Flash7481 Report post Posted October 28, 2021 Hi, I've been waiting on parts at Freightliner for almost 3 months. It is parked in their lot, batteries are dead. Temperatures are slowly dropping, next week the low will be 28, 30, 34 at night and up in the high 40s in the day. I drained my water tank but I'm fearful of freezing something. I've heard that you can put a small propane heater in the "cabinet" to help warm things up. Any ideas about that or other ways to either winterize on a Frightener lot or keep that cabinet sorta warm? Thanks. 2000 Mountain Aire Lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted October 28, 2021 Can you work with them to get you an air line out where your coach is parked? That way you could at least blow all the water from the lines and winterize with air. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rayin Report post Posted October 30, 2021 Drain the water heater tank too, open all low-point drains, then open all faucets + shower. Then do as Richard advised; don't forget to attach the air hose to the city water inlet to blow out that line and the water pump. Begin closing faucets at closest to the water pump. Any remaining water should be in such a small quantity that freezing should not harm your plumbing. I really doubt water in your plumbing will freeze hard enough to cause any damage anyway. Those lows only occur for approx. 1-2 hrs. prior to daylight There will always be a small amount of water remaining in the fresh water tank and water heater, it is of no consequence; if it does freeze any ice will expand upward instead of outward due to the large surface area and shallow depth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted October 30, 2021 I have never had any coach sitting without elect at a shop! I'm surprised yours is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
five Report post Posted October 30, 2021 If you have an Aqua Hot, be sure it does not freeze! There are 65' of copper inside the casing in a 450. If that copper freezes, and splits you must purchase a new unit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) I am with Carl. I don't understand the "NO POWER" at a dealer. I think I would be telling the dealer you need at least 30 amp power. I would also point out that because they didn't plug your coach in letting your batteries go dead may have ruined them. Bill Edited October 31, 2021 by wildebill308 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rayin Report post Posted November 1, 2021 11 hours ago, wildebill308 said: I am with Carl. I don't understand the "NO POWER" at a dealer. I think I would be telling the dealer you need at least 30 amp power. I would also point out that because they didn't plug your coach in letting your batteries go dead may have ruined them. Bill Camping World of Indianapolis did that to our MH. The 1 yr old coach battery bank was ruined. When I spoke with the service manager he quickly said, " pull it around to the service check-in and I'll have new batteries installed. I did and he did; I was enroute back home in 2 hours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richard5933 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 I know that you guys have newer rigs than mine, but don't you shut down the house systems when taking it to the shop? Especially if it will be there for an unknown period of time? This coach is not at an RV dealership, it's at Freightliner. Most of the truck repair centers I've been to cater to trucks and simply aren't equipped with a bunch of places to plug in vehicles waiting for service/parts. If the batteries are charged and not subjected to parasitic loads they should be good for at least a few months on their own with no damage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
five Report post Posted November 1, 2021 If it is a Freightliner "Oasis" dealer, it should have plug ins for RVs. Oasis dealers are better equipped to handle MHs, they will have power and water. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rayin Report post Posted November 1, 2021 10 hours ago, richard5933 said: I know that you guys have newer rigs than mine, but don't you shut down the house systems when taking it to the shop? Especially if it will be there for an unknown period of time? This coach is not at an RV dealership, it's at Freightliner. Most of the truck repair centers I've been to cater to trucks and simply aren't equipped with a bunch of places to plug in vehicles waiting for service/parts. If the batteries are charged and not subjected to parasitic loads they should be good for at least a few months on their own with no damage. Yes, when I left them our MH I shut off the main disconnect. When they worked on it they turned it back on and never bothered to turn it back off. I even had a post-it note over the speedo.. They must do that regularly, because there was a full pallet of new batteries by the shop entrance from the service writers desk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted November 2, 2021 15 hours ago, richard5933 said: This coach is not at an RV dealership, it's at Freightliner. Most of the truck repair centers I've been to cater to trucks and simply aren't equipped with a bunch of places to plug in vehicles waiting for service/parts. I don't care where it is or the age of the coach. I have the expectation that if they can't perform the requested work that it be maintained in a safe and secure condition. There isn't a Freightliner dealer out there that doesn't know that you need to have a RV plugged in to maintain the batteries or to prevent freezing. Well once more the OP hasn't come back. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted November 2, 2021 Agree, Bill. Not much has changed in the past 50+ years! Now we have 50A, back in the 1960's-70's it was mostly 15A and LP for heat or fridge. Several more chassis to choose from! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flash7481 Report post Posted November 11, 2021 Thanks all for your help! I did get it winterized - they jumped me - took it home. Now will return it and continue to wait and wait and wait for parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted November 12, 2021 On 11/11/2021 at 10:48 AM, Flash7481 said: Thanks all for your help! I did get it winterized - they jumped me - took it home. Now will return it and continue to wait and wait and wait for parts. I would tell them you need at least a 15 amp extension cord to hook up for power so you don't continue to have battery problems. They may have already damaged your battery's by letting them go dead. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jleamont Report post Posted November 13, 2021 Interesting topic. 7 years ago we bought our DP. It had scratches on it and I took it to a local body shop for repair. The owner asked me if he needed to plug it in to protect my batteries. I told him no, they are switched off. When I asked him how he knew that his response was shocking. He has classic cars that sit. Over time they will ruin the battery if not plugged in, I assumed an RV would have similar issues if not plugged in. Needless to say I was impressed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted November 13, 2021 On 11/11/2021 at 10:48 AM, Flash7481 said: Thanks all for your help! I did get it winterized - they jumped me - took it home. Now will return it and continue to wait and wait and wait for parts. If you have a place to park it at home why not keep it there (plugged in) till they are ready to work on it? Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted November 14, 2021 I agree with Bill. What parts are you waiting on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
