New MPG owners, seeking ‘pack down’ how-to’s.

[Matt_and_Brenda_E]

Hello!
We are happy new 2012 MPG owners!

We’re seeking good information on ‘How to pack this thing down to take it home after camping’.
Weve never owned a camper like this... and would love some guidance on how to pack it down so we can bring it to the next camping spot!

As long time tenters, we get the basics: pack, strap or secure anything loose, turn off all lights & appliances, check tire pressure & brakes, hook up the trailer correctly. I’m guessing we’ll want all windows latched, and drapes pulled up. Leave no food for the critters.

But what else do camper owners do? Is there a good way to drain the water out of the lines? Is there an order in which we should deal with: water heater, water in lines, dumping both kinds of waters? When do we pour the oink stuff the previous owners left us down the toilet?

Are there any good good tutorials on packing it up? If you were giving us a walk through, what order would you recommend and what tips do you have?

THANK YOU!!
Matt & Brenda

 

[jimtoo]

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum and to the family. We have a great bunch of folks here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge when needed. I’m sure you will get some suggestions soon.

Jim M

 

[Fox]

I'll admit it, I'd never heard of the MPG so I googled it. Cute trailer - and it's a definite upgrade from tenting.

The big thing I think of is safety, make sure you've got the correct tongue weight (12%-15% of the total), stay within its cargo parameters - and a tow vehicle rated to haul it.
Don't forget to check (and properly inflate) the tire pressures.

Enjoy.

 

[danemayer]

Hi Matt and Brenda,

When you're done camping for the season:

• Dump the tanks. Close the dump valves so no critters get in.
• Turn off the water heater and let it cool down.
• If you have a Suburban water heater, remove the cover panel outside and unscrew the anode rod. DON'T do this while the water is hot. If worn, you'll need to replace it before going out in the spring. Leave the anode rod sitting loose and replace the outside cover. Atwood water heaters don't have an anode rod, but the plastic drain cap should be removed to let water drain.
• Locate the drains under the camper. You'll definitely have a fresh tank drain, and probably have 2 low point drains for hot and cold. Open the kitchen faucet and open all the drains under the camper to let water drain out of the lines.
• Close the drain valves underneath after all the water is out.
• Close the kitchen faucet.
• Start the water pump and open the outdoor shower. Since you already drained the fresh tank, you may only get a little water out of the shower. Turn off the pump and close the shower knobs.
• Locate the antifreeze suction line that feeds into the water pump. Open the valve on that line.
• Locate the water heater bypass valves. Close the hot and cold valves and open the crossover.
• Put the antifreeze suction line into a gallon of RV antifreeze. RV antifreeze is non-toxic. Don't use auto antifreeze as it's poisonous.
• Start the water pump.
• Open the kitchen faucet hot and then cold one at a time and close each after you see pink stuff coming out.
• Open the bathroom sink faucets one at a time til pink comes out.
• Open the shower faucets one at a time until pink comes out.
• Flush the toilet to get a little antifreeze into the bowl.
• Open the outside shower faucets one at a time until pink comes out.
• You have a small trailer, so it's possible 1 gallon of antifreeze may do the job. Good idea to get 2 gallons just in case.
• Close the valve on the antifreeze suction line (if you skip this, next spring your pump won't get water out of the fresh tank)

• Empty the refrigerator and leave the door(s) open a bit to let air circulate. Sometimes a dish towel over the door will do the job.
• Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
• Be sure all food is removed.

You might want to take a look at our Winterization user guide. It's oriented more toward large 5th wheels, but most of the content applies to all trailers.

 

[cookie]

Adding to what Dan said, before draining your water heater be sure to open a faucet to relieve any pressure in the system.
Also after running the pink stuff through the lines do add another cup of antifreeze to the drain P-traps.

Peace
Dave

 

[Matt_and_Brenda_E]

WOW. This is great. We screen shot it for future use. Took her out for the weekend, two days after we got it. We’re thinking we packed it down properly until next weekend! Happy camping everyone!

Hi Matt and Brenda,

When you're done camping for the season:

• Dump the tanks. Close the dump valves so no critters get in.
• Turn off the water heater and let it cool down.
• If you have a Suburban water heater, remove the cover panel outside and unscrew the anode rod. DON'T do this while the water is hot. If worn, you'll need to replace it before going out in the spring. Leave the anode rod sitting loose and replace the outside cover. Atwood water heaters don't have an anode rod, but the plastic drain cap should be removed to let water drain.
• Locate the drains under the camper. You'll definitely have a fresh tank drain, and probably have 2 low point drains for hot and cold. Open the kitchen faucet and open all the drains under the camper to let water drain out of the lines.
• Close the drain valves underneath after all the water is out.
• Close the kitchen faucet.
• Start the water pump and open the outdoor shower. Since you already drained the fresh tank, you may only get a little water out of the shower. Turn off the pump and close the shower knobs.
• Locate the antifreeze suction line that feeds into the water pump. Open the valve on that line.
• Locate the water heater bypass valves. Close the hot and cold valves and open the crossover.
• Put the antifreeze suction line into a gallon of RV antifreeze. RV antifreeze is non-toxic. Don't use auto antifreeze as it's poisonous.
• Start the water pump.
• Open the kitchen faucet hot and then cold one at a time and close each after you see pink stuff coming out.
• Open the bathroom sink faucets one at a time til pink comes out.
• Open the shower faucets one at a time until pink comes out.
• Flush the toilet to get a little antifreeze into the bowl.
• Open the outside shower faucets one at a time until pink comes out.
• You have a small trailer, so it's possible 1 gallon of antifreeze may do the job. Good idea to get 2 gallons just in case.
• Close the valve on the antifreeze suction line (if you skip this, next spring your pump won't get water out of the fresh tank)

• Empty the refrigerator and leave the door(s) open a bit to let air circulate. Sometimes a dish towel over the door will do the job.
• Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
• Be sure all food is removed.

You might want to take a look at our Winterization user guide. It's oriented more toward large 5th wheels, but most of the content applies to all trailers.

 

[NP_Chief]

Welcome to the forum! Whenever you have some spare time, check Youtube for videos on set-up and take-down. There are several out there with some good advice. Once you do it a few times, you will figure out what works best for you.