New camper. Water features

thedietz wrote:
@ lovemountains - thanks! I did read that part before but where i am camping does not have water at the site so I will need to fill up. I did just buy a regulator and drinking water hose off amazon though so when I get to a site with water I'll be ready!!!

@ M GO BLUE - thanks again! I am having 4 new tires put on the camper right now so when I get it home tonight i'll check for all of these things. Hopefully it will be easy to figure out.
And from what you are saying then your fifth wheel has 2 pumps? one for the sink..one for the toilet. Is that standard with campers or a chance mine might use one pump for everything?

No..One pump with multiple locations that I can turn it on and off

First, take a look under your bed. The mattress and plywood sheet lift up to reveal a storage area under there. You will also likely find your fresh water tank in there. I don't know why everybody specifies fresh water tank. I seriously doubt anybody has or uses a salt water tank! Anyway, once you've located your fresh water tank, you'll see at one end a largish hose that goes to a valve, then splits off with one side going to a pump. You'll want to fill your tank before turning the pump on, and ensure the valve is directing the water to the pump, otherwise, it'll be draining out under the camper.
On one wall, probably in the hallway near the bathroom will be a panel with buttons and lights to tell you how full your holding tanks are. You can ignore them. The switch for the pump should be on that panel, though. Once you have the tank full, the valve opened to the pump, and the switch on, you should hear the pump run until the system is pressurized. It will not properly pressurize until you get the air out of the lines, though. So start by opening the water valves at the sinks and tub until the water runs solid then turn them off.
Next, you'll want to turn your attention to the water heater. It may or may not have a bypass valve installed. It is also probably accessed under your bed. Ensure the plug is installed (it may have an anode attached) on the front of the water heater (outside). Then you can open the bypass valve inside if it needs to be opened. Back outside, you can open the pressure relief valve to let air out of the tank. When water starts coming out of the relief valve, close it. It is now safe to light the water heater if you wish. You'll probably want to wait until you are on site, otherwise, you're just wasting propane to heat water you aren't using.
Holding tanks - one grey and one black. When you look under your camper, probably near the water heater area, you'll see two valves. One is bigger than the other. One may even have a grey handle. The small one is the grey tank and the big one is the black tank. Keep them both closed while you are camping as long as you can. If the site provides sewer, then go ahead and connect up the stinky slinky, but leave the valves closed. When you get ready to leave, or the tanks are full, or you stop at a dumping station, open the black tank valve first and allow it to drain completely. You can also use your non-potable water hose with a wand to reach in through the toilet and flush the black tank some more. Once you're pretty sure you got all the solids out, go ahead and drain the grey water tank. This will serve to rinse the inside of your stinky slinky. Close the valves, remove the slinky, and cap the drain. You might want to invest in a box of nitrile gloves to wear whenever you perform this operation.
If you have no desire to travel with water in your potable water tank, turn off the pump (if it isn't off already) and switch the valve from the pump to the drain position.
Sanitizing the potable water tank is pretty easy, btw. Simply pour some bleach in the full tank, cycle it through all the faucets, then drain and refill. If you feel the need to drain and refill again to reduce the residual bleach, that's fine, but not really necessary.

Hope this helps!

http://images.rvs.com/13250/178843/travel%20star%20012.jpg
This should show you what you're looking for...IF the link works! It's the one on the left. The other is the water heater.

@ lovemountains - thanks! I did read that part before but where i am camping does not have water at the site so I will need to fill up. I did just buy a regulator and drinking water hose off amazon though so when I get to a site with water I'll be ready!!!

@ M GO BLUE - thanks again! I am having 4 new tires put on the camper right now so when I get it home tonight i'll check for all of these things. Hopefully it will be easy to figure out.
And from what you are saying then your fifth wheel has 2 pumps? one for the sink..one for the toilet. Is that standard with campers or a chance mine might use one pump for everything?

sorry...i refreshed my brower and am now able to see your responses. I appreciate it.

Is there somewhat of a standard as to where the switch is to activate the pump? I am not sure where to even start looking.

On my fifth wheel I have a pump switch next to the kitchen sink and one in the bathroom and is a rocker switch that will light up red when truned on...start there

You said to make sure the black tank is at least 2/3 full. Is there usally a gauge saying how full the tanks are, or do you just know how full they are from experience?

There is usually a panel, usually near the front door or kitchen area that will show, when depressed, the charge on your battery and levels in your fresh water, black and grey tanks; the more the water the better in the black tank before dumping

Sorry if the questions seem obvious, but I have never used this system before or any water system in a camper before. Thanks again

You only need to use the pump when you are not hooked up to a water faucet, as when you are traveling, or boondocking without hookups. When you ARE HOOKED UP TO WATER at a campground, you DO NOT use the water pump.

sorry...i refreshed my brower and am now able to see your responses. I appreciate it.

Is there somewhat of a standard as to where the switch is to activate the pump? I am not sure where to even start looking.

You said to make sure the black tank is at least 2/3 full. Is there usally a gauge saying how full the tanks are, or do you just know how full they are from experience?

Sorry if the questions seem obvious, but I have never used this system before or any water system in a camper before. Thanks again.

thedietz wrote:
unless my brower isn't showing something here...it looks like all you did was quote me. If i am missing something here let me know.

I typed the answers in RED after the end of each question...

unless my brower isn't showing something here...it looks like all you did was quote me. If i am missing something here let me know.

Hello. In 2 days I will be taking my new (to me) 2003 Starcraft Travelstar 21rb out for our first trip.

I previously was the owner of a coleman popup..and never used all of the water features in the camper.

With this new camper we want to use it and i have a few questions.

I have not sanitized the water holding tank, so for this trip I mainly want to use it for the toilet. Questions are.
1. I do not know where or how the pump is turned on, but I assume the pump will need to be activated to flush the toilet?

Yes you need to turn on the pump prior to using the toilet or any faucets

2. When I go to dump the waste after our trip I understand to dump the black side first, and the gray side second. When I release the gray side will that also drain all the water that is still in the tank that was unused? If not how do i drain that water to empty the tank?

Makes sure the black tank is at least 2/3 full before dumping as this makes it easier for everything to come out; when you use the toilet don't skimp on the water when flushing...to drain the fresh water tank there is usually a drain valve underneath trailer to turn

3. I assume campers have 2 tanks? 1 for the fresh water you put in it, and another for the water that goes down the sink and toilet. I am guessing they are the same in size?

Not necessarily...the order usually goes the fresh water is the largest, gray tank is second and black tank is smallest

I am sure i have more questions, but if you can offer advise on these hopefully I won't have to leave the camper at 3am for the public restroom!

Thanks!!