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17 years ago

Hi! We live in Michgan and upgraded to a "new" used travel trailer at the end of the summer last year. The previous owners were very helpful and nice and explained a bunch of stuff to my husband who doesn't remember anything they said.

We got the books and such for all of the appliances but it really doesn't explain much. I was wondering if there was anyone out there that would be willing to meet us at Cabela's in Dundee that could explain how to use it all, especially the gray and black water tanks.

We tent camp and have a pop-up but have never had to deal with a refrigerator/oven/air conditioner/water heater/gray & black tanks. I am not so concerned about the stove/oven as these would run off of gas and just need to be lit. I think that the books do a pretty good job on that. The fridge is a little scarier to me. I don't think it is the one that runs on car/electric/gas, I think it is just electric and gas. I have heard of many people running their gas while driving to keep the fridge going. Is that really ok???

My big concern is the water heater, I over heard the previous owner telling my husband something special about it, while I was trying to keep my children from climbing on absolutely everything. The other big concern is understanding how to use the gray and black tanks and emptying them the right way. I saw, what I think is a neat thing called a Flush King. It is supposed to backflush your tanks easily and keep them really clean without a mess.

I haven't had time to really go through the camper by myself with the instruction books. We didn't use it last year and had to get it into storage or loose the spot. I don't remember seeing any instructions on the "how-to" for the tanks and water heater. It is a 1991 Mallard Sprinter and we are very excited about getting out and using it soon! We have two young children and will be using the bathroom alot and want to do this right.

If anyone is interested and able to help us out we would be very grateful. Thanks.

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Comments (2)

megdagooch
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Mimom!
I think I saw you over at the KT. We have a class C motor home. It is really easy to operate once you know how. If your fridge is electric, you should be able to run it off battery while driving and gas once you are at camp. We used to run the other motorhome fridge on gas while driving, don't know if that is a no-no.
The grey and black tanks, all you need to know is how to empty them. That is real easy. Your manual should have any specifics on that.
Can't you get a manual on-line somewhere? It is really worth it.
Don't let it stress you. There is not much you can do wrong.
rustyj14
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi-mom: Go to: www.campingworld.com
there are many things to see and buy, and i do think they might have a book that tells you how to operate everything! I have a book like that, don't remember the name of it, but it thoroughly covers most everything.
If your hot water tank is 3-way (electric/gas/battery, yoy can keep it on when driving. When you light it on gas, after it gets hot, you could probably turn it down to "Pilot", unless there is a great demand for hot water. I've had mine on pilot for a weekend, but its only used for washing dishes, etc., and not for showers, and only me on board. The campground bathroom shower will help to conserve heated water in the camper!
If your fridge is 3 way, you can keep it on battery when driving, but check it occasionally on the way. If it has the house current feature, use that in camp, if available. If not, use the tank gas feature to keep it cold.
Air conditioner should only be used on house current, or if you have a generator built into the trailer, or you can carry one on the back bumper, or in a towing vehicle.
They grey and black water tanks are not hard to figure out. Keep drain valves closed on both tanks. When you go to empty the toilet (black water), make sure the drain hose is firmly attached to the drain (with cap removed!)and the other end is in the drain at the dump station. After all is ready, open the handle on the black-water tank, and let the stuff run down into the drain! DO-NOT let the hose pull out of the drain! After it is empty, close the drain valve, go inside and run several gallons of water into and thru the toilet drain. Then, re-drain that tank, and reinstall the cap. Then, do the same with the grey water/ sink/ tub drain tank. Rinse out, finish the draining process, stick hose back in storage place, usually the back bumper, hose off the outsides of the drains, and thats done.
And, be sure to install the chemical in the black water tank. I can't recommend any certain product, as i don't like any of them since the Gov'ment stuck their noses in there!
As for the cook stove, mine lights with one of those clicker lighting guns, or a match. The oven pilot has to be lit once, then it stays lit until the gas is shut off. The furnace usually has a pilot (maybe different now,) that will stay lit, and it will make the furnace operate like the one at home, with a wall thermostat. Hope it doesn't go bad--they cost as much as the one in your house to fix or replace!
My motor home is a 1979, so many changes had been made when yours was built.
Some advice: Be friendly, smile a lot, talk to anybody who seems to want to talk, avoid the snobs, (yeah, there are a few, who act like Nelson Rockyfeller is their stock manager, but most folks are downright friendly and will help you if you need it.
One time, a guy pulled into a nice campground where we had stopped for the night. His older motor home had stalled, and he founmd the battery dead when he went to restart it! In three minutes, he had 3 sets of jumper cables, and 2 batteries offered to help get it started, and a free ride to town next morning to buy a new battery!
so, be friendly, don't "put on the dog", talk to folks, and you'll get along great! Why, i even had my turnpike fare paid by some citizen, in Florida!
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megdagooch

rustyj14

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