Winter is Coming... Winterizing the Mantis

Although we keep the Mantis in the garage over the winter, we still follow a plan to winterize our systems to protect against expensive repairs. Read on to learn what we did.

Winterization is not a fun topic, but is critical. The Truma Combiner's system, which provides hot water and heat, comes with a $1500 price tag and holds 2.64 gallons of water. Failure to remove the water from the system would be expensive. There is also water in the fresh water lines, city water lines, and waste water lines. We camp year round, so I follow this process multiple times to make sure we are always prepared for below freezing storage.

Here is what I do to remove the water:

Drain the Truma after disconnecting from city water supply and turning off the water pump.. By opening the cabinet under the sink, you'll discover the brains of the Mantis heating and hot water system, the the Truma Combiner. position the value to the center position, pointing toward the shower, to drain the 2.64 gallon of water stored in the system. This is the most critical step of winterizing the Mantis. Make sure the full capacity drains, its is a good idea to pour the water into a bucket to confirm the full amount drains. You'll find the drain behind the gray water drain closer to the center of the Mantis and directly under the Truma. Once the tank is empty, leave the valve set to drain.  

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Blow out the lines with an air compressor. After disconnecting the water supply, turn off the water pump, and drain the Truma. You will want to open all water valves. This includes the kitchen sink, shower, and outdoor shower. leave all three valves in the open/on position. Next I like to use my air compressor to blow out the fresh water lines. I have a small air compressor, so I blow a full tank of air into the city water supply and the fresh water supply inputs. I use a Stanley Air Compressor that has always been reliable for us.    

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Drain the tanks. At this point, all of your fresh water should be out of the pipes. Now is the time to drain the fresh and gray water tanks. I like to crank the camper up and down to get as much water out of the tanks as possible. At this point, I leave all valves and drain open. The manufacturer recommends you close the drains. 

Now is the time to use a small amount of RV antifreeze. The only places in the Mantis that will still have water is the J trap in the sink and shower.

​I pour about one cup of RV Antifreeze Coolant into each drain to dilute any remaining water. 

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Next will be the cassette toilet. For the toilet, I flush the water tank until it is empty. After fully emptying the black tank, replace onto its mount. Next open the port used to fill the water reservoir. Turn this about 1/3 turn with a bucket under it to catch the water stored in the port. Finally empty the water level indicator, the clear water tube. Do this by pulling it from its housing and draining into a bucket. 

The above steps will protect the Mantis from costly water damage, Additional steps that are important when you are storing for the winter or for any extended time include:
* Turn off the refridgarator and leave the door open
* Clean and inspect all surfaces of the interior and exterior of the entire camper
* Inspect the tires, rotate every 5000 miles
* Consider using DampRid and Rodent Repellant to keep water and critters at bay
* Either leave the camper plugged in or unplugged with the battery disconnect turned off
* Store the Mantis in a garage or under cover if possible

Following these steps should protect your Mantis and allow easy access for winter camping when you get that perfect winter weekend!

**Disclaimer: The tips shared above are the steps we follow and not a process or recommendation for what all RV owners nor TAXA owners should follow. You should follow your manufacturers guidelines and consult a professional if you are uncertain on the proper way to proceed..

​For us, this is an excellent resource: 2019 Mantis Owners Manual (Page 54).