[Boondock Buddy]

I heard a rumor once that you could just pour vodka into your RV water system instead of using antifreeze. After all, vodka doesn’t freeze, right? Sounds genius until you picture your RV plumbing reeking of stale shots of vodka the next time you run the taps. Oh, and let’s not forget how expensive that would be!

In case anyone’s tempted to try it, don’t. Not only is it a bad idea for your pipes, but it’s also a terrible waste of perfectly good vodka. Stick with RV antifreeze—it’s cheaper, safer, and far less likely to make your morning coffee taste like regret.

[Gear Scout]

I heard a rumor once that you could just pour vodka into your RV water system instead of using antifreeze. After all, vodka doesn’t freeze, right? Sounds genius until you picture your RV plumbing reeking of stale shots of vodka the next time you run the taps. Oh, and let’s not forget how expensive that would be!

In case anyone’s tempted to try it, don’t. Not only is it a bad idea for your pipes, but it’s also a terrible waste of perfectly good vodka. Stick with RV antifreeze—it’s cheaper, safer, and far less likely to make your morning coffee taste like regret.

[Tent Trails]

The Forgotten Factor—How Easy Is It to Flush Out?

Winterizing is one thing, but come spring, I don’t want to spend hours flushing out my water system. One year, I used an antifreeze that was more like syrup—it took me forever to get it out of the pipes, and I’m pretty sure my water still tasted funky for weeks. Now, I stick with thinner, propylene glycol-based antifreezes that are easier to rinse.

Trust me, no one wants to accidentally brush their teeth with antifreeze residue on the first trip of the season. If you’ve ever had a swig of funky RV water, you know what I mean. So, when choosing antifreeze, don’t just think about winter—think about spring too!

[Wild Frontier]

Here’s a fun story: I once skipped winterizing because I thought, “Eh, I’ll only be away from the RV for a couple of weeks. How bad can it get?” Spoiler alert: it can get really bad. Temperatures dropped unexpectedly, and when I came back, it was like my RV’s pipes threw a party and forgot to invite me. Frozen pipes, cracked fittings, and a water heater that looked like it had lost a bar fight.

Lesson learned—always winterize, even if you think you won’t need it. Antifreeze is cheap; repairs are not. I now keep a bottle of RV antifreeze in the storage bay at all times, just in case I need to do a last-minute winterizing job. Never again will I underestimate Mother Nature!

[Hammock Hiker]

Last winter, I thought I could get away with just draining the water out of my RV instead of using antifreeze. “It’s fine,” I told myself. “Water expands when it freezes, but if there’s no water, what’s there to freeze?” Well, turns out a little water left in low spots can still freeze and do some serious damage.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:
❄ Drainage isn’t enough – There’s always a little water left in the system, and that little bit can cause big problems.
🧊 Frozen pipes expand… and crack – Ever seen a burst pipe? It’s like a sad, expensive water park in your RV.
💰 Repairs cost WAY more than a gallon of antifreeze – I spent hundreds fixing my mistake when I could’ve spent $5 on antifreeze instead.

Moral of the story: Don’t be like past me. Pour in the pink stuff.

[Author]

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