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Whitey....Tell the pretty lady in the office this next time she has a computer problem. "If it's freezing up, it's not a computer virus. It was just stunned by your beauty."
On second thought, that may not be a good thing to in this day and age. LOL
nowadays that is harassment... but so is looking at someone wrong it seems.
Whitey....Tell the pretty lady in the office this next time she has a computer problem. "If it's freezing up, it's not a computer virus. It was just stunned by your beauty."
On second thought, that may not be a good thing to in this day and age. LOL
LOL... well, that's probably the last thing I need. Problems with the Wife. That'd be fun to explain my way out of.
CONGRATS Shane! Man, that happened fast. IT is here to stay and offers a sense of control. Life today is based on algorithms right ?
Spent the last couple days on the tractor pushing a snow blower. Man that thing is pure bad *** lol. Great investment, -it's fun ! I've had this thing for 3 seasons, never gets old lol. We had about 8" with some drifting. Hope we get more soon !
Well, something froze in the trailer, I guessing Thursday night or Friday morning as it got down into the single digits (8 or 9*). I really never pin pointed what froze. Since the trailer rely's totally on gravity feed and pump, I'm not connected up to a continuous water supply. I COULD connect up to continuous, it's accessible and would be much easier, but due to freezing temps, it's not in the cards. Heated hoses or a proper water line below the frost line (42") would be a major expense. Without going into further explanation, it's just not feasible since this is a temporary deal.
Anyway, I'm guessing my water supply tank partially froze. When I purchased the travel trailer, full attention was on the ability to withstand harsh climate, as in sub freezing. This trailer had the best documented ratings out of them all. Only reason I went with Grand Design. These trailers are the ONLY models built to withstand 15* as tested. They are totally sealed with very well heated under belly's. But it stops right there, below 15* stuff will begin to freeze.
Being sealed up so tight it's a major to-do to get into the compartment below without dropping the under belly. AND- I have been unsuccessful in acquiring a service manual as it would give away a guarded design. So there's that, dosen't help.
I fixed it, got it it thawed and back in business. No help online so I had to come it with it. Being a born thinker, wasn't that big of a deal....well, as long as I have the time lol. Had to make the time. No access panels to the compartment below BUT, I found that the tank is just below the bedroom. There is a heat register in the floor on the bedroom. I simply removed the register, removed the zip screws securing the boot and pushed downward on the boot. When doing so I could see the tank was right there. So I shoved the boot into the compartment and blocked the outlet hole. This inturn supplied more heat into the underbelly and next to the fresh water tank. It took about 4 hours to thaw whatever was frozen but that did it. There's running water once again and so far I don't think there's a leak anywhere.
Never owned one of these things before, but from what I've read online, there's some absolute horror stories camping in cold weather. I've been lucky this far and I'm really not using that much propane anymore. I've cut that by more than 50% after insulating the living quarters with reflectix panes over existing windows. So I'm going to continue experimenting with this thing...not shut down yet lol.
Brew.....Up here, we install silicone heat pads (like oil pan heaters) to the grey, black and freshwater tanks so that they can be used at cold temperature when used in the winter. I've set a few up that way for 5th wheels that went to foundations for the winters.
You need a fair sized pad for each, and they aren't that cheap, but one frozen line could pay for all 3 in costs. Just a thought.
Brew.....I forgot to ask. Does this new coach have water drain and shut off valves in place so in case you want to store it for the winter? If not let me know and I'll check and see if I still have a spare kit to help you out. I may still have 1. We installed them in all the coaches that we sold, from campers to 45' fifth wheels.
It would be hell to come out one morning and find all the lines frozen, just because you couldn't drain the lines and blow them out.
It doesn't have a booth dinet, has the free standing table and chairs, but that is the floor plan.
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It comes with the heated under belly (forced air) and also has pads for each tank. 3 oversized tanks, each with individual pads. Like this, -
Wait a minute and OMG! I was sure it had heated pads, but I can't find it. Not on their site or in my manual. Then that would explain it. See, since I insulated the living quarters, the furnace runs 50% less...see where I going with this?
This is what I got from the site, as far as insulation -
Damn, I was sure it had pads. Well, I guess I seen that on another brand..Huh! Well it says heated holding tanks, but I can't find the colored diagram showing them. I'll have to investigate further.
Yeah I think I would check too. The heated tanks might be the forced air to the area. If this one doesn't have the pads, it would be worth your time and money to install them.
On calling it a coach, when I worked thru Fleetwood (Thor), all their units were called a coach. I picked it up and have been saddled with that term since. LOL
Yeah I think I would check too. The heated tanks might be the forced air to the area. If this one doesn't have the pads, it would be worth your time and money to install them.
On calling it a coach, when I worked thru Fleetwood (Thor), all their units were called a coach. I picked it up and have been saddled with that term since. LOL
Yea thanks man! I assumed I had them (pads) and didn't question it, -well, not until you brought to my attention to it lol.
Oh really, - I'm not sure ? Not now anyway. I just thought a coach was considered one with an engine. Now that I think about it literally, coach would be something in tow correct ? Maybe I have a stage coach lol. Perhaps I should look that one up ehh lol.
I'm learning a lot from AK today . Yea, I'll check that out for sure, I'll let you know. Thanks again!
You know, my fresh water tank may have frozen up Wednesday. I was out here for a short time and the tank was running low. I recall checking it in the command center before filling it back up, but don't think I used any water that day. Being that low it may have froze and is most likley the case. The tank bottom although sealed is right there toward the bottom belly wall. What I mean by sealed, this trailer, tanks, wiring is compartmentalized. Like a crawl space with no access other than pulling the entire underbelly off the trailer. There's very limited access from above or floor, but was able to check the lines which are red white and blue in color. Color coded for cold ,hot and supply. These lines were not cold and flexible and are located more towards the floor where most of the heat is. I also checked the lines in the storage compartment where the pump is. Everything was perfectly warm, no hint of being exposed to the weather.
From the looks of it and the way it's sealed with insulating foam, looks like removing the under belly will take some time. Then re-securing it back up and re-insulating correctly might take some time. I know it won't be easy this time of year.
Do you have any experience with sealed bottoms AK ? Big job ?
This trailer looks to be engineered well. Of course they use a lot of cheap stuff to offset costs and keep it marketable with whats out there. I could have done much worse very easily lol.
Sealed belly's can be easy to remove for access or an absolute nightmare. Depending on the fabric type under and how they attach theirs. Some have removable strips that will allow the belly to be opened at a specific place. I have no idea on your model. Think like its a large tarp, and stapled, screws or trim held. Once the first part comes down it is wide open.
I threw that question on their FB page, asking if they had pads on their tanks or if it was force air warmed. We'll find out soon. LOL
12-15-2017, 08:40 AM
. Yea, I'll check that out for sure, I'll let you know. Thanks again!