Animal was caught in Trailer gray tank?

[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!

[BamaBob]

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?)

[Mountndream]

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!

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.

[randolf]

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!

[ColoradoRick]

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!!

[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

[asquared]

You might want to get a Sewer donut

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by asquared

You might want to get a Sewer donut

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!

[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.

[randolf]

Great idea on the zip locks! That will also scare the flies away according to our favorite sushi chef! Thanks!

[Hudlow]

Sounds like a good way to clean the inside of the tank.

[MrJoe]

Originally Posted by Hudlow

Sounds like a good way to clean the inside of the tank.

Yeah, next time I'll just flush a bushy tailed squirrel

[Scootdawg]

Wow that would freak my wife out.

[ColoradoRick]

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

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.)

[OldCoot]

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.

[michael621]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

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!

Love it, that is a great hose!

[B and B]

Originally Posted by michael621

Love it, that is a great hose!

X3 bought it at Walmart!

[randolf]

Excellent - I will check that out!

[wbdavey]

For weight on the hose connection I just lay one of the spring bars from the WD hitch across the plastic fitting.

[Jim in Halifax]

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.

bread bags filled with sand work great!!!!!