Cades Cove

[GoElectric]

We recently got back from a week of great camping in the Smokies.  We had to stop by Camping World on the way out due to a leaking Dometic Toilet Valve.  I was checking everything out before leaving, and after what I thought was a thorough winterization, we had crack valve from freezing.  Both Camping World and online reviews said these valves do not do well with blowing out the lines with air and recommend RV Antifreeze.  They also said to buy 2, which we did, because they fail often and can ruin a camping trip.  I will probably remove the water line to it and use a shop vac after winterizing with air this year.  I figured i would mention it and hopes it helps before someone else has the same issue.

We were surprised how crowded the park and campsites were. Very few sites were open before regular season and they did not take reservations yet.  My son joined us for a couple of days and biked the loop and had a nice visit!  We met a wonderful couple Steve and Dana from the forum!  Weather was great and so was a day hike I did to Spence Field on AT where I talked with several through hikers.  We saw lots wildlife in the loop including a bear with 2 cubs.  The week flew by and we didn't want to leave.  We are already planning our next trips.

[DavidM]

The first year I winterized our trailer I drained all of the lines and made sure that the toilet drained down. But as you note, the toilet fill valve holds a few drops of water inside which then freezes and ruins it. I am not sure that even blowing will solve this as the air will just push the water up into the toilet bowl, but a little will run down into the valve after blowing, freeze and ruin the valve.

So what I did the next season was to remove the valve, let the water drain down in the tube to the toilet rim and blow out the valve (with my mouth) while holding the button down. Then to make sure, I fill the valve with antifreeze before I reassemble it. This worked fine last year and I will see in a few weeks if it worked again this year. I expect it will.

Cades Cove is  pretty campground. We camped there about 40-50 years ago in a pop up camper.

David

[pjcd]

I always drain, blow out the lines, then antifreeze. With antifreeze in the lines I run all the faucets and toilet till the pink stuff is visible.  Never had a problem, ( knock on wood ).

[djsamuel]

We LOVE Cades Cove and the Townsend area. Now you're making me want to go back sooner than planned!

[GoElectric]

Thanks for advice and comments. I went to the air only for the lines and antifreeze down the drains over the past decade because it seemed so much easier than pumping and then flushing the antifreeze out of the lines at the beginning of each season.  One can never be too careful.  I will probably remove it since the newer replacement has flexible tabs unlike the original, but it is a tight work area to get to and/or go back to RV antifreeze in the lines.

[pjcd]

It usually takes me about twenty minutes to winterize the trailer, then the first trip, I just hook up like always and run everything till its clear.

Nice pic's, looks like the bugs are having their way with the trees.