First trip with new 26.5BHS

TxLoser · 03-05-2017, 08:05 PM

We just completed our first shakedown trip with the new fifth wheel. I must say we're quite happy with it. I used this trip to really nitpick the trailer to find anything that I need taken care of. I came up with very little....

1/The sealant around the rooftop solar connections probably needs some attention and one of the rubber coverings for those connectors is dried and cracked.

2/The shade on the main entry door has lost some form and won't go up all the way or stay up

3/Rear entry door is very difficult to latch.

4/A piece of trim loose in the rear of the top bunk

That's the best I could come up with. I mainly wanted to try out all the systems over the weekend before a trip to NM next week. Now I'm confident we'll be free of at least major problems.

On a side note, this is my first fifth wheel and I had no idea of the virtual tornado that takes place in the bed of truck with a fiver attached. I lost a trash bag filled with our recyclables(sorry Oklahoma), and had some large plastic boxes tossed around and relocated. Lesson learned.

Big1 · 03-06-2017, 02:26 AM

Not too bad, if you can take it out again before your time is up it will be grant, we had 90 days warranty on out and we could only take it out twice because on when we bought ours.

It look like that you have a nice setup, like me the wife and I can't wait to take it back out again in the 1st of April. We are having a observation camera install on our's trailer so we are so excited on that, we have a 1,100 miles trip coming up soon so it should come in handy.

TxLoser · 03-06-2017, 12:09 PM

Here's a photo of the area around the solar plug in. What I saw as a problem was all the little holes in the sealant. Is that a problem, and if so what do I patch it up with? A little ignorant on roof stuff.

Mopar_Earl · 03-06-2017, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Here's a photo of the area around the solar plug in. What I saw as a problem was all the little holes in the sealant. Is that a problem, and if so what do I patch it up with? A little ignorant on roof stuff.

Those cracks are a problem. Clean it well and when 100% dry reapply dicor self leveling roof sealant over the existing sealant.

Earl

TxLoser · 03-06-2017, 01:00 PM

What causes cracks like that? Poorly applied?

Mopar_Earl · 03-06-2017, 01:08 PM

I'm not sure. I've seen it before. Maybe contamination when they applied it?? It's not age as it looks new. I've seen sealant that's old, like 5 plus years get cracks which is understandable.

Earl

TxLoser · 03-16-2017, 05:14 PM

Ok guys. New question. On a week long trip now. A few altitude changes and some hot temp. I just went to open my dump camp and had an excrement explosion. Pretty awful. Black handle was all the way in. I did travel some rough roads as well. Does this sounds like a venting issue. Or lack of venting?

oldmanAZ · 03-16-2017, 06:46 PM

Seems like a venting issue to me.

TxLoser · 03-16-2017, 07:02 PM

Am I wasting my time going to the rooftop? Beyond and obvious external blockage is there anything to see?

Cdash · 03-16-2017, 07:21 PM

Are you sure it isn't just a leaky valve and there was enough "stuff" backed up to push it out forcefully?

My valves leak and it seems to be pretty common.

TxLoser · 03-16-2017, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdash

Are you sure it isn't just a leaky valve and there was enough "stuff" backed up to push it out forcefully?

My valves leak and it seems to be pretty common.

Could've been. Pretty bad leak then. The current was the same diameter as the pipe. Like the valve was open. The cap had so much pressure behind it, I cut myself when it finally broke loose. I'm a little worried about the next time I dump.

oldmanAZ · 03-16-2017, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Could've been. Pretty bad leak then. The current was the same diameter as the pipe. Like the valve was open. The cap had so much pressure behind it, I cut myself when it finally broke loose. I'm a little worried about the next time I dump.

You could vent any pressure buildup by CAREFULLY opening the toilet flush a bit (water pressure off). If it still behaves badly when you dump, then you've ruled out pressure problems.

TxLoser · 03-16-2017, 09:00 PM

I'm thinking this is a valve thing. I did flush it once while traveling, so that would've relieved any pressure. I'm wondering if the valve didn't close all the way. Like it was stuck on something. We'll see how the next dump is. Not much I can do besides open the cap very slow and hope for the best.

Brownie · 03-17-2017, 06:33 AM

TxLoser,

I had the same problem with my black tank valve a couple of years ago. Lasted for about a month. I started placing a 2 gallon bucket under the cap before I'd open it, and the "stuff" that would leak into the drain pipe filled it!

This is what I learned:
I was using residential toilet paper, which didn't dissolve easily, and would plug at the valve. I would rock the trailer and rapidly open & close the valve to dislodge it. That opening & closing ended up lodging undissolved paper in the valve gasket's "blade slot" - preventing it from properly sealing. At the recommendation of several (more experienced) owners, I switched to rapid-dissolving RV toilet paper, and after several dumps, the lodged TP finally dissolved and/or worked itself loose. I've stayed with the RV paper, and haven't had a problem since.

In searching for a way to clear the clog, I came across a dryer duct cleaning brush on a long flexible wire handle at Home Depot. You may want to try one, and see if you can scrub the valve with it - either through the toilet, or through the dump outlet. If that won't work, you may have to either take it into your dealer, or just wait for it to dissolve on its own. Best of luck either way.

Mopar_Earl · 03-17-2017, 06:56 AM

Made sure your black tank treatment is labeled to dissolve toilet paper. You don't need to use RV toilet paper. Just use regular that is labeled septic system safe. I use it regular tp and flushable cleansing wipes that are septic safe. I don't have any issues. I do use my black flush. I start flushing before I open the valve to stir the pot and get more water in the tank before dumping. Than I flush till nothing comes out. Than I close the valve and refill the tank and repeat that till nothing comes out. I have a clear elbow to see when the tank stops producing stuff. You can never over flush or over treat your black tank!! Also always keep a little water and treatment in the tank between trips. You never want the tank bone dry. When winterized there will be some antifreeze in the tank.

Earl

Mopar_Earl · 03-17-2017, 06:57 AM

If it's a remote cable valve, the adjustment could be off not letting the valve close all the way.

Earl

Cdash · 03-17-2017, 08:17 AM

Two things I would suggest that others haven't:

Get a twist on gate valve that you can install at the outlet. That should keep things contained and avoid the explosion. The added bonus to this is that you can use it to "equalize" gray tanks if boon docking and get a little more time before needing to dump.

The other thing you could do is replace the cap with one that has a garden hose connection on it. You can relieve the pressure via the garden hose connection.

hankb11 · 03-17-2017, 04:41 PM

I used the twist on gate valve, works great.

TxLoser · 03-17-2017, 08:14 PM

The info here is always impressive. Tomorrow we break camp and head to the next stop. I've got a bucket and gauntlet gloves ready for the impeding storm. Hopefully it was one off event but we'll see. I'll report back tomorrow. Also, I'm definitely looking into that gate valve.

TxLoser · 03-18-2017, 01:15 PM

No major explosion of nastiness today. Just a trickle. Shouldn't even be that, but at least that's all. I realized in my stuff I carry with me I do have one of the waste gates with the hose inlet on it. If there's still some at the next dump, I may leave that on there if it doesn't hang too low. Right before the explosive episode I'd driven down a really bad washboard road(thanks Garmin) maybe it wiggled the valve out some.

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