RV Camping; Tips, tricks & repairs

[nzwasp]

So I made the measurement when it was unhitched and it was 4”. Hitched up was 5” and then I put it on 4 chains the tightest I could get it and it measured 4” again. The wind on hwy2 was super strong today but I only really felt it when a large truck sped past me. The trailer never started swaying rather the car felt like it was moving side to side. I averaged about 100Kph.

[Thaco]

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So I made the measurement when it was unhitched and it was 4”. Hitched up was 5” and then I put it on 4 chains the tightest I could get it and it measured 4” again. The wind on hwy2 was super strong today but I only really felt it when a large truck sped past me. The trailer never started swaying rather the car felt like it was moving side to side. I averaged about 100Kph.

that sounds good, you want it to be similar on the front axle, but not lower, if its lower or the same you might have too much stress on your trailer frame and could cause damage

[nzwasp]

So if it was lower than 4” on the front that’s bad. I will measure again when I leave the campground again

[Thaco]

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So if it was lower than 4” on the front that’s bad. I will measure again when I leave the campground again

you should measure right to the ground, tires can trow off the measurement for various reasons

[ExtraSlow]

And if your tape has a CM side, use that, as psychologically, you'll have less rounding error. And do this on level ground only.

[nzwasp]

Alright sounds good.

So at this campground I have water supplied by hose into my camper which means it doesn’t fill the tank. But I think the hot water relies on the fresh water tank being filled because the hot water gets pumped over to it. I can attach a photo later. I don’t have the pump on right now because of the pressurized water. Also I was out of propane and I don’t know if the hot water requires propane or just 12v?

[ExtraSlow]

SOME trailers have hot water that can be 120V or propane, some are propane only. NONE are 12v.

Also, that water flow idea sounds wrong. If you have your trailer set up on "city water" pressure, so it's not using the pump, then that pressure should work for all hot and cold uses.

[nzwasp]

It for sure comes out of the hot tap however the hot water system looks like a tank wrapped in polystyrene.

[ExtraSlow]

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It for sure comes out of the hot tap however the hot water system looks like a tank wrapped in polystyrene.

Yeah, but it gets it's pressure from the hose, not the pump, when you have a hose attached. Or am I not understanding your question?
EDIT: Also, that tank wrapped in styrofoam isn't your "water tank", that's your "hot water tank" and it does get filled by the hose pressure. your "real" water tank is down under the floor somewhere.

[nzwasp]

Ok. Hmm maybe it’s just because I’m out of propane. Both my fresh and hot are under the bottom bunk.

How would I know if the black or grey tanks get full?

[ExtraSlow]

On the last couple of trailers I owned, you need to manually set the hot water tank to use either propane or 120V Electric. So, if you can find that switch, just set it to Electric. Or many yours is propane only. Hard to say. As for the tank levels, most trailers have level indicators somewhere. You push a button a one, two , three or four lights light up. one is empty, four is full. I assume your trailer has that somewhere. Usually fresh, grey, black, battery all on the same panel.

If you want I can meet up with you one evening next week to have a look at all of this. It's really hard to guess over the internet, but often reasonably easy to figure out in person.

[nzwasp]

Sure that would be helpful thanks

[Brent.ff]

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Sure that would be helpful thanks

Wait, is this Extraslows new job!? RV-Consulting!

[ExtraSlow]

If people would pay me for that, it'd become my new side-hustle today!

[Thaco]

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Ok. Hmm maybe it’s just because I’m out of propane. Both my fresh and hot are under the bottom bunk.

How would I know if the black or grey tanks get full?

sounds to me like the trailer might be bypassing the water heater, this is done for winterising, on the back of the water heater there's usually either 1 or 3, 1/4turn valves they may need to be switched to allow the water to flow in to your water heater, dont try to runt he heater without water in it, you;ll burn it out.

[dirtsniffer]

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sounds to me like the trailer might be bypassing the water heater, this is done for winterising, on the back of the water heater there's usually either 1 or 3, 1/4turn valves they may need to be switched to allow the water to flow in to your water heater, dont try to runt he heater without water in it, you;ll burn it out.

That was my initial thought as well.

[nzwasp]

The hot water works now the problem was that there was no propane in the gas tank so the furnace wouldn’t light etc. Everything for hot water seems to work fine. I opened up the panel where that burner is and there were no valves nor did the manual mention them. I did discover some valves under the trailer one for hot water one for cold that were open but I closed them when I was testing the cold water yesterday at home before my trip.

[Thaco]

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The hot water works now the problem was that there was no propane in the gas tank so the furnace wouldn’t light etc. Everything for hot water seems to work fine. I opened up the panel where that burner is and there were no valves nor did the manual mention them. I did discover some valves under the trailer one for hot water one for cold that were open but I closed them when I was testing the cold water yesterday at home before my trip.

those valves under the trailer are low point drains, they're used to asist with draining water out of the lines for winterising, the valves i was referring to should be inside the trailer behind a panel wherever the back of the water heater is, you need to use those when winterising so you dont fill the water heater with antifreeze.

[nzwasp]

Ok I will have a look when I get back. So if the valves are closed and you turn on the water heater and there’s no water getting to it then it burns out because it has no water in it?

I have a feeling the old owner showed me this valve you are referring to but it was on the water heater.

[sxtasy]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but your hot water tank is full if you turn on a hot water tap in your trailer and you get water...or sometimes i'll lift the lever on the pressure relief valve.