, there were at least 50 to 75 RVs there all winter long. Tiger Run has an indoor pool, hot tubs and clubhouse. We enjoyed wine and cheese parties every Wednesday evening all winter long.

    There are quite a few RV parks near ski areas that are open in the winter. You will find if you prepare and do the things I have been talking about you will enjoy your coach just as much in the winter as in the summer.

We enjoyed our motorcoach in all seasons, Mark & Darlene

**What does the term “siping your tires” mean? Increased traction and increased tire life due to improved heat dissipation from siped lugs are a couple purported benefits of siping. Many all-season, mud+snow, and all-terrain tires marketed today are siped in the factory mold, yet few mud terrain tires are siped. Tire siping involves cutting small slits, or grooves, into tread blocks of tires to improve traction in adverse weather conditions. Sipes allow the tread blocks to spread on contact with the ground, helping expel water from the tread and providing better grip. The simplest way to sipe tires is to take them to a reputable tire shop like Dickman TireCenter in Junction City OR and have them cut. Be sure to check with the tires’ warranty issuer (manufacturer or tire retailer) before siping. Policies on tire warranty may be affected or warranty could be voided if the tires are altered.

Hobbies and Thrift Stores...an RVer's Thrill of the Hunt

Hobbies and Thrift Stoes…the Thrill of the Hunt

 by Terry Wright, guest writer

Thrift stores…… I had never been in a Thrift Store until a friend of mine, who was in charge of the table decorations for a CC Rally a few years back, decided to use Cowboy Boots as part of her centerpieces.  We started going to Thrift Stores to find them.  After collecting quite a few, she had one pair that would not stand up on the table.  Being of a “crafty” nature, I decided to try to do something with them…..I ended up making a “Cowboy Boot Purse”….It was a hit and everyone loved it…. The beginning of a new Hobby.  

So, I started shopping the Thrift Stores looking for old, gently used, boots that I could use.  I started picking up old cowboy belts for the strap and using the belt buckle for an ornament.  I gave them away to friends and family.  I was prodded by friends to start selling them.  Which I did…. I guess I have sold about 150 so far.  Not for any profit.  Just to recover my expenses and make enough to go BACK to the Thrift Store for more boots.

Since I was going to every Thrift Stores that I could find in our travels, I started looking around to see what else was available there…. I have found old books (which I love), lovely dishes, tablecloths, yarn, fabric and, you name it, I found it.  Little treasures here and there….I have taken friends, who have never been to a Thrift Store, with me and now they are addicted to them. 

I think my best buy was when we were in Florida.  My daughter and I were in a thrift store and she said “Mom, come look at this coat.” Well, I wasn’t looking for a coat so I told her I wasn’t interested.  She again said, “Mom, come look at this coat.” Well, I did, oh my goodness! It was a full length red suede coat with cowboy fringe on it. I tried it on and it fit.  I was afraid to look at the price but I did, $25.  Oh my goodness.  I just couldn’t pass it up.  I mean, living in Texas and having a coat like that…. How much better does that get.  I have been offered over $200 for it so far. I still have the price tag on it to prove my story.

Thrift Stores are a treasure trove of all kinds of things.  Some, of course, are better than others but I don’t think I have ever walked out empty handed.  You just might find the perfect thing for you to start a new hobby.  Beware, they are addicting.   Another one of my finds, which I love, is an old leather purse.  It must be 75 years old and is quite a conversation piece.  I paid $10 for it…  Another treasure!!!!

Recently I have been making quilts.  One of my quilts is called a Scrappy Quilt as it is made from left over fabric from other projects. I think my next one will be a Thrift Store Quilt from all the material I can find in Thrift Stores…. How much fun will that be????????

So, if you are traveling and need something fun to do, stop in a Thrift Store and look for some treasures. You just might find something that will fit into a hobby of yours (or be the start of an entirely new one!). Another good thing about these stores, most of their profit goes to charity and I like that. Happy shopping.

Closing Note: During a Kerrville TX Rally I had the opportunity to view these Terry Wright Original Cowboy Purses, and without doubt they are works of art. Who knew looking for rally table decorations would result in a new hobby! Warning: Thrift Stores can indeed become habit forming! Terry Wright and husband Ted are longtime motorcoaching enthusiasts. They invested many years in promoting this lifestyle and now enjoy many life-long friendships as a result! Thanks so much, Terry, for sharing this great article with us. –Sherry

Motorhome odors

...a guest post from  Motorhomes of Texas, www.motorhomesoftexas.com

 

Odiferous Issues

by Mike Martinkus

Even luxury coaches like Country Coaches can sometimes have a sewage smell permeate the cabin area of the motorhome. The offensive odor can most times be traced to the holding tanks. The contents of those tanks just naturally smells bad and nothing you do to them will change that fact . You can put chemicals in till the world ends but nothing is going to make sewage smell good...better or less offensive maybe but never "good".

It is necessary to vent these tanks to the atmosphere in order that they can accept more contents. They have to "breathe" more or less. This is almost always done by running a vent pipe from the tanks through the roof of the vehicle and thus, get the offensive smells away from our noses. Those same smells would come back up through the drains if it were not for the  curvy looking pipe just below the drain. You can see those "P" traps by looking under your kitchen or bathroom sinks. This device holds water in the "U" shaped part and that water prevents odors from traveling back up the drain and into the room.

Problems start when the water is not present in that "P" trap. NO water means odors can and will come out of the drain. Water can disappear several ways...It can leak out which should be obvious, it can evaporate over time if the coach is not used, or it can be "sloshed" out from traveling rough roads. Because of space limitations, some drains use fairly shallow traps, like under showers.

When traveling there is normally a some pressure in the tanks depending on the location of the roof vent pipe. If someone flushes a toilet while in transit, the pressure is released UP through the toilet and then when the toilet flap is closed that fluctuation in the tank pressure can cause the water in the "P" trap to be pulled into the tank allowing ventilation of the tanks to the interior. At this point the occupants usually start opening windows which exacerbates the problem.

The cure: every so often just run about a half a cup of water in every drain. Don't forget the shower and the washing machine. Anytime a commode is flushed while in transit, run the water and remember, the gray water tank stinks too.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORED FOR THE COUNTRY COACH FRIENDS INCORPORATED CLUB, AN FMCA INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER OF COUNTRY COACH OWNERS WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL BRANDS OF MOTORCOACHES.

Country Coach Friends Motorcoach Club is Growing! 200 Members Plus and Growing

*UPDATE: Mary Brothers, Club Secretary just assigned member # 280!

The CCFI club will top 300 members in 2013!

 

     Harrisburg, Oregon, January 1, 2013 -- Country Coach Friends Incorporated, an international FMCA Chapter 

comprised of Country Coach (and other brand) motorcoach owners, welcomed its 200th coach member to the 

club. Bill & Lynette Marcione of Placerville, California joined the club thanks to Premier RV Services having 

purchased their first year membership at the time they purchased     Bob Lee, co-owner of Oregon Motorcoach 

Center in Eugene, OR and founder of the original Country Coach motorcoach manufacturing company, recognized 

the club’s reaching 200 coach member families saying, “Many of these CCFI members are Terry’s and my good 

friends, some of my oldest friends in fact. We’ve traveled a lot of miles to a lot of rallies together over the years…

and in the process we’ve developed deep friendships. Isn’t that what motorcoaching is about? It isn’t surprising 

that this Country Coach club founded on friendship and open to all is steadily growing.”       

Louie Courtemanche, co-owner of Premier RV Services in Junction City, OR extended congratulations 

to the Club on reaching this membership benchmark noting, “Club President Jerry OConnor’s non-stop 

energy and strong leadership over CCFI’s formative first year as well as his passion for the Country Coach 

brand, the motorcoaching lifestyle, and for presenting high quality rallies is representative of the caliber of 

this entire club. We’re proud CCFI Club and Rally Supporters.”      RV-related businesses offered giveaways 

to members in a drawing held December 31, 2012. CCFI started with 40 coach members who became members 

during the 2011 Friendship Rally in Harrisburg, Oregon where the club was launched.  Ken and Ellie Hamill of  

Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory, Country Coach Corporation, Mary Moppins and Carr Industries. 

New Members are Welcomed! 

Steeped in tradition, yet vibrant and growing, Country Coach Friends Incorporated  members include founders of the original Country Coach motorhome manufacturing company, Bob & Terry Lee, along with brother Ron & Cookie Lee, and several of the longest tenured owners of Country Coach motorcoaches. CCFI has members across the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

Full Members are Country Coach owners. Associate Members own other brand motorcoaches. The Annual $75 Membership Dues are pro-rated based on when you join, plus a $25 fee for badges. All brands of motorcoach owners are welcome. The annual renewal fee is $75. 

As a member FMCA, the CCFI club is founded on friendship and mirrors FMCA precepts, bylaws and code of ethics. In 2013 rallies will be held in Kerrville, TX, Albany, OR, and Calistoga, CA. 

To learn about its rallies, or join visit Country Coach Friends Inc.’s dedicated website at www.countrycoachfriendsincorporated.com.  If you wish to speak to someone directly about the club, contact Jerry OConnor at 775-742-4627.