HOW THINGS WORK
YOU BOUGHT A CAMPER, NOW WHAT?
When in doubt, read the owners manual! Try that first when you have a question about your camper. The owners manual should have most of the information about operating the systems in your camper.
Here are a few simple tips about using a camper.
Fresh water system.
Here are a few simple tips about using a camper.
Fresh water system.
Most campers have a fresh water system with a fresh (potable) water tank, a 12 volt demand water pump, and a city water hookup.
The city water hookup is usually on the outside or in a storage compartment. Hook a garden hose to the city water hookup, and it will pressure up the water system in the camper. It may take a bit to get pressure while the water heater is filling. Open a water faucet on the hot side to bleed off air in the water heater. The water heater is full when the water stops gurgling at the faucet. (If your hot water doesn't bubble when filling the water heater, the bypass valves are probably turned the wrong way, keeping water out of the water heater.) Make sure the water heater bypass is set for normal use to get water in the water heater! Don't turn the water heater on unless it's full of water! The water heater bypass is located on the back of the water heater.
12 volt water pump.
The water pump is used for dry camping, ie when you don't have city water to supply your water. It pumps water from the fresh water tank, and has a pressure switch that turns the pump on or off when you open or close a faucet. This pump runs off the battery in your camper. The water pump switch is usually located on the monitor panel, or in the kitchen or bathroom in most campers.
Be sure to fill your fresh water tank if you're going dry camping! Most water tanks have a gravity feed to fill the tank, just place a water hose in the opening and fill till water runs out the fill spout, then replace the cap. Some campers use the city water hookup with a flow valve to fill the tank. This system usually has an overflow vent, stop filling the tank when water flows out of the overflow vent.
If you have a monitor panel in your camper, it will show full on the fresh water tank when it's full.
You will also have a drain valve or drain plug for the fresh water tank for winterizing or freshening. it's usually located on the water tank inside the camper, or under the camper.
Waste water system
If you have a fresh water tank, you probably have a waste water system also. Most campers have 2 or 3 holding tanks for waste water. They are called gray water (sink & shower water) and blackwater (sewage) tanks.
Gray Water Tanks
The gray water tanks hold the water that drains from the sinks or shower in your camper. Most gray water tanks are approximately the same size as your fresh water tank. Some campers have 2 gray water tanks, one for the bathroom, and one for the kitchen. You may also have 2 gray water drain valves. If a sink or shower won't drain, you probably have a full tank! Check the monitor panel, and drain the tanks as needed.
You can put gray water deodorizer in your tank to stop odors from the tanks. You can also use drain valve lubricant to help keep the drain valves from sticking. You add this by pouring the chemical in a drain.
You can leave the gray water tank valve open if you are living in your camper if you are hooked up to a sewer hookup. If you are dry camping, drain the gray water after the black water tank is drained to rinse out the sewer hose.
Black Water TankS
The black water tank is used to hold the water drained from the toilet. You will need to put toilet chemical in your black water tank to eliminate odors while using or storing your camper. Don't put anything in the toilet other than toilet paper, you will plug up your toilet tank. That's a party you don't want to go to!
Leave the black water tank drain valve closed when using the camper, and drain as necessary.
If you are living in your camper, leave the black water tank valve closed. Let the tank fill and drain it when needed. If you leave the valve open, the tank will fill up with solids, and you may not be able to drain the tank!!!! You may have to replace the tank!! What fun that is!!
Wastewater Drain Valves
If you have holding tanks, you will have wastewater drain valves. They are usually located on the drivers side of the camper. Most campers have one drain pipe with 2 or 3 drain valves, but some campers with 2 or more holding tanks may also have more than one drain connection. You will use a flexible hose with a bayonet type fitting to drain the holding tanks.
Drain the sewer holding tanks
Make sure the sewer hose is securely clamped to the sewer hose bayonet fitting!!
To drain the tanks, get out the sewer hose and locate the drain pipe. Place the sewer hose in the ground receptacle, and secure it with a rock or something heavy, or have someone hold it for you.
Before you remove the cap from the drain pipe on the camper, hold the sewer hose under the pipe and remove the cap slowly, let any spillage drain in the sewer hose.
Place the bayonet fitting on the drain pipe and twist it to lock it in place. Then locate the sewer (black water) valve, and slowly pull it to open the valve. The water comes out fast, make sure the sewer hose is secure!!
After the black water tank is drained, run water in the toilet with the drain valve open (or use the black water tank rinse) to rinse out the holding tank. After you have rinsed the black water tank, close the black water drain valve, and open the gray water valve.
When the gray water is drained, close the gray water valve, remove the sewer hose, replace the drain cap on the sewer outlet, rinse the sewer hose, shake the water out of the hose, and place the hose in the bumper or sewer hose storage compartment. A plastic tub works good for sewer hose storage, make sure it can dry out.
Toilet Chemical
After you have drained the sewage holding tanks, put toilet chemical in the black water holding tank.
Pour the recommended amount of chemical in the toilet, flush and run 2-4 gallons of water in the tank to stop odors when you are using or storing the camper.
You may also want to put chemical in the gray water tanks. Pour the recommended amount in a sink or shower drain.
You might also consider using drain valve lubricant in both tanks to help keep the drain valves clean and lubricated.
Electrical systems
Be sure to read your owners manual before hooking up electricity to your camper! Electricity is dangerous if not used properly!
Make sure you are hooking up to the appropriate electrical power supply before you connect the power chord. Most campers have a 30 amp or 50 amp electric hookup. Some older campers may only have a 15 amp electrical hookup.
30 Amp 120 volt chord has 3 connecting prongs, triangle shaped. check the label on the shore power hookup to verify what you have in the camper. Most smaller campers have 30 Amp 120 volt power service.
Caution!! Some 220 volt receptacles have 3 prongs (similar to old dryer hookup)
50 Amp 220 volt service is a heavy chord with a 4 prong plug, one round, 3 flat pins. Check the label on your camper to verify your electrical hookup.
You can also buy electrical adapters for your power chord to adapt to 30 or 50 amp service. You'll want to carry these, so you'll have electric service when you go camping. Many people also carry a portable generator or built in generator for their electrical needs. Make sure you have the right hookup, and the right size generator before you go.
If you're using a portable generator, make sure the exhaust can't get in the camper! It can kill you or make you sick!
This is a work in progress.
Thanks for looking,
Happy camping!
Phil Stahla
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