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Advice Q&A Travel TrailersRV
Advice Q&A Travel Trailers
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Below are questions and answers to RV Advice that
are related to service on travel trailers. You can send your question(s)
using the form at the bottom of all our Q&A pages. We answer ALL email
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This page last updated February 24, 2008 containing letters emailed to Pete from September 24th - December 9th, 2007
I have a 1994 Skyline Nomad 28' travel trailer and have one issue. When a generator 5kw is hooked up to it, the power inverter supplies 15-16 volts to the 12 volt system.
However, the battery is not receiving any charge what so ever. There are three lugs on the circuit board; one blue that is at 15-16 volts, then the ground and battery positive or white, which has only battery voltage. The charger/ inverter is working but no charge.
I have checked all of the connections everywhere and can find no problems. Could I run a lead from the inverter lead to the battery to supply a charge? And, if so, what gauge for a 15 foot run?
Dear Ryan,
Check the fuses on the board. If the red wire coming from the battery to the converter is connected at the board.
The blue wire connected to the board should feed the charge back through the red wire.
Voltage flows to the path of least resistance so the 15-16 volts is going back to the battery instead of the 12 volts running back to the converter.
We have a new Four Seasons travel trailer with two slides outs, 35 foot. When it is cold out, 32 or below, we get a lot of moisture along the roof and wall corners. Creating water to run down our walls. We are using the furnace instead of space heaters and generally maintain an inner temperature of 65 to 70 degrees. Is there a way to lessen this moisture or something we should be doing differently?
How can we reduce the moisture in the camper and in cabinets? Will excessive moisture create any problems with the unit in the future?
Dear Chuck,
I think I would buy a dehumidifier and try some Damp Rid in the cabinet. The moisture has to be damaging. Heat strips in the roof air might help.
I need to replace the slide out motor on my 36' 1996 Fleetwood Wilderness. I can not find a motor or a "how to" page anywhere.
Dear Tracey,
You might have to open up the under belly for access to the motor. It should be simple to replace once you find it.
My 12 volt battery will not charge when the generator is running. All 12 volt items work but when you shut off the generator all the lights go off for about 10 seconds and then come on under 12 volt power.
Sometimes when using just battery power the power goes out for about 5 seconds and then come back on.
Dear Dennis,
Check for loose connection at the battery disconnect solenoid and power converter; and check the battery charge circuit from the power converter.
Where are the slide control relays physically located on my 2003 Holiday Rambler Admiral SE?
Neither of my two slides have power after arriving here in Texas from Michigan, and the ignition safety system is working correctly. Holiday Rambler Tech Support says the relays are in the battery compartment. They are not. I have looked in all the storage compartments and do not find them.
Living with the slides in until I can get to a servicing dealer is a real drag.
Dear Jeffery,
Sorry, I can't help. I would have suspected the electrical compartment.
Holiday is usually pretty good about putting the electronics in one compartment.
I would be checking jacks, etc., that might be affecting the lock out. Usually both relays won't go out at once.
I recently removed my starter from my Holiday Rambler motor home, 454 Chevy, 1982. When I removed the starter it fell, breaking all of the wires to the starter, I hooked back the starter side okay but I do not know where the other four wires go. Can you help me?
Dear Tom,
You have a small purple wire that goes to the start side of the solenoid. The fuse linked wires goes to the main terminal on the solenoid with the battery cable.
We just purchased a 2005 Wildwood 27' travel trailer. We can't find the exterior cable hook up? There is no manual.
Dear Mardi,
There might not be an internal cable TV hookup. Check in the compartment with the shore power cord; look at the external AC receptacle. Sometimes on trailers it's an option.
I have a travel trailer with a 30 amp service. I want to hook it up to a 50 amp service RV spot that does not have 30 amp hook-ups. If I buy an adapter to take care of the plug difference, can I hook it up?
Will it hurt my trailer if I overload it and it wants to trip the 30 amp breaker at the pole but cannot trip the 50 amp breaker?
Dear Darrell,
You can buy the adapter and plug in without damaging the unit. The adapter plug will limit you from getting the full 50 amp service.
But you still need to think about the trailer wiring and appliances and try to prevent overloading the circuit.
Background:
After recently purchasing our 1988 Bigfoot B19 fiberglass trailer, I replaced 95% of the screws around the belly band. There were also a few areas where they had not originally put screws, but where the was a hole for a screw, so I put some screws in, thinking that would help make up for the 5% of rusted screws that I could not remove. The belly band is now thoroughly caulked on with marine grade caulk so it's not like I can easily take it off to remove the screws to see if that solves the problem.
The problem now:
When we plug the trailer into the same grounded GFI outlet that we had used without problem before I replaced the screws, it now trips the outlet. The GFI works just fine with other items (a circular saw, a work light), and it worked just fine with the trailer BEFORE I replaced the screws.
We tried turning off all the breakers and removing all the fuses and still, when we plugged the trailer into the GFI, it tripped.
Could one of the newly installed screws underneath the belly band be causing some short that is tripping the GFI? If so, how can we determine exactly where it is?
We cannot reasonably remove the whole belly band and then remove every screw in order to see if that solves the problem, but if we determine where the problem is, we could maybe remove just the section of the belly band that is encasing any offending screws (if that is in fact the cause). Or, if that is not feasible, could we run new wires to just bypass the short?
How do we isolate and repair this problem? Shall we just call a repairman in on this one?
Dear Val,
Yes, the screws could have penetrated an AC cable. Look at all your outlets and shore power cable entrance and see if you might be able to pin point and make sense why an AC wire might be running in that area.
I have a 2001 travel trailer and when I light the hot water heater the blower or whatever is supposed to kick in didn't. I had a flame coming out the louvers in the door.
What's the problem?
This is an Atwood Model # GC6AA-8P. It worked good the last time we went camping.
Dear Rod,
Sounds like you need to clean the critters out of the burner flu.
My Holiday Rambler Alumascape slide needs to be adjusted. It is a bit off center and does not close tightly. Is there a way to do this without going to the dealer?
Dear Debbie,
Yes, you can contact Holiday's customer service direct for procedures on adjusting the slide out on your particular model.
I have a 1986 Layton camper. When connected to 30 amp power, none of my outlets work. A/C and lights work fine, but no power to the outlets. I checked the breakers, not tripped. Replaced the GFI because I thought that was the problem, but no luck. All 12VDC fuses are fine, but I'm not using 12V anyway. Could I have one bad outlet causing this? There's only 3 total, and I've already replaced the GFI.
Dear Dave,
Check to make sure you have power coming out of the breaker. If you do, you will have to follow the line towards the outlet to find out where the wire is open.
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