first night "yard" camping in out 2306

[Bae]

We picked up our 2012 2306 on Thursday night. My 5 year old and I stayed in it last night, she is so excited for camping this year. We woke up cold (20-24 degrees outside), we ran a electric heater instead of the furnace maintained 50-55 inside. I want to get a carbon monoxide detector before sleeping with the furnace on all night.
The front board on the folding legs on the murphy bed started coming off when I pulled the bed down. Once it warms up I guess i will have to get some wood glue and clamps to get that fixed. Otherwise everything else seemed great!

[TURBS]

Your unit should already have a co detector!


2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

[wbdvt]

Congrats and sounds like even though cold you both enjoyed it. Definitely get a CO detector and pull out the furnace and check around it. One used TT I had bought had a mouse nest in that area and I shudder to think if it had caught fire!

[Papa-t]

That reminds me of 19 years ago when we purchased our first camper. My wife, myself and daughter driveway camped at the house. Good times. Good times.

[gectisme]

Congrats on your camper! My kids camped in ours in the driveway when it was new too.

On a side note, a 2012 unit might have been manufactured in 2011 making the Carbon Monoxide Detector hit around 5 years old. The sensor has a 5 year life so it might be prudent to replace it anyway, (if it has one). I believe there should be an expiration date on the unit so of course check that first.

[Bae]

There is a gas detector under the fridge and by the electric panel. Do you think it might be a dual gas and co ? otherwise the only other one I see is a smoke detector on the ceiling.

[KnP]

Same here, since the topic is about 2306...

Our 1st camp out last night, just a shake down run. Went to the closest RV Park and stayed overnight. Right now I am using my Galaxy Note 5 as hotspot and my little one streaming Netflix with a Roku. We ran a small snag with the water heater that only worked with Propane. Was the switch at the heater unit that was turned off. Is easy to overlook, hides underneath the relays. Not hard to find, just easy to overlook. Using shore power, the heater works excellent.

Anyway....

The temps dipped at about low 30s and what kept us warmed was a small 1500 W electric space heater. Some of my 1st mods was changing the Thermostat for a digital one. The door lock changed with a remote controlled / key pad, pricey but we love it, I think is worth it. Got me a set of X Chocks, easy to set up and works great.

Sorry for the pics, the site that I use for hosting has a mind on its own...

Door Lock


X Chocks


Quick Disconnects
Fresh Water Inlet (Pressure Regulator is at the source connection).

With Rhino Flex Hose


Water Intake closer look.


Black Water Flush


If you notice the water intake has a quick disconnect. That allows me to hook and unhook the hose without screwing. Since the threads are plastic, the chances of stripping or wear is minimized. The hose has a valve, I can shut the water off from the hose right at the tip and connect at the black water flush without screwing/unscrewing and shutting the water off at the source. Use the same idea when I wash my car. The fittings can be found at Walmart for about 6 bucks.

[Bae]

I like the quick connect idea! Will add it to my list of things to buy. We are still getting below freezing at night so it will remain winterized until mid April when we go on our first camping weekend. We had a fun night of playing hungry hungry hippo and UNO!

[youroo]

It is "Recommend" to "NOT' use the FW Hose on the "Sewer Flush"! Youroo!! US flag on the 2nd line again?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Bae

There is a gas detector under the fridge and by the electric panel. Do you think it might be a dual gas and co ? otherwise the only other one I see is a smoke detector on the ceiling.

Yes it's dual use.
It also triples as a low battery alarm.



2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

[Bae]

Thanks all. I checked it and it is dual purpose. I will try the furnace next time we are at home and its cold. If i use the manufacture date of the trailer, I have until October for 60 month replacement. Where is the best place to buy a replacement? Amazon they are $80-$100 for a replacement.

[Teamfour]

Get a sewer hose support. Those rocks will put a hole in the hose.

[53flattie]

Originally Posted by youroo

It is "Recommend" to "NOT' use the FW Hose on the "Sewer Flush"! Youroo!! US flag on the 2nd line again?

I do. It only screws into the outside of the camper. It doesn't physically go inside the black tank or anything. Am I missing something?


2015 Rockwood 2306
2015 Tundra CrewMax

[fella10]

it is always recommended that you use two different hoses, and NEVER swap out the two,....the spray head in the black tank has/at least should have a "back flow prevent-er" valve and it can fail, so the possibly of bacteria working it's way to that black tank flushing connection on the side of trailer is very real,.......

[53flattie]

The water jets are spraying *into* the tank and there's a backflow preventer. The bacteria would have to be strong enough to swim upstream against the force of the freshwater. I suppose it's possible, but so are car crashes. In both cases, it's an acceptable risk for me. But to each his own.


2015 Rockwood 2306
2015 Tundra CrewMax

[KnP]

I noticed a bit of backpressure from the tank. Very possible is the reminder pressure from the internal hoses that connects to the spray nozzles. I solved the problem with a valve. If you see my pics. The silver connector is an On/Off valve with a quick disconnect. Once you shut the water off at that point, disconnect the quick coupling, no backflush. Just wait few seconds for the internal build up pressure to die. Might add a check valve as an added protection.

If is a free flow, I see the point.

The quick disconnect, not only makes it a breeze to hook and unhook with full pressure on the hose, but saves me the wear and tear from screwing/unscrewing. Now I need to find a suitable cap for the connector end.

[fella10]

Originally Posted by 53flattie

The water jets are spraying *into* the tank and there's a backflow preventer. ....... it's an acceptable risk for me. But to each his own.

in a perfect world, back flow preventers would never fail, but they do in this im-perfect world,.....and when they do they are "open"(not stopping the backward flow), ......so, when/if it fails the bacteria CAN make its way from the tank, by way of the flushing hose, to that outside connection and will be there waiting to say "hello" to any hose that you use, the next time you connect to it,...that's the reason it is advised to use two different hoses,....but you are very right.......to each his own

[5picker]

Originally Posted by KnP

The quick disconnect, not only makes it a breeze to hook and unhook with full pressure on the hose, but saves me the wear and tear from screwing/unscrewing. Now I need to find a suitable cap for the connector end.

If you have a hydraulic hose sales place in your area, check out their assortment of dust caps for hydraulic quick connects. They usually have a nice assortment of sizes and one of them would most likely fit.

[hammer55]

seeing where you live it would be like camping all year long, drove through there last september, very beautiful

Originally Posted by Papa-t

That reminds me of 19 years ago when we purchased our first camper. My wife, myself and daughter driveway camped at the house. Good times. Good times.

[mike.t]

Great idea! Make sure everything works before you leave. Every dealer/salesmen/factory/rv forum should have this on a 1st to do list.