[A/S] English-metric conversions; 2 winterizing questions

["Richard P. Kenan" <as5368@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     It's gratifying to see so many metric-knowledgeable people on 
list.  A minor point:  While we tend to use the more convenient 
'liter' for engine discussions, I note that manufacturers (at least
GM 
does) list the displacement in cubic centimeters, or cc. (1000 cc = 1 
liter).  Since an inch is *defined* (in the US) to be exactly 2.54
cm, 
the conversion from cc to cu. in. is very direct:  1 cu. in. = 
(2.54)^3 = 16.387064 cc.  Divide by 1000 to get liters.

Winterizing Q-1:

     This week, Jane and I put our trailer on a storage site at ToG.  
We did our best to follow advice from AS, from Fred Tinsel, and from 
Jim Dunmyer on the steps involved.  After completing the procedure, I 
replaced the spare tire with a new Marathon by putting the trailer up 
on one of those ramp things CW sells (works great).  However, I 
noticed that with the trailer tilted up sideways, I got a new gush of 
water from the open line drains beneath the trailer.  This has me 
wondering (and worrying).  Is this water released by the sideways
tilt 
of the trailer, or perhaps from the front-to-back tilt? I did notice 
that the hitch stand prevented us from getting the front of the 
trailer fully lowered when draining the lines, although the Hensley 
hitch would only have allowed about another 3 inches because of the 
spring bars.  I think I'll go back up there soon, remove the spring 
bars to get a full lowering, and do the routine again.

Winterizing Q-2:

     Jim stresses that we should open the faucets one at a time while 
blowing air into the shore-water connection, to get the benefit of 
the full pressure (Jim:  I checked the AS manual, and they state 60 
psi as a minimum pressure to use).  However, I'm told that the hot 
water tank drain should be open.  This has me a bit confused.  If the 
HWH drain is open, will I still get any pressure on the lines to blow 
out the water?  My brother-in-law tried it without the HWH drain
open, 
and blew his HWH tank, which had to be replaced.  Does anyone have
any 
ideas here?

     We've been doing this tilt-and-blowout method for 5 years on our 
'72 trailer and one year on our '95, with success.  Have I just been 
lucky?

- Dick
(5368)