Hi everyone. I am new to the forum and to RVing. I recently purchased a 2014 KZ Sportsman 280 BHSS but I had to go out of town for work for about 3 weeks after bringing it home. The RV dealer gave me a very quick crash course but I can hardly remember any of it. Anyways, I got home today and we decided to take go camping tomorrow. I did remember the dealer telling me to turn on the fridge a day in advance to get it ready so I just went out to do so and it seems that my battery is dead. So, my first question is - how can I recharge it without having an external charger? I looked every where for an on board charger that I can plug an extension cord in to (like on a boat) but couldn't find one. Is there not a way to not have the battery drawing power when it is just sitting? Also, I guess I need buy a 30 Amp plug converter so I can plug it in at the house correct? Will power this way run everything? I'm just trying to figure out how I can get the fridge going tonight since the battery is dead. (My plan was to run it off gas but I guess you still have to have a battery to turn it on...)Finally, as you can see, my RV knowledge is terrible. Is there a generic guide or anything out there that has like a checklist of everything I need to know and do to prep for trip, get going at the campsite, and then what to do to restore it at home? Please let me know.Thanks!!

just plug the thing in and the battery will charge I made an adapter to go from the 50a on mine to a 15a male. Take the ground off the battery if you don't want it to go dead,or you can install a battery shut off switch like in a boat. I like the blue seas stuff.

As for your battery question i cannot answer. I know the battery will charge off the car when in tow but not sure when plugged in to a 110 outlet. If you get an adapter to plug into it will run most things depending on the house breaker. Do you have 30 or 15 amp. Many house outlets are 15 amp which will run everything no problem except the AC. The AC needs to be on 30 amp service( but I have run on 15 for a short time to cool things off while I'm working in the TT during the summer). As far as a check list there are many posts on that question with as many suggestions as you care to read. Check the beginning RVing section on this forum. I say pack light and take a good guess on what you need and go for a weekend. You can run out and get any thing essential you need and compile a list for the next time. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy your self with your new TT. Some of the best times you can look back on and laugh about is when you forgot to bring something along and have to improvise to get by. Welcome to the forum.

Congrats on your purchase!You can get the 30 amp converter and plug it into your house/garage outlet. This will charge the battery plus run the converter to provide power to all things 12 volt. You can run anything with caution. However, i would not run the AC or the microwave.Enjoy your camper!Craig

I'm surprised it didnt come with a 30amp to 15 amp adapter, but if not I'm pretty sure Wally word has them. This will allow you to plug into a normal outlet.Once you do that the battery can charge, the fridge can run (without gas) and pretty much everything else except the AC.Jon

KZ Owners please look here - Newbie needs help

41 Replies

cbump
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
Awesome. Thank you. I do remember now that they told me those were the low point drains during my quick walkaround. Makes sense now. I appreciate it.
azwildcat
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
The on-off switch turns the electricity on to the water heater. It has nothing to do with filling the tank. You probably have a bypass valve located inside on the back of the water heater. This valve must be positioned to fill the tank and set to bypas when winterizing unless you want to fill the tank with anti freeze. No need to empty the tank after each trip unless it is a long time between trips. No not keep your black tank drain open all the time. Allow the tank to fill --at least 2/3-- and then empty. Your blavk tank flush should be located on the outside of the TT somewhere above the drain valve. Looks similar to the city water hookup. The 2 drain valves under the trailer are your low point drains used to drain the system for winterizing or other times when you may want to drain all the lines. They do not drain the water heater--you must remove the plug on the outside of the water heater to completely drain the hot water tank.
spadoctor
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2014
never seen a Suburban DSI water heater without the hole and clip.
cbump
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
My on off switch outside looks just like this with nothing drilled through it.
spadoctor
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2014
the switch located outside in the lower left of the W/H turns the element on and off. KZ also has the dual switch inside the trailer allowing all control from inside. The outside switch also has a hole drilled through it and there should be a small clevis pin that goes through the hole to prevent the element from being turned on without water. Most dealers will clip the clip on a wire when it is removers to prevent loss. Also when filling the heater NEVER bleed the air using the pressure relief valve as it will remove too much air and cause the relief valve to drip.
cmoecmoe
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
cbump.,

To fill your Hot water tank, hook up your city water (or turn on your water pump) and open the hot water on one of your facets. When the air is gone and it stops burping, the tank is filled. I believe the switch either turns on the electric element or the propane part of the water heater.

Craig
cbump
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Thanks spadoctor. Sounds like I flushed correctly. I don't know if I have a connection to flush the blackwater tank but I did use the wand you mentioned.

As far as the water heater, I definitely know I must fill it first, my question was more whether or not the on off switch under the panel outside was what actually initiated the filling.

I appreciate the help.
spadoctor
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2014
you must ALWAYS fill the water heater BEFORE turning it on as the element will instantly burn out if its not full. Also it will heat much faster on gas then electric and if you are doing back to back showers you can use both for more hot water. Your rig may have a black tank flush installed as many KZ's do. You attach a water hose to it turn the water on and it sprays the inside of the tank to rinse out. If not there is a wand that you can get that attaches to the end of the hose and is inserted down into the tank thru the toilet to do the same thing. I always then put a gallon or two of water in the tank along with chemical. This sloshes around and helps prevent a clog from forming. As for the grey water....maybe a rinse that's all. One thing ...dump the black tank...flush black tank....then dump the grey tank last.
cbump
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Thanks for the link. Those look awesome.
rider997
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
cbump wrote:

The night before we went camping when I ran to walmart to get the 30-15 adapter, I also picked up one of those orange modular leveling kits. Good thing because our campsite was way unlevel! I am going to pick up 2 or 3 more of the same kit just in case as I saw a few RVs out there with stacks under every stabilizer and wheel so I want to make sure I always have enough. Luckily I had asked a friend a few days before about leveling the trailer as I thought you just used the 4 jacks. I was told the floor wouldn't support that but had forgotten to get levelers until I went to walmart late that night.

Before you get more leveling blocks, check out the Andersen camper leveler. You can be leveled (up to 4") in under 30 seconds, taking it slow and easy.

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Products/3604--camper-leveler.aspx