House battery vs engine battery. (MH)

[AlmostThere]

Ok, these past few times I've visited Little Missy and tried starting the MH the battery was dead. I had to use the emergency switch and start it with my house batteries.
My questions is: I have access to an outlet and can plug in my MH, but how do I make the electric go to my engine battery and not the house ones? Don't suggest I look at the MH's manuels as I don't have any. No Gulfstream dealers in the area either.

[VickieP]

Lenora, how old is your battery under the hood? It should have a date on top. I'm thinking either it's old or needs distilled water (if it's not maint. free). Others used to the cold weather will tell you more about that type of conditions on a battery, but I think it should still hold a charge in the cold, but I don't know how long. Maybe put a trickle charger on it. Just some thoughts...

[retiredhappy]

Don't think plugging into electric will charge your car batteries, only the house batts. Also sounds like you just need a new battery - check the age on it.

[AlmostThere]

In all honesty I haven't had the hood up since I purchased the rig in Sept. At that time all was well with the battery and I assume it's the same one that came with the '04 rig. My SIL says to take the rig to my RV guy and ask him to do a load check on the battery. My gut says to just replace it.

[dcricket]

04' I would think it's time to get a new one, but agree with having it checked (i.e. load test), before buying a new one. If not a maintenance free battery, there is a need to keep the fluid (distilled water) topped off. Not one of my fav things to do as you need to be careful of the caustic issues of the battery. I purchased one of those "Quik Fill" battery fillers from Camping World when I first got my rig. Nice as once I got it all hooked up all I have to do is put the fill tube in a gallon of distilled water, give the pump bulb a few squeezes until it won't squeeze no more and whallah, my 2 rig house batteries are filled (not under filled or over filled). My chasis battery is one of those maintenance free. We even put one of those Quik Fill things on our boat. Which reminds me...I need to go get a replacement filler pump bulf as mine is worn out. If you do opt for just getting a new battery, make sure you take your old one so you get credit for your core return of the old one

[AlmostThere]

I'm thinking a new battery is in order, too, Cricket. Thanks for the info!

[dcricket]

You are quite welcome my dear...after all that's what we are here for

[AlmostThere]

After my workout at Curves I continued the 2 miles down the road to where I store my MH. This morning it wouldn't start, even with the help of the house batteries. I figured I' look under the hood (not sure what I thought I was going to do, but did need to start learning about what's under there). Well, I found the "open hood" lever and pulled it, but then I couldn't find the latch just under the hood, to release it the rest of the way. I almost stood on my head trying to find it!! Broke my nail pushing and pulling on anything I could find. So I shoved it closed and will call on my SIL to check it out when he has time. Hurrump!

[AlmostThere]

UPDATE ON THE BATTERY ISSUE;
I had my X DH help me check out the MH today. He is very good at mechanical stuff. What he found was that when he took out my fuse panel, behind it was the converter and 2 - 30 amp fuses were blown on it. Now who would have known to take the fuse panel completely out and look behind it!!? He then replaced the fuses and then we took the house battery and the engine battery to my house and put the battery charger on them for a couple hours then replaced them and voila'! Everything is back to working order. He will recheck it all in a few days because we have no way of knowing why the converter fuses were blown, nor when they blew. Whether it was something I did or if there is another problem.
I then had him go over a few things with me that I had questions about.
He also is going to take the MH to someone to have the steering/wandering issue looked into.

[Liz]

Kudos to your X. Sometimes they come through...glad he was willing to help so you don't have to wait to get out and use the mh.

[Cedar518]

Wow,.... a decent X ! ! ! !

Good for you Lenora. And as Liz said, kudos to him. He's a rare one!

[retiredhappy]

I would be really concerned as to what blew TWO 30 amp fuses. Ask your X if having some electrical thing on when you plug in could blow the fuses. You're supposed to be sure the AC, pump, etc is off when you plug your rig in.

Have you tried doing a search on line for a Gulfstream manual? The problem is that each item, (frig, pump, water heater, etc) has a separate manual.

[AlmostThere]

Karen, my X wants to find out that, too, so in a few days is going back out to check everything again. If anyone can find the problem, he can. Besides being very mechanical, he has been an electrician his entire life. He just returned in Feb. from a year in Iraq working for the military.The MH has been stored since last Sept so nothing is in use (fridge, water pump, water heater etc). I only watch the TV and run a plug in heater when I exercise the gen. Oh, and my deep cell battery needed water. I thought they never did, so I would have never thought to pry off the top and look. My X said that some DO need water. Depending if they are sealed, of course.
He also is going to drive it to check out the steering issue and said he'd probably make an appt for me to take it to CAmping World and also he didn't like how the valve stems, on the outside duel wheels, are in the inside between the tires. He's going to see about getting that corrected, if possible, so I can more easily check tire pressures.

[sharon]

Seriously don't think I would trust Camping World with the steering issues you're having. It's not something they specialize in. Guess they would be ok for new shocks or something, but as discussed before, don't think that's your problem. Actually, I doubt if I would take my bicycle to them, but that's just my opinion.

[AlmostThere]

Just talked with my X and we are taking the MH to an alignment shop this Friday. I had told my X that I'd feel better taking it to a specialist and he concurred.