Hi - from Connecticut.
I have 20'ft pro series metal frame. I put it 2 years ago. I leave it up all year. Connecticut endures single digit temps & big snow loads.
I remove the mechanicals after water temp dips to the low 50s, plug the return & pack skimmer with flexible pool noodles & leave solar blanket on.
The key to successful wintering, is NOT using a winter cover, as even a small snow or water load would put tremendous pressure on the frame.
Ray
BTW - I am a swimming pool contractor & put the frame pool up for the kids to enjoy, until we move. The pool has brought tremendous joy!!
I want to state that I have and have had an intex pool. My 24' blue was up for 7 years in the brutal MN winters. My new 28' grey will be going on its 2nd winter soon. Just waited for the cooler nights, added chemicals and the removed sand filter and drained past lowest inlet.threw in a big tractor tire tube and covered with a tarp. No problems (by the way we shrink wrapped the tarp around the pool. worked great. took a whole day to refill in spring but we put in a sand point for the pool.
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by the way I also found a big skimmer from one of those blowup ring pools I got it at garage sale and melted the grey plastic that it hung on and worked it over the edge of our intex and now we have a skimmer. I put some big rocks in bottom to keep it in place but it works great and no water loss from cutting holes.
Our previous 16' metal frame Intex was left up for 6 years and survived many a horrible winter here in central okla. If it wasn't for getting a larger one his year it would have been still in use and left winterized for next summer. They are very durable! Just would recommend a heavier cover as stated above. The one that comes with these pools is more of a summer cover and too light weight.