Howdy all

Archer · 03-08-2015, 12:50 PM

Howdy from Wyoming,

My wife and I just purchased a new 2015 T27FQGDX with the Artic package! One question that we can not find a difinitive answer on is the two switches near the floor as you enter the trailer. They are next to the battery cutoff switch and labeled "tank heater".

Our question is which of the three tanks do these heat and are they thermostat controlled?

We have been able to figure out most of the other switches in the trailer, however with all the insulation underneath we cannot trace these wires.

Thanks in advance...

757Dave · 03-08-2015, 01:05 PM

Welcome from SE Virginia. Don't know the answer to your switch question, but someone will see this soon who will be able to help you. Happy Camping!

geotex1 · 03-08-2015, 01:19 PM

Welcome aboard!

Your big, no enormous (!), 100 gallon freshwater tank is located within the camper box is it not? If so, no heater on it. Black and grey are mounted below deck, and definitely have the heater pads. Forest River does indeed use heaters that have built-in thermostatic control, and the supplier was UltraHeat through 2013 for sure but I haven't checked since then.

Wiscampsin · 03-08-2015, 02:11 PM

Welcome from Wisconsin and congrats on your 2015 T27FQGDX.

Archer · 03-08-2015, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geotex1

Welcome aboard!

Your big, no enormous (!), 100 gallon freshwater tank is located within the camper box is it not? If so, no heater on it. Black and grey are mounted below deck, and definitely have the heater pads. Forest River does indeed use heaters that have built-in thermostatic control, and the supplier was UltraHeat through 2013 for sure but I haven't checked since then.

Well, first we have the additional 60 gallon tank...so our total fresh water tank capacity is 166 gals! I know, totally insane amount of water. I believe, based on the location of the dump drain for the tank, it is right below the kitchen area. So my assumption is that the tank is below deck...thus my question.

Any help is greatly appreciated...

geotex1 · 03-08-2015, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer

Well, first we have the additional 60 gallon tank...so our total fresh water tank capacity is 166 gals! I know, totally insane amount of water. I believe, based on the location of the dump drain for the tank, it is right below the kitchen area. So my assumption is that the tank is below deck...thus my question.

Any help is greatly appreciated...

Holy smokes! That's like 1400# of water!!! I had no idea you could have even more than the 100 for them, and that must kill you cargo carrying capacity. So, I'm not at all familiar with the double FW tank configuration. Do you still have a gravity fill on the roadside, or is it now a pressure fill? Tanks in series so you only have one drain or are there two? Commonly (but not always), FR does 1 switch per tank heater/tank.

I'm going to say the only way to find out for sure it to get in touch with FR with the last 7-digits of your VIN handy:

Forest River RV Contact Us - Forest River, Inc.

Archer · 03-08-2015, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geotex1

Holy smokes! That's like 1400# of water!!! I had no idea you could have even more than the 100 for them, and that must kill you cargo carrying capacity. So, I'm not at all familiar with the double FW tank configuration. Do you still have a gravity fill on the roadside, or is it now a pressure fill? Tanks in series so you only have one drain or are there two? Commonly (but not always), FR does 1 switch per tank heater/tank.

I'm going to say the only way to find out for sure it to get in touch with FR with the last 7-digits of your VIN handy:

Forest River RV Contact Us - Forest River, Inc.

From what I understand, they are two tanks (106 +60) linked together by a pipe so that water drains down evenly. Yes, it is still a gravity fill on the road side of the trailer. I plan to contact Forest River, but I thought this would work also. I will post whatever information I get from them here so that others will have the answer next time it comes up.

Thanks all...

Rookie19 · 03-08-2015, 11:29 PM

Welcome!

These switches?
They are part of the Arctic package and are for the heating pads on the tanks. They are controlled by a thermostat as stated above.

Archer · 03-08-2015, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie19

Welcome!

These switches?
They are part of the Arctic package and are for the heating pads on the tanks. They are controlled by a thermostat as stated above.

Yes, but I was asking which tanks? I have 2 fresh water + 1 black water + 1 grey water. Plus the location of my switches are around the corner, in the hallway by the battery cutoff switch.

Rookie19 · 03-09-2015, 07:52 AM

Most likely the grey and black tank. Call fr to confirm. Only need to flip them if I dips below 40.

Archer · 03-09-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie19

Most likely the grey and black tank. Call fr to confirm. Only need to flip them if I dips below 40.

Well, this morning is warm here...only 17 degrees...been as low as 6 degrees the first morning after we bought it...

geotex1 · 03-09-2015, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer

Well, this morning is warm here...only 17 degrees...been as low as 6 degrees the first morning after we bought it...

ACK! First signs of Spring here with the snow melting and a forecasted high in the low-50s!

Do let us know what you find out from FR. Not a lot of Shockwave owners on the forum so it's always helpful to fill the knowledge coffers!

Rookie19 · 03-09-2015, 09:45 AM

Agreed! Not too many of us on here.

Rookie19 · 03-28-2015, 09:54 PM

Hey archer, you ever call fr on the switches?

Archer · 04-05-2015, 09:42 AM

That would be a negative...I have left messages, sent emails...no response from Forest River.

However, I have had a service man at the local Camping World inform me that those switches control the heaters in the black and grey water tanks. He told me that the logic is that if the temp will be dropping below the freezing point, you could always dump your fresh water tank to prevent damage. But you wouldn't always be able to dump your black or grey water tanks at a moments notice to protect them.

So, there it is...one more piece of knowledge for the brain trust...

Rookie19 · 04-05-2015, 01:12 PM

Good to know but who would want to dump their FW tank? That makes me want to add a pad for the FW if I'm do cold weather camping.

ColoradoRick · 04-05-2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie19

Good to know but who would want to dump their FW tank? That makes me want to add a pad for the FW if I'm do cold weather camping.

I've wondered that, too, as my Rocky has heaters on the black and gray tanks but not on the fresh water tank. Maybe it's because there's the option of hooking up to city water with a water hose that is insulated and has an electric heater to keep it from freezing outside.

Rookie19 · 04-05-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoradoRick

I've wondered that, too, as my Rocky has heaters on the black and gray tanks but not on the fresh water tank. Maybe it's because there's the option of hooking up to city water with a water hose that is insulated and has an electric heater to keep it from freezing outside.

Maybe. But it would also take more for get all that fresh water (depending on how much is in the tank) to cool to freezing point. The black and grey tanks are smaller amounts do they would freeze quicker.... Right?

msteeler · 04-06-2015, 04:41 PM

I had multiple issues with how slow it was to fill my fresh tank and a leak from somewhere under the trailer. I pulled the enclosed underbelly off to fix the issues. The heated tank pads for mine are on the two fresh water tanks.

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msteeler · 04-06-2015, 04:45 PM

Forgot to mention... I only have one switch for the two heated pads (cable spliced together) on the fresh tanks. It's possible yours is the same and the other switch is for the grey and black.

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