Airstream Basecamp 20X - Dewinterization Video 2, Sanitize Fresh Water Tank and Water Lines

[@treyberndt2263]

Thanks again Wayne, just used this to de-winterize my 2021 16' Basecamp. Really appreciate the care you put into these videos. One Winterizing comment that may help other 16' owners: Due to how the Truma is very tightly plumbed in this smaller model, the all important drain valve for the Truma is very hard to see and find. It's almost under the unit by the floor - I eventually found it, literally by feel. You can see the valve (mine is yellow) by slightly moving the large black air duct on top, it's more or less in the middle of the Truma, near the edge of the (white board) enclosure. Nothing in the Airstream instructions made this easy to find. You'll know you've got it when you open the valve and the gallon or two of water in the Truma heater pours out the clear drain under the trailer. Trey, Santa Fe.

[@WayneBogan]

Glad the video was useful and really appreciate the additional details for those with the 16. 😁

[@briangaborsr9814]

Wayne, just found your channel and the dewinterization video. My wife and I just purchased a 2023 Basecamp 20x on Saturday and that video is really going to help me get set up. Other videos very informative also.

[@WayneBogan]

Welcome aboard! Hope the videos are helpful and that you enjoy your Basecamp as much we do

[@melodeon55]

Thanks Wayne, very interesting tricks for winterizing and dewinterization basecamp trailer. My further airstream will be probably basecamp, and I have good idea now about that. thank you, Clement

[@WayneBogan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@evanschwend5177]

Thank you for this! Also, nice KYD shirt!

[@WayneBogan]

You bet!

[@sefoxin2la]

Very nice videos...1 & 2. Detailed and concise. 👍

[@WayneBogan]

@S. E. Fox, thanks so much

[@treyberndt2263]

Thanks real helpful video, better than the Basecamp manual, for sure!

[@WayneBogan]

@Trey, glad it was helpful.

[@ChristopheVanoplinus]

Wayne, thanks for these really helpful video's. My Basecamp is parked on a piece of land with no access to city water or a well. I can however fill the fresh water tank with water that I bring in with my horse trailer. I was thinking of filling the fresh water tank partly up (with normal water) and using the internal pump (since I have no well pump or city water pressure) to flush the antifreeze out (as in your video 1, but by using the pump instead of the city water pressure). Then I would empty/drain the fresh tank again. But now I would have my antifreeze in the grey/black tanks. And as soon as I would have a camping trip come up, I would fill the fresh water tank up, the day before the trip with sanitizing water, let is stand for 24hrs, go to the camping and then empty all 3 tanks at once (so it all goes in a treatment system and not in free nature). Do you see anything wrong with this?

[@WayneBogan]

Hi Christophe, this sounds like a great plan. The water pump should provide more than sufficient water pressure to flush out the water lines for your dewinterization. Then dumping your tanks when you arrive at the campground would have you set for great adventures. Happy camping.

[@gshim5566]

Great video. Thank you. I noticed you let the bleach water just run on your driveway. Is it harmful at all to the environment to do that? Should you allow it to go to your gray tank and then dump it at a dump site?

[@praxi1470]

Thanks for all the great instructions. What type of shower head did you buy or did that come with your Bc?

[@WayneBogan]

@praxi1470, I installed an Oxygenics until to decrease the gallons/minute used. You can find several variations of the unit. Here is an Amazon link to a similar unit. a.co/d/48mMVfj

[@outdoorsman7799]

Thank you, Wayne. I'm not sure how it was winterized...I'm still waiting for a response from the dealer. My understanding was that Airstream winterized it before it left the factory, then the dealer drained everything to check the tanks for leaks and then re-winterized it before delivery...at least that's what they told me the $395 prep fee was for. I don't see how they could winterize it using the method you demonstrated because the water pump is not pulling the water through the winterization kit hose at all...even working the winterization valve open and closed with the water pump running and pulling water from the fresh water tank like you mentioned below. I did get about 1-1/4 to 1-1/3 gallons of RV antifreeze out of the tanks, so I'm thinking they probably just poured the antifreeze down the drains and toilet...I wouldn't think they used air pressure with the water in the winterization kit hose unless there is a valve issue as you mentioned below. I spoke to Airstream about it today, but they want me to take it back to the dealer and don't seem to want to get involved with it. I did order an air compressor blow out adapter fitting, but I'm not sure if that will help or if the valve will need to be turned or replaced like you said. As far as the 13,500 BTU A/C with Heat Strip upgrade (Coleman-Mach Mach 8 Plus A/C), the low heat setting blows what I would consider less than lukewarm air and is basically useless.

[@WayneBogan]

It is likely that the unit was winterized using the air compressor as that is a bit quicker than using antifreeze. With the air compressor they would still put some antifreeze in the sink drain to prevent freezing in the P trap. I haven’t used the heat strip on my unit but in testing it isn’t very warm. I think of it as the “emergency strips” on a central heat pump that is really there more to knock the chill off and the furnace is expected to heat the unit. You could also test the winterization line by using a bucket of water to see if the pump will pull water. If the pump works with the fresh water tank but not the line, then the valve may need to be turned for it to work properly. Good luck with the dealer.

[@jimjenkins900]

How often do you sanitize your freshwater tank and lines?

[@WayneBogan]

@Jim, I sanitize at least twice a year. But, as an example, if I go camping in April and won’t go again until June, I’ll sanitize again before the June trip just to be safe. I’ll fill the tank the day before add the bleach and then rinse 2-3 times the next day before I leave. Hope that is helpful.

[@erickphillips8507]

Wayne, great videos. Question, when you are sanitizing the fresh water tank and water lines, you turn on the cold water but not the hot. Just curious why you didn’t turn on the hot and have the sanitized water go through the water heater and hot lines. Thx in advance!

[@WayneBogan]

Hi EP, glad you like the videos. I avoid putting Clorox through the water heater based having read somewhere that it could cause problems long term. I keep the water heater isolated and will instead run vinegar through the water heater occasionally to clean out any scale. I assumed there is minimal water in the tankless system and very little need to clean the unit. I just flush it well with clean water. Hope that helps.

[@erickphillips8507]

@@WayneBogan Perfect. Thanks! Going to dewinterize the 20x tomorrow in preparation for a trip for spring break.

[@outdoorsman7799]

I have a new 2022 Basecamp 20X that I just picked up in March of 2022. I'm going through the dewinterization process now and found I had water still in the hose of winterization kit, which doesn't pull through the line with the water pump on and the valve pointed toward the winterization kit hose. The water pump works with the fresh water tank, but not with the winterization kit line. Any suggestions? The heat strip in my A/C is also not working. I haven't gotten much help from the dealer or Airstream on it yet.

[@WayneBogan]

@Outdoorsman7799, did they winterize by using air pressure? You should be able to turn the valve on the line with the water pump facing the winterization line to begin pulling water through that line. Try turning on the pump, pulling water from the fresh water tank and then turning valve to the line to see if it pulls water in. Worst case, you can pull the line off the valve and empty it but the valve should be allowing you to pull through the line. If not, you may have run into an issue where it seems Airstream was sent a bad batch of valves. I replaced my valve with an new one but several folks have just turned their valve 180 degrees to solve the issue of pulling from the line.

[@jasonlatschislaw3433]

Why don’t you drain it into the grey/black water tank and sanitize it while you’re at it?

[@krisswilliquette9037]

My basecamp is new and I just dewinterized my tank for the first time. Do I need to sanitize is before using it ?

[@WayneBogan]

@Kriss, if there hasn’t been any water in the tank, you should be good without sanitizing the tank. If you’ve had water in it for testing at any point, I would sanitize the tank