Community Forums

svalencia89 · 06-29-2011, 04:10 AM

I just bought a 2006 fema trailer that was never lived in and there is a sticker on the kitchen sink stating those pipes have been protected with non toxic antifreeze flush and drain lines before using.. how do I flush and drain the lines?

I have 2002 chevy suburban 1500 with the towing pckg and the weights that it says by the hitch are 5000 lbs undistributed and 10000 or 12000 lbs (I can't remember which one it is) distributed weight. The trailer says on it gvwr? 6200 lbs.. is it okay to tow the trailer without destroying my suv?

I drove the trailer about 30 miles going 40 mph.. what is safe mph to drive without sway bars? Do I need sway bars? Do sway bars equalize the weight or something like that?

TexasPSDX · 06-29-2011, 07:51 AM

1st, congrads on your new trailer. Hope you get a lot of enjoyment from it.

Non-toxic anti-freeze - hook the trailer to city water and turn on water facets in the trailer. Most likely you will see red coming out, that is the anti-freeze. Run the water until clear.

You will need a weight distribution hitch to safely tow your trailer. As you stated your trailer weight exceeds the safe tow weight of your hitch without one.

Sway bars are in addition to the WD hitch. They attach between the hitch head and the trailer, they work to reduce the swaying of the trailer.

svalencia89 · 06-29-2011, 10:01 AM

Thank u so much. Okay I did that when I first got the trailer and a little pink came out but now the water has a foul smell to it.. what is that from? It runs completely clear but it smells kind of like sewage or something. This trailer doesn't have holding tanks just hooks right up to city sewage lines.

TexasPSDX · 06-29-2011, 12:40 PM

Sounds like the water that was in the lines soured while stored. You need to run a solution of water and bleach through the lines to kill any bacteria in them, then flush with water mixed with baking soda to get rid of the bleach taste, then flush, flush, and flush with fresh water.

charlie43 · 06-29-2011, 12:50 PM

My manual recommends a solution of 1 gallon of water to 1/4 cup of household bleach, and then to get rid of the bleach taste, 1 quart of vinegar to 5 gallons of water, for what it's worth.

svalencia89 · 06-29-2011, 03:50 PM

Thank u all so much! Y'all have been so very helpful! So I was just walking around the trailer inspecting things and it seems that a piece of the floor under the dinette by the wall has rotted I'm assuming. It is very soft and its a piece about 5' x 18" and it goes underneath the side of seat that hold some type of machine.. and up the wall to halfway point in the window. And also soft wall there and in the bedroom closet. Can this be repaired by my husband who is a carpenter? What do we replace it with?

GPW · 06-30-2011, 07:00 AM

S89... Fema trailer , probably OSB on the floor ... just cut away the rotted areas ( I cut it rectangular so it's easier to fit a new piece in ) and replace with new (a good grade of OSB) or plywood ... Careful not to cut through any frame members...
I just had to replace a section of floor in my TT , Replaced the section with plywood , treated with 75% mineral spirits, 25% polyurethane varnish... cheap , and a couple coats , with particular attention to the end grain , makes it much more durable and water resistant ... Usually end up painting that on the surrounding area too so It doesn't rot as quickly ...
Best find how the water got there in the first place , gotta, be a leak ... MUST fix that first ...

svalencia89 · 07-01-2011, 01:23 AM

Thank u very much. I took it back too the dealer trouble have that part fixed. They were really friendly about everything so well see how it turns out!!