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Old 09-03-2009, 02:57 PM   #1
drdementia
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Question New Owner Questions

Hello, everyone,

Well, DH and I happily bought a TM 2720SL about a month ago and so we're not prospective owners anymore, but this seemed a likely place to post this thread rather than separate questions under battery, interior, electrical, etc. To moderators, please feel free to relocate it if there's a better place to put it.

We've muddled through a lot of the setup and workings of the TM ourselves thanks to this forum and the manuals and reference library--miraculously, we've figured out how to charge and use the recirculating toilet. However, there are a couple things we're cautious about that will likely seem silly to many TM owners, but we've never had a trailer or RV before and many of the manuals and instructions seem to assume some level of knowledge that neither of us has at this point. If anyone can given us some very basic instruction about these few things, I think we'll be good to go.

1. How do you get the on-board water tank to fill up? We've hooked up the shore waterhose and all the faucets work fine, but we don't know how to fill up the big tank that's directly under the kitchen sink, and to know how to stop the water coming in when it's full or does it automatically stop? DUH.

2. There's a "PUMP" switch on the panel in front of the kitchen sink, as well as a "TEST" switch that when it's flipped and held down illuminates ALL the lights. What does that pump switch operate, when should we turn it on, and should it stay on while we're camping? Does it activate the on-board water supply?

3. How do we light the hot water heater? Is that done outside? It seems that I recall some information about connections to the water heater and maybe the refrigerator on the outside but some clear directions on this will really help us from blowing something up or incurring an expensive problem, I think.

4. How do you empty the onboard water tank and the hot water heater before we tear down? We've successfully dumped the toilet and gray water tank previously, if that helps in directions.

5. How do we light and use the furnace? This may too broad a question to answer in this forum, but thought I'd add it in here. too. Because this involves propane, we want to make sure we are especially careful with this process.

6. Speaking of propane, is it as intuitively easy to open the propane as turning on both tanks, like our barbecue at home? Is that all you have to do to get the propane to the stove, etc.?

7. We had no battery power on our first trip. On checking the battery, we found one yellow wire disconnected so we connected it as we were tearing down, but just turning on a light inside the TM (after shore electric was disconnected) yielded nothing. Does the battery recharge only when the TM is being towed (via our towing vehicle's battery)? Is there any other switch somewhere that activates the battery for use inside the TM?

8. These questions may have to be handled by a Winegard dealer. We have a Winegard satellite dish on the roof (former owner never used it so couldn't tell us if the setup worked or not). On the interior wall of the TM right below the dish, there's a box mounted that refers to elevation; despite having TV/DirecTV unit plugged into the Winegard electrical connection on the side of the kitchen sink wall (and shore electrical plugged in and working) we could not get any response/light up/display on that box on the wall when we pushed the button. This was BEFORE we hooked up the unhooked wire on the battery. Does anyone know if that box operates from battery only and when our battery is operational, it should display elevation numbers? Probably need to have a Winegard dealer check it out, but thought I'd ask just in case someone knew.

Whew--lots of questions but sure appreciate anyone's help with them. We love our TM and know we'll appreciate it even more when these things are operational!!! Thanks, everyone.
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Old 09-03-2009, 05:13 PM   #2
rumbleweed
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. How do you get the on-board water tank to fill up? We've hooked up the shore waterhose and all the faucets work fine, but we don't know how to fill up the big tank that's directly under the kitchen sink, and to know how to stop the water coming in when it's full or does it automatically stop? DUH. There is a white water fill fitting next to the shore water supply. You can use a hose or pour water in from a jug. You can look under the sink or use the Water level gauge on the control panel to check level. If you overfill, it will come out the vent. Obviously the TM must be open to do this.

2. There's a "PUMP" switch on the panel in front of the kitchen sink, as well as a "TEST" switch that when it's flipped and held down illuminates ALL the lights. What does that pump switch operate, when should we turn it on, and should it stay on while we're camping? Does it activate the on-board water supply? The pump switch operates the water pump when not connected to shore water and using water from the waer tank. Fill the water tank, open the Hot water faucet and turn on the pump. When water runs fairly steadily from the faucet, shut the faucet and the the pump will shut of automatically. When you use water the pump will periodically come on.

3. How do we light the hot water heater? Is that done outside? It seems that I recall some information about connections to the water heater and maybe the refrigerator on the outside but some clear directions on this will really help us from blowing something up or incurring an expensive problem, I think. If you are on shore power, there is a switch that is accessible from the out side vent ( square one) . The switch is in the lower left side. Make sure the water heater is full of water before you turn it on. Also make sure you turn it off when you disconnect and empty just in case you connect to shore power and forget to fill the water heater.

4. How do you empty the onboard water tank and the hot water heater before we tear down? We've successfully dumped the toilet and gray water tank previously, if that helps in directions. Under the TM just below the water tank are two small black valves open both of them and they will drain automatically. Be careful, one is the Hot water heater and HOT water will come out. You can do this with the TM Closed. There are two more similar valves back under the outside shower. Opn these also when you winterize or wish to drain the entire system.

5. How do we light and use the furnace? This may too broad a question to answer in this forum, but thought I'd add it in here. too. Because this involves propane, we want to make sure we are especially careful with this process.

6. Speaking of propane, is it as intuitively easy to open the propane as turning on both tanks, like our barbecue at home? Is that all you have to do to get the propane to the stove, etc.? Yes. They will automatically switch tanks when one is empty. You will need to check the indicator on the regulator to note that the tanks have switched. If you haven't run the propane for a while, it may take a while to fill the lines. Run the stove for a few minutes before you try lighting the fridge or WH

7. We had no battery power on our first trip. On checking the battery, we found one yellow wire disconnected so we connected it as we were tearing down, but just turning on a light inside the TM (after shore electric was disconnected) yielded nothing. Does the battery recharge only when the TM is being towed (via our towing vehicle's battery)? Is there any other switch somewhere that activates the battery for use inside the TM? The battery has a fuse in line with it near the battery. Some dealers ( mine did) add a battery cut off switch near the battery. If your tow vehicle has the +12V wire in the connector connected properly, it will charge a little while towing. Most of the charging comes when you are connected to shore power. Also you need to have the bathroom walls up to activate the internal lights. There is a safety switch that shuts most of the 12V down when the back wall is down.

8. These questions may have to be handled by a Winegard dealer. We have a Winegard satellite dish on the roof (former owner never used it so couldn't tell us if the setup worked or not). On the interior wall of the TM right below the dish, there's a box mounted that refers to elevation; despite having TV/DirecTV unit plugged into the Winegard electrical connection on the side of the kitchen sink wall (and shore electrical plugged in and working) we could not get any response/light up/display on that box on the wall when we pushed the button. This was BEFORE we hooked up the unhooked wire on the battery. Does anyone know if that box operates from battery only and when our battery is operational, it should display elevation numbers? Probably need to have a Winegard dealer check it out, but thought I'd ask just in case someone knew. Can't help here.

Check out the online manuals on the forum, They will further explain many of these questions.

Whew--lots of questions but sure appreciate anyone's help with them. We love our TM and know we'll appreciate it even more when these things are operational!!! Thanks, everyone.
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Old 09-03-2009, 07:26 PM   #3
drdementia
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Rumbleweed, thank you so much for helping out so quickly. We'll be able to get much more working now that you've explained all this.

I left out one important question--how do we fill the hot water heater? I'll check the online manuals again to see if I can find this, but if you have a simple answer, we'll take that, too!

You're a lifesaver and your instructions are clear and understandable--again, thanks.
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Old 09-03-2009, 07:43 PM   #4
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I just went thru the same learning process, don't worry, it all comes together nicely after a couple trips. Rumbleweed did a good job getting you started.
- If you want to get hot water using the propane, turn on the propane, make sure the hot water tank is full and turn on the "water heater" switch. Described well in the manual.
- To turn on the furnace, turn on the propane and simply set your thermostat to what you want. Pretty nice....
- Not being able to fill up the water tank with the TM closed was the biggest disappointment for me. But doing the "fill it thru the drain" mod these guys came up with was a great improvement. Do a search when you're ready to try it. A five minute $3. fix!

Best advice I can give is to make sure you have your manual with you on a trip, I've been able to figure out most everything with it. Seems a bit unclear at times, but when you start looking, it makes sense.

Have fun!!!!!
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Old 09-03-2009, 07:46 PM   #5
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To fill the hot water heater - once you are hooked up to campground water supply with it turned on, just open a hot water faucet. A burst of air will come out, then nothing for a while, then water. The tank should be full then.

My dad taught me to open the relief valve on the heater and make sure water comes out. I don't know if that is really required but I always do it.

Same instructions if you are using the water storage tank - once this is full, turn on the pump, open a hot water faucet, etc.
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Old 09-03-2009, 07:55 PM   #6
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John and Bill, thanks for your info, too--can never have enough instruction when you're trying something for the first time. Your responses, along with Rumbleweed's, will go a long way to getting us through a Labor Day trip, I'm sure.

If anyone else wants to add other suggestions, we'll gladly take them. Off to the manual again....

Happy and safe Labor Day, everyone!
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Old 09-03-2009, 08:11 PM   #7
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You're more then welcome....that darn safety switch on the rear bathroom wall that keeps the 12V off got me too...but it only happens once!

Where ya headed over the holiday?
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Old 09-03-2009, 08:14 PM   #8
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Is your camper new or used?

Couple of lessons learned concerning the battery. When the camper is not in use, or even if you are using it for long stretches at a time, you can damage your battery if you let it charge ALL the time. What happened to me was I left it plugged in for over a month while sitting in my driveway. My battery slowly lost water level until the battery was ruined. My first clue was the propane/gas detector was alarming due to low DC voltage.

Also, if your camper is connected to your tow vehicle with the reefer running and the reefer fan running you can kill both the battery in your camper and your car if you park for a long enough period. No fun!

Good luck!

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Old 09-03-2009, 08:14 PM   #9
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We're headed up to the Ft. Collins area to check out the town and wander through the Poudre Canyon area. We love living in Colorado because there are so many beautiful places to use our trailer within just a few hours.
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Old 09-03-2009, 08:22 PM   #10
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Vince, thanks so much for letting us know about the battery and issues with charging. I wouldn't have thought about that and surely don't want a major battery problem when it can be avoided. Hopefully this thread can help some other new owners, too.

We bought our TM used but it was it great shape. However, because we bought it from an individual, we didn't have the benefit of a walkthrough by a dealer. We're going to go to The Car Show in Colorado Springs to have them check it out and help us understand some of the things we haven't already figured out.
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