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11-04-2014, 01:49 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 11
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Animal was caught in Trailer gray tank?
Hi! Wondering if anyone ever ran into this before.
Last weekend we took our new Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s out for the maiden voyage - we went 20 minutes from home to Chabot Campground in case we had any problems.
Everything worked fine on the new trailer except the gray water sensor. Because it didn't work, we decided to just leave the gray water open so it could drain freely.
At around 3am, we heard digging somewhere in the bathroom area. No animal was in the bathroom and my husband checked all outdoor accessible areas to no avail. It felt like the critter was either under the shower floor, or possible to the side. When we tapped on the shower, it didn't seem to change the digging behavior. Then I ran the water in the bathroom for a while and the digging stopped. I assume it was a rat that had crawled from the sewer into the gray water tank and that when I ran the water, it decided to vacate. I HOPE it has vacated and not died in there! Anyone every heard of that happening?
Other than that oddity, the trailer was WONDERFUL and we had a fantastic time!
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11-04-2014, 01:54 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Wild!
Just to be clear you were completely sealed (i.e., sewer hose connected to outlet on RV and securely plugged into the CG Sewer?)
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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11-04-2014, 02:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Saint Louis
Posts: 1,458
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Quote:
Originally Posted by randolf
Hi! Wondering if anyone ever ran into this before.
Last weekend we took our new Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s out for the maiden voyage - we went 20 minutes from home to Chabot Campground in case we had any problems.
Everything worked fine on the new trailer except the gray water sensor. Because it didn't work, we decided to just leave the gray water open so it could drain freely.
At around 3am, we heard digging somewhere in the bathroom area. No animal was in the bathroom and my husband checked all outdoor accessible areas to no avail. It felt like the critter was either under the shower floor, or possible to the side. When we tapped on the shower, it didn't seem to change the digging behavior. Then I ran the water in the bathroom for a while and the digging stopped. I assume it was a rat that had crawled from the sewer into the gray water tank and that when I ran the water, it decided to vacate. I HOPE it has vacated and not died in there! Anyone every heard of that happening?
Other than that oddity, the trailer was WONDERFUL and we had a fantastic time!
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if that was our first trip, I am pretty sure we would have been purchasing a new trailer...
How do you like the trailer, we have the Flagstaff sister to it.
__________________
2015 Ram 2500 4x4 6.4l with 2015 Sandpiper 25RLS
Wife, myself and 2 furry kids
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11-04-2014, 02:21 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 11
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Hi!
Yes- the sewage line was connected to outlet on RV and the hose ran to the CG sewer - however, my husband mentioned that the sewage connection at the campsite does not screw in - there was no way to do that, so you just put the hose in there with no actual "seal".
We LOVE the trailer - of course, this is our first one so I don't have other trailers to compare it to. Previously, after we got tired of putting up and tearing down a tent every weekend that we went boating, we bought the van and put a futon in it. However, that still was a lot of work - we had to take everything out of the van before we could sleep in it. Also, the futon is like a double bed and I toss/turn a lot, so it wasn't very comfortable. We finally decided to go with a trailer since our boat is stored at the lake. I was SO COMFORTABLE in that bed (rv queen size). LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
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11-04-2014, 02:28 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,024
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You sound like us about 5 years ago when we took a huge gamble and bought a small TT to go camping...totally fell in love with it!
My guess would be either a rat or a squirrel and my suggestion is to never EVER leave any of your tanks open like that. You'll know when a tank gets full by either seeing standing water in the bottom of your shower (gray tank) or the toilet water level way up high when you flush (black tank).
If you're gray tank sensor isn't working, just run outside and empty it real quick before taking a shower or washing the dishes....but then close it to keep out any unwelcome guests! (EW!)
Oh a handy item to buy to lay across the sewer drain hose are some ankle weights you can buy in any sporting goods department...works great!!
__________________
Rick & Karen
(Retired USAF, MSgt)
Monument, Colorado
8-year Travel Trailer RVers
2013 Forest River Rockwood Ultra-Lite 2904SS
2014 Toyota Tundra Maxcrew SR-5 TRD 4x4 (with Firestone airbags in the rear)
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11-04-2014, 03:00 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 11
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Great advice! I had read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea to leave the tanks open for many reasons, so we definitely learned our lesson on that one! haha!
The ankle weights are a great idea too - thanks!
BTW - I am originally from Colorado! Lived in Pueblo and for a while in Denver until I was 16, then moved to California. I Love Colorado!!!
Thanks for the info!!!
Randy
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11-04-2014, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,069
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You might want to get a Sewer donut
__________________
2014 Crew Cab Chevy Silverado 3500 4wd Duramax/Allison
2014 Sabre 34REQS-6
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11-04-2014, 03:32 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asquared
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Actually, I recommend ditching whatever sewer hose came with the unit (usually a real cheepo!) with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-39761-Rh...ords=rhinoflex
Best out there short of some new technology that is not quite ready for prime time yet!
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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11-04-2014, 03:39 PM
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#9
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Instead of ankle weights, you may try big ziplock bags filled with water. I picked that tip up from youroo here and use it for all sorts of things.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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11-04-2014, 03:46 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 11
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Great idea on the zip locks! That will also scare the flies away according to our favorite sushi chef! Thanks!
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11-04-2014, 03:51 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 177
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Sounds like a good way to clean the inside of the tank.
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11-04-2014, 03:55 PM
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#12
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Average Joe
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Mechanicsville, MD
Posts: 689
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hudlow
Sounds like a good way to clean the inside of the tank.
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Yeah, next time I'll just flush a bushy tailed squirrel
__________________
Joe and Karen
2014 Sunseeker 2450sf
Southern Maryland and Beyond!
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11-04-2014, 04:02 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Western New York
Posts: 423
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Wow that would freak my wife out.
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11-04-2014, 04:22 PM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by randolf
Great advice! I had read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea to leave the tanks open for many reasons, so we definitely learned our lesson on that one! haha!
The ankle weights are a great idea too - thanks!
BTW - I am originally from Colorado! Lived in Pueblo and for a while in Denver until I was 16, then moved to California. I Love Colorado!!!
Thanks for the info!!!
Randy
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I'm not the originator of the ankle weight idea...I saw that on the hose of a neighbor with a Class-A at a campsite this year.
We love Colorado, too....I got stationed here in 2000 then deployed out many time for Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom until they let me retire in 2004. We're, originally, from Maine but not many jobs back home and the Colorado winters ROCK compared to Maine winters! :-) (We do try to get back home every year or two to visit our Mainiac family.)
__________________
Rick & Karen
(Retired USAF, MSgt)
Monument, Colorado
8-year Travel Trailer RVers
2013 Forest River Rockwood Ultra-Lite 2904SS
2014 Toyota Tundra Maxcrew SR-5 TRD 4x4 (with Firestone airbags in the rear)
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11-04-2014, 04:45 PM
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#15
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Instead of Ziploc bags or ankle weights, I used a 3' section of old slinky hose and cut plywood caps and screwed them in the ends of the slinky after filling it about 3/4 full of pea gravel. Works great for holding the slinky elbow in the donut.
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11-12-2014, 11:40 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ocean Shores WA
Posts: 104
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob
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Love it, that is a great hose!
__________________
2022 Prime Time Crusader Lite 28RL
2022 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax/Allision
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11-12-2014, 11:45 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michael621
Love it, that is a great hose!
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X3 bought it at Walmart!
__________________
B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Louisville 5th Wheel
2015 Heartland Bighorn 5th Wheel
2013 FR Rockwood 8289WS 5th Wheel
2012 FR Rockwood 2703 SS Travel Trailer
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11-13-2014, 01:33 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 11
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Excellent - I will check that out!
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11-13-2014, 08:59 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Oswego, NY
Posts: 293
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For weight on the hose connection I just lay one of the spring bars from the WD hitch across the plastic fitting.
__________________
2015 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604 WS. Rear LR, large street side slide with small wardrobe slide in BR.
2014 Ram 1500 Eco Diesel Laramie Quad Cab.
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12-07-2014, 09:17 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 833
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
instead of ankle weights, you may try big ziplock bags filled with water. I picked that tip up from youroo here and use it for all sorts of things.
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bread bags filled with sand work great!!!!!
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