New camper owner - help with few issues?!

[thcguy12]

We have a 20 foot travel trailer. Thor Prism 2000.

But we have a few issues and we have zero experience and need your help solving:

1. We were told heater works great. But when we turn it on it just blows regular air. No heat. I hear it click like pilot is lighting. Manual says it has auto lighting pilot. Gas is on. Not sure where I even look to find out if pilot is lit or what to fix. WE are not very handy.

2. We use the bathroom 1-2 times a month. Are there chemicals we should add to help smells? We can only empty the camper once every six months. IS THAT GOING TO BE OKAY WITH SUCH LIGHT USE? WHAT CHEMICALS HELP?

3. So we filled fresh water tank. All was fine. Then we turned on water pump. Immediately we had drips on the outside. Some were near where we put the water into fresh tank using jugs. It drips slowly from the bottom seal outside where sink would be inside. Went inside and there are no wet spots under sink or in any cupboards. I'm worried maybe water is gathering under floor or in wall. No idea ready though how that woke system works?.

Also back by grey and black water emptying valves are two tubes sticking straight down. They have screw on caps. They are screwed on tight. But water is dripping off those too. Both leaks happen only when water pump is on and for a short time street we turn it off.

Help. No idea what is going on there but want to solve it so we can continue using plumbing.

P.s. We can not take it to a repair shop. Its setup permanently in mountains.

[rebel1965]

As for the heater not lighting, purge your propane line (as suggested above) and,... are you connected to power OR do you have your batteries connected? It needs a power source.

[Supereri73]

thcguy12 wrote:
Why dont we dump more often?

We lease some camping land to keep our trailer on from june 1 till october 31.

The closest dump station is two hours away. The camper stays on the land day and night for those 5-6 months. The only time it will move each year is when we move it two hours to mountain storage/dump station for winter. That is why we only dump ever six months.

Not sure a repair guy will come deep into mountains for repairs. The camper never goes to town.

LEAKS: how do you trace leaks if you can't see any water leaking inside from pipes. Cut into walls and floors? Sounds scary.

HEAT: tried running stove for a while and then trying heat. No luck.

Grab a sewer caddy to dump without moving the trailer.

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=33363&rewrote&affiliateid=5193&gclid=Cj0KEQ...

When you use the facilities you want to make sure you actually flush. You want to put some water into the tank as it will aid in getting the stuff back out.

As for not dumping for months, I think that's a bad idea. Stuff will REALLY stink and I don't think you want it drying solid in there.

[westend]

thcguy12 wrote:
Plugged into to power....yes.

SEAM. By seam I mean outside where the vertical wall meets the floor/base. Right where those two meet. Its outside below where sink would be inside and below and to right of fresh water fill hole. No water inside.

OK, I'll try.
Does this only leak when you are adding water to the fresh water fill? Does your trailer have an enclosed under belly? Does the water leak when you have the pump on or at anytime? Does the water drip only when you send water down the drain?

With a typical travel trailer, the seam you describe is not where a wall meets the floor. The exterior wall extends down below the floor level.

Is there any chance you have a phone that can take a picture?

[CavemanCharlie]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
For dumping why not put in a redneck septic system as we did at our wilderness property. Dig a hole twice as wide as a 45 gallon drum, deep enough to cover with about 18 inches of dirt, punch some holes in the drum with a pick axe and cut a hole in the bottom for the sewer pipe. Put the drum in the dirt hole with the bottom up. Attach pvc pipe long enough to reach the surface through the hole in the drum, with an elbow. Fill around the drum with 1" to 2" stones almost to top. Fill with dirt and hook up trailer sewer hose and dump away. Has worked for years for us.

This is terribly illegal. Around here that would get you a jail sentence, a big fine, and a permanent mark on your record that would keep you from getting a job.

[Lynnmor]

I wonder if the plumbing froze last winter. Was the trailer exposed to freezing temperatures and not properly winterized?

[coolmom42]

I don't have any insight on your water leak.... but I would highly recommend you investigate a composting toilet. THIS ONE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

You are going to have some big headaches with that black tank if you don't use/dump it more often. You will wind up with a bunch of rock hard dried solids deposited on the bottom, or possibly plugging the line down from the toilet.

[thcguy12]

Plugged into to power....yes.

SEAM. By seam I mean outside where the vertical wall meets the floor/base. Right where those two meet. Its outside below where sink would be inside and below and to right of fresh water fill hole. No water inside.

[westend]

Just from seams of camper.

What seam?

There is a definite lack of information about what you have, what your problems are, and the locations or type of issues you're having. Saying you turned on the pump and water comes out of a "seam" doesn't give anyone online a clear description of where the leak might be.

I'd suggest to take some pictures of your problem areas and better describe what you have for better advice. Like--list your furnace and model #.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Are you plugged into Elec power? You have to have good battery power for the furnace to light.
You need to find a handy person or mobile tech to help you.

Most all camping type stores will have chemicals for both your gray and black tanks.
It might help a little if we knew where you are located.

[thcguy12]

We rent land. Can't make changes or add sewer bucket. Ha ha

[FrankShore]

Always store water in the toilet bowl, that or some RV Anti Freeze aka: The Pink Stuff!

[Jack_Diane_Free]

For dumping why not put in a redneck septic system as we did at our wilderness property. Dig a hole twice as wide as a 45 gallon drum, deep enough to cover with about 18 inches of dirt, punch some holes in the drum with a pick axe and cut a hole in the bottom for the sewer pipe. Put the drum in the dirt hole with the bottom up. Attach pvc pipe long enough to reach the surface through the hole in the drum, with an elbow. Fill around the drum with 1" to 2" stones almost to top. Fill with dirt and hook up trailer sewer hose and dump away. Has worked for years for us.

[thcguy12]

True.

I can make some calls.

Two of us climbed under camper and went through every cupboard with a flash light. No water inside. But not coming from any pipes outside. Just from seams of camper.

[_1nobby]

thcguy12 wrote:
Why dont we dump more often?

We lease some camping land to keep our trailer on from june 1 till october 31.

The closest dump station is two hours away. The camper stays on the land day and night for those 5-6 months. The only time it will move each year is when we move it two hours to mountain storage/dump station for winter. That is why we only dump ever six months.

Not sure a repair guy will come deep into mountains for repairs. The camper never goes to town.

LEAKS: how do you trace leaks if you can't see any water leaking inside from pipes. Cut into walls and floors? Sounds scary.

HEAT: tried running stove for a while and then trying heat. No luck.

Pretty sure there are no pipes in walls....unless you have a 2 story trailer. I'd guess that about 90% of all plumbing is accessible by removing cupboard panels under sinks and such or crawling under the trailer. Start high and work your way down.


We are offering advice...but we are not there. So....you'll have to convince someone to help ($$) or break out your tools and flash light.

A repair guy WILL come into the mountains for the right price.

Why not make some calls and find out.