New owner questions

[out_for_a_rip]

Hi Everyone - after a long search for the perfect TT we settled on a Coachmen Apex 24LE. We brought the unit home Saturday and so far are very happy but have one minor issue and a couple questions. The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer? Also I hear what sounds like a fan running behind/near the fuse box, I haven't had time to look into it so I'd thought I'd ask here. Last one, I am storing outside at home, should I leave it plugged in or remove the battery?

Thank you in advance

[bigorange]

LVJJJ wrote:
The best sensors are 1. water backed up in the shower 2. a flashlight with eyeballs looking down the open toilet hole.

Those sensors are a joke.

1 is especially fun when your shower is plumbed into the black tank. Makes 2 even more valuable ahead of time LoL

[LVJJJ]

The best sensors are 1. water backed up in the shower 2. a flashlight with eyeballs looking down the open toilet hole.

Those sensors are a joke.

[drsteve]

rockhillmanor wrote:

Certain minerals found in water all by itself can foul your sensors and keeping them from working. And since we all use CG well water often these sensors can stop working from just the minerals in the water.

Interesting. We do a lot of short trips, so I seldom if ever put CG water in my tank, preferring to fill up with soft water from home. I also seldom have any issues with the black tank sensors, and never with the grey.

[rockhillmanor]

westend wrote:

Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.

You throw in a quart of soap every other time you dump? Your slinky must smell like an orange grove, lol.

:B

Not the soap kind! The cleaner kind that cuts grease like this one


Only I go to the dollar store and buy the generic one for a buck! :C

[westend]

Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.

You throw in a quart of soap every other time you dump? Your slinky must smell like an orange grove, lol.

[rockhillmanor]

FYI.
I read all the manuals I got with my RV, even read every single part of stuff I already knew about or so I thought.

What I found out about sensors 'directly from the manual' for the tanks:
Certain minerals found in water all by itself can foul your sensors and keeping them from working. And since we all use CG well water often these sensors can stop working from just the minerals in the water.

Which is why I use Thetford's Sensor Cleaner at least once a month.

Black Tank: I use Campa Chem and whenever I dump I fill up with water and dump again and then put several gallons in to cover the bottom.

Gray Tank: One quart of lemon cleaner every other dump.

My sensors work ALL the time!

So don't just lay down and 'accept' that sensors don't work because they DO....with a little bit of sensible maintenance of the tanks. :C

[Community Alumni]

I pull mine and leave it on a Battery Tender Junior. I trust that more than I trust my WFCO converter. Really you can leave it plugged in or pull the battery; both will work. I know not everyone wants or has the ability to move 65 lbs batteries.

[falconbrother]

I disconnect my battery in storage and take it home to charge it when it's going to be a while between camping trips. Just pull the black wire. I don't put mine on a trickle charger and leave it (unless you have a smart charger, which I don't). On my motorcycle I will use the trickle charger for a couple of days at most. Over months it will dry out a battery.

The gauges seem to be working on my TT. On the previous motorhome I used it so much that I forgot that the gauges were there. I never used them because I just kinda knew the status of all the tanks. On the new TT I really can't say that I ever use the gauges. When we started RVing our first TT didn't have gauges for the tanks so, I guess I'm still in that mind state. In my view they aren't reliable and often provide inaccurate information. On the black and gray tanks I can SWAG the levels pretty accurately. In the guessing game it's the fresh tank that's harder to know. But, we don't dry camp very much at all so, we almost always have city water connected. Therefore, I don't care how much is in the fresh tank.

[Lynnmor]

Rover_Bill wrote:

out_for_a_rip wrote:
The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?

The dealer may have forgotten to calibrate the sensors during his setup. Your owners manual may have instructions for that procedure.

There is no calibration, it is a simple wiring problem or a faulty gauge.

[Rover_Bill]

out_for_a_rip wrote:
The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?

The dealer may have forgotten to calibrate the sensors during his setup. Your owners manual may have instructions for that procedure.

[rexlion]

I can hear Spock's voice in my head..... "Sensors indicate a malfunction; the probability is precisely 99.937 percent."

Take it out camping a time or two. You'll find more stuff that needs fixing. All of them together will then make the hour drive to the dealer worthwhile. 😉

[bigorange]

Funny I picked up our new trailer on Friday and have same issue with gray tank. I was annoyed that the dealer sent me off the lot with a full tank. Then I dumped it and not much came out. I’m not taking ours 2 hours to the dealer to fix it, but I may try the sensor cleaner.

Congrats on the new trailer...enjoy!

[Passin_Thru]

Ditto on sensors. I drain, wash and then put about 3 gal in the tanks when hauling it. Never had a problem with poop buildup or odors.

[rockhillmanor]

The issue that was un-noticed in our walk thru is the grey tank reads full although its empty, it is a brand new unit, does anyone have any suggestions for a quick fix to avoid pulling it back an hour to the dealer?

Sensors DO work and are supposed to work.
And unless I am an anomaly my sensors always work. :W

If you don't want to drag it back right off, I would first pick up a bottle of Thetford Sensor Cleaner. Add it to your tank fill with water and repeat if necessary. I'll bet that will clear up your sensors.

Although it could be the wiring to your board for the sensors which IMHO, I WOULD take it back to the dealership.

And I highly suggest that you make an appointment and WAIT in the waiting room for them to fix it.

Do NOT leave your RV there for them to pull their infamous, "get to it whenever they can" routine. You won't get your RV back for months.

Congrats on your new RV. And welcome to the forum. :C