BadBeans
Oct 06, 2013Explorer
Random Newbie Questions
Hello,
I'm new to travel trailers and just completed my first trip. As such I have some random questions I thought of while on my trip. I would appreciate any experience and knowledge you can pass along. Thanks!
1.) I was told that before I could hook up to "city water" I needed a regulator. I found a gold colored (brass? copper?) regulator and a stainless steel regulator. What is the differences? I noted both said they were "lead free", but the gold colored regulator said it contained chemicals known to cause cancer in California while the stainless steel did not. For drinking water what is better?
2.) My travel trailer has a "spray out" for the black tank. I am told that after I dump I need to hook a non-potable water hose to it and "spray out" the black tank. Since this spray out port is just on the side of my trailer do I need a water regulator for this too?
3.) During the night I noticed my water pump would go on randomly for a second or so. It did this about 2 or 3 times a night. No one was using any water at the time since everyone was sleeping. I was also not hooked up to city water. Is this normal operation?
4.) Why do people at my trailer storage lot all have wood under the tongue jack where it meets the ground? Am I not suppose to let the tongue jack make direct contact with the ground?
5.) When hooked up to electric only do I leave my water heater and water pump on all the time?
6.) Is that pink winterizer stuff bad for you? I am thinking of having my trailer winterized before the first freeze at my dealership since its only like $30. I know they will likely use that pink stuff that came with my trailer originally.
7.) Prior to my trip I was away from my trailer for about 3 weeks. When I returned I found the battery was dead! I didn't leave any lights on. The only thing that appeared with power was the dvd/radio system, which doesn't seem to have a way completely cut power because its hard wired into my trailer. The dvd/radio was off, but the face was still illuminated. I triple checked everything and this was the only thing I could find with any power besides the carbon monoxide detector. As such should I be disconnecting my battery between trips to save it?
Thank you again for answering my random newbie questions!!
BadBeans
I'm new to travel trailers and just completed my first trip. As such I have some random questions I thought of while on my trip. I would appreciate any experience and knowledge you can pass along. Thanks!
1.) I was told that before I could hook up to "city water" I needed a regulator. I found a gold colored (brass? copper?) regulator and a stainless steel regulator. What is the differences? I noted both said they were "lead free", but the gold colored regulator said it contained chemicals known to cause cancer in California while the stainless steel did not. For drinking water what is better?
2.) My travel trailer has a "spray out" for the black tank. I am told that after I dump I need to hook a non-potable water hose to it and "spray out" the black tank. Since this spray out port is just on the side of my trailer do I need a water regulator for this too?
3.) During the night I noticed my water pump would go on randomly for a second or so. It did this about 2 or 3 times a night. No one was using any water at the time since everyone was sleeping. I was also not hooked up to city water. Is this normal operation?
4.) Why do people at my trailer storage lot all have wood under the tongue jack where it meets the ground? Am I not suppose to let the tongue jack make direct contact with the ground?
5.) When hooked up to electric only do I leave my water heater and water pump on all the time?
6.) Is that pink winterizer stuff bad for you? I am thinking of having my trailer winterized before the first freeze at my dealership since its only like $30. I know they will likely use that pink stuff that came with my trailer originally.
7.) Prior to my trip I was away from my trailer for about 3 weeks. When I returned I found the battery was dead! I didn't leave any lights on. The only thing that appeared with power was the dvd/radio system, which doesn't seem to have a way completely cut power because its hard wired into my trailer. The dvd/radio was off, but the face was still illuminated. I triple checked everything and this was the only thing I could find with any power besides the carbon monoxide detector. As such should I be disconnecting my battery between trips to save it?
Thank you again for answering my random newbie questions!!
BadBeans