Date:         Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:13:07 -0600
Reply-To:     Richard Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Winter Survival Kit Question
In-Reply-To:  <200910301545.AQK33360@Colorado.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

> so, you don't worry about damage to the tank, tubing, and faucet when
>> camping in winter?

Someone can do the math, but it would take quite a while for
the 13 gals of water to freeze.  What freezes is the drain--
the extension of the tank and cap--it is sticking outside, too.

I have not camped where the interior was below freezing more
than overnight.  Even so, I have had a plug of ice form in
the drain.  That was unintentional and I'll try to avoid it
again--by draining the tank, if necessary.

I always dry out my tank after a trip, so have not had any
trouble with freezing--except the p-trap of the sink.  It
has a thumb screw on the bottom that holds it on, but that
also serves as a drain.  That is the one thing I "winterize."

In my experience, the water to the faucet drains back, so
drying out the tank gets the pump (in the tank in US models)
and the hose to the faucet.

If you put your Propex next to the fridge, you could route
the exhaust to warm the tank drain....  ;-)

Richard
'87 Syncro Westy