Random Newbie Questions

BadBeans wrote:
Hello,

I'm new to travel trailers and just completed my first trip. As such I have some random questions I thought of while on my trip. I would appreciate any experience and knowledge you can pass along. Thanks!

1.) I was told that before I could hook up to "city water" I needed a regulator. I found a gold colored (brass? copper?) regulator and a stainless steel regulator. What is the differences? I noted both said they were "lead free", but the gold colored regulator said it contained chemicals known to cause cancer in California while the stainless steel did not. For drinking water what is better?
Either one will work for you. The color does not matter. The most common one is the brass, but they will both regulate the water pressure down to 50-55lb that is safe for RV systems. Park and city systems can be as high as 100bl

2.) My travel trailer has a "spray out" for the black tank. I am told that after I dump I need to hook a non-potable water hose to it and "spray out" the black tank. Since this spray out port is just on the side of my trailer do I need a water regulator for this too?
I would make the assumption that you do not want to regulate the spray feature, as you want to get rid of any residue left in the tank after dumping

3.) During the night I noticed my water pump would go on randomly for a second or so. It did this about 2 or 3 times a night. No one was using any water at the time since everyone was sleeping. I was also not hooked up to city water. Is this normal operation?
If no one is using any water and the pump is cycling it usually means there is a leak or tap dripping. This is causing the water system to lose pressure and that is why the pump is cycling. If all is good it should not cycle when no one is using.

4.) Why do people at my trailer storage lot all have wood under the tongue jack where it meets the ground? Am I not suppose to let the tongue jack make direct contact with the ground?
That is just to keep the jack from sinking into a soft surface. Even pavement in the hot sun can sink with the weight of the trailer on the jack

5.) When hooked up to electric only do I leave my water heater and water pump on all the time?
We always leave our pump and water heater on if we are staying at a park with electrical only. Reason being, we do not like to wait for hot water to heat to wash hands or dishes and the toilet does require the pump.

6.) Is that pink winterizer stuff bad for you? I am thinking of having my trailer winterized before the first freeze at my dealership since its only like $30. I know they will likely use that pink stuff that came with my trailer originally.
The pink stuff is not bad for you, but I would flush the system well in the Spring.

7.) Prior to my trip I was away from my trailer for about 3 weeks. When I returned I found the battery was dead! I didn't leave any lights on. The only thing that appeared with power was the dvd/radio system, which doesn't seem to have a way completely cut power because its hard wired into my trailer. The dvd/radio was off, but the face was still illuminated. I triple checked everything and this was the only thing I could find with any power besides the carbon monoxide detector. As such should I be disconnecting my battery between trips to save it?
There is always a bit of draw from detectors and radios and if you are away from the RV for a long time it will drain the batteries. If you can not plug in for long term storage, then you should disconnect.

Thank you again for answering my random newbie questions!!
Hope these clear up some of the questions you have.
Enjoy your new trailer and welcome to the RV Lifestyle

BadBeans