Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
Hello Everyone,
1. The battery on the trailer, they supposed to charge when driving? Both batteries are drained after 2-hour driving.
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They will usually get a limited amount of charge. If you had a bunch of appliances on, they might draw more current than the tow vehicle applies.
It is possible that the tow vehicle is not applying a charge. You could check the fuse that applies the charge in the tow vehicle. Measure the tow vehicle connector, from the 2 o'clock contact (+Auxiliary) to the 7 o'clock contact (Ground) (assuming the rib is at 12 o'clock), with the engine running. You should see 12-14 volts DC. If you don't know how to do this, get one of
these or equivalent.
If I recall correctly, some Ford pickups come with a relay in the glove compartment that has to be installed for the charge to take place.
It is also possible that in your test the breakaway switch for the brakes was activated. The brakes take a lot of current and could drain the battery pretty quickly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
2. Is there website where I can order replacements parts? missing speaker cover outside, Handle outside.
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Forest River itself wants you to order from their dealers. But they are really assemblers. The parts come from third party suppliers. An easy way to get common parts is to:
Enter a description of the part in Google, prefixed with "RV." For example,
RV speaker cover outside
Then click "Images" at the top of the screen
When you find one that looks right, get the manufacturer's name and part number
Put that information back into Google to find a source with reasonable price and shipping (or free shipping). Not uncommon to find these things on eBay or Amazon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
3. is there visual diagram that shows what hose goes where? there like 4 water lines and I don't know what goes where.
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Not usually. A few of the Forest River divisions can provide this information, but most can't/don't. Are you talking about plumbing inside the trailer? Where does it go? There should be exactly one line that's not connected at both ends. It is a piece of clear tubing going into a valve with two other connections, used only for winterization.
Why don't you post a couple of pictures so we can see what you are looking at. Take the pictures with the "shutter button" on the right. Put them on your computer. In the editor you use to respond to this note, click the paper clip icon at the top and use the popup to identify the pictures and upload them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
4. Is there instruction online for panel, how to check for water level? how full is the tank?
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Do you have the panel that has four LEDs at the left and four buttons (Gray/Black/Fresh/Battery) at the right?
Your RV has three water tanks. One for fresh water if you are camping where there is no water hookup. Another for "gray" water, water from the sinks and shower, and a third for "black water" from the toilet. You will press and hold one button at a time. When you hold the respective water button,
- The bottom LED always comes on
- If the tank is more than 1/3 full, the bottom and second LEDs come on
- If the tank is more than 2/3 full, the bottom, second, and third LEDs come on
- If the tank is nearly full, all four LEDs come on and you empty RIGHT NOW.
Note that this is very sensitive to the trailer's leveling. If it is a little off level, you can get misleading results. Also, the sensors in the black tank can get gunk on them and one or more LEDs will always come on. Cleaning with a hose and wand doesn't always work. You may resort to just stepping on the toilet pedal and looking down at the tank water level instead.
The bottom button is for the battery state-of-charge. A full charge of the battery is around 12.6 volts. The "converter" (battery charger in the trailer) applies 13-14 volts to the battery.
When the trailer is plugged in, all four LEDs will be lit.
If the trailer is unplugged and the battery is fully charged, the bottom 3 LEDs will be lit.
If the charge is down to, say, 75% (about 12.3 volts), the bottom 2 LEDs will be lit.
If the charge is down to 50% (as low as you should ever let it go, to avoid battery damage), the bottom LED will be lit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
5. Does trailer have brakes? Do i need brake control on truck?
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Yes. Unless your truck came with a factory brake controller, you must install one--state regulation in most/all states. And you will need it. Otherwise you can be subject to dangerous situations. Think about coming down a steep hill/mountain, gaining speed, and needing to slow down. If you step on the truck brakes and the trailer doesn't brake, it could try to switch ends. (Don't ask me about this.)
If you are a guy who does some home auto repair, you could handle this install. The controllers come with a harness that plugs right into your car. One popular brand is Tekonsha P3, but you should do your own research.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzotik
maybe someone can point me to some videos or help manual I can read online
Thank you!
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Look in the Library on this site. (click Library on the green bar above). If you did not get a collection of manuals for every appliance (range/audio/tv/fans/furnace/water heater, etc.), walk around and get the make and model of every one. Then get the manuals, either by internet search or from the Library.
Search this site to learn about sway (some great YouTube videos), about tires, and about Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH). These are things you need to know.
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