From the early days of spring to the last chilly nights of fall, camping out in your RV is an absolute delight. For a lot of us though, winter camping is a bit much. If you’re like most part-time RVers you put your RV into storage for the winter. Unfortunately, if you live in a cold weather climate, you may not realize quite how important full winterization really is. Today we’re covering RV antifreeze to help you understand why you need to pick some up and to explore the best RV antifreeze on the market today.
Table of Contents
- 1 Best RV Antifreeze
- 1.1 Camco RV Winter Readiness Kit – Including Antifreeze Concentrate
- 1.2 Star Brite Non-Toxic Antifreeze
- 1.3 Century Chemical Winter-Pruf RV Antifreeze
- 1.4 Camco Easy Going RV And Marine Antifreeze
- 1.5 SPLASH RV & Marine Antifreeze
- 1.6 BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze
- 1.7 ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze
- 1.8 PEAK RV & Marine Antifreeze
- 2 Compare the Best RV Antifreeze
- 3 Buyer’s Guide to Buying the Best RV Antifreeze
- 4 Do You Need RV Antifreeze? and is it Different from Normal Antifreeze?
- 5 Final Thoughts
Best RV Antifreeze
- Camco RV Winter Readiness Kit
Buy from AmazonRead Our Review - Star Brite Non-Toxic Anti-FreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- Century Chemical RV AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- Camco Easy Going RV And Marine AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- SPLASH RV & Marine AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- BioTherm Fluids RV AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- ChemWorld RV and Marine AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
- PEAK RV & Marine AntifreezeBuy from AmazonRead Our Review
If you live in a climate that gets down below freezing you need to purchase a quality RV antifreeze. If you don’t, you may try to take your RV out for spring camping only to discover the water system has burst apart during the winter months.
We checked out a lot of different RV antifreeze brands and styles. The ones on our list below all provide excellent performance at a very reasonable price.
Camco RV Winter Readiness Kit – Including Antifreeze Concentrate
The Camco RV Winter Readiness Kit comes standard with everything you need to winterize your RV. It includes all the essential gear and consumable goods to get your RV ready for even the longest winters.
The basic gear list includes a blow out plug for your blue/gray/black water system, antifreeze hand pump, odor eliminating bag, dehumidifier, door stay to keep your fridge open, three quarts of concentrated Ban Frost RV antifreeze, and a bucket to carry it all in. Even better, it comes with a step by step guide that goes through everything you need to do to prep your RV for the cold.
It protects you RV from damaged pipes, mold/mildew growth, and the build-up of moisture and odors in your fridge and living spaces. All in all, it’s a great little kit that includes everything you need.
The antifreeze itself is high-quality and easy to dilute in the included bucket. If you’ve never winterized your RV before, or if you’re looking to streamline the process, this a great kit to start with.
Star Brite Non-Toxic Antifreeze
Star Brite Non-Toxic Antifreeze is an ethanol free boat and RV antifreeze. It’s made using propylene glycol and is rated to keep your lines free and clear of ice damage down to -50 ℉.
It comes pre-diluted in a pack of six one-gallon bottles, allowing you to use just as much as you need for your task at hand. The packaging the bottles come in is designed to protect them during their journey and ensure you don’t have a sticky mess to clean up when they arrive.
As a propylene glycol antifreeze it also serves to lubricate and condition your boat or RV systems as it protects them. This is a great way to do two jobs at once when putting your RV up for the winter.
If you’re looking for a pure RV antifreeze that doesn’t contain any alcohol and is rated for serious winter weather, the Star Brite Antifreeze is a really great option.
Century Chemical Winter-Pruf RV Antifreeze
The Century Chemical Winter-Pruf RV Antifreeze is a non-toxic propylene glycol based antifreeze designed for a variety of winterization needs. It’s sold in gallon jugs that come in either a two or four pack.
It’s rated to keep your pipes protected from bursting down to -50 ℉ while also conditioning seals and gaskets. We love the flexibility in purchasing, allowing you to buy just as much as you need without having to store more indefinitely.
The Century Chemical Winter-Pruf RV Antifreeze is a quality product that gives you the protection you need to properly winterize your RV, boat, or other recreational vehicles.
Camco Easy Going RV And Marine Antifreeze
The Camco Easy Going RV and Marine Antifreeze is a high-quality product from one of the most prolific manufacturers of RV, boating, and camping equipment on the market. It uses a propylene glycol based formula and is rated to protect your RV systems down to -50 ℉.
It comes in a pack of six individual gallon bottles and is pre-diluted for easier use. You don’t have to mix and measure out water and concentrate and can rest easy knowing you’re always putting in the right concentration for your needs.
There’s no odor or taste at all when using this antifreeze. This is excellent if you’re putting it into your RV’s blue water system and don’t want to have to deal with multiple flushes to get that odd taste of other antifreeze out of the water.
For a reasonably priced and easy to use boat, pool, or RV antifreeze you need look no further than the Camco Easy Going RV and Marine Antifreeze.
SPLASH RV & Marine Antifreeze
The Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze is a pre-diluted non-toxic antifreeze rated to -50 ℉. It’s made from propylene glycol and is fully biodegradable.
It comes in one gallon bottles ready to be added into your RV’s water system for winterization. As a propylene glycol antifreeze it both protects against icing and bursting of pipes and lubricates/conditions seals and gaskets.
This serves to keep your RV in peak condition during the cold winter months without damaging internal components. Even better, it flushes out cleanly without leaving a bitter taste in the lines.
If you’re looking for a quality RV antifreeze the Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze is a good way to go.
BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze
BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze is a biobased glycerin antifreeze designed for environmentally sensitive uses. It’s rated to allow use in situations with occasional food contact and even includes a corrosion inhibitor package that protects the metal surfaces of your RV’s internal workings.
It comes in a five gallon bucket that’s a bit hard to move around but is more convenient from the perspective of fully filling your pipes and tanks. It arrives pre-diluted and ready to be used.
If you’re looking for a non-ethanol and non-glycol based antifreeze the BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze is the way to go.
ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze
The ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze is a concentrated RV antifreeze designed for winterization. It comes in a gallon jug with 32 oz of concentrated antifreeze.
As a concentrate it’s a lot easier to move the ChemWorld antifreeze around before you need to use it. It weighs just a quarter of pre-diluted antifreeze, making it much easier to store and transport before use.
It’s rated down to -40 ℉ for burst protection and 15 ℉ for slush protection. That makes it suitable for use in most climate types.
The mix itself includes corrosion inhibitors and conditioners to help protect the metal components of your RV’s water system during storage.
For a quality concentrated RV antifreeze it’s hard to go wrong with the ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze.
PEAK RV & Marine Antifreeze
The Peak RV and Marine Antifreeze is a high-quality RV antifreeze. It comes in one gallon jugs and is available in either ethanol or propylene glycol formulas.
It’s rated to protect your boat or RV pipes against bursting all the way down to -50 ℉. That’s sufficient for just about every climate type you’re likely to encounter.
It comes full strength and can be added right into your RV’s water system. When it’s time to pull your rig out of storage for spring trips it flushes out quickly and easily without leaving any bad taste in the pipes.
Peak is a very well respected brand in automotive fluids, and their RV antifreeze shows this well. It’s easy to use, affordably priced, and provides high-quality performance.
Compare the Best RV Antifreeze
| Image | Title | Price | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Camco RV Winter Readiness Kit |
$$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
Star Brite Non-Toxic Anti-Freeze |
$$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
Century Chemical RV Antifreeze |
$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
Camco Easy Going RV And Marine Antifreeze |
$$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
SPLASH RV & Marine Antifreeze |
$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
BioTherm Fluids RV Antifreeze |
$$$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
ChemWorld RV and Marine Antifreeze |
$$$
|
Buy on Amazon | |
 |
PEAK RV & Marine Antifreeze |
$$$
|
Buy on Amazon |
Buyer’s Guide to Buying the Best RV Antifreeze
When it comes to picking out the best RV antifreeze you need to consider several key factors. The most important of these include dilution, formula, temperature rating, and the antifreeze type.
Price
The price of RV antifreeze is pretty consistent across the board. Depending on the quantity you buy in, a gallon jug of propylene glycol will usually start around the $15-$20.
If you buy in bulk, usually at least five plus gallons, you can get it for a noticeably cheaper price.
Dilution and Concentration
The dilution and concentration of RV antifreeze really come down to cost and convenience. Pre-diluted antifreeze is ready to go right into your RV, but costs considerably more than the concentrated variety.
Concentrated RV antifreeze can be less expensive, and is easier to store for the next season, but requires you to dilute it to the proper level. If you aren’t confident in your ability to get the proportions right, or if you just don’t want to be bothered by it, a pre-diluted formula is the way to go.
Formula
The formulation of any RV antifreeze you’re considering should be at the forefront of your thought process. First things first, don’t buy any RV antifreeze that contains phosphates. They create a coating over the various components of your RV system that can lead to rust in the long term.
The other two most important factors where the formulation is concerned are lifespan and biological safety. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll spill some antifreeze over years and years of winterizing your RV.
Old school antifreeze wasn’t the friendliest thing in for the plants and animals around us. Look for modern RV antifreeze that’s biodegradable and safer if you should accidentally spill some.
As for lifespan, you should factor in both how long the antifreeze will be in your RV and how long you’ll be storing it. The last thing you want is an RV antifreeze that breaks down while still inside your water system.
Temperature Rating
One of the most important factors to consider is the antifreeze temperature rating. This tells you how low the temps can drop before your antifreeze starts to slush and freeze.
The climate you plan to take your RV into and the temperature lows should factor into your thinking here. If you’re a full snowbird who only experiences 0℉ temps you don’t need -50℉ antifreeze.
Always check climate records for where you’re traveling and err on the side of caution. A good rule of thumb is to add about 20 degrees to what you think the lowest temps will be.
Versatility
One of the biggest benefits of RV antifreeze is how versatile it is. You can use RV antifreeze to winterize tons of other systems.
These include boats, pool systems, vacation property pipes, and many more.
Different Types of Antifreeze for RVs
There are three main types of RV antifreeze on the market today. These are ethanol based, propylene glycol based, and ethanol/propylene blends.
Ethanol Based RV Antifreeze – Ethanol based RV antifreeze, also commonly called Alcohol based, is a widely available and inexpensive option. You can find ethanol antifreezes in basically every RV store and many big box stores as well.
Other than cost and availability though, it doesn’t really have a lot going for it. To start with many RV water systems aren’t designed to work with ethanol based antifreeze. It’s been known to wear out some systems and can also leave a bad taste in lines after being flushed out. In extreme cases, the ethanol contained within can actually cause fires, as it’s highly flammable.
Another important thing to factor in is that ethanol actually dries out rubber. Seals and gaskets within your water system will have to be checked much more frequently if you’re running with ethanol based antifreeze.
Propylene/Ethanol Blend RV Antifreeze – Propylene/Ethanol blend RV antifreeze provides some of the benefits of propylene glycol antifreeze with the cost savings of ethanol based antifreeze. It does a great job protecting your system and doesn’t nearly the same drying effect as a purely ethanol based antifreeze.
Propylene Glycol Based RV Antifreeze – Propylene glycol bases RV antifreeze is by far the most popular and effective antifreeze option. It’s a totally non-toxic antifreeze that’s commonly used in the pharmaceutical and food production industries because of how safe it is.
Not only does propylene glycol based antifreeze offer excellent protection, but it also acts as a lubricant within your system. RV water systems winterized with propylene glycol come back to life better than they were before from the standpoint of gaskets and seals.
The only really downsides to propylene glycol is that it’s a bit more expensive than ethanol or ethanol/propylene blends and isn’t as widely available. You’ll have to go to an RV specialty store or order it online.
Do You Need RV Antifreeze? and is it Different from Normal Antifreeze?
If you live in a climate that drops near or below freezing you absolutely need RV antifreeze. This isn’t the same stuff that you use in your car or truck, or even in your RV engine.
Automotive antifreeze is designed for use in the closed cooling system of your engine. It’s made from toxic chemicals and is extremely dangerous if ingested. You absolutely shouldn’t use automotive antifreeze in your RV’s interior systems.
RV antifreeze is used for the water system within your RV to prevent it from freezing and being damaged during winter months. If you’ve ever heard someone talk about ‘winterizing’ their RV, this was a big part of what they meant.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. With RV antifreeze there are just a few decisions to make, most depending on your budget and the level of convenience you’re looking for.
There are a ton of great products available, so finding the best RV antifreeze is a whole lot easier than you may imagine.
