When cold weather starts to settle in, most trailer owners begin thinking about how to protect their rig through the winter. Winterizing your trailer is the best way to keep your plumbing safe from freezing temperatures, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Using the MDC USA XT Expedition Series XT19HRT as an example makes the process easier to picture, since its layout is similar to many modern off-road trailers.
Draining the Water System
The first step is to drain every bit of water you can. Move around the outside of the trailer and open the gray tank valve. After that, reach underneath for the black plugs that drain the freshwater tanks. Once those are out, the water will pour out quickly. With the tanks empty, open the water heater access panel and remove its drain plug. The XT19HRT uses a plastic mixing vessel, so letting it drain completely is important because any water left behind can expand and crack it once temperatures drop.
Accessing the Valves Inside
After the water stops flowing outside, head inside the trailer. Lift the mattress to access the panel that hides the plumbing for the water heater. You’ll notice several blue valves grouped together. These control whether water moves through the heater or bypasses it. Open the low-point drain to clear any remaining water in the lines. Then close the valves that feed water in and out of the heater. Once those are closed, open the bypass valve that sits between them. That simple change routes antifreeze around the heater instead of through it, which matters because the Truma system used in the MDC isn’t meant to have antifreeze inside it.
Adding RV Antifreeze
Now you’re ready to bring antifreeze into the plumbing. You can pour antifreeze into your freshwater tank and use the pump to move it through the lines, but disconnecting the water line at the pump is usually faster and wastes less product. Slip the line off, connect a short piece of hose, and drop that hose into a jug of RV antifreeze. When you switch on the pump, it will pull the fluid into the system. Walk through the trailer and open each faucet one at a time. Wait until you see a steady flow of pink at the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, and outdoor shower. Don’t forget the toilet. Pour a small amount of antifreeze into the bowl and flush it to coat the seals and internal passageways.
Final Checks Before Storage
Once every faucet runs pink, your plumbing is protected. Make a quick loop around the trailer to confirm the tanks are empty, the drains are closed, and the panels are back in place. At that point your MDC XT19HRT is ready to settle in for winter without the risk of frozen lines or cracked fittings.
Winterizing a trailer may seem intimidating the first time you try it, but after walking through the steps you’ll see it’s a straightforward routine. Using RV-safe antifreeze, keeping track of your valve positions, and taking your time makes all the difference. If you’d rather let someone else handle the job, the service team at Princess Craft RV can winterize an MDC trailer quickly and correctly, and they offer seasonal specials that make it an easy choice.
