Winterising a 2010 Marquis Lancashire II ES

When I bought the above vehicle in May of this year (effectively an AutoSleepers Nuevo) it was with the intention of using it all year round both with and without electric hookup. As members of this forum will know only too well one of its very few shortcomings is that the freshwater and wastewater tanks are underslung, uninsulated and unheated.

I am aware that there are a variety of ways in which the water system can be kept operational during freezing conditions but I would be interested in members experiences of the various approachs to this perennial problem.

In particular I am looking for a solution that involves the minimum of disruption to the existing plumbing and one which is as maintenance free as possible.

I look forward to receiving your thoughts

You may like to read through this thread from last October..

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Hi Wearsider.
If you put the word internal into the search box at the right top of the page you will find my solution with photos, under extra internal water tanks dont mention water when searching this as it comes up so many times I now use some thick flexible plastic under them in case of leaks which some times occur when filling. I havent done any thing with the waste tank but So far no trouble, though we do not go skiing.

Brian2

Got it all wrong again, sorreeeee.

Wearsider wrote:
.......

In particular I am looking for a solution that involves the minimum of disruption to the existing plumbing and one which is as maintenance free as possible.

............

Hi there,

Do what we do and go to Spain for the winter! No disruption to plumbing and maintenance free!

Seriously, in the UK there is only one solution; DRAIN ALL THE WATER OUT OF EVERYTHING! Insulation WILL NOT protect a static system from freezing if the temperature stays below zero for a sufficient length of time.

Best regards,

Hi Wearsider,
One other alternative is a heater fitted in the fresh water tank tank close to the pick up pipe, CAK tanks can supply one, look up their website, with regard to the grey water (waste) tank, leave the tap open with a bucket under it if you have any suspicion that it is going to freeze.


Brian2

Wearsider,
The minimum disruption you are looking for is best described as...NONE.
As has been pointed out, your pipes will freeze in those inaccessible, unheated areas of your van, with the consequent damage.

With three parents, in their mid-nineties, we have to use our van every month on our 'tour of duty'.
With guest bedrooms a thing of the past, parking and living on drives for a week or more in minus double something in the winter has become commonplace. Our 'best' to date is minus 17c.

Leave all of your systems down to air, exactly the same as you would for any winterisation.
Again, as has already been mentioned, carry your water separately internally. We use 4 pint milk bottles - cheap(as in free!), replaceable at regular intervals and easily useable(you can pour straight into the kettle). We carry them in pairs in the smallest Wilko basket in case of weeps. We normally carry four when touring as drinking water, in the winter we just carry more.
Leave the waste drain open at all times, use a bucket if you're not in a 'french' situation.

This is our particular solution, the twenty litre collapsible containers do the same in a smaller volume, but give access/storage issues.
Hope this helps.

Derek

Thank you to everybody who has posted their thoughts and/or solutions to the problem at hand.