Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum but not new to camping.I come seeking advice.Me and the wife have been looking for a camper but haven't found one yet. But, on to my problem... We went on a trip and rented a travel trailer from a reputable rv sales place only to be very disappointed. I told them ahead of time that I would be boondocking it cuz at this place there are no hook-ups. After going thru the process of them showing us the in's and outs of the trailer and getting it home the problems started. They told me to flush the hot water heater cuz it might stink from the hot weather and I understand that. But I flushed it and the smell never went away. I filled the tank with my well water and couldn't stand the smell. I think they never sanitized the tank. They are insistent they do and did. I wouldn't even wash my hands with it... That bad.So then the battery died the first night and the thingy was flashing and beeping. It said "low battery". Everything was off but a couple lights. It was after quiet time so I disconnected the battery.I called the next day and they tell me 1)don't drink the water and it's only for showering and hand washing and the like. 2) if you charge the battery for 2 1/2 hours it should be fine. So that day I ran my generator for 4 hours to charge the battery. It lasted 2 hours that night. I double checked everything was off but a couple lights. The store says this is normal. I'm saying no. I asked for 1 night refund out of the 3 minimum they wanted for renting it. This was almost $500 plus the $1g deposit. Their were other things wrong with the camper that I didn't discuss here but with no hookups these are the most 2 I needed to work. So am I wrong here? I don't feel I am but I will take advice.

They probably hadn't bleached/sanitized the water tank, and the battery was probably on it's way out. No way to tell for sure now, but that's what it sounds like. If there were no guarantees of minimum performance of the hardware/equipment in the rental agreement, you probably don't have much to go on to get a refund. Good luck with it. Know, and remember, for the next adventure.

1 12V Battery...1 day/night of use provided battery was FULLY chargedThen need to recharge battery----that battery was run low voltage TOOOOOO many times and wasn't holding chargeWell Water.....was it treated (chlorinated)?Depending on water source it very well will stink due to microbes in the waterWater in fresh water tank should have been 'POTABLE' water.......meaning not only good for washing but for cooking & DRINKINGDoesn't sound like the rental was 'so reputable'----more like shysters

I wouldn’t depend on anyone but me to sanitize a fresh water system particularly a rental agency. Sounds like a bad battery. What was the AH storage of the battery? Were the lights incandescent? Fridge takes some power even on gas. LP gas detector on?

Not new to camping, so, how many nights have you gotten in the past from a single small trailer battery before recharging?De-stinking a water system in a hurry is tricky, bummer that they stuck you with that problem. Probably the rentals don't get a lot of TLC. I'm guessing they're typically setup at a full hook up site with chlorinated water

None of what you describe is normal. The water should be safe to drink but if not properly sanitized it could well have contained microbes that a sanitize with bleach would resolve. One healthy fully charged battery should last more than one day running only lights and minimal use of the water pump as you describe. Just chalk this up as a an adventure and move on!

Is this normal stuff? | Good Sam Community

agesilaus
Explorer III
Aug 21, 2018
On the bad water issue, you do have a big stick to use if they will not adjust the charges. Tell them you will call the Health Department which is in charge of water supply to the public. I'm guessing these places may fall under their radar but a complaint could change that.
Puttin
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
I didn't look really hard but people should know who the rental agency was. There are some stinkers out there.
bpounds
Nomad
Aug 21, 2018
Your experience was mixed I think. Partly their fault, partly your unrealistic expectations.

There isn't any excuse for smelly water. I think that is usually because the anode in the water heater has eroded away. It is fairly common to hear about smelly hot water, and as I recall that was a common reason. I've not experienced it personally. Regardless, it doesn't happen overnight, and they should have kept that squared away. You should be able to drink the water, but I definitely would NOT drink the water from any unit that wasn't owned and maintained by me, and certainly not from a rental tank.

On the battery, there could be blame to go around. You might not have experience conserving DC power in a trailer, and you can burn through a single battery fast. You don't mention if you ran a heater, which is the biggest consumer of power, but so is leaving all the lights on for hours on end. I would never try to boondock multiple days on one battery, without having a generator running a lot, and I consider myself very good at conserving DC juice. On the other hand, every previous renter has no doubt abused that battery, running it down far too low, which you did too BTW. But, in your defense, you told them you were boondocking, and they apparently did nothing to load test that battery, or to load you up with a second one, or even to explain some of the basic conservation things you should do. So they definitely share the blame. I'll bet they burn through batteries left and right, get tired of buying good ones, and just put **** on their rentals knowing the customer will ruin them anyway.

Lots of families would chalk this up to a learning experience, all part of the adventure, and not expect a refund.
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
you made 2 mistakes:
1. renting from that dealer
2. NOT researching BEFORE renting a trailer. dry camping requires certain practices. a single marine battery can be dead overnight if you don't shut power drains off and be conservative about battery usage. modern RVs have numerous parasitic power drains. if you had asked here before renting, you would have learned what to look for.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
With due respect, I think you are wrong,......to expect anymore than what you got,....not saying they are right, but I believe they are the normal.
Any longtime serious dry camper like myself, knows that it takes a lot of time and knowledge and energy to get set up for trouble free dry camping, not to mention the maintenance involved. Again, no disrespect, but my common sense would tell me to NEVER rent an RV for dry camping,....you are leaving yourself wide open for a disaster of a trip. In reality,....I can't even see myself renting an RV for even hookup camping, as those places just don't have a clue about using an RV in the field.
Dburr1014
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
gbopp wrote:

No, you're not wrong. When you rent something you expect it to be in safe working condition, it doesn't matter if it's a Travel Trailer or a chain saw.
If you rent something again, you could consider taking it home and sanitizing the water system?
It's not a difficult task and you would know when it was done.
No, you should not have to do it. It's just better to be safe than sorry

For the life of me I could not find the drain. The bottom was covered and I looked for a half hour. ??
Dburr1014
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
Lynnmor wrote:
The RV rental company located just 1/2 mile from my house threw in the towel a few weeks ago. After being in business for eight years he couldn't handle the abuse any longer. When a trailer is returned, he could not have it ready for the next scheduled renter because of the damage and filth. Often it is recommended here to try a rental before buying, but that may well be a very bad experience.

This is the other side of the story. I feel bad but as others have said, I rented something that wasn't running properly. I feel they mostly rent c class rv's but it doesn't take long to get the next renter going. I had to return it clean or a fee would be applied. Flushed, or a fee. Ect.
2112
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2018
Welcome
We rented PUPs and TTs many years ago. Their batteries were always cr@p. I would install my own maintained trolling motor battery before we left and reinstalled their abused junk before I returned it.

We never had any issues with the water system though. Not that we would drink it but it always seemed safe for everything else.
gbopp
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
Dburr1014 wrote:
So am I wrong here? I don't feel I am but I will take advice.

No, you're not wrong. When you rent something you expect it to be in safe working condition, it doesn't matter if it's a Travel Trailer or a chain saw.
If you rent something again, you could consider taking it home and sanitizing the water system?
It's not a difficult task and you would know when it was done.
No, you should not have to do it. It's just better to be safe than sorry.

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of experience and information available. Don't hesitate to ask, someone will have an answer.
Enjoy your travels.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
The RV rental company located just 1/2 mile from my house threw in the towel a few weeks ago. After being in business for eight years he couldn't handle the abuse any longer. When a trailer is returned, he could not have it ready for the next scheduled renter because of the damage and filth. Often it is recommended here to try a rental before buying, but that may well be a very bad experience.

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