Information on the general care and maintains of the Aero Cruiser, manuals, name badges for new members, where to get parts and other information not covered in one of the other categories.  A must read for New Owners!
 

Click on the to go to its Tip:
	Manuals, Documentation and Maintenance tips for an Aero Cruiser
	The Aero Cruiser Web Site on a USB Drive           (NO Internet required)
	There are three Fuse Panels in the Aero Cruiser.
	Looking for a Power Drain on a Battery.
	The California DMV says I must add a Catalytic Converter
	VIN -- Vehicle Identification Number's 3 locations
	Decoding the VIN for Vironex & LSG Chaises
	Aero Cruiser / Amera Coach Hybrid and VIN Info.
	Wood versus Metal Frame and how to tell which is which
	Emergency Exits in an Aero Cruiser
	Passenger Capacity and Seat Belts
	Aero Cruiser Club Name Badges for Rallies
	What is a Motor Home?
	Aero Cruiser Insurance
	Gas Appliances not Starting   (off page link)
	Spring Checkup -- Before you hit the road.
	How to use the Message "Search" function to get Help!
	How to point to a PICTURE in your Message to the Group
	How to point to a PDF or other file in a Group Message
	Aero Cruiser Derivability, Wandering and Towing
	Hard to find RV parts and Helpful Web Sites
	Dealing with Dodge Dealers
	Blue Book Value
	Don't use Steering Wheel to enter Coach
	What is the best House Battery solution: 6 or 12 volt, 1 or 2 batteries?  (off page link)
	Old Tires can KILL you! (off page link)
	Flat Tire?  Use the Air Bag Compressor to fill it up. (off page link)
	Flat Tire - How to change it  (off page link)
	Spare Tire - Lowering and Raising  (off page link)
	Fresh Water System - How to Drain & Sanitize
	Winterizing your Rig and Cold Camping
	The Smell of Gasoline at a Traffic Light
	Mold - The Hidden Killer (Article)
	HouseAtosis -- It really stinks!
	Our Breakdown from Hell  (Article)
	A Cry for Help   (Article)
	The Quest for the Right Aero Cruiser (Article)
	Journal of a 10,676 mile, 10 week trip around the US complete with pictures, locations and point-to-point mileage.  (off page link)

Everything in the front end is from a 1-ton Dodge Pickup that was extended 8 inches. It has coil springs and a lateral leaf stiffener-spring was added over the front axle. The rear suspension has leaf springs with airbags that are individually controlled from the front cab. The rear end is a Dana 60 by Spicer.

For wiring diagrams, engine repair, etc. go down to your local library and check out one of the Automotive repair manuals. The one I use covers Dodge Pick-ups from 1974 through 1993. It is by Haynes, ISBN 1 56392 202 9. There are other manuals available from other companies. If your library doesn't have one, check with the garage that services your rig. And the Internet is always there if you want to purchase one.   I picked a used one up on the internet for $5.00 including shipping.  

For the equipment inside the motor home: Refrigerator, Stove, A/C, Heater, water system there are many books on the subject. Check at you local Camping World, a Motor Home repair center or on the Internet. If you are a Do-It-Yourself'er this is a must have.

We also have lots of knowledgeable owners in the club. Join our Club and get access to our News Letters with Tech-Tips and access to our Private Club site for members. Go to -- http://aero-cruiser.fl-ink.com/ -- for details.

Here are some general guidelines that I use on my 1990, 23 footer. This is for my Aero Cruiser only and may not be good for your rig.

Tire Pressure: Front 60 lb., Rear 75 lb. Check with your tire manufacture. The proper tire pressure depends on the tires you purchase and the weight on the Front and Rear axles. Note: if you over-inflate the front tires the unit may tend to wander on the highway and you may have a tendency to over steer. If you under-inflate, you will get poor tire wear and you may blow a tire.

Air Bags: 40 pounds each. (I have been told that the air bags are not part of the suspension, they are there to help with body sway especially in high winds.) Use too much pressure and you risk turn the rear-end into a catapult .

The 23 footer uses a Firestone Ride Rite air bag and compressor. It has 2 gages each with 2 push button air valves to increase or decrease the air pressure in the corresponding rear air bag. There is a compress (air pump) under the front hood that will come on when you turn the ignition on. It will fill a reservoir that is connected to the top push buttons that inflated the air bags. The bottom buttons simply bleeds of extra pressure when you push one of them.

The 29 footer uses a similar system from Granning Air Systems that automatically adjusted the air pressure in the air bags. It too has a compressor mounted up front. See the members tip list for maintains issues and parts for both systems.

Lug nuts: If you have Aluminum wheels it is imperative that you check the torque with a reliable torque wrench often. Check with the manufacturer of the wheels for the proper torque settings. Each manufacture is different and the torque is different for the different stud sizes used in the front and rear wheel drums. Aluminum wheels expand and contract more than steel wheels, and the lug nuts will loosen and you will lose a wheel if you don't check them often! If you over torque the lug-nuts you can damage Aluminum wheels. Steel wheels also need to be checked from time to time. 
Chrysler recommends 140 ft. lb. for all wheels.  See -- Aero Cruiser Lug Nut Torque Settings from Chrysler -- torque recamandations. 

Fuel Injection: Aero Cruisers from 1990 on use a throttle body carburetor with two Fuel Injectors, one for each manifold. The injectors tend to clog up if your rig sits for a long time. You can keep this from becoming a problem if you run the proper amount of fuel injector cleaner (see instruction on the product) through them after the motor home has set for a few months or longer, and you should always run the engine a minimum of 25 miles with the cleaner added to the gas just before you have it smogged.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  The Aero Cruiser Web Site on a USB Drive 
                   (NO Internet required)
 
Tip:  Going to the boonies, or over to your mechanic's garage where you don't have access to the Aero Cruiser web site on the Internet? Some people print everything they think they might need on the web site; however, there is a better alternative! 

Save that ream of paper and copy all of the web pages to a USB (thumb) drive instead of printing them. I have create a USB drives with the entire Aero Cruiser web site on it -- 1284 files, 714 MBytes. I can send copies to members for a small fee of $15 that covers the cost of the USB drive and the postage. If you are interested you can send a check made out to Tom Heald to: 7688 Saint Francis Ct., Gilroy, CA 95020-5319 or use PayPal to send $15 to aero-cruiser@fl-ink.com and I will send an Aero Cruiser USB drive to you. 

Or you can do it Your Self! 
You can get a list of all Aero Cruiser Pages by going to going to most FL-Ink pages and looking on the left hand side for the "FL-Ink.Com Page Index." -- http://aero-cruiser.fl-ink.com/fl-ink-pages.html -- which has a pointer to all of the relevant pages. Set up a directory structure on the USB drive as follows: 

AEROCRUISER (USB's Label) (root directory) 
     aero-cruiser (copy all of the Club site pages here including all tips)  
     images (copy all of the Club site images here) 
     images-tips (copy all of the Tip Images here) 
     members (all of the Members only sites.) 
          images (all of the Members only images.) 
          newsletters (all of the Members only newsletters and updates.)

Copy the files over using the same directory structure and file names as found on the web site. Then access the structure with your web browser starting with "X://aero-cruiser/index.htm" where X: is the address of the USB drive. This will allow you to access all of the Aero Cruiser files on the USB drive just like you do on the Internet. 
-- or-- 
Just copy the files you think you are interested in and access them directly by listing all the files on the USB drive and clicking on the one you are interested in. You won't be able to use the links to go from file to file but that's ok.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: There are three Fuse Panels in the Aero Cruiser.
 
Tip: There is a separate tip on each panel.  Just follow the link to the description of each one.
1) Coach Electrical Box
2) Dashboard Fuse Block
3) AC Converter, Circuit Breakers and Fuse box
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald 
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Subject: Looking for a Power Drain on a Battery.
 
Question: I have been chasing a parasitic drain on the house battery in my 1991 AC.  How can I find it? -- Alex
 
Answer: What you need to test for is a current drain (amps not voltage). Make sure the battery that is going flat is fully charged, then hook an Amp Meter up to it. Remove the positive cable and place your meter between the battery post and the cable connector with your meter on the highest amp setting, usually 10A to start and then move it to a lower setting. You should read 20 to 50 milliamps in a normal motor home; any more and you have a drain.

The most common things I have found are: the battery itself, the alternator, water or a bad bulb in a light fixture, one of the electrical devices going bad or a short in the rigs wiring where it has rubbed against something or heat damage that has melted the insulation in the engine compartment.

Here is what I would do:
1) With the amp meter hooked up pull the fuses from each of the 3 fuse panels in an Aero Cruiser. Go to -- http://aero-cruiser.fl-ink.com/tip-new01.htm#FusePanels -- in the shared data base to locate them. Remember there are also in-line fuses on many built-in and add-on devices.

2) Disconnect any electronic device (House AC, Refrigerator, heater, Radio, CB, TV, the Alternator, the truck's computer, the AC Converter that charges the batteries)

3) Pull all of the lights from the inside and outside of the coach.

Make sure you check the Amp Meter after you disconnect a circuit or pull a fuse. You may have more than one circuit causing a problem so a drop in the current flow can indicate a problem.

Go to the Internet and search on "Parasitic drain" and "battery drain" to see lots of tips on tracking the power drain down. This can be one of the most frustrating problems to fix.

Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald. 
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Subject:  The California DMV says I must add a Catalytic Converter
 
Question:  My Aero Cruiser never has a Catalytic Converter but when I went to get it smogged the Smog station tells me that the DMV says I must have one and they don't believe me when I tell the that it never had one.
 
Answer:  Take a copy of the Emission Letter from Vironex into the Smog station. It addresses the emission system on Aero Cruisers that have a 1997/8 and 1989 engines that are exempt from catalytic converters.  The DMV can use the information in this letter to look up the exemption in their records.  The regulation reads 40 CFR 86.1101-87 (Subpart L) The compliance level is HC 1.7, and CO 36.5.

The model year of these Aero Cruisers are generally from 1990 and 1991.  When you get your Aero Cruiser smogged make sure you give them your Engine Year and not the Coach Year.  One can find the Engine Year on the Emission Sticker which is on the side of the Air filter in all Aero Cruisers. 
 Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  VIN -- Vehicle Identification Number's 3 locations
 
Question:  DMV sent my paper work back saying VIN does not pass check digit, and that I should contact the mfg to make sure the VIN is correct. Do you have any idea how to get a hold of a record keeper for the company, or if such exists? -- Steve
 
Answer:  The VIN is in three different locations on my 1990 23 foot Aero Cruiser. 
* Outside the drivers side door or window on the side of the coach on a sticker.  
* Inside the coach on a sticker on the left side of the lower steering wheel shroud. 
* Inside the front hood on the left side attached to the frame. 
I can't read the first 2 any more but the last one is good.  I don't know of any records other than the previous owners registration and the title document.  The manufacture Gardner Pacific is long gone. This happened to me once when getting new insurance. They call back and said it was an invalid VIN. It turned out to be a typo. 
Keep on Cruisin' -- Tom Heald
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Subject:  Decoding the VIN for Vironex & LSG Chaises
 
Tip:  While trying to decode the VIN# on my newly acquired Aero Cruiser, I found this answer in the NHTSA website: 
Veronex:  ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/mfrmail/01-22-N11B-1912.pdf  
LSG:       ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/MfrMail/01-22-N11B-3145.pdf
Bruce and another member
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Subject:  Aero Cruiser / Amera Coach Hybrid and VIN Info.
 
Question:  I recently bought an Amera Coach.  Well it says that on the side but when I read your website and look at the pictures I believe the name is wrong.  Why I say this is my side door is not straight it has a bend in the middle.  It is a 29 footer and is a 1990 model.  The vin number is ___________LS0241.  Any info or insight would be great. CAV
 
Answer:  Maybe you or someone in your group may know of other Amera Coach like mine.  I have paperwork from the original owners that tell me that the unit is one of 6 29" Amera Coach's and the model is a hybrid. It has the sides of the Aero Cruiser but the roof, back cap, and front cap are Amera Coach. Interesting.  Anyway thank you for your responses and you invitation to join.  Finding this info out just makes me want to restore the unit and enjoy traveling. CAV 

Note: There is also at lease one (and probably more) 1998 23' hybrid that I have had questions on.  I didn't know what they were until I received these e-mails from CAV.  If anybody else has more information then please let me know.   The Vin Number of an Aero Cruiser will end with ___________GP0xxx where GP stands for Gardner Pacific and xxx is the production number of the unit.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  Wood versus Metal Frame and how to tell which is which
 
Question:  Like your site!  Would you recommend staying away from purchasing a 1988 23' because of wood vs steel frame?
 
Answer:  Not really.  Wooden frames supporting the side walls and roof -- like the ribs found in the early Aero Cruisers -- are common in the industry today.  I don't know of anybody in the club who has had problems with either a wood or metal frame specifically.  The biggest potential problem is with leaks.  If you have a leak it should be fixed as soon as possible.   Wood frames and floors can get dry-rot while the metal frame will rust out.  In short, it's a toss up.  Many motor home and trailer manufactures use wood frames today.  The Aero Cruiser switched from the wooden ribs used in the "Vironex" chassis to the metal ribs found in the "LSG" chassis in 1990.  The "LSG" chassis are better in that they fix a number of front end weakness; however, if you don't have a front end problem then it doesn't matter.

Note:  The LSG Chasses will have a metal tag inside the front hood riveted to a vertical support on the left side (part of the frame) with LSG on top, the VIN number in the middle, and "Elkhart IN" on the bottom.   You can't miss it; it's easy to see.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: Emergency Exits in an Aero Cruiser

Tip:  If you don't have a driver and passenger side doors in your rig; there are other emegercy exits available.  The driver side window over the couch or dinette and the rear window over the bed both open as emergency exits.  So if the rig tips onto the passenger side, you can exit via the side window or the rear window over the bed. 
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  Passenger Capacity and Seat Belts

Question:  I am looking at purchasing a '89 - 23' with capacity for only two people. It has only two seat belts, and they are in the cab area. It has the two free standing chairs for a dinette area, and no way of belting anyone in there. We are moving into retirement and the kids are now on there own. This will be my first motorhome. My questions and concerns are: How much of a concern is it to be able to carry passengers? Do other Areo Cruiser owners have this situation and is it a concern for them? Thank you

Answer:  A standard Aero Cruiser has seat belts for 5 or 6.  Each of the seats has a belt, 3 in the Rear Bed and Rear Bath models and 2 in the Twin Bed model.  There are also 3 other seat belts for the couch or dinette.  Check the Floor Plans on our public web site.  It sounds like the one you are looking at has been modified or the missing belts are tucked below the seats. Ask the owner.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: Aero Cruiser Club Name Badges for Rallies.

Tip: The Club has a vender that produces Name Badges for members.  They have the Club Logo on then with your name below.  For more information or to order a badge contact Elizabeth Haynes, Phone: 626-451-0506 or send an e-mail to eahaynes@hotmail.com with a Subject of: Name Badges.  
From the newsletter
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Subject: What is a Motor Home?

Tip: What's the definition of a Motor Home?   It's a vehicle that renders a large section of your driveway unusable, that you must keep feeding time and money so it will go where you want to go  most of the time!   Happy trails.  
Keep on cruising, Tom Heald

So what's your definition? 
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Subject: Aero Cruiser Insurance

Question: For Insurance purposes we would like to know what is the value of a 1990 - 23 foot Aero Cruiser?  Thank you, our best, Steve and Danielle

Answer: When you have a 17 year old rig, condition is everything. I have seen good ones sell in the 20K range. Basically you are talking about a restored antique. The important thing is what will the Insurance co. pay out if you total it.  If you want to insure it for more than you paid for it, you may need to get a written statement from the insurance company that they will cover it up to the value placed on it.  In this case they may require an inspection. Otherwise the agents 20K value they base your premium on may turn into the adjusters 1K pay out.

That said, I also have a 1990 23 footer with a standard insurance package. If I total it, all I expect is a fight from the insurance co.  My preference has been to go with an Insurance company that specializes in Motor Homes such as Good Sam or Camping World.  Their price was right and the package covered more motor home related items such as interior contents.  The packages change from time to time so check it out before putting bucks on the line. 

This is my personal opinion, you need to consult a lawyer for a definitive opinion.
Keep on Cruisin' -- Tom Heald
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Subject:  Spring Checkup -- Before you hit the road.
 
Tip:  Spring is here and we are all eager to get on the road but before you do, especially if your RV was in storage, check the following as a minimum:
- Engine: drive belts
- Radiator and transmission: hoses & clamps
- Brakes: front pads and rear shoes
- All fluids: radiator, brake, power steering, transmission
- Tires: most failures occur on motor homes which have 50% or more tread remaining. These failures are a result of side wall breakdown due to non-flexing or improper inflation with respect to the load. The common term of weather checking is simply hardening and drying out of the rubber due to nonuse (flexing). The key to long tire life is inflation, loading, and use. Any measures to reduce tire rubber from drying out will extend tire life. Tire manufacturers recommend any good tire dressing made solely for that purpose. Do not use products such as Armorall.
George Kinnison
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Subject:  How to use the Message "Search" function to get Help!

Tip:  Lots of problems have been discussed in the Aero Cruiser Group -- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/aero-cruiser-classic -- over the years. To search all of the old messages for a particular problem, go to the top of the messages on the club home page, fill in a "keyword" and click on "Search" to see if there are any answers to your question.

There is now a search function in the Club's Shared Knowledge Base if you don't want to step through the indexes.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: How to point to a PICTURE in your Message to the Group
 
Tip:  When you ask a question in the Club's Aero Cruiser Group on Google that refers to a picture the best way to get people to look at it is to post a pointer to it in the message. For example:

1. Post your picture on the Google site or any picture site.
2. Display the picture with your browser.
3. Copy the address line on your browser.
4. Paste the pointer to the picture into your message.

Here is a picture of my rig from our web page::
http://fl-ink.com/images/fall-rv-5x3.jpg
It's the same idea no mater where the picture is posted.  If it is posted in the Club's Aero Cruiser Group on Google the address will be a lot longer.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: How to point to a PDF or other file in a Group Message
 
Tip:  When you want to post a message in the Club's Aero Cruiser Group on Google that refers to a PDF or other file the best way to get people to look at it is to post a pointer to it in the message.
For example:

1. Post your PDF or other file on the Google site under "Files" or if it is on the Internet, go to the next step.
2. Use your browser to View the "File" on the Internet or wherever it is posted.
3. Copy the address line from your browser.
4. Paste the pointer to the PDF or other file into your message to the group and send it out.

For Example:  Click here to see a file on Transmission Temperatures 
     --------------------- Or ---------------- 
Click on this very long pointer to see a file on Transmission Temperatures -- http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UE3GU... etc. 
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  Aero Cruiser Derivability, Wandering and Towing

Question:  Can you tell me how the Aero Cruiser drives? Are they hard to control at 60 - 70 mph? Do they tend to wander around on the road at all? Is there any adverse changes when towing something? Thanks again, and I'll try to let you know. Hoping to be cruising soon, Mark

Answer:  The biggest derivability / wander-around-the-road factor is the tire pressure. I keep the Tire Pressure at: Front 60 lb., Rear 75 lb. Check with your tire manufacture. The proper tire pressure depends on the tires you purchase and the weight on the Front and Rear axles.  Note: if you over-inflate the front tires the unit may tend to wander on the highway and you may have a tendency to over steer. If you under-inflate, you will get poor tire wear and you may blow a tire.

When my wife and I first started driving the Aero Cruiser it took a while to get use to it.  We had a tendency to over correct but soon got use to it.  No problem after the first hour or so.  I don't drive it at 60-70 mph but my wife says it's no problem.

I tow a car from time to time without any problems. It will cost you about 1 mile per gallon in extra fuel burned.
Keep on Cruisin' -- Tom Heald
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Subject:  Hard to find RV Parts and Helpful Web Sites

Tip 1:  If you need hard to find RV parts, the place to look may be “The RV Junky” in Hemet, CA. George reports that he was able to find a variety of stuff, some he didn’t even know he needed until he saw it.

Tip 2:  Don't forget the Internet.  There are lots of sites you can look at and order on line or order over the phone.
The original manufacturer of our Control Cables
Deeper Transmission Oil Pan
Starter Motors Best Converter for (PDI) Inteli-Power 4600 series
All-Right RV Custom Exterior Components Manufacturing
Fire extinguisher Info for RVer's
Road King MH shocks
Generac Diagnostic Manual
Generac Technical Information Manual
Freedom Awnings (see the Freedom Wall Mount for Aero Cruisers)

For Used and Salvage Parts: 
Arizona RV Salvage inc.
Brabdon Auto/Truck Salvage 
Cherokee RV Parts 
RV Doctor George 
RV Surplus 
Here is a list of places all over the country - RV Salvage Sources
Do you have your favorite source?  If so, send it in and I will post it.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  Dealing with Dodge Dealers
 
Tip:  If you need parts or service from Dodge dealers, don’t tell them “it’s a motor home”. That’ll just confuse them. Tell them it’s a D350, 1 ton Dodge truck. The year of engine manufacture can be found on the metal tag inside the engine compartment. LH designator means it’s an industrial engine.
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Subject:  Blue Book Value
 
Tip:  The Aero Cruiser holds its value better than most coaches. According to Rick, the Blue Book listing is under Sun Rader and does not include $17,000 or more worth of options.
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Subject:  Don't use Steering Wheel to enter Coach
 
Tip:  If you have the driver’s door on your coach and you are in the habit of using your steering wheel to pull yourself up into the coach, you may want to find a different method of getting in. Wright was using his steering wheel to pull himself in and in doing so broke the steering wheel tilting mechanism. It took $600 to repair but that was only half the problem. The other half was finding someone to do the repair since Chrysler dealer refused to do it until George Kennison intervened on his behalf through Chrysler’s industrial division.
#435 Benson
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Subject:  Fresh Water System - How to Drain & Sanitize
 
Question:  Can you tell me how to empty and flush the water system in my Cruiser.
 
Answer:  Locate the exit pipe at the bottom of the fresh water tank that runs up to the water pump. It will have a drain valve in it. 

How I Sanitized my Fresh Water System: To Sanitize my water system I use a little chlorine (2 tablespoons or so of pool granular chlorine) or household chlorine bleach (1/3 of a cup for a 25 Gallon tank) in the water to sanitize the system. Mix the chlorine with water in a 2 gallon watering can before adding it to the tank, then fill the tank up. Use the pump (not the outside water source) to run a gallon or so of chlorinated water through each line: hot & cold; front & rear; shower and toilet to clean out the lines then let it sit overnight or for 3 hours. Use the pump to drain the tank through the lines, and then get the last of it out through the drain valve. Add a little water to the tank and let it drain out to get the last of the chlorine out of the bottom of the tank. Do this several times as there is always a little chlorinated water left in the bottom of the tank. Close the valve and then fill the tank with fresh water. Flush all the lines again until the tank is empty to get the chlorine out.  Then get the last of the water out of the bottom of the tank as described above. Please note that the hot water tank holds 5 or 6 gallons so it may take a while to flush it. There are also products on the market to do the job.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject: Winterizing your Rig and Cold Camping
 
Question:  May be a dumb question, but how do I keep the gray water and black water tanks from freezing when dry camping in below freezing weather. Also will the water heater freeze when not lit?  Mine will not stay lit while we are driving.  I have thought about installing a "Hot Stick" but have not yet done it, mainly because I'm not sure how to get 110v to it.
Walter
 
Answer 1: Living in a mild climate, I don't have a lot of experience with winter camping; however, I have been out several times where my black and gray water lines froze so I could not drain them.  When I drove into warmer temperatures they thawed out and I was able to drain them at my next stop.  I have never camped for an extended period in freezing temperatures.  

Winterizing for storage in freezing areas  
Just as there is a drain valve for the fresh water tank, there are hot and cold drain valves in the water system.  In my 1990, 23 foot Rear Bath model they are located under the drawer on the left below the bed.  Open them up and use compressed air through the city water connector to blow the water out.  Then open the faucets over both sinks to let the rest of the water drain out.  If needed you can add a little "Red Pop" antifreeze to the system as explained in Answer 3 below.

Note:  Winterizing your Hot Water Heater
The Water Heater is designed to fill from the bottom through a check-valve that will not allow the hot water to drain out.  The tank is also designed with an air bubble at the top for expansion so it may survive a light freeze, but to be safe you want to blow the water out with compressed air as explained above.  If you winterize your system with "Red Pop" antifreeze, you want to make sure you run enough through the 5 gallon hot water heater to protect it.   One way to do this is to turn on the hot water faucet at the sink and run the water into a small watering can.  When the can is full, pour the treated water back into the external water fill line.

If you don't Winterize your Water System
When at home between trips in an area that only has occasional freezes and you want to keep fresh water in your tank, you can put a light bulb by the tank, pump and water lines that could frieze up.  Be sure not to rest the light bulb on the carpet or place it near anything flammable.  Use a caged drop light with a low wattage bulb, 60 watts or less is usually ok but as an extra precaution, put it on top of an inverted pie tin or something similar for added insulation.  You only need to plug in the lights when the temperature dips below freezing, or you can hook the lights up to a thermostat to switch them on when needed.

If you are in an area the has hard freezes then refer to Answer 2 and 3 below.

Here are some dos and don'ts that I use when camping for a night or two in freezing temperatures but spend most of the trip in non-freezing conditions.  See Answer 2 for camping in snow country and winter conditioning for people who live in snow country.

1) When you get to a campground in freezing temperatures, dump your tank when you get there, close the valves when not in use (you don't want them to freeze open!) and dump the tanks again after you use them in the evening before they freeze up. The waste lines you use to dump the tanks will freeze and get stiff if you leave them out!  It is best to store then when not in use even though it is a pain.  

Note:  If your dump valves do freeze open, don't hit the road until you thaw them out or they are bound to start dripping or let lose when a cop car is right behind you.  Imagine trying to explain to a pissed-on cop or a judge why you were dumping your waste on the street.    In the cold winter it is always best to travel with a woman!  Preferably one who brought her hair-drier with her! 

If you are dry camping for some time in below freezing weather, winterize your water system as explained in Answer 2 and carry drinking water separately.  If you want to use your freshwater system you can look into using after market heating blankets or heat tape keep the tanks and drain lines warm but they take lots of power, so you need AC power or you need to run your generator. If you have alternatives -- like at a ski lodge -- eat out and use their toilets etc, so you don't need water.  Only make light meals and sleep in the rig.

2) When running off the fresh water tank make sure you turn the pump off when not using it, then turn a faucet on to relieve the pressure so if it does freeze it won't split the pipe or pop a joint.  Make sure you turn the faucet back off so it won't start running when you turn the pump back on.

3) Keep your hot water tank heater running when stopped.  On the road it should not be a problem if it is warm when you start.

4) For the inside water lines, open the cabinet doors by the sinks and any places where the water pipes run next to an outside walls (especially at night). This should keep water lines inside ok; however, the ones outside the cabin may freeze.  If you will be in below freezing temperatures for a day or two you can look into after market heating blankets or heat tape keep the water tanks and sections of fresh water tubing warm if you have power.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald

Answer 2: Winterizing your Rig in Cold Country
I have a different solution for winter camping. First... My water system is always winterized in below freezing temperatures.  I have done the next step two different ways. I put enough Red Pop (see below for explanation) into the fresh water tank to flush the toilet or I run a line from a bottle of Red Pop to the to the water pump depending on the length of my trip.  I can now use the pump to flush the toilet and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer close at hand.  For drinking, some light cooking and dish washing, and emergency hand washing I use water in bottles and plastic dish tubs in the sinks. When I need some worm or hot water I heat it on the stove or sometimes in the microwave.
Works fine...  Been doing it for years.
Enjoy...
Jerry

Answer 3:  What is Red Pop?
It is a red colored, bio-safe antifreeze commonly found at Wal-Mart and most camping stores.  Regular antifreeze for your car is massively toxic. 0.4 ounces is enough to be fatal.

This red stuff, while nasty tasting, is safe and will winterize your water system and can be flushed out easily for summer use.

I usually run compressed air through the inlet on my city water connector to blow water out, then flush the red stuff through the p traps and s traps, with a bit in the tanks for safety.  See the note on Winterizing your Hot Water Heater.
Rick 
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Subject:  The Smell of Gasoline at a Traffic Light
 
Tip:  Have you ever been out cruising in your rig when you came to a stop light and smelled Gasoline? Your Aero Cruiser has been running fine, everything is up to temperature with no apparent problems; however, when you stop and are idling for a short time you get the smell, which disappears when you take off. I had this problem on a trip up north one fine summer day. 

After I returned I had to go in for a Smog Test. It failed! The emissions were too high at idle. It turns out the Oxygen Sensor was going bad. It worked fine at higher RPMs but at idle it was telling the computer that it was starving! Well the computer decided to make the fuel flow much richer! So rich that you could smell it gas fumes in the cab. 

With a new Oxygen Sensor it passed the Smog Test and the smell at idle disappeared. So now you know how to use your nose to test out your Oxygen Sensor -- Sometimes.
Keep on Cruisin', Tom Heald
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Subject:  HouseAtosis -- It really stinks!
 
Tip:  Does your RV accumulate offensive odors during storage? One easy way to remove them is to place scented fabric softener sheets used in cloths dryers and place them throughout the coach. A couple of sheets on the sofa and one or two sheets on other fabric areas. Five to seven sheets should cover even the 29er. Leave the coach closed for a couple of days and the freshness will be there when you return.
#212 Petrovich 
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