maxum1989
Mt Vernon WA and Vancouver B.C.
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larkyblast wrote:Thanks! We've decided to go with the one with the better heating system and make the toilet work.
We did look at northern lite but a bit too expensive for us.
You made the correct decision in my opinion. There are several ways of dealing with the toilet for winter use. Simplest is as mentioned already, use window washer fluid or rv antifreeze to flush, which ever is cheaper at the time needed. Can even water it down some depending on how cold it really is. Very difficult to aftermarket a heating system as good as the Alde.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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I don't think you compromised at all.
Never have really ad trouble finding a dump site. Winter is a different story though, so that could be a consideration, but I have no desire to pack and dump 5 gallon cans of ____ in a toilet! Uuurp!!
Find a sewer or septic clean out somewhere you can use when dump stations are closed or the local turd farm (sewer treatment plant).
Awesome choice in campers, love the look of Cirrus campers.
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jimh406
Western MT
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If you winterize the lines with RV antifreeze ... not poisonous windshield washer fluid, you can flush like normal. In my area, it’s about $2 a gallon if you look around. Sure, you may have to look for a sunny/warmer day to dump, but I haven’t really had an issue. The question though is ... are your dump stations open in Winter where you live. I can cheat since I can dump at home. If you blow out lines, then you can flush with a gallon of fluid, but that’s quite a bit more of a hassle. In other words, there are viable alternatives to cassettes which have their own issues and can freeze as well.
Many commercial RV parks will allow you to dump even if you don’t stay there for a fee. I’d call around and find out when they are open.
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Wardster
Kingston, Ohio
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Bionic Man wrote:Get the one with traditional toilet and use washer fluid or RV antifreeze to flush it.
This is what we do and it works great.
2016 Northern Lite 8'11" Q Classic Special Edition
2003 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 - Duramax/Allison
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hedge
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
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I'll be interested to hear your feedback on how the heating system works in the winter. I like the idea but don't have any experience with it.
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larkyblast
calgary
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Thanks everyone! We pick up our camper on saturday. I'll report back once we get settled in.
I am really nervous about the weight since it's much heavier than I wanted to go, and in a fantasy land I'd still like to tow my small horse trailer with one horse, but I'll cross that bridge later. The price was just so much less than the lighter campers I was looking at. I'm confident we can still tow our small aluminum flat deck sled trailer that I can move by hand.
I am already planning some mods to cut weight like removing the enormously oversized microwave. At least the transfer of stuff from our existing camper is lightweight; a few pillows, a tupperware of plastic dishes and a few lawn chairs, we travel light.
For winter flushing of the toilet, you winterize your fresh tank then use the antifreeze/washer fluid to flush by adding it manually? This unit does have heated tanks but I'm very leary to use them since it gets really cold here, I can't imagine how cold the camper could get while driving at highway speeds when the air temp is -20.
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larkyblast
calgary
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pianotuna wrote:A wise choice!
Do read the full time forum on winter camping.
Where is the winter camping forum? On this site? I can't seem to find it in the topics. Thanks for the tip!
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joerg68
St. Ingbert, Germany
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Scroll down to Full time RVing on the main page. There is a Winter Camping sticky there in the first position.
https://forums.trailerlife.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/33.cfm
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Bionic Man
USA
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larkyblast wrote:
For winter flushing of the toilet, you winterize your fresh tank then use the antifreeze/washer fluid to flush by adding it manually?
Yes
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