Forum Discussion

Lemonhead78's avatar
Lemonhead78
Explorer
Apr 07, 2019

New guy questions ( sorry )

First off my hot water tank has threads that are really gunked up with hard white and pink looking crud. I assume I have to buy a small enough wire brush to get in their and goto town correct? Also should i replace the anode rod every season ? Looks terrible
Do you guys know the screw on caps that are on the different drains for fresh water tank and stuff underneath the camper. I have three of them but noticed one of them is missing the gasket. I assume it should have a gasket because the other 2 do. Is this gasket something I can find in a hardware store or Walmart rv section? It seems like it’s not a common size gasket .
Lastly can someone give me the size of the socket I need to crank or uncrank the support/stabilizer jacks that are on each corner of camper ? I hate using an adjustable wrench it takes forever .
Thanks guys
  • Boomerweps's avatar
    Boomerweps
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2019
    philh wrote:
    Boomerweps wrote:
    Remember, those are not JACKS, they are STABILIZERS. Not meant to lift but to stop motion/movement. Amazon has the 3/4" socket with a shaft for using a cordless drill for your stabilizers for about $5. Well worth the $$ along with a cheap cordless drill for the TT toolset.
    However, look around. All RVs with those scissor stabilizers come with a bent arm speed wrench. They are 24" long or longer. Just look for a big bent rod ;)

    Well that was helpful and on topic ;)


    INDEED! The second question in the OP.
  • philh's avatar
    philh
    Explorer II
    Apr 08, 2019
    Boomerweps wrote:
    Remember, those are not JACKS, they are STABILIZERS. Not meant to lift but to stop motion/movement. Amazon has the 3/4" socket with a shaft for using a cordless drill for your stabilizers for about $5. Well worth the $$ along with a cheap cordless drill for the TT toolset.
    However, look around. All RVs with those scissor stabilizers come with a bent arm speed wrench. They are 24" long or longer. Just look for a big bent rod ;)

    Well that was helpful and on topic ;)
  • Boomerweps's avatar
    Boomerweps
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2019
    Remember, those are not JACKS, they are STABILIZERS. Not meant to lift but to stop motion/movement. Amazon has the 3/4" socket with a shaft for using a cordless drill for your stabilizers for about $5. Well worth the $$ along with a cheap cordless drill for the TT toolset.
    However, look around. All RVs with those scissor stabilizers come with a bent arm speed wrench. They are 24" long or longer. Just look for a big bent rod ;)
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Apr 08, 2019
    Anode rod ---per Suburban

    Use a wire brush to clean it up vs replacing until 75% gone

    Drain hole.....steel tank/threads
    Buy a 3/4" NPT steel nipple 6" long
    Screw it in/out the drain hole to clean threads.
    Hole and nipple are 'tapered' (NPT) so do NOT overtighten when using nipple.
    The last threads will still be gunked up and can be cleaned up using a small wire brush

    Gasket.....check with ACE Hardware for a replacement

    And battery powered drill makes quick work of jacks
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Apr 08, 2019
    I use a 3/4 in copper pipe cleaning brush, that fits in my drill, for cleaning gunk from the anode rod hole threads. Most hardware places have them. I don't replace the anode rod until there is less than half of it remaining. Yes they do look bad, in just a short time. Water quality determines the lifetime.

    Jerry
  • Vulcanmars's avatar
    Vulcanmars
    Explorer
    Apr 07, 2019
    The search box is your friend lots of info on here. To get the best feedback people need to know what you have? Water heater make, camper make/model/year.
    Assuming you have the most common stuff:
    Jack are 3/4, you may have a crank handle for it on board somewhere.
    Anode rods last 6 months to two years. Lots of variables. Change it when it's almost down to the steel rod. Yes, clean up the threads to keep it from seizing up in there. Use Teflon tape on the new one.
    Caps and gaskets can be had at any major hardware store. Many drain lines have shut off, caps are just to keep bugs/debris out. Some will need caps to seal the system. Don't crank them down, just a little more than hand tight should do it.
  • wanderingaimles's avatar
    wanderingaimles
    Explorer
    Apr 07, 2019
    Last one first, get a socket that fits and then use a cordless drill to operate it. They can vary, I think mine is 3/4 inch.
    Anode rod,,, If you have already accessed it, you may as well replace it. But mine is over 5 years old, still works so I'm leaving it alone.
    Gaskets, O rings local true value should be able to help.

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