Just bought our first RV - Would welcome comments/advice!

[ppdunn]

Hello. This is my first post, as I just purchased a used 21' Four Winds Freedom Elite with 12k miles on it. As our first outing, we will be taking it to a local RV Park on a military installation for one overnight. We are pretty excited, but also feeling a bit apprehensive about all the hook-ups and waste disposal procedures. Any advice for a first timer?? Thanks!

[thestoloffs]

Bordercollie wrote:
Regular dump setup is OK, takes no more than ten minutes to do, keep latex gloves handy, wash hands well afterward and go on with your life.

One last step before "you go on with your life": Remember to either put in your chemical treatment &/or to dump significant amounts of water (2-3 gallons isn't unreasonable) to keep the bottom of your black tank wet.

[Bordercollie]

Regular dump setup is OK, takes no more than ten minutes to do, keep latex gloves handy, wash hands well afterward and go on with your life.

[ron_dittmer]

happybooker1 wrote:
Or get This

My primary concerns with the "Sewer Solution" type of sewer management system is that you need to hook up fresh water to run it. That involves another garden hose to carry that needs to be labelled "Bio-Hazzard" and must be stored accordingly. I would be concerned of it accidentally getting used for fresh water. You know what it's for, but someone else trying to help out may not quite get it.

Then there is the problem at dump stations. Not all have a red biohazzard water spicket to attach a garden hose to. You may be tempted to use the blue painted water source which is a very big NO-NO because of contamination. You would be handling fresh water and waste water at the same time with the same tools.

Sanicon is an electric version of that system, permanently built into the rig. Most people who have it, love it. We own a Phoenix Cruiser which comes with a Sanicon system and also has the standard outlet as a backup for if there was a problem during a trip. It is also there for extended stays when you want a 3" hose hooked up all the time. I really like the design of our system. Phoenix USA places all sewer management valve and flush controls & ports all in one place. It is quite nice. I have never used a 3" slinky.


Here is a late model Phoenix Cruiser with a Sanicon system. The macerator pump hangs down on our older 2007 model year.

[wbwood]

Speaking of Ron's post and not drinking the water, we never drink the water in the rv. We always carry bottled water or get it from a purified source and store it in something small.

[happybooker1]

Or get This & bypass a lot of the directions below!

Bordercollie wrote:
Before you do dump holding tanks: Make sure that your sewer hose is in good condition and has end connectors properly installed. Have a small low stool to sit on while you connect the sewer hose to the RV dump outlet.(Camping world sells small collapsible stools). Put on latex gloves, make sure that you turn and latch hose connector securely to the RV. Insert sewer hose securely into sewer so it can't come out and spill all over. Place a rock etc. against the hose. The bigger dump handle is for the black (toilet waste) water. The smaller dump valve handle is for the grey ( sink and shower waste water). After you dump the black water tank, close its valve and open the gray water valve and wait until it stops draining. Disconnect hose from RV. If rinse water is available run clear water through sewer hose to flush out any remaining stuff and let it drain out completely, then put sewer hose away. Rinse any remaining stuff into the sewer if at the communal dump. Remove latex gloves and put into trash. Leave nothing behind for the next user. Wash your hands thoroughly and congratualate yourself on a job well done. Some RV owners never use their own RV toilet for fear/distaste of dumping chores, don't be a lily.

[Bordercollie]

Practice setting up and taking down the awning and try to memorize or video how it is done.(there are You Tube videos) Make sure that awning is properly secured before driving off. Find out how to get generator power into the rig when not plugged into shore power. On some rigs you plug the shore power connector into the receptacle on the generator, the receptacle is ususally accessible inside a compartment next to the generator. There is an auxiliary battery switch usually on a control panel, it must be "on" for 12 volt interior lights, etc., to get power and for house battery to get charged while plugged into shore power or running generator. If you run the roof AC unit then shut it down for any reason, let it rest/release pressure for 10 minutes before attempting to restart it. Test TV and antenna and it's amplifier, green LED must be lit for reception unless you hook up to camp cable TV, then press button so green LED goes out. You may have to fiddle with TV's input menu to switch from antenna to cable and vice versa.

[trnfla]

Rent the Robin Williams movie "RV" and don't do anything he does in the movie. 🙂

[Bordercollie]

Before you do dump holding tanks: Make sure that your sewer hose is in good condition and has end connectors properly installed. Have a small low stool to sit on while you connect the sewer hose to the RV dump outlet.(Camping world sells small collapsible stools). Put on latex gloves, make sure that you turn and latch hose connector securely to the RV. Insert sewer hose securely into sewer so it can't come out and spill all over. Place a rock etc. against the hose. The bigger dump handle is for the black (toilet waste) water. The smaller dump valve handle is for the grey ( sink and shower waste water). After you dump the black water tank, close its valve and open the gray water valve and wait until it stops draining. Disconnect hose from RV. If rinse water is available run clear water through sewer hose to flush out any remaining stuff and let it drain out completely, then put sewer hose away. Rinse any remaining stuff into the sewer if at the communal dump. Remove latex gloves and put into trash. Leave nothing behind for the next user. Wash your hands thoroughly and congratualate yourself on a job well done. Some RV owners never use their own RV toilet for fear/distaste of dumping chores, don't be a lily.

[Dakzuki]

ron.dittmer wrote:

This process must be done just prior to the start of "Every" camping season.

Unless you cycle enough water through your system to keep it clean. I never flush mine but I use it a lot. City water will keep for quite a while and many people use their RVs as "lifeboats" in the event they have to bug out due to disaster.

[2chiefsRus]

Welcome & Congratulations. Going to Red Stone Arsenal by any chance? Great RV Park, some of the biggest sites we've had. If you don't already know about it, be sure to check out www.militarycampgrounds.us.

Where to begin on the tips???/
1. Don't leave the black tank valve open until you are ready to dump.
2. Since you are new at this, Dump a LITTLE bit of the grey water first to see if everything is hooked up and working ok, THEN dump the black water, followed by dumping the rest of the grey water.
3. When plugging and unplugging the electric cord, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, flip the breaker on the campground pedestal OFF.

As others have mentioned, ask for help from fellow campers and if they tell you something that doesn't seem right, check it out further. Just because they have been camping "for years" doesn't mean they are doing it right.

[Dick_B]

and don't feel bad about asking nearby campers for their advice. It's tough for grown men to read instructions and ask for directions but it might prove educational.
Most of all wear disposable gloves when dumping! I buy 100 for about $8.

[Jim_Shoe]

Ron's post makes good sense. Do your first camping in a local CG with full hookups, but take a few gallon jugs of drinking water from the grocery or home, to use for cooking, coffee and drinking and tooth brushing/rinsing. Take a notebook and take notes from the campers around you - especially before dumping tanks for the first time. Also write down what you needed and didn't have and had but never needed. I haven't met anybody yet that knew everything on their first night camping. Have met a few that thought they did. They're fun to watch.
Most campers remember when they started and remember the neighbors who helped them. When you get home, tell us how it went.

[ron_dittmer]

One serious word of caution. Do NOT ingest any RV faucet water until after you have followed proper disinfecting procedures. RV/motor home water systems easily grow bacteria in the pipes and the fresh water storage tank and on-board pump.

While NOT hooked to any water line via a hose, add a few cups of laundry bleach into the empty fresh water tank.
Then fill that tank to the top with water.
Then run that water filling up the hot water tank and throughout all plumbing fixtures.
Then top off the fresh water tank again.
Then let the bleach water solution sit a few hours to destroy all bacterial growth in the system.
Then drain all that bleach water onto your driveway, refill and flush everything twice.

Don't forget to include the outdoor shower when running water through the pipes.

Even after multiple times of flushing, expect a swimming pool smell from the water, but it is safe to consume. After a few days on our trips, the smell goes away. It is then that we start to cook with and drink the water via coffee, juice concentrate, and such. We like to drink bottle water for the taste.

This process must be done just prior to the start of "Every" camping season.

[dicknellen]

Since this is a test run, have a drinking water city hookup hose 25' should do usually drinking water hose is white, also have a pressure reducer for that hose. You can get the sewer hose hooked up, but don't dump until you have at least 1/2 tank of black or grey water on the black more than half is better, that may require you to use extra water when flushing. When you are ready to dump, empty the black first then close that valve and dump the gray which will help flush out the sewer hose. Have some disposable gloves when working with sewer hose. We always travel with our fresh water tank at least half full. Also we start out with two gallons of water in the black tank along with some black tank chemical. Have fun, ask for help if needed. Regards, Dick