As winter approaches and the days grow shorter, it’s essential to ensure your nuCamp teardrop trailer or Cirrus Truck Camper is ready to withstand the colder months. Proper winterization not only protects your RV but also ensures your camper is in top condition when it’s time to hit the road again in the spring. While the steps to winterize your teardrop or truck camper may vary, the basic winterizing process is the same. To prepare the RV for winter, you want to drain out any water, blow the lines out with air to remove any residual water, and then fill the lines with antifreeze.
Equipment needed
To winterize your camper, you’ll need minimal equipment. You’ll need RV antifreeze, a garden hose (a shorter hose works best for this), a pressure regulator, access to an air compressor, and an RV blow-out adapter from an air compressor to a garden hose.
Drain and Bypass Your Water System
One of the most critical aspects of winterization is protecting your plumbing system from freezing. Draining a smaller unit — like the TAG, for example — will take less time than draining a Cirrus 920, which has two sinks, a toilet, an interior shower, and an external shower.
Here’s how to handle it:
- Drain All Water Lines: Set your Nautilus panel to Powerfill tank mode. Use the low-point drains to remove any remaining water from the lines. Open all other drains on the unit, such as the gray tank and freshwater line. Don’t forget about the outdoor shower if your unit has one. Use the low-point drains to remove any remaining water from the lines.
- Empty the Water Heater: Locate the drain on your water heater and open it to drain the water. If your unit has a bypass valve (Barefoot and TAB 320 pre-2023), engage it to prevent antifreeze from entering the heater.
- Blow Out the Water Lines: While some RV manufacturers will say this is optional, we recommend using an air compressor to blow out any remaining water in the lines. Your Nautilus knobs need to be positioned at a 45-degree angle (creating a V) before blowing out the lines. You’ll want to open the lines one by one and blow them out.
After draining the water system, it’s time to add RV antifreeze to prevent any remaining water from freezing and damaging your pipes:
- Pump Antifreeze into the Water System: Besides the TAG, all of our models have the Nautilus Water Management System. The Barefoot and older models of the TAB 320 and TAB 320 CS will have the Nautilus P2.5. Newer TABs (2023+) and the Cirrus Truck Camper line will have the Nautilus P3. The sticker key on your Nautilus will show you the knob positions to winterize your camper. Once you turn on the pump, RV antifreeze will begin to siphon directly into your water lines. The pump will stop once the lines have been pressurized.
- Allow Antifreeze to Run Through Faucets: Open each faucet until you see the pink antifreeze come through. Turn the faucets to both hot and cold.
- Pour Antifreeze into the Drains: Pour a small amount of RV antifreeze down each sink, the toilet, and the shower drain.
Preparing for Winterization
These are the basic steps for winterizing your teardrop trailer or truck camper. If you prefer more detailed instructions, we have walk-through videos for nearly all of our campers. You can also consult your manual for winterization instructions.
If you have any additional questions, please contact our Technical Support Team at tech@nucamprv.com.
Winterizing a TAG
The TAG and TAG XL are our simplest campers to winterize as they do not have a water management system like our other models. The winterization process will be the same for the TAG as the TAG XL.
Winterizing a TAB 320 (2021-2022) and the Barefoot
The TAB 320 and TAB 320 CS for the 2021 and 2022 model years and all model years of the Barefoot are all equipped with the Nautilus P2.5. For each model, you will want to ensure you drain all the lines and run antifreeze through the shower, kitchen sink, and outdoor shower. Pour antifreeze down the shower drain in the wet bath.
To watch a video on how to winterize a Barefoot, click here.
Winterizing a TAB 320 (2023+), TAB CS (2023+), and TAB 400 (2021-present)
In 2023, the TAB 320 and TAB CS were upgraded to the Nautilus P3, which is the same water management system in the TAB 400. This model does not have an Alde bypass valve.
To watch a video on how to winterize a TAB 320 (2023+), click here.
Winterizing your Cirrus Truck Camper
The Cirrus Truck Camper lineup is designed for four-season use, meaning winterization isn’t always necessary. However, if your camper will be unused during freezing temperatures, it’s highly recommended that you winterize it. This will safeguard the plumbing system and help prevent potential damage to the water lines. Taking these precautions ensures that your camper remains in excellent condition for future adventures.
The Cirrus 620 is the easiest model to winterize, thanks to its minimal water lines. This camper features a 5-gallon cassette toilet, a kitchenette sink, and an exterior shower, making the process straightforward. On the other hand, the Cirrus 920 requires a more detailed winterization, as it has additional fixtures and faucets, necessitating extra attention to protect the plumbing system.
To watch a video on how to winterize a Cirrus 620, click here.
Conclusion
Winterizing your nuCamp teardrop trailer or truck camper ensures that it will be in top shape when you’re ready for your next adventure. By following these steps, you’ll be prepared to tackle the winter season with confidence, knowing your camper is well-protected. Whether you own a TAG, TAB 320, or Cirrus 920, the right preparation goes a long way in preserving your camper’s longevity and performance.
Stay warm and ready for the road ahead!
2 responses to “Winterizing Your nuCamp Teardrop or Truck Camper: A Comprehensive Guide”
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What about older TAB320s (mine is 2017), the TABs before any nautilus came about?
Thank you for your comment! When filming these videos, older models were not available at our facility. We do have a video from 2019 that may be applicable to your model. This video is also on a unit that does not have the Nautilus Water Management System. If you have any questions, please contact our Technical Support Team at tech@nucamprv.com.