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07-19-2015, 01:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
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New member learns the hard way
Hello everyone,
We are new to RVing. Bought our first one, a 1995 national sea breeze. It's overall condition is good, but I can't leave things alone so I'm sure some changes will happen.
We will be taking our rig to Florida in two weeks for our first trip. We decided to do a a "test" weekend trip 10 miles away. Thank God we did. We learned some good lessons like, make sure all the plumbing is connected before turning the water on. One of the feed pipes to the bathroom had disconnected. Didn't realize it till water came flowing out under the bathroom door. Luckily it was an easy find and fix. Another lesson, know how the water heater works. Figured out how to turn it on but still no hot showers?? After getting back home and trouble shooting found out there was a bypass. Duh, so we had hot water the whole time. It just never left the tank. We learned that unlimited fresh water does not mean unlimited water out (site had water spicet and electric but no sewer). Found out after the shower back filled with 10 inch of used sink water. Thank God RVs have black and gray tanks else there would be new meaning to floaters for us.
Well, wish us luck and if anyone out there has some good advice for a newbie let me know.
Jerry
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07-19-2015, 02:15 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Western WI
Posts: 688
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Welcome
We all have our little lessons. If they deny it, they are not remembering it right. Our only hope is that the lessons don't cost much$$$$
__________________
2001 Itasca Horizon 36LD Cat
Retired Air Force, One lovely Angel , 2 Cats and three birds.
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07-19-2015, 02:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,884
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As for the water heater, make sure the water tank is full before turning it on. Best of luck with your new to you MH.
__________________
2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
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07-19-2015, 02:26 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Spokane Valley, Wa
Posts: 1,987
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Use water like it was priceless
When you open the refridg do it fast and close it as their recovery is very slow.
__________________
Art
1999 Trade Winds 7371 Cat 3126B w/current upgrades
1990 D 250 Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo
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07-19-2015, 02:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Paoli, IN
Posts: 1,078
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Welcome to iRV2 and to RVing! The good news is that you're a Noob only once.
__________________
Karen & Gary Glamping is not for the faint of heart!
traveling in a 2011 Ventana 3433!
Looking for our next adventure!
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07-19-2015, 02:41 PM
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#6
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,758
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__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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07-19-2015, 04:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,723
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__________________
Tricia & Dennis Lockhart
2010 Ventana 4333
Spartan MM w/Cummins 360 ISC
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07-19-2015, 05:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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Do yourself a favor and do not connect to city water. As long as you run off your tank with your pump you limit the damage from both human and mechanical failures. Most folks also hear the pump running and wonder why when it should not be. ;-) If you do that it also helps you track how full your black and gray tanks are getting. Get in the habit of scanning your tank and battery levels on a regular basis like when you get up and before you go to bed. It helps avoid surprises.
Before you leave and after every time you stop walk around the unit checking things just before you get in and drive away. Things get forgotten and folks get "helpful" with anything tied or connected. Also run a hand over your tires and wheels when you do a road stop. Do it CAUTIOUSLY. You will be surprised how things heat up and what is normal. You are looking for not normal situations because that is a sign something is failing. Might be inflation pressure, might be bad bearings, might be dragging brakes. Might be you just came off 5 miles of 6% grade and it's more or less normal. ;-)
If driving gets nasty for weather or really most other conditions find a spot to pull over and let it go by. You probably will not lose much time but will be a lot more comfortable sitting there watching the mess out the window with a beverage and break or book or whatever. While you are at it plan trips so you do not need to do high milage in one day. That way if you do lose time you can make it up.
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07-20-2015, 02:31 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 5,099
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__________________
Bruce & Nancy
FMCA F280542
2004 Bounder 35E
US Navy Vet.
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07-20-2015, 07:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Everywhere USA
Posts: 2,107
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__________________
Hal & Jackie .... 03 TS Select 45DS01
02 Haulmark 20' Edge .... 02 Corvette Rdstr
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-20-2015, 07:38 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 1,584
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Actually, you may not have hot water all along. If the water heater was bypassed, then it is likely that there was no water in it. If so, You will want to check to see if any damage was done. If you were heating electrically, then the heating element may be burned out. If you were only using propane, damage is less likely, but seill should be checked.
Joel
__________________
Retired electronics engineer. Avid paddler & birder.
2011 Silverado 2500HD, diesel, 4x4,crew cab, 8' bed
Palomino Puma 253FBS (27' 5er) & '94 19' Class B
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07-20-2015, 08:17 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 47
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Welcome, and don't sweat the lessons. There's someone that will learn from you (or anyone else) sharing them.
__________________
Philip and Vanessa Troost
2015 Thor Palazzo 36.1, '03 Avalanche
SE NM in Dairy country between the alien and oil fields
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07-20-2015, 10:24 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Johnstown PA
Posts: 1,311
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Welcome!! We made so many mistakes (or rather....learning experiences!) when we started out with our fiver....now we will do the learning curve thing with the motorhome! LOL! Life is just an ongoing lesson!
__________________
Lynn & Andy Dudish
2016 Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA
Towing 2014 Jeep Wrangler
On the Road with 13 Rescued Cats
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