Carla's Camper

[user 22017]

That cable is a Break-away switch to apply the trailer brakes IF the hitch were to fail !

The Water heater is PROPANE...............did you turn on your tanks ?

And again.........that 3-way fridge works BEST on Propane as the primary fuel source..........the electric options are not as efficient

Thank you, AB I will try the propane option for the frig .

Yes, tanks are on for the water heater. I will check the fuse. Well, how long before the water should get warm or hot? Not more than a few minutes, I am guessing.

Yeah, the guy who showed me the cable on the tongue said I am towing illegally without it

I will try the water heater one more time. The second guy at camping world who looked at it said my tank was empty and that was why it didn't work. But I had just heated up a pan of water on the stove and the gas hadn't run out.

Anyway he switched to the other tank, which feels full. I tried it once already, but I will try again. The company, Girard, just emailed the manuals to me. I will read them.

My tanks are full... Gonna dump them by myself for the first time. Wish me luck, lol. They have septic fields here so every trailer spot has them. I kept the lines closed so I didn't get "poop pyramids". See, I am learning!

 

[abnorm]

Yes, tanks are on for the water heater. I will check the fuse. Well, how long before the water should get warm or hot? Not more than a few minutes, I am guessing.

It's ON-DEMAND........The water warms as it flows THRU the heater........NO Storage of the heated water

Put a bucket or pan in the sink and RUN the Hot Tap to test...........when everything is working correctly it takes just a "few" seconds..........

It's Kinda-Rude standing in the shower and getting hit with that COLD water at first !

 

[maki2]

Thank you for that long informative post . So you don't use a weight distribution hitch? ………
Thanks again

A tiny 13 foot long from hitch to bumper little, lightweight travel trailer does not require a weight distribution hitch.

 

[LargeMarge]

My recommendation stands:
* join a caravan of experienced travelers.
.
Each of your answers about safety and operation of your particular combination will be much clearer in a living breathing immediate-response group, hands-on instead of watching a generic video.
.
Disclaimer:
I say this as a hands-on learner.
A lecture is torture for me.
Transferring one-size-fits-all generic information from vague *two-dimensional* photographs to the *three-dimensional* situation in front of me is rarely better than 'marginally-successful'.
.
.
b)
Good catch on the break-away cable.
A surprise!-detachment of a 50mph bumper-pull trailer would quickly bury the trailer-tongue after it drops to the road.
(This automatically happens because of the required tongue-weight to reduce trailer-waggling (aka 'fish-tailing')).
Meanwhile, the rest of the trailer has a tendency to keep going, those pesky "objects in motion tend to stay in motion" shenanigans.
.
During a hitch-loss event, break-away operation relies on a full-charge in the midget dedicated battery mounted on the trailer-tongue.
During an emergency hitch-loss (as opposed to an intentional hitch-loss?), that system is engineered so its battery automatically engages ('locks') the trailer brakes.
This's different from your dash-mounted brake-controller, designed to gradually engage the trailer brakes during every-day driving and slowing/stopping.
.
As you probably know by now, the innerds of trailer brakes include electro-magnets.
Your dash-mounted brake-controller induces a regulated gradual drag against the drum at each axle-end.
During a hitch-loss event, the break-away system dumps a full load of electric into those magnets to lock the trailer brakes.
.
As you might imagine, locking the brakes produces a skid, melting the tires as they merrily glide along the pavement.
That would be a 'low' on my to-do list.
.
After you corral your errant home, you probably need to have a tire-shop verify the tires are mostly round.
Square tires tend to thump, causing no end of consternation with electrical components and fine glassware.
.
.
c)
And 'yes', I am tons of fun at parties...
...mostly because of randomly inserting 'consternation' into lectures carefully-disguised as helpful discussions.

 

[user 22017]

My recommendation stands:
* join a caravan of experienced travelers.
.
Each of your answers about safety and operation of your particular combination will be much clearer in a living breathing immediate-response group, hands-on instead of watching a generic video.
.
Disclaimer:
I say this as a hands-on learner.
A lecture is torture for me.
Transferring one-size-fits-all generic information from vague *two-dimensional* photographs to the *three-dimensional* situation in front of me is rarely better than 'marginally-successful'.
.
.
b)
Good catch on the break-away cable.
A surprise!-detachment of a 50mph bumper-pull trailer would quickly bury the trailer-tongue after it drops to the road.
(This automatically happens because of the required tongue-weight to reduce trailer-waggling (aka 'fish-tailing')).
Meanwhile, the rest of the trailer has a tendency to keep going, those pesky "objects in motion tend to stay in motion" shenanigans.
.
During a hitch-loss event, break-away operation relies on a full-charge in the midget dedicated battery mounted on the trailer-tongue.
During an emergency hitch-loss (as opposed to an intentional hitch-loss?), that system is engineered so its battery automatically engages ('locks') the trailer brakes.
This's different from your dash-mounted brake-controller, designed to gradually engage the trailer brakes during every-day driving and slowing/stopping.
.
As you probably know by now, the innerds of trailer brakes include electro-magnets.
Your dash-mounted brake-controller induces a regulated gradual drag against the drum at each axle-end.
During a hitch-loss event, the break-away system dumps a full load of electric into those magnets to lock the trailer brakes.
.
As you might imagine, locking the brakes produces a skid, melting the tires as they merrily glide along the pavement.
That would be a 'low' on my to-do list.
.
After you corral your errant home, you probably need to have a tire-shop verify the tires are mostly round.
Square tires tend to thump, causing no end of consternation with electrical components and fine glassware.
.
.
c)
And 'yes', I am tons of fun at parties...
...mostly because of randomly inserting 'consternation' into lectures carefully-disguised as helpful discussions.

I like how you explained the break-away cable. And the rest... esp. the square tire.


Thank you for the suggestions. I'll comment on caravans tomorrow. Just got back to Illinois from the Gulf Coast and I am exhausted.

 

[LargeMarge]

...[first bottle] was empty...
...other [bottle] feels full....the manuals to me. I will read them...My tanks are full...dump them... first time. Wish me luck...

.
First things first.
One reason I stick with traditional definitions of RecreateVehicle equipment -- there are tanks, and then, there are bottles.
.
Twenty-pound propane bottles are pretty much standard.
Full, each bottle tends to weigh about 37# (thirty-seven pounds).
Empty, that size bottle probably weighs about 17# (seventeen pounds).
.
A thirty-pound bottle weighs significantly more, an issue if lifting into a high compartment on a TruckCamper.
.
Sewage tanks weigh differently, but you rarely need to lift-n-separate them (as the old Playtex™ commercials promised (causing no end of consternation amongst the devoted membership of the Cleavage Appreciation Society)).
.
.
After doing first things first, fussing and fiddling and cursing, throwing up your arms as you walk away in frustration after breaking a nail, then you can move on to the second stage -- read your manuals.
At least, that seems the normal way of doing stuff.
.
And I sincerely hope your manuals !!!WARN!!! against filling your tanks with propane.
Oh, I suppose you could.
In that event, please have the camera rolling so you can post the video hereabouts for our viewing pleasure...
.
.
[edited to add]
'Luck' while dumping sewage tanks involves up-hill and up-wind.

 

[user 22017]

.
First things first.
One reason I stick with traditional definitions of RecreateVehicle equipment -- there are tanks, and then, there are bottles.
.
Twenty-pound propane bottles are pretty much standard.
Full, each bottle tends to weigh about 37# (thirty-seven pounds).
Empty, that size bottle probably weighs about 17# (seventeen pounds).
.
A thirty-pound bottle weighs significantly more, an issue if lifting into a high compartment on a TruckCamper....

Quite right about my terminology. I even questioned myself when I posted about the tanks, but was too lazy, or tired, to think harder about the correct term

I emptied my tanks just fine, but when my kids and grandkids showed up the toilet clogged almost immediately. I think it is still clogged. Haven't checked yet. A neighbor camping next to us told me to wrap it in Saran Wrap for the trip home and hope the trip will help it unclog itself. I wrapped it in plastic wrap AND heavy duty aluminum foil... yet a tiny bit still spilled out.

I did a Google search before I left and it seems you need to use an auger (snake) on clogs. I'll do that tomorrow.

We left southern Alabama unexpectedly and in a hurry. A full day earlier than planned. Without going into too much detail, I'll just concur with the negative reviews for Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale. Overall the place has a good Google rating, unless you click on the keyword "Management". I agree with everything that was posted about management there. I regret ever booking there. Not for me, but for my daughters and grandchildren. Luckily, we met super nice campers there, which balanced things out.

I won't ever camp there again. I'll probably try another Escapees, but if it is anything like that one... never again.

Had a great experience at nearby Camping World in Robertsdale, AL, before heading to Rainbow Plantation. For $39 (had to join Good Sam) I got unlimited power, water and dump station. Plus free Keurig coffee inside. Met a solo female from Indiana towing a big trailer there.

Another amazing stay was at Wind Creek Casino an hour north. Spent three days there. Met a wonderful couple from Gulf Shores there.

Stayed at two Walmart parking lots on the way to the Gulf coast.

Spent 1.5 weeks in a forest: Open Pond Recreation Area at Conecuh National Forest. The camp host there (Billy) should get awards for helpfulness and kindness. Met one weirdo there and lots of friendly campers from all over. Milwaukee, Florida Keys, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

So, about caravans. They make sense for learning and socializing, but they are also a commitment. I'm not ready to commit to anything. Plus, just traveling and camping you meet a ton of people.

 

[user 22017]

Some photos from the trip. First is my granddaughter putting the new plates on the night before I left. Second is same night putting some heavy things in storage unit. I got scared that my trailer might be overweight.

 

[user 22017]

More photos. I think most are out of order
Open Pond at Conecuh Nat'l Forest

 

[user 22017]

Sorry Maki, think I just added some big file sizes

Trying again...

These are of The Point (Fort Defiance), which is the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in Cairo, IL. I stopped there on the way south, because next to that spot is the bridge I had to cross to Kentucky. Spent the night there on the return trip, because we had 5 hours to go still.

Planned to be there for the totality of the eclipse, but leaving Escapees a day early screwed up my plans.

 

[user 22017]

Wind Creek Casino. First time I cooked breakfast in my trailer. And the other pic showed the free spot I had next to the casino. Big thumbs up for Wind Creek Casino.

 

[LargeMarge]

YouTubers 'cumminscampers' just left Alabama, then stayed at an excellent private campground in the Texas hill country on the Frio River:

.
They give the showers a 10/10!
Paths around the place have swings and hammocks next to the water.
If you are in the neighborhood and it is in the budget...

 

[user 22017]

YouTubers 'cumminscampers' just left Alabama, then stayed at an excellent private campground in the Texas hill country on the Frio River:

.
They give the showers a 10/10!
Paths around the place have swings and hammocks next to the water.
If you are in the neighborhood and it is in the budget...

Thanks Marge. Too expensive for my budget. And nice as that bathroom is, all the showers were decent where I camped.

They want about $100 a night. National Forests are less than half that. The one I just left was $12 a night for full hookups, nice showers and on a lake .

 

[WanderingRose]

Carla, just a word about your clogged toilet after your kids/grandkids began using it.

I stopped flushing toilet paper in my BVan years ago, which solved many issues.

I keep small, scented trash bags in my little bathroom for toilet paper.

 

[user 22017]

Carla, just a word about your clogged toilet after your kids/grandkids began using it.

I stopped flushing toilet paper in my BVan years ago, which solved many issues.

I keep small, scented trash bags in my little bathroom for toilet paper.

Thanks Rose. I'm gonna try that.

 

[Malamute]

Carla, just a word about your clogged toilet after your kids/grandkids began using it.

I stopped flushing toilet paper in my BVan years ago, which solved many issues.

I keep small, scented trash bags in my little bathroom for toilet paper.

Theres special RV toilet paper that starts breaking down faster, its all I ever used in my RV and didnt have any trouble with it clogging up or dumping. I also ONLY had the toilet going into the black tank, so had to add water before dumping to get it to flow well. I preferred that to letting more water go in it since much of the time i was stationary and it dramatically extended time between dumps, like many months.

 

[user 22017]

Theres special RV toilet paper that starts breaking down faster, its all I ever used in my RV and didnt have any trouble with it clogging up or dumping. I also ONLY had the toilet going into the black tank, so had to add water before dumping to get it to flow well. I preferred that to letting more water go in it since much of the time i was stationary and it dramatically extended time between dumps, like many months.

The people camping next to me at the casino have had many different campers throughout their adult lives. Now a $150K Class A, but several 5th wheels. They told me to ignore any advice about toilet paper and use any kind I want. They said they never had a clog.

I thought for sure that was going to happen to me, because it turns out I don't mind dumping the tanks so I always add lots of water. Not so lucky

I was sick all day yesterday. Daughter took me out for Indian food and my body paid for it, lol. Plus I was sleep deprived from the trip. So I'll go look at the toilet now. Feel like I need a hazmat suit for this

I'll report back soon. No photos, I promise

 

[WanderingRose]

One of the problems I solved by not flushing toilet paper was the excess water from my limited tanks needed to flush paper as well as, ummm, leavings of whatever nature.

Takes much less water just to flush urine, and always try to leave solid waste in public toilets.

Works for me.

 

[user 22017]

One of the problems I solved by not flushing toilet paper was the excess water from my limited tanks needed to flush paper as well as, ummm, leavings of whatever nature.

Takes much less water just to flush urine, and always try to leave solid waste in public toilets.

Works for me.

The water level hasn't dropped at all. Before I left I dumped the tanks and a lot came out of the black tank. I think there is a giant poop pyramid, as they call it.

I'll try using RV tp. If it happens again, then no tp.

Off to grab my daughter's snake and suit up in a contractor size garbage bag.

 

[WanderingRose]

Yeah, you may have to get in there with a high pressure hose to clean it out.

Many people carry a dedicated hose for just that purpose, to connect to the flush hose at a dump station and use it inside from the toilet end to give things a good scour.

As for water, if you carry 50 gallons of fresh water, that is 350lbs, if I remember correctly, a fair amount of extra weight with fuel prices what they are, which is another consideration.

If that is not an issue, a toilet paperless black tank still has its advantages.

Just my experience and opinion, you’ll work out what is best for you.