I have Inherited a camper from my wife who is a travel nurse. I don’t know much about dry camping so this is my question. I know you fill up the fresh water tank for the shower and toilet. When we are done hunting at our club, do you leave the water in the tank or do you drain the tank? I don’t won’t it to freeze or bust any pipes and I don’t want to have to put antifreeze through everything either. We would mainly use it for the toilet. Any help would be appreciated.

Drain tank and empty black tank if u have lines to sewage.

Walmart sells an RV antifreeze. It’s in a gallon jug and it is pink. Look in the RV section.

This is obvious, but good to point out. Blue antifreeze will kill you dead.

Good point!!! He said water was for shower and toilet. I took it as he wouldn’t be drinking it.

This is really simple. If you have water in your lines and the temperate drops below freezing, The lines/fixtures/joints will bust. You mention "dry" camping so I am assuming no electrical nor water hookups. A water hose from a outside faucet to the camper freezing can cause a big problem. So please let me know what will be hooked up

1) Do you care about hot water? If no, then drain the hot water tank, and bypass it. Those little tanks are expensive and will crack easily.
2) If you are "dry" camping are you planning on leaving the camper running on propane (at the lowest temp inside as possible) 24/7? This is expensive option.
3) How old is the camper? Newer campers have spray insulation underneath.
4) Will you have sewer connection? or the ability to have a hose running to the woods?

Answer these and I can help in options.

You need to leave the faucets open after draining everything too, to give expansion room should what’s left in the line freeze. Also, regardless of how well you drain everything, the flush valve will more than likely freeze and bust, if there is nothing to keep the temp above freezing.

Better to use small space heaters if you have electricity. The gas central heaters in campers will suck propane.

Drop one of those fish bowl heaters in the toilet water tank and it should keep it from freezing.

Really don’t care about the hot water. Do not plan to keep ant heat on while we are not there. The camper is a 2019. Yes will have sewer connections. I have access to water but not from a hose, I will have to use buckets. As far as power we will be using a generator while there. Thanks for the reply’s. quote=jmudler]

This is really simple. If you have water in your lines and the temperate drops below freezing, The lines/fixtures/joints will bust. You mention "dry" camping so I am assuming no electrical nor water hookups. A water hose from a outside faucet to the camper freezing can cause a big problem. So please let me know what will be hooked up

1) Do you care about hot water? If no, then drain the hot water tank, and bypass it. Those little tanks are expensive and will crack easily.
2) If you are "dry" camping are you planning on leaving the camper running on propane (at the lowest temp inside as possible) 24/7? This is expensive option.
3) How old is the camper? Newer campers have spray insulation underneath.
4) Will you have sewer connection? or the ability to have a hose running to the woods?

Answer these and I can help in options.[/quote]

This is what I would do given your set up.

The hot water tank is empty. Pull the anode out to be sure. (Triple check)
Ensure the hot water tank is bypassed. Location is in your manual. Very simple to do. (Triple check)
Put the anode back in hot water tank
Open all faucets, hot and cold knobs. Inside and out. Dont forget kitchens and outside showers/spigot.
Open the drains under the camper to empty water tank. If you have a outside kitchen you may have drains back their too.
Close all faucets
Close all drains

Go to Walmart and buy 4-6 gallons of pink antifreeze. The stuff is cheap like $3 a gallon. Pour 3 - 4 into water tank. Turn on the water pump (You want antifreeze in your pump!) you should see pink coming out of all the faucets as you open them one by one to save antifreeze (dont forget outside kitchen and showers if you have them)
Turn off the pump.
Close your your gray and black tank waste gates. Make sure they are closed. Pour a gallon down your toliet. Pour half a gallon down the kitchen sink, 1/4 gallon down the bathroom sink, and the rest down the shower drain. Wipe up any residual antifreeze has it is pain to remove stains.
Open all faucets, hot and cold knobs. Inside and out. Dont forget kitchens and outside showers/spigot.

Put a gallon of water next to the toilet. When you go at night, drain the waste and splash a LITTLE water around the bowl. Also when the toilet flap closes, pour a little in the toilet so you dont smell the tank. Poop and day time pees are to be done outside. To drain black water tank either let it flow into the woods, septic tank,drain into a portable waste tank or if you are hauling the trailer back and forth, drain at waste station (most interstate rest stations have them). Of course when you drain, you will need to add another gallon of antifreeze into the black water tank.