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RE: water pump needs primed??
These pumps are self priming to nine (9) feet (2.7 meters). Your water tank is on the same floor as the pump so this is not an issue.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/06/08 06:17pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: About air compressors for blowing out for winterization
The Painless RV Winterizing photo essay summarizes it well and is all ya need to do. I do it slightly differently and drain the fresh water and holding tanks first.
I don't want the antifreeze ruining the taste of my water all next season, as it will if left in the water lines so I've inserted
Step 3.5. Blow all water out of the system
and Step 5.5 Blow all the antifreeze out of the system.
Step 6 can be skipped if using the blowout method.
Folks with onboard water filters need to remove the element and add filler to the container. Or bypass the filter.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/06/08 10:57am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: HTT condensation??
All tents have this problem. Backpackers typically use double walled tents with a breathable ceiling separated by an inch or two from the waterproof rainfly on top of that. Camper tentage is single ply.
You exhale a pint of moisture during your sleep so between you and your wife you're pumping half a gallon of water into the air in the bunk end. (I've seen the pint number quoted for years, but can't find a primary source for it.)
Much of that moisture will condense on the cold tent walls.
The cure that works best for me is to run the little fan light blowing into the tent end to stir that air up and distribute it through out much of the trailer.
In addition I usually run the furnace at 64°F which seems to be a good temperature for us that doesn't run all night. When we're on 110v AC the heated mattresses get used. Very nice if run an hour before bed time on high, then dropped very low for the rest of the night.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/06/08 05:49am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Calling all Northern Campers
We live in the lake effect snow belt and get twelve feet (12') of snow annually. Is this experience good enough? ;)
I'm getting ready to reserve two spots in the barns at the fairgrounds for the Roo and my little motorboat, but our first winter I left the camper outdoors with the ADCO(brand) cover. If you don't go indoors I strongly recommend this cover. Waterproof roof prevents the freeze-thaw cycle on the vulnerable roof joints and seals, and the breathable side panels allow roof runoff.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/IMG_0645.JPG width=640
I eliminated the X-ed cord after the photo was taken. The cover fit like a glove. Soft fabric doesn't mar the trailer finish.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/06/08 05:36am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Vents on roof questions
Use the Fan Mate instructions. All you're doing is putting a streamlined hood over the top of your existing shower fan, no wiring is required.
I used the Maxx Air hood for the living room vent cover.
Take both hoods up on the roof with you. Once you see how simple this install is you'll feel silly climbing down again to get the second hood which will go on much faster.
At your size you can walk all over the roof.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 02:02pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: pink stuff question again
You won't have the gold thingie unless you buy it. Just unhook the hose from the water inlet on the right side of the pump and attach a short section of hose to run to the bottle.
Unless you turn the pump on you'll not pump anything out of the bottle. ;)
Before you do this:
1. Bypass the water heater.
2. Remove and fill the water filter with something solid.
3. Close the low point water drains -- or you'll just pump the antifreeze onto your driveway,
4. Close all faucets.
Now open each faucet until pink flows. Close it. Open another. Don't forget the showers and toilet.
You'll probably need two bottles. Pour wha's left down each drain and lock the drain plug.
Disconnect the hose and reconnect the fresh water line to the pump.
I blow all the antifreeze out after an hour or so, I don't like the taste in my water lines and it's already removed the water so its job is done.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 01:48pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: when you drain your water heater
I never mess with the relief valve. Not any more.
The one time I did I couldn't fully close it again.
It's a safety device, not a device to use routinely. Easy to replace, but ya gotta drive to the hardware store.
The water in the tank will glug-out just fine. This is water, it won't hurt the outside of the trailer.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 01:20pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: remaining water in fresh water tank
It'll freeze harmlessly -- plenty of room for expansion. Same in your waste tanks.
Like a plastic ice tray doesn't crack when the water freezes into ice. Room to expand is the key. No room to expand inside your water lines.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 01:18pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: About air compressors for blowing out for winterization
Hopper -- I didn't tap the plastic cap, it's soft enough for the quick disconnect to self tap itself into the plastic. This is a soft, not brittle cap.
Sarah -- I drain the waste water tanks before and any antifreeze can just to in the waste tanks. Won't hurt.
The water heater is just drained by pulling the anode -- and putting it back when the tank is empty. Bypass is before putting antifreeze in the system.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:48am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: pink stuff question again
Of course the antifreeze you're pumping thru the system goes into the grey (or black) tank. It'll be fine all winter. (I'm assuming your tanks are dry when you start this process.)
-- Chucj
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:38am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: pink stuff question again
No! The water heater must by bypassed (it isn't in the photo which I took long ago to illustrate another subject). First thing I do, even before draining it. Make sure the electrical switch on the tank is off and the breaker in the power box under the refrigerator is also off (ours is the bottom braker).
Remove the water inlet line from the right side of the water pump. Connect a hose from there to the bottle of RV antifreeze. Any hardware shore has clear platic tubing in the right size. Take the fitting barbed with you if there's a question.
Putting antifreeze in the fresh water diluted is significantly (there's probably 3 gallons of water in there even when drained) and the pink taste and smell soaks into the tank material.
Don't forget to pull the water filter and fill the canister with something to not waste a quart of antifreeze.
Southern Indiana shouldn't have any freeze problems for another two months so don't panic. :)
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:36am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: low point drain question
I have a 2006 Roo 23SS. I doubt your plumbing is different but will probably be different color.
My Pex pipe is clear with a red or blue tracer, not solid red and blue.
Low point drains are under the sofa and drain directly outside. Accessed from under the sofa -- ya gotta get down on your tummy to see them. ;)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/IMG_0910.JPG width=640
These are in the normal (run) position. Point the handles UP to drain. There's some RV antifreeze in the lines as you can see.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:26am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: pink stuff question again
First thing to do is remove the water filter, drain the water from the container and fill with something like marbles or an inverted plastic cup, and reinstall it. Antifreeze will ruin the filter and the container sucks up a quart of antifreeze you don't need to waste.
5. Pour antifreeze in fresh water tank fill until it's where it's high enough to turn on the water pump.Never put RV antifreeze in your freshwater tank! -- Yeah, I'm almost yelling here! ;) Your water will smell and taste pink for all next season and you'll dilute the antifreeze with the water that's left in the tank.
Disconnect the inlet hose from the water pump and put a short length of hose directly into the pink jug. Or pickup an inexpensive T-valve and hose at Camping World.
That's the brass thingie in the front right corner. Water heater is in the run position in this photo; point the valve UP to bypass.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/91944740-IMG_1003.JPG width=640
9. You already drained the tanks. No need to drain them again. The antifreeze won't hurt and won't freeze.
13. Always put the anode back in the tank. Why wait and forget it. Yeah a plastic plug will keep the flange from rusting, but so will the rod.
14. Why bother. Nothing in there to freeze.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:17am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Vents on roof questions
I bought the covers at Camping World and installed both. First one takes about 30 minutes until you figure out it's really that simple. Second one took 10 minutes.
Hardest thing is getting back down from the roof. ;)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/FRISD-roof.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/27105956-IMG_1062.JPG width=640
Both mount exactly the same way and require drilling the metal vent frame, but no holes in the roof. No caulking needed on them.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:07am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Filling gaps or possible gaps
I couldn't find any place needing sealing on our Roo. The water lines are all interior, unlike the lines on our popup.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:02am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: About air compressors for blowing out for winterization
I just pre-winterized yesterday and blew all the water of the system after draining and flushing everthing.
Sears $100 compressor set handles this easy. Also used for trailer, bike, and car tires so this isn't another one of Chuck's stupid camping expenses!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/106286846-2008_10_04_0398_S.jpg width=640
Set to 50 psi:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/99232942-2008_10_04_0400_S.jpg width=640
Connected to the trailer:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/310581879-2008_10_04_0397_S.jpg width=640
Adapter made with plastic plug with 1/2" hole in it. The metal threaded connector screws directly into the plastic.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/892154/03932280-2008_10_04_0401_S.jpg width=640
That's it.
Up until yesterday I used a tire valve adapter but I saw another post here describing the adapter. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery -- thanks for the idea!
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 11:00am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: low point drain question
I just pre-winterized our Roo 23SS yesterday. Made a little adapter for my small compressor and pressured the water system to 40 psi and opened all the faucets in sequence to rid the system of water.
Water heater is bypassed, switched off, and the anode checked ant the tank flushed out after draining it.
Fresh water tank is drained and the low point drains are open. These are under the sofa on my trailer. Point the handles up to open them to the outside.
This should do me until I can pump and then blow out pink RV anti-freeze thru the system. I'll know in about 3 weeks how well the initial blowout worked.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 10:41am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: HTT Shopping Today & Have a QUESTION??
You need to make a priority list before crawling around campers. The floor plans and construction details are paramount and even the nicest, most pristine trailer (I'm assuming you're looking at used campers) may never meet even your basic criteria.
Decide if things like dinettes or sofas blocking the bed are important. If you're new to this type camping you may not have an opinion one way or another. We do NOT want to crawl over anything to get in bed. This eliminates several otherwise nice designs.
The list goes on. Do you want a dinette or sofa flush up against one of the beds. She's an early riser; I'm a late reader. Keeping the bed as private as possible is important to us.
What seems like little things like ground clearance can be important. Jayco is notorious for low drains, the Roos have riser kits and 6" more clearance there. Only your area of towing and camping will tell is this is important or not. There are few postings here about drain damage but I suspect folks with low drains are paying special attention to them.
Even cosmetics are important. I ain't towing a camper with big NASCAR checkered flags or bears in mountain scenes on it for example.
Only after you've been thru your priority several times are you ready to look at units and appraise their condition.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 10:35am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Tow Vehicle for HTT?
My yard neighbor just got a Chevy Silverado rated about 10,000 pounds with a 6.0 V8 and 4.10 axles (from what I can tell). Built in electric brake controller like the F250 has. Looks like a wonderful truck, even to this Ford guy! Oh, yeah, he's towing a Jayco 23B and is just waiting for the guys to say he really should have bought the 2500.. ;)
Overkill always works. And provides an upgrade path. I never planned to progress bigger than my 3450 pound Bayside popup so I bought a 5500 pound rated Explorer (V6 with HD tow). I was able to pull the Roo 23SS with it for two seasons, but was never happy and the ole girl was working very hard thru the eastern mountains.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 10:23am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: hybrid travel trailer
Stopping any leak is paramount. Persistent leak will cause damage inside, much of it unseen. Cauking all seams and other exterior opening points, including the lights, and especially antennas and the rest of the roof, is vital.
On a hybrid the big bed doors are a potential source of leaks, of course. Check the seals. Contact RVision to see if there are any upgrades to the seal system. Be especially careful nothing is poking thru the seal with the bed closed, the best seals in the world won't seal if they're compromised.
If you're not sure you're going to cure the leaks in the next couple of weeks put the trailer in a barn at the fairgrounds for the winter to keep it out of the weather. Open the roof vents and all interior cabinets while in the barn so she dries out. Securely block the refrigerator open unless you want it smelling horrible in the spring. If you can't find or afford the barn get the ADCO (brand) cover at the very least. Do not use a "poly tarp," it'll abrade the trailer's finish.
-- Chuck
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Chuck_S
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10/05/08 10:18am |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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