Small update

[Acadianmom]

Glad you made it without major damage which is what can happen from a blowout on an RV. I doubt you will be able to run more than one heater on your electric system in the trailer and probably not much else. If you have to run a microwave or toaster oven turn the heater off. I have heard of people fixing a 110 plug wired separately that can be plugged into the power pole. I wouldn't know how to do it other than run a cord through a window. Does your water pump work? I looked up the temps in Kanab and the weather site said it is in the 20's at night. If you leave a water hose hooked up it will freeze unless you put heat tape on it. I never have used that so don't know where to find it or how to use it.

Martha

[Echo]

It's kinda nuts tho. Right now we are using 110 like regular house current. Last night before we went to bed Kelly plugged in the second small heater to the power strip which is plugged into the end of the 110 orange extension cord. So that makes 2 heaters and one lamp and it was good to go, both heaters ran all night. This morning we had one heater, one coffee pot and 2 laptops plugged in. ??? Now why in the heck can we carry more on the 110 than on the 35amp. When ever we get it figured out and the campground power running things again I am gonna find a "hole" and run the 110 cord thru it and use it in the other end of the trailer.

Maybe some day I will learn all this good stuff and become a pro!

Right now I'm attempting to get Kelly motivated to pull some stuff out of here and taking it over to the storage room we've got. Don't think I gonna get her moving! Says she doesn't feel like doing a *(^^%$*@ thing at the moment cause she has been running full bore the past few days. Says maybe tomorrow. I do need to go to the store to get dog food, to the lumber store and see if I can pick up a super cheap crescent wrench to take the propane tanks off cause we have no gas to cook with and this trailer has NO microwave! Will have to see if we can pick up a super cheap small on from one of the thrift stores here or even Family Dollar if they carry them. Got to have a microwave in here.

As to fixing this thing up??? We will have Johnny Cash it, as in one piece at a time. Unless of course I win big bucks in the lottery.

Nope don't have the water hose hooked up yet. As I do need to get a heat tape and that foam rubber wrap stuff so that it doesn't freeze. It was so funny when we got here!! First thing Kelly had to do was use the toilet. The valve was froze tite with what little bit of water that laid in the toilet from the boss dumping the tanks. Had to wait until things warmed back up and thawed out before we could flush. So at least we know that we have a really good seal on that valve! Which is probably a real good thing!

[OutandAbout]

YAHOO you changed your signature. It will all come together, just get if comfortable for now. Must be culture shock to be in civilization again. Linda

[Echo]

It's a total shock to have cell phone service 24/7 again and really good internet again!! OMG!!! INTERNET! Internet that while not "Blazing Fast" is a world away from up on the rock. Kelly and I are both in heaven with the internet.

[Echo]

Yep, got a gas furnace in here but no propane. Got to get a wrench first and then take off a tank to get it filled. Hate the idea of running the furnace and using up all that propane tho!

So far the best name I have come up with is the "Bug House". And that's before we even started moving anything in here! Maybe I had a premonition on what was coming??

[mitch5252]

LOL - The Bug House! I like it!

It will all work out and you'll learn more and more and more as time goes on. I can't believe how much I'm learning since G started with his memory issues!
So, rock on, sistah!

[Acadianmom]

I don't know why they don't make the electric system in RV's better, as in you can run more than one thing that uses a lot of electricity. I'm on my 4th motorhome and they have all been the same. I can't run a heater and the microwave, the air conditioner and the microwave, the hair dryer and anything. You get use to turning things off and on. This one has 2 ground fault plugs and sometimes one of them will trip and nothing will work. In a trailer that age after you get the water hooked up I wouldn't go off and leave the water on coming into the trailer. I have already had a connection blow apart and almost flood my motorhome. Good luck on getting everything going.

Martha

[dpf]

I hope your propane tanks are up to the new codes or you might have to replace them or the valves on them if they haven't been updated. We had to do that on tanks of one of our TT. Since you are going to be parked for an extended period of time could you get a propane company to set a larger tank by your unit rather than having the hassle of filling up smaller tanks frequently? I tripped the breaker on our 5er when I plugged in a ceramic heater and the coffee pot at the same time. In fact I run a separate extension cord through the window and to the pole for the ice maker so I don't have to worry about tripping a breaker plus the ice maker tends to run more efficiently when it's plugged into an separate outlet.

Happy to hear that you have a roof over your head this year rather than a tent!

[mitch5252]

In fact I run a separate extension cord through the window and to the pole for the ice maker so I don't have to worry about tripping a breaker plus the ice maker tends to run more efficiently when it's plugged into an separate outlet.

Happy to hear that you have a roof over your head this year rather than a tent!

Hey, thanks for the ice maker tip!

[dpf]

You're welcome...and I use a strip of that thick black weather stripping foam with adhesive on one side along the edge of the window so when the window and screen slide in the stripping forms around the cord, yet still have a good seal so I don't get bugs in the camper and it's easy to take off when we're ready to leave.

I wish they would work on the wiring in campers too...we have 6 outlets on one circuit. Four along the kitchen counter, one by the table and chairs and one on a cabinet by the sofa and they're all on the same circuit...plus I think the central vac is on it too. Dumb. Apparently whoever does the electrical engineering hasn't ever spent any time in an RV and don't have a clue about electrical appliances. I wouldn't think that it is too much to ask to be able to have a toaster and a coffee pot running at the same time....but in our last camper that was out of the question. Never have tried it in this one because it's so ingrained in me to make sure that I turn off the coffee pot while I'm making toast. Don't even get me started on the interior designers choices in fabrics! Holy Hannah...there are some butt ugly interiors.

[rvgrammy1953]

We, too, run a heavy duty cord from the pole's 110 to a heavy duty surge bar thru the bottom of a window, into which we have 1 laptop, power speakers for the TV, air card router,electric heater, and rope lights for the awning.... ...1 half of the 5er is on 1 circuit the other side on another...slide side, I have a desk lamp and the other laptop, the other side is where the coffee pot and the TV are plugged in......we never, ever plug in the toaster, etc. unless the coffee pot is off (TV runs okay with the toaster going.) ....for the toaster/convection oven (and when we had an ice maker), we run another heavy duty cord and surge bar outside for them, under the awning, covering them with plastic table cloths when NOT in use...Petula and the palm tree are plugged into the outside set-up at night....Ernie's Uncle who is a certified electrician, helped him plan this set up as we needed the extra power, but wanted it to be safe....all connections are wrapped with electrical tape and plastic.....It takes a little time to do, but when we are in one place for long periods of time, its' worth it... .......Old propane tanks, as stated, may give you issues.....so re-fitting them and your hookups is a good idea....in freezing temps, if you don't have heat tape, either un-hook your water at night or let the water drip when you have sewer hookup....

We've been full - timing for 6 yrs. and have learned alot during that time and we're still learning....be patient....listen to all advice given....take what makes sense to you.... enjoy yourselves and Good Luck...It takes time to learn an RV, new or used,..... You'll be fine...

[Echo]

Yeah we have the older style hookups on the propane tanks, I'm hoping to find somewhere that will fill them anyway. Have no idea on cost to update them. And I've given thought to doing a larger propane tank too. Again, have no idea on cost and then again I would have to update my end of the propane hookup.

For sure I am gonna find a hole, window or something to run my orange extension cord thru to be able to use the other heater. Using the second smaller heater made it just right in here for heat and comfort.

Ohhhhh! This is gonna be so much fun! Get use to this '83 model then whenever we get a chance at a new one? Wont have a clue of what to do or how to use it.

[dpf]

Please be sure to check the hoses going into the rig from the propane tanks and see if they are still in good shape. Early last spring our friends were camped at a state campground that had to be evacuated for several hours because a weak hose split on an older trailer and the gas was escaping. Fire department was called but they couldn't take a chance of getting close enough to turn off the valve and may be causing a spark. Luckily it happened in the afternoon and there weren't any campfires going in the immediate area of the camper plus the campground wasn't anywhere near full.

[WickedLady]

Our Fred Meyer store has a propane tank exchange. You get a full tank for $20. Don't know if they would take old tanks tho. A full tank without exchange is $50.

[BarbaraRose]

Echo, I saw microwaves at WalMart for I think $25 or $30. They aren't real big, but would work for you and that is pretty cheap for a new one.