ROO 21DK

JDZO6C5 · 05-06-2015, 11:17 PM

Hello all. I'm a new member and owner of a 2015 Rockwood Roo. I purchased the trailer new and took it out for the first time this passed weekend. I ran into issues of course, but was able to resolve them for the most part. One thing I want to ask you all is about my water heater. I used both the electric and propane to run the water heater on my first trip out. I turned both switches on the inside control panel and the outside switch next to the water heater itself. Everything was fine. We packed up on Sunday and headed home. I had realized last night I never turned the electric switch in the outside water heater panel off. I left it on. I didn't drain my fresh water tank when I got back. I have about 1/3 left. I didn't drain the water heater either. I assume it's still filled with water. Now, since I left the switch on for few days without using it. Did I cause any potential damage to the water heater? Thanks.

**bikendan** · 05-07-2015, 01:48 AM

The electric side only runs when you're hooked up to shore power. It doesn't use 12v battery power.
Pull the electric element and check it.

KMP44 · 05-07-2015, 08:01 AM

It is probably fine - generally the HW heater stays full unless you actually drain the system. Hook up to city water or run your pump to verify you don't have air in the system, then turn on only the electric heater. If you get hot water in a few minutes you are good to go. Then come up with a tag or a checklist or other system to remind you to turn the element off when packing up. Its very easy to forget that...

yetavon · 05-07-2015, 08:25 AM

Congrads on the camper, love ours.
If your switch by the door was off then the heater will not turn on, and if your not hooked to shore power then it will not run the electric element anyway. If you didn't drain anything then your fine across the board.
Our switch inside the WH has been turned on for about a month now...But I plan on adding a switch inside the camper to control it.

ChibullsAN · 05-07-2015, 08:52 AM

No you didn't damage anything unless you had drained the hot water tank. As long as it is full of water you have no problems. I'd it were empty with the element on, then you would have damaged something. But it sounds like you are fine.

JDZO6C5 · 05-07-2015, 09:53 AM

Thanks everyone for the response. This is our first trailer. They provided me an overwhelming amount of info at the walk thru, which I now realize I should have recorded. The instruction manuals are only helpful to an extent. When we setup camp at 10:00 at night because we left after work. I couldn't get water flowing to the lines, the new yamaha generator (inverter EF2000is) wouldn't turn over, and my furnace wouldn't ignite. It would only run the blower for 30 seconds and turn off. Well. The water flow problem was due to a valve that didn't catch my eye that was closed. It's located between the fresh water tank and goes thru the water pump and from the water pump through the water filter canister. I would turn the pump on, but no water would fill the water canister. The faucets would just sputter. Then I finally noticed that valve which is behind the line and couldn't see it for the longest time. I finally saw it and opened it up. Problem solved and the water filter canister filled inmediately. The water flowed. Question, should I turn that valve back to the closed position when I get back on the road? Anyways, as for the generator, I couldn't get it to turn over. After time passed, I realized the oil was low. Now, I filled this thing up prior to attempt to start it. This yamaha seems very sensitive when it comes to oil level. I literally added a teaspoon more and that was enough to get it going. It didn't come with a dip stick to check level. You have to eyeball it, which isn't easy. Well, we got the generator to finally work and let me tell you! I love this thing! So quite. It runs everything. I purchased a second one as well to run parallel so in the summer I can run the A/C. Lastly, the furnace wasn't igniting because I didn't have enough juice in my battery. It was two-thirds full. Once the generator was fixed and plugged in the furnace ignited. Problem solved. However, I find it odd that the furnace needs a full charged battery in order for the furnace to work. My refrigerator ignited with the battery two-thirds full so why wouldn't the furnace? Any thoughts or insight you all can give me? Thanks again you all!

yetavon · 05-07-2015, 10:27 AM

Well the fridge burner is more like a pilot light, and the Furnace battery drain would be from the blower, Chances are your furnace issue was bleeding the air from the gas line. My question is why your new battery is only 2/3 when it should have been fully charged after towing?

JDZO6C5 · 05-07-2015, 11:09 AM

Well, it's partially my fault. I have to store the trailer at a storage business because where I live has a home owners association, which doesn't allow me to park it there. I can't charge it at the storage facility. I can't park it temporarily at my home to charge it because my drive way is very steep. It was already low before I left. I only towed it for an hour. The camp site is close to where I live. So it didn't have much time to charge. It was full when I got it from dealer about four weeks before the trip but was drained slowly. I'm thinking because the battery key was left on this entire time. Maybe something still pulls power out of it even though it's sitting in storage. Not sure?

**bikendan** · 05-07-2015, 11:40 AM

First, did your 21DK come with a battery disconnect switch? If so, use it when in storage.
All newer RVs have parasitic power drains and can drainage a single battery in a week.
If it doesn't have one, install one.

JDZO6C5 · 05-07-2015, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

First, did your 21DK come with a battery disconnect switch? If so, use it when in storage.
All newer RVs have parasitic power drains and can drainage a single battery in a week.
If it doesn't have one, install one.

Thanks for the info. Yes, it did come with the battery disconnect switch. I will make sure it's disconnected when stored.

JDZO6C5 · 05-07-2015, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yetavon

Well the fridge burner is more like a pilot light, and the Furnace battery drain would be from the blower, Chances are your furnace issue was bleeding the air from the gas line. My question is why your new battery is only 2/3 when it should have been fully charged after towing?

So if I understand this. The furnace should ignite and run without the battery being full. To the point the battery is practically dead right? The problem could have been gas getting to the furnace?

syogerst · 05-07-2015, 02:02 PM

Always light a burner on your stove first before you try to light the water heater or furnace. You may have air in the lines. Was the propane on and tanks full?

JDZO6C5 · 05-07-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syogerst

Always light a burner on your stove first before you try to light the water heater or furnace. You may have air in the lines. Was the propane on and tanks full?

Yes, they were. The refrigerator ignited. I also turned on the stove burner.

yetavon · 05-07-2015, 05:18 PM

I'm not sure what the power need is to maintain the furnace, but if your fan doesn't blow the heat out, your high limit switch will cut off the furnace.
You could consider bringing the battery home with you between trips.

SuicideSaints · 05-07-2015, 05:36 PM

For the furnace the battery only runs the blower, what might have happened is your furnace locked out. On mine if it fails to light after the third time trying it has to be reset (power it off for 30 seconds and try again).

This is what might have happened when you hooked the genny up to the camper.

For the oil level in the genny (I have the same one) I fill it till it just seeps out of the check hole, I know its full that way but not overfilled. I had a few problems with mine, but after an hour of running and topping the oil off Ive never had a problem in 2 years.

rockfordroo · 05-07-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

For the furnace the battery only runs the blower,

Not true. The battery also runs the electronics on the furnace, including the igniter. It's possible that with the battery somewhat depleted, the current draw by the blower was enough to lower the voltage at the electronics enough that they died.

But given this was your first time to light the furnace ever, I'm guessing your problem was air in the gas line.

SuicideSaints · 05-07-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Not true. The battery also runs the electronics on the furnace, including the igniter. It's possible that with the battery somewhat depleted, the current draw by the blower was enough to lower the voltage at the electronics enough that they died.

But given this was your first time to light the furnace ever, I'm guessing your problem was air in the gas line.

True and what I should have expanded on (I was just trying to dumb it down, because when you are new you can get overwhelmed easily, I know I did) I was talking about the main power draw, once it is lit it uses very little power other than the blower.

JDZO6C5 · 05-10-2015, 11:15 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice. We will see how it goes the next trip. I'm really excited about getting back out there.

JDZO6C5 · 05-10-2015, 11:20 AM

Here are some pics I would like to share along with the whip I'm hauling it with. 2013 F-150 FX4 Ecoboost with appearance package.

RooVader · 05-10-2015, 11:30 AM

I have same exact truck and soon will have the same exact camper. How are you finding the tow experience to be?

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