Some RV basics

I got a new camper this year…. one of those hybrid or expandable ones. Just a couple questions for you guys with experience.

1) The battery. It’s got a battery and does use a draw for the carbon monoxide detector and radio. It’s a low draw but I will be going weeks in between use. Guessing my options are to open and disconnect the battery (seems like a pain) or to plug it in once a week. (also a little bit of a pain depending on where I decided to let it sit). Just seems like there should be an on/off switch somewhere to shut everything off but I don’t see one

2) The septic tanks. Again, it probably won’t see a lot of use especially during the summer. It’s more of a spring and fall use for me on various trips. I know there are chemicals to use with the black water tanks, but how about the grey water? Also, if it’s gonna sit for a couple months should I leave the tank valves open or closed? Just seems like there would always be moisture inside if closed.

Thanks,

back in the day when we had are camper, we had it on a permy site and was always plugged in so cant give you much advise there.

the grey water and black water……………we would drain it before we left, rinse it a bit, then close the valves and add some chemical and water, based on the advice of others and a few plumbers. it helped keep the seals wet and from leaking. and it would help breakdown anything hung up till the next time yo us it.

just my 2 cents!!!!!!

Battery should have an off switch. CO detector will drain the battery to dead. If your camper is a standard cabover, my on/off switch was in a little area on the back where the jack controller plugged in.

I add chemicals to both tanks, black for breakdown and grey for odor. Drain tanks I drain my tanks when I am leaving for any length of time. Close valves.

If you’re storing it outside you can hook up a solar charger to keep the battery topped off. I’d still add a disconnect at the battery to shut everything down.

I would definitely plan on plugging in or adding a battery disconnect if your battery is a pain to get to. It is surprising how fast they will draw down a battery. If I leave my switch on for my electric jacks my battery will be dead by the following weekend.

Add a battery shut off switch.

In a permy site now, but traveled all over with my travel trailer. Put chems in both tanks and valves closed!! After I dumped both of my tanks prior to traveling home, I would always add 5 gals of water and chems to both black and gray tank. The sloshing in the black tank helps with clingons! I know some people that add a big bag of ice to the black tank prior to traveling too with good results also.

If it’s an rv, it should have a battery shut off or install one.

Any thought on the tanks in regard to winterizing? Leave some chemical in them or empty? Or just a bit of antifreeze?

lindyrig79 wrote:

Any thought on the tanks in regard to winterizing? Leave some chemical in them or empty? Or just a bit of antifreeze?

definitely antifreeze.

One rule I always went by when we had a camper… NEVER be stingy with the antifreeze.

Tanks should be empty but antifreeze poured into all the traps. Drain the water heater, put in bypass and winterize mode before pumping antifreeze into the water lines.

Plenty of YouTube videos on winterizing your RV. This is one thing you DONT want to screw up. Good luck.