I have a good friend that has property where they had a well pump problem and their water won't be on until Wednesday or Thursday of this week. I offered to take the TT over and set it up with a full FW tank. We can plug it in so the pump will run and the HWH will run off propane. So they'll at least have hot showers for 6 ppl for this time. I know (and she knows) they will have to figure out their own solution to get MORE water into the FW tank when they run out. They're also in the country so are just going to let the bath water run out onto the ground wherever we park the TT. Besides explaining how the systems work, what do I need to caution them about? DS & I are going to take it over and set it up tomorrow.

Turn off the water heater when they run out of water?

Six people? That's going to be short showers.:B

Good luck having 6 people get a shower from one tank of water. And don't just let the grey tank run on the ground under the RV, it will be a muddy mess. Get a grey cap with an garden hose outlet and run the hose away from the rv. Make sure they save enough water to flush the toilet. Good luck, 6 people will tax you RV like you have never seen.

You are a far braver man than I!

Do they realize RVs have many systems that can fail just from oversight and it gets expensive?You can start with explaining heating an empty water heater.

Loaning Trailer to Friend -- UPDATE | Good Sam Community

happybooker1
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
FunnyCamper wrote:
1L243 wrote:
If they live close enough for you to drop your rig off then it's close enough for them to come over to your house to use the shower. every other day. In the mean time they can take a sponge bath. Heck were only talking a few days.

This! I would offer my home use first before bringing them my rig only to have major possible problems. The home means real showers instead of navy showers. and every other day means, what, 2 days they come to your home? water on Wed or Thurs.

They live over an hour away. This is Texas. We might spend an hour driving to a Mall. But NOT close enough for them to just "run over" and take their showers & drive back.

There are 2 houses on the property: Friend and Grandson live in one, Her daughter's family in another. TOO many to stay in my guestroom, which I first offered.
happybooker1
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
John Wayne wrote:
Drain the gray water into buckets and flush the house toilets with the gray water.

Ohhhh EXCELLENT idea! Thanks!
Thom02099
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
Billy Joel said it best...."It's a matter of trust"

KUDOS to you for helping your friend in a time of need. The word "friend" can have many meanings (see Facebook,et al) but your true meaning of the word "friend" comes through magnificently. We should all be so lucky to have the kind of friend that you obviously are!

Lots of GOOD advice given by others here. The best advice given?

CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
2112 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
2112 wrote:
. 6 years later and we are still fiends .

that doesn't sound like a happy ending to me.
bumpy
I fail to recognize the punch line, if there is one :h

I let friends borrow my truck, my car, my boat, my beach house but not tow my FW. They can stay in it as long as needed but they will not move it.

Got to recognize the risk and draw the line somewhere.

As far as the water heater, gas can run without pressure but not the electric. Without pressure it will boil itself out and cook the element. For those that don't believe it shut off your water, drain the lines and leave your electric heater on for a day. Come back to let us know what happened.
2112
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
Bumpyroad wrote:
2112 wrote:
. 6 years later and we are still fiends.

that doesn't sound like a happy ending to me.
bumpy
I fail to recognize the punch line, if there is one :h

I let friends borrow my truck, my car, my boat, my beach house but not tow my FW. They can stay in it as long as needed but they will not move it.

Got to recognize the risk and draw the line somewhere.

As far as the water heater, gas can run without pressure but not the electric. Without pressure it will boil itself out and cook the element. For those that don't believe it shut off your water, drain the lines and leave your electric heater on for a day. Come back to let us know what happened.
fpresto
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
To me friends are much more important than any RV. I would do it in a heartbeat and not think twice. I feel sad for those who say don't do it as they apparently don't know true friendship.
Laman
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
Just shaking my head! My friends can use my MH, my house, my car, my truck, my hunting camp etc. whenever they would be in need and they will do the same for me. Things can be fixed if needed, true friends can be a treasure.

Good for you for standing in for a friend, just explain the plumbing system, advise them to take navy showers in stages and they should be fine.
D___M
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Unless someone opens the drain on water heater it will always have water in it.
They are only empty when drained.
As water comes out same amount of water goes in.
Run out of water in fresh water tank....pump stops pumping water thru plumbing system no more water comes out of water heater.
Water heater will cycle as water temp cools but it won't go empty.

Show your friend how to turn it on/off (electric and propane)
Show her the LP Detector and what to do should it go off
Show her where the AC breaker panel is---DC Dist Panel is
Remind her that the converter fan may come on when battery is being charged

Tell her to call if she has questions.

x2
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
2112 wrote:
. 6 years later and we are still fiends.

that doesn't sound like a happy ending to me.
bumpy
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
During my last waster crisis, I went to Harbor Freight and bought a shallow well pump. Then borrowed a water tank from the neighbor.

Fed that into an outside faucet which then fed the house system. I had as valve to shut the water off from back flowing into the supply pipe. We were able to have the whole deal that way.

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