Holding Tank Heating?

[JRMunn]

I have a hand-me-down 2004 Sunnybrook Titan 28RLKS 5th wheel trailer. The literature on this, and other Sunnybrook trailers of this era, talks about insulated and heated holding tanks. But if the heated part is true, I can't find any way to turn it on or off. Does anyone here know anything about whether there are tank heaters or not and, if so, how they are operated? Or is this just about warm air circulation when the interior heater is on? It is a nice trailer (with a few age related issues) that seems to pull fine. I am just trying to figure it out.

JRMunn

[mr__ed]

Another reason why I usually chose areas with milder winter temps! I've found on those rare occasions where the temps tended to dip below freezing at night there was never a problem. I rarely used the furnace, but opted for a small electric heater in the bedroom instead. There was never a freezing problem since the coldest temps were usually just before dawn and the holding tanks never had enough time to freeze enough to cause damage. Of course, I wasn't camping up north or in Alaska during the winter. LOL

[BarneyS]

Dennis12 wrote:
BarneyS S.E. Lower Michigan Moderator

Maybe his model is different but mine has heaters for the grey tank and the black tank. My switches for them are on the panel that I check, Fresh water level, black and grey tank levels, Battery level, ect. I can turn mine on, wait 5 minutes and feel the bottoms of the black and grey tanks and they are warm,

Although not a 5th wheel, my trailer is the same year and model line as his and electric tank heaters were not an option at that time as far as I remember. If he does have elec tank heaters they must have been installed aftermarket.

In addition, there would be no way to feel the bottom of the tanks to find out as they are wrapped with a thick layer of fiberglass insulation and then a very hard black plastic (or some other hard material) cover.
I know this because I had to remove mine a couple of years ago to fix a tank leak.
Barney

[ford_truck_guy]

Dennis12 wrote:
BarneyS S.E. Lower Michigan Moderator

Maybe his model is different but mine has heaters for the grey tank and the black tank. My switches for them are on the panel that I check, Fresh water level, black and grey tank levels, Battery level, ect. I can turn mine on, wait 5 minutes and feel the bottoms of the black and grey tanks and they are warm,

YES, BUT......

Your moho is a bit newer than the 04 Sunnybrook... I am not exactly sure that was an option for them back then?

[Dennis12]

BarneyS S.E. Lower Michigan Moderator

Maybe his model is different but mine has heaters for the grey tank and the black tank. My switches for them are on the panel that I check, Fresh water level, black and grey tank levels, Battery level, ect. I can turn mine on, wait 5 minutes and feel the bottoms of the black and grey tanks and they are warm,

[DownTheAvenue]

JRMunn wrote:
Or is this just about warm air circulation when the interior heater is on?

This

[laknox]

JR, one thing I've read about people doing, especially in parks were electric isn't metered, is to use space heaters for heat, then using a fan to force air into the furnace ducts so it will get into the basement.

Another hint, especially if you know you're going into a cold spell, is to open under-sink cabinets to allow warm air to get to the piping there. When closed, the cabinets will trap cold air and, after time, can lead to freezing. Again, this is for more extreme cold temps.

Lyle

[JRMunn]

Thank you all for the replies. This is what I expected, but didn't want to be missing something that could run the batteries down. I have a switch for very small wires (probably to a relay) coming up under the shower area sink that I have never found a use for. I occasionally stay in the trailer during the winter, and it is not extremely cold where I keep it (lower to mid 20's would be possible but rare), so I put the heater at 40 (its lowest setting) during cold snaps, and have a small, Thermocube activated heater pointed at the tanks and pipes for when I'm gone. So far, both tanks and batteries have survived.

JRMunn

[time2roll]

That system is probably good to about 25F maybe a little lower while in use running the furnace. If you expect to be in colder conditions I recommend electric tank heaters. Especially on the fresh water and any exposed plumbing. Extreme conditions you may need to add heat to the pipes in the walls and floor.

[BarneyS]

There is no electric heater. It is just an outlet from the trailers furnace run under the trailer into the tank area. I have the same situation although not a 5th wheel.

You must run the furnace for any tank heat. If you use an electric space heater like we do then you do not get any tank heat at all and must run the furnace now and then to keep the tanks from freezing. In actuality, in below freezing temps the space heater is not enough and the furnace must be used anyway.
Barney

[ford_truck_guy]

Agree with ^^^^

[austinjenna]

Generally they mean that there is some heat from the furnace that is diverted to the underneath around the holding tanks - thats how mine is but they are others that have an electric pad that is adhered to the bottom of the tank and is electric. My guess is yours is heated from the furnace.