Hi Everyone - after a long search for the perfect TT we settled on a Coachmen Apex 24LE. We brought the unit home Saturday and so far are very happy but have one minor issue and a couple questions. The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer? Also I hear what sounds like a fan running behind/near the fuse box, I haven't had time to look into it so I'd thought I'd ask here. Last one, I am storing outside at home, should I leave it plugged in or remove the battery?Thank you in advance

The fan is the converter cooling fan. It will run occasionally depending on 12 volt demand and temperature. That is normal. I remove my battery and put it in my garage on a trickle charge battery maintainer. The tank levels will never be 100% accurate. however in your situation I would let the dealer correct that one.Make sure you winterize the water system

It's your call on the full tank sensor. Those sensors constantly malfunction, I would save the time and fuel and not go back just for that repair. In short time, you will not need sensors to tell you how much is in your tanks, you'll know, you get a feel for it. There is a thread on cleaners for the tank sensors. Read the GEO method.https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28874286/print/true.cfm I always dump my tanks prior to hitting the highway.You will find it an easier tow to run with your tanks empty and just enough freshwater that you will need. I don't run a full freshwater tank , I carry 10 gals and fill at state parks prior to setting up. Re the battery, either way, you can pull it and put it on a trickle inside or leave it on the trailer, plugged into shore power, the trailer converter will smart charge it . I have been doing it that way since 2004 using PD 9000 and WFCO converters. They both work and get the job done but I think the PD units are more popular units using charge wizard type technology. People usually upgrade to PD's not the other way around.Good luck with your new unit and have many safe miles of travel .

As I told my DW you will know the grey tank is full when the sink backs up into the bath tub. :) :) And she thought I was kidding.If the TT is new and you are sure the tank is empty. I would have the dealer check the sensors. You will find that eventually grease and scum can mess them up as well being off level.Because the tanks are long, wide and thin it does not a lot of slant to get a false reading. However your TT in new and I assume the tank would be empty. I kind of like things to work right if they are new.Good Luck

If you want to dry camp/boondock, thirty gallons of fresh water isn’t adequate. There are ways to compensate but they aren’t...fun. And who doesn’t want to dry camp/boondock?

The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?Sensors DO work and are supposed to work.And unless I am an anomaly my sensors always work. :WIf you don't want to drag it back right off, I would first pick up a bottle of Thetford Sensor Cleaner. Add it to your tank fill with water and repeat if necessary. I'll bet that will clear up your sensors.Although it could be the wiring to your board for the sensors which IMHO, I WOULD take it back to the dealership. And I highly suggest that you make an appointment and WAIT in the waiting room for them to fix it. Do NOT leave your RV there for them to pull their infamous, "get to it whenever they can" routine. You won't get your RV back for months.Congrats on your new RV. And welcome to the forum. :C

New owner questions | Good Sam Community

bigorange
Explorer
Dec 18, 2017
LVJJJ wrote:
The best sensors are 1. water backed up in the shower 2. a flashlight with eyeballs looking down the open toilet hole.

Those sensors are a joke.

1 is especially fun when your shower is plumbed into the black tank. Makes 2 even more valuable ahead of time LoL
LVJJJ
Explorer
Dec 08, 2017
The best sensors are 1. water backed up in the shower 2. a flashlight with eyeballs looking down the open toilet hole.

Those sensors are a joke.
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 07, 2017
rockhillmanor wrote:

Certain minerals found in water all by itself can foul your sensors and keeping them from working. And since we all use CG well water often these sensors can stop working from just the minerals in the water.

Interesting. We do a lot of short trips, so I seldom if ever put CG water in my tank, preferring to fill up with soft water from home. I also seldom have any issues with the black tank sensors, and never with the grey.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Dec 07, 2017
westend wrote:
Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.
You throw in a quart of soap every other time you dump? Your slinky must smell like an orange grove, lol.

:B

Not the soap kind! The cleaner kind that cuts grease like this one

Only I go to the dollar store and buy the generic one for a buck! :C
westend
Explorer
Dec 07, 2017
Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.
You throw in a quart of soap every other time you dump? Your slinky must smell like an orange grove, lol.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Dec 06, 2017
FYI.
I read all the manuals I got with my RV, even read every single part of stuff I already knew about or so I thought.

What I found out about sensors 'directly from the manual' for the tanks:
Certain minerals found in water all by itself can foul your sensors and keeping them from working. And since we all use CG well water often these sensors can stop working from just the minerals in the water.

Which is why I use Thetford's Sensor Cleaner at least once a month.

Black Tank: I use Campa Chem and whenever I dump I fill up with water and dump again and then put several gallons in to cover the bottom.

Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.

My sensors work ALL the time!

So don't just lay down and 'accept' that sensors don't work because they DO....with a little bit of sensible maintenance of the tanks. :C
Community Alumni
Dec 06, 2017
I pull mine and leave it on a Battery Tender Junior. I trust that more than I trust my WFCO converter. Really you can leave it plugged in or pull the battery; both will work. I know not everyone wants or has the ability to move 65 lbs batteries.
falconbrother
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2017
I disconnect my battery in storage and take it home to charge it when it's going to be a while between camping trips. Just pull the black wire. I don't put mine on a trickle charger and leave it (unless you have a smart charger, which I don't). On my motorcycle I will use the trickle charger for a couple of days at most. Over months it will dry out a battery.

The gauges seem to be working on my TT. On the previous motorhome I used it so much that I forgot that the gauges were there. I never used them because I just kinda knew the status of all the tanks. On the new TT I really can't say that I ever use the gauges. When we started RVing our first TT didn't have gauges for the tanks so, I guess I'm still in that mind state. In my view they aren't reliable and often provide inaccurate information. On the black and gray tanks I can SWAG the levels pretty accurately. In the guessing game it's the fresh tank that's harder to know. But, we don't dry camp very much at all so, we almost always have city water connected. Therefore, I don't care how much is in the fresh tank.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Dec 05, 2017
Rover_Bill wrote:
out_for_a_rip wrote:
The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?

The dealer may have forgotten to calibrate the sensors during his setup. Your owners manual may have instructions for that procedure.

There is no calibration, it is a simple wiring problem or a faulty gauge.
Rover_Bill
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2017
out_for_a_rip wrote:
The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?

The dealer may have forgotten to calibrate the sensors during his setup. Your owners manual may have instructions for that procedure.