More weird ideas

[jimindenver]

I am going to have to have the ability to winterize the trailer from time to time when the weather gets too cold day and night. I currently use the pink stuff and winterize it for the winter but on the road I may need to do it for just a short time. The water needed to flush out the system is a waste so I will be switching to blowing out the system instead. That way I can blow the lines but not need to drain my fresh water tank or hot water heater.

I have a high speed 12v compressor but no tank. I won't have room for a tank nor the ability to pick it up sooooo I can drop the spare on the Expedition, inflate it to the maximum pressure and hook a hose between it and a nipple on the city supply on the trailer. That should keep the pressure on the safe side and I only need to create the connecting hose. I can re-inflate the spare as needed and don't have to lift it as it cranks up and down.

The second issue is getting under the bed. I have a household queen sized mattress and it's a pain to lift and get to the storage under the bed. I'm not talking a hassle, for me it's real pain. My thought for it is a pair of gas struts strong enough to lift the bed when released and then be pushed back down so that a latch would click and hold them down.

Using that concept I thought of tilt able solar panels. A pair of struts could be held down by a latch that would push the panel up when released and click locked when they were pulled back down by a rope. different holes in the panels frame could be made to deal with the different angles needed for the different seasons. This would eliminate the need for a motorized lifting system.

This is what I do living the "you will do nothing and like it" life.

 

[highdesertranger]

Jim, unless you have an oil less, breathing air compressor I would be hesitant to use it to blow out your system. regular compressors put all kinds of nasty stuff in the air stream which will end up in your water system. highdesertranger

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Could he use the kind of filter body shops use for their paint guns?

 

[ArtW]

That raises the question, for all us RVers with water systems, how would you safely blow out the system?

 

[highdesertranger]

I would only use a compressor meant for breathing air like what they use for hooka dive systems. like this one http://www.keeneeng.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=T80 . highdesertranger

 

[vanman2300]

Ditto on the oiless compressor. Try using heating pad on tanks like the ones used on artic packages sold at RV stores. Use shocks that are under rated for the weight of the bed so they will assist lifting only, that way no need for the latch.

 

[ArtW]

Wow, that's a strong argument for heating pads, that compressor ain't cheap

 

[vanman2300]

Gotta be real careful using compressed air that you don't exceed 20 PSI or so because you'll blow out the fittings. My money is on just using the pink stuff it isn't that hard to do it either. I never liked blowing out the lines because there was no way to absolutely guarantee that all the water was gone.

 

[jimindenver]

Well that sucks about blowing them out. I've never heard it a issue on the forums but it's always a debate. I was hoping to get out of here with a running system, I suppose I can spend a night with hook ups once it gets warmer down south. Never had them before, might be fun.

On doing the pink stuff, I will need to add a kit to the trailer. I currently pump the stuff in with a hand pump while someone else opens and closes the faucets.

 

[highdesertranger]

having dealt with compressors my whole life I have seen some nasty stuff come out of them. I have 2 hooka systems with 2 different compressors there is also a filter before and after the compressor, believe me you want clean air when you are breathing it or blowing out you potable water lines. highdesertranger

 

[djkeev]

I routinely blow out domestic water systems come Fall.
Actually it's on my to do list right now.

I use an HVLP compressor. Thats High Volume Low Pressure.

It is essentially a vacuum cleaner motor on steroids. The exhaust stream is harnessed, not the intake stream.
It creates a huge amount of compressed air at a very low pressure point.

No fear of blowing out seals or weak pipes.

Yes, I also use it for painting......

http://www.spraytechsys.com/wagner/hvlp_wag.html

http://www.gleempaint.com/hvlp.html

Dave

 

[jimindenver]

Interesting. I use to use a high powered shop vac to blow out pool lines.

 

[djkeev]

Same idea, harnessing the vacuum exhaust stream.

You don't need a lot of pressure at all. You do need to fill those empty pipes with air to push the water out.

I use my HVLP to winterize five in ground pools as well. That job is done already.

Dave

 

[ccbreder]

I never liked blowing out the lines because there was no way to absolutely guarantee that all the water was gone.

This is a good point. My system is different today. My RV had convenient drain valves. drain down and put a few gallons of RV antifreeze pumped through until all faucets ran pink. Easy to reverse come spring.

 

[djkeev]

Lines blown out PROPERLY present no freeze hazard.
The problems arise with hastily blown out "quickies" that only remove the initial large block of water.
Blowing out just one pool system properly will take me a day and a half easily. This may seem like a lot of time, But I've never had a frozen pipe to dig up and fix either.

Dave

 

[jimindenver]

I've put many pools, hot tubs and even cabins to bed with air, never had a broken line yet. The vacuum however is way to large for me to take with me so I'll keep a gallon of the pink on me and remember that I will be following the sunshine.

My trailer has low point drains and I have used the pink for 6 seasons. I'm just worried about the amount of water it takes to rinse the lines out in the middle of no where when water is scarce.

 

[Almost There]

I've put many pools, hot tubs and even cabins to bed with air, never had a broken line yet. The vacuum however is way to large for me to take with me so I'll keep a gallon of the pink on me and remember that I will be following the sunshine.

My trailer has low point drains and I have used the pink for 6 seasons. I'm just worried about the amount of water it takes to rinse the lines out in the middle of no where when water is scarce.

IIWM and I needed lots of water to flush the lines, I'd simply aim for the closest state park and pay for a FHU site. Flush lines, empty tanks, take a shower that lasts for hours, do every bit of laundry I could find, etc. etc.!

 

[vanman2300]

Almost There, I do the same exact thing. Then I drain the fresh water tank, hot water heater, and the shower hose. Then put the suction line from the water pump in the antifreeze and run it through the RV. All in no more than 30 minutes and knowing absolutely for sure the plumbing is safe for winter. I guess I just have to see the pink come out of the taps...

 

[jimindenver]

IIWM and I needed lots of water to flush the lines, I'd simply aim for the closest state park and pay for a FHU site. Flush lines, empty tanks, take a shower that lasts for hours, do every bit of laundry I could find, etc. etc.!

I guess that's what I'll be doing once I get somewhere if it's not warm enough here before I leave. It's been unseasonably warm here and I have seen 74F on Christmas before. We had electric on the first trip but never full hook ups before, I might get addicted.