We also always tell our rental customers as well as our customers for our RV repairs business to keep the propane valve(s) OFF while in transit for major safety reasons. The refrigerator should be by the same token off since the propane is OFF, why? Because besides that it is very dangerous, the refrigerator's igniter can go out since the "pilot" light keeps getting blown off with the wind.
I was an Army Paratrooper and we followed the same rule. No rings when jumping out an airplane door. You know what happens if the ring gets caught on something near the door.
Later this year, I plan on taking your class(es). What tools should I begin to accumulate that would be needed for these classes? I know about the manometer, but what specialty wrenches/sockets and other hand tools should I look for? Also, I'm guessing I should update to a clamp multimeter. Which brand or features do you recommend? I've been watching for a while, and I've learned plenty. Thanks for the videos. Oh, and keep the outtakes.... they're the best!
Hi I just started watching your tech tip Tuesdays Love them. My comment is about toilet ring repair. My trailer was on an angle and I needed to go to the bathroom,( I fell just a little bit, not bad, sat down hard) Longer story shorter, I broke the ring under the toilet! It was holding on by one screw. I bought the metal fix-it kit and started wondering... why don't they add the metal fixer kit to the ring in the first place. 😮. Is that one of those easy preventive methods that we should think about doing??? I called my son he had the same problem and worked me through the solution.
Hello, I'm registered to start class in February. I can't wait! My question is, if I replaced my two 12volt deep cycles wired in parallel with two 6volt deep cycles wired in series. Will I need to worry about anything with my converter/charger?
I installed the MicroAir Soft Starts on my two ACs mostly to increase the longevity of the ACs, since they don’t require the larger inflow of power to startup every time.
Thank you so much... driving to p/u my new to me 5th Wheel this Saturday... Can't wait to take your Owner's course, will have to wait until next year, this years schedule does not work for me! Learning so much!
For the T&P valve question: the valve should be installed with teflon tape or pipe dope. Both limit the metal to metal contact (the dope being better as it seals against water at the ends).
I have a grand design imagine. I want to put heat blankets on the tanks under the belly. Can I do that myself and can I add insulation in the under the belly Pan to help retain heat? Your tips are helpful, thank you.
Mixed batteries - I would suspect that if you leave the charger set to lead acid it just would not charge the Lithium to it's max charge, nor will it let the Lithium use it's full capacity. Yes, if you charge the Lithium to max charge then install it with a lead acid, you will likely boil the lead acid battery.
The main reason for winterizing is to prevent the water lines from being damaged by freezing weather. Keeping your water lines sanitized and clean would be more important for you.
Regarding the question on the tow/haul, I am reluctant to tow with it turned off. Because on one trip, I was towing at 65mph and without warning I crested a rise on the interstate where you couldn’t see down the highway and there was an accident ahead that had traffic stopping. I was very happy to have the engine brake assist to bring me to a stop. I’ll sacrifice the fuel mileage for the safety. However, my truck seems to move to 6th gear at 65 normally.
So the water pump is the common link between the city water inlet and the tank. The water pump is used as a check valve (it shouldn’t be in my opinion). With the pressure constantly hitting the pump, the baffles inside get overcome. And water then flows from the city water through the water pump and into the holding tank. Get a 1/2” barb fitted check valve and put it on the outlet side of the water pump. Put the arrow of the check valve to go away from the pump. Viola you are done!
I live in Texas. In the summer while towing if you are not supposed to run your propane how do you keep your refrigerator cold while going down the road we do not have an onboard inverter. Our refrigerator is electric or propane
Garret, let's get to the real issues and questions, what is the beard treatment program for Tod's beard. Are we talking oils, beard paste, conditioning treatments? What is the program we need to follow to have a fabulous beard for full time living
I have a 1999 Holiday Rambler motor home. It has 2 house lead acid and 2 chassis AGM batteries. There is a lot of white crud build up around the bottom of the house batteries and inside the battery compartment. This seems to be eating up the metal in the compartment. There is no build up on the terminals. What causes this and what can I do about it?
I think the gentleman asking about the tow/haul button, was actually meaning the o/d off button. The o/d off button will turn off overdrive, preventing the transmission from going into the highest gear. For instance my 2006 Dodge Ram has a 3 speed automatic with 4th gear overdrive.
No, the modern trucks have a tow/haul button. Mine is the end of the automatic transmission selector. This also controls the engine brake, which you definitely need to use when towing.
@@patbullard9276 yeah my truck has the same. But if I hit the button twice, it switches from t/h to o/d off, hit it a third time it turns it off. Not all vehicles are the same!
Great Job Guys. Should I disconnect my batteries on my 5th wheel when in storage? I have LiFePO4 batteries w/ Solar on roof, but I do put a cover on my rig while in storage. I did check my solar controller that connect to my phone via bluetooth. I noticed some charging is taking place with cover on?
if you have the ability to plug your RV into even a 20amp outlet you'll be able to maintain the batteries. if you don't then disconnecting is just fine.
i have learned a ton from you guys - thanks! my question is: do you think motorhome manufacturers will ever install "espar" type heaters that tap into existing fuel tanks instead of the noisy propane heaters just about all RVs come with?
Well they do on class c models. I do expect to see more options to the standard forced air furnace. Just know anytime we make heat it uses a lot of energy.
I’m splicing 6AWG 4 connector wire from the shore power cable onto a new run of same to an inverter. Do I need to put the splice in a junction box? And is an insulated crimp connection acceptable? Thank you..
the second alternator is typically on the "tow package" of the truck. Absolutely it helps. The alternator has to take care of all dc draws in the truck. lights, fan, brakes, battery charge. Any left over watts then go down the cord from the front of the truck to run the lights, brakes, and charging on the RV. Having a second one will help keep the alternators from running at 10-0% and by having two you can get more available power to charge the RV batteries.
Hello, like your work. I have a 2015 Momentum 348M and the kitchen slide doesn't go all the way out on the left side, as you are inside looking at it, it also does not come all the way in on the same side. This is a hydraulic with the rack and pinion to keep sync from left to right. What could be the issue with the alignment? After thinking about how this system works. The side that goes out and in all the way is the same side the hydraulic cylinder is on, I think I have some play in the rack and pinion that is not letting both sides travel equally. What do you think?
I meant to say: replace 1 lead acid with 2 AGM's. We don't do much boon docking, but thought 2 AGM's would be better for BD (or would 1 AGM work for a night, and then driving to another BD sight for another night?). Can I just remove the lead acid, and drop in 1 or 2 AGM's? If 2 AGM's, in series OR parallel? Not sure if my MH has an inverter, probably does (I don't know a lot about RV batteries and RV electricity). In other words what has to be done to set up 1 or 2 AGM's properly? I exercise my MH running the generator with a portable heater going once a month in the winter, if I turn off the battery disconnect to off in between these exercises, does that work with an AGM?
I have a life safety question. Can you discuss outside lighting around your rig and the benefits of having good area lighting? It would suck to trip over a fire pit and bash my head in the dark. Thanks for any suggestions. 👀
You need to think about your neighbors if you are going to have outside lighting on your rig at night. Many people go camping to get away from the noise and bright lights of the city.
You still open to questions? I plan to do some boondocking. Am I better with two 6 Volt batteries wired in series or two 12 Volt batteries wired in parallel?
Tow haul when you should bump to 6th is such a lost debate because what most people think about is purely rpm but the fuel rate mm3 on modern diesels sometimes youll actually get worse mileage bumping to 6th versus holding 5th. had this debate with my dad many times complaining about how long it holds prior to shifting into final gear towing. Data logging i've proved to him higher rpm but lower mm3 actually burned less fuel. while its true diesels love low rpms for torque there is also lugging it that can often happen on flat ground by running higher gear lower speed.
I have a 2017 Freedom Express 192RBS and a 2017 Ram 1500. Driving down the road truck will say check trailer brake wiring & trailer brake disconnected, then resets. Most of the time the trailer brakes works. Had it checked out at an RV shop. They said it was the truck. Truck dealer said it was the camper. I have changed 7 pin connector plug to camper. RV shop changed circuit breaker going to the brake away switch. I cleaned all the connections to the brake away and got that working. I found a cable clamp too tight on the 7 pin cable and cut the bad part of the wire out and put on a better clamp. I have also checked all the connections in the box the 7 pin cable goes too. Error messages don't happen as often, but still does it. Please help with ideas. Thanks, Jim Miller
I have seen this too but on Ford trucks. I would suggest to do what you have done. That being said, if you have done that and It appears to be a common (or too common for our liking) then there is something else that needs to be looked at. Is the size of the cable sufficient to handle all the load demands? Is there too much resistance, is the circuitry that is making the error code sufficient? Unfortunately I think it will be something the manufacturers will quietly fix.
The Soft Start is a device designed to gradually regulate the power demand required to start your RV's air conditioner compressor. It helps to reduce startup power demand by up to 70%. Incorporating a Soft Start device is a fantastic idea if you intend to start your AC on generators, weak shore circuits or inverters. It will not only allow you to get it started, but also help reduce stress on the AC components and the equipment running it.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy thank you so much! That makes a lot of sense. I have a GCFI that wont reset even after replacing the outlet. Every load outlet on half my RV also isn't working (this is the project that led me to yall) Until it's fixed, I'm running a window unit connected to a way-too-long extension cord. When I turn it on straight to cold, i can hear a sizzle! The plug head is starting to overheat and deform. Intuitively I started turning it on in the fan mode, then A/C. Ta-Daaaa! No scary noise so that's fixed in my book! I love y'alls videos, how they are straight to the point, and so well explained someone like me with no prior mechanical, automobile, electrical or even camping experience can follow along. You're doing the Lord's work here guys!
I went to an rv park this weekend and a tree right at the entrance of the park, literally overhanging the guard shack ripped my roof membrane and tore off my awnings on my brand new rv as I entered the park. There were no signs or warnings. The manager of the park won’t return my calls. I’m curious if I can sue.
Love your videos! 2 questions: I am planning on putting in a 480 ah lithium batterie and a 4000 watt inverter into my camper. 1) is a 4000 watt inverter too much for a 480 ah battery to handle. 2) To avoid all the work involved in wiring the inverter directly to the breaker box and having to put in a switch box is there any issues with me wiring the inverter to a 30amp outlet and using my standard 30amp cord to plug from the outlet to the camper?
So the size of the inverter is only part of the equation. What’s the demand? 30amp rv or 50? 30 amp under full demand will try to pull about 300amps /hr from the batteries. So the question is how many batteries do you have in your battery bank and what’s their continuous discharge limit each? If they can handle your demand then you are good.
More on batteries. How can The Kodiak Solar Generator be able to attached to a lead acid? It has both a + and - terminal on the side. I believe it is a lithium. Did they do something special to make it work?
So I do not have one but I did look into their offerings. Battery Expansion: Yes - accepts any 12V lead acid or AGM deep cycle battery shopsolarkits.com/products/kodiak-solar-generator?variant=16221145432175&c1=GAW&source=prospecting&cr2=search__-us-__dsa&kw=all_pages&cr5=559292523089&cr7=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71AcnIrWNuLUAQ68FhNyqPlMZ6jW9FakixjCxdrU9lq-B04DSB0Pr18aAsR5EALw_wcB
So the membrane on a slide should remain smooth as the blade seal runs across it. First and best option is to simply replace the entire membrane on the slide out. If that is not a great option then next would be to use something like eternabond tape over the tear. Make sure to roll the tape with good pressure. The tape is pressure activated. After you roll it on and press it in, get some lap seal and seal the sides of the tape with the sealant.
I replaced my plastic hot water plug on my Atwood Water Heater this past Spring with a brass plug with a knob so I could easily drain the water heater. Based on what Todd said in this video, I should put the plastic plug back. Am I understanding this correctly?
Yes. The plastic plug is a safety feature. It acts as a backup to the pressure relief valve. If the relief valve doesn't relieve pressure should the heater overheat the plastic plug will blow out so the aluminum tank won't explode.
Q&A: I have a 2016 Dutchmen Kodiak Ultimate Ultra-Lite 295TBHS, I believe the electric Hitch is LCI, The 30 amp fuse burns whenever the hitch is fully extended, or fully retracted, why does this happen? How can I fix it? Thank you.
I want to put the micro start on. Cant get a real good answer for climbing on the roof. Have a Somerset e3 pup, with the rolled metal roof. I there a trick?
It's not hard. It just needs extra hands. All kidding aside, the biggest thing to be aware of is there's a pin that goes into the barrel of the awning. it stops the internal springs from retracting. every brand is a bit different but you'll want to make sure there is something in there or it'll be like a nasty mouse trap on your hands. other then that it's pretty straight forward, you just need a lot of room on the front or the rear to slide it out. and make sure its as straight to the rails as possible. Not a hard fix, just something that takes a few people helping and a lot of space.
I have two questions. #1- If you change out acid batteries with Lithium batteries, do you have to change the Inverter too? And #2 - If you use a space heater, can you use any plug outlet in the RV or should you have one wired special for the space heater?
Space heater: safe as long as you plug it directly into the wall outlet and never in a power strip. Space heaters consume upwards of 1500 watts. The circuit you are plugging into is limited to 1800 watts., but the problem is; in an rv you have up to 4-5 outlets on the same circuit. Lithium battery swap, yes you would want to change the converter/charger to one that can handle the voltage requirements if a lithium battery.
I would test your fridge to see how long it takes to get to an undesirable temp. Next I would put dairy and meats in the freezer. Drinks condiments and produce do not need to be below 40 to be safe. Another option is to pre-freeze a water bottle and stick it in the fridge before departing. Heat runs to cold so the warmth in the fridge will go to the frozen bottle(s)
After 3days my black tank gets ripe. Flush with black water flush fill flush drain. This is repeated until it’s clear We use the powder unique one scoop. Then it smells okay again. Are we cleaning the tank and getting rid of the good bacteria?
Well yes but we must dump. As long as you keep the tank hydrated. Now regarding the smell, Unique makes a tank deodorant you can add. You should use that in the summer months.
You mentioned putting a “inline filter” between the air compressor and the freshwater lines while blowing them out for winterizing. What filter do you guys recommend??
You can get a plastic inline filter from big box stores, auto parts stores. It will have female threads on both ends, just install your male / female fittings, hook up your air lines and your set. These will trap water caused from the compression of air and any oil that goes through the compressor. Not expensive, not hard to do. Then your ready to go.
A quick question about a/c soft start, I understand it’s better for the compressor but how does it benefit the batteries? Does it take less amps to start therefore taking less energy from the batteries or is it the same amount of amps over a longer period and no real benefit to batteries? How does drawing out the startup help save your batteries?
So if we are talking softstarts and batteries then we are also talking inverters. The inverter takes the dc and changes it to ac. The air conditioner has a capacitor that burst energy very fast and puts a strain on the inverter to quickly make the change at abd above the full load capabilities of the inverter. Inverters are equipped to try to handle capacitive loads but this definitely over works them and will wear them down far quicker.
Great Videos Love the 2min tech tips and all your other appearances. One comment of concern regarding the person who provided a question stating hot skin occurs on RV when running his water heater on electric. I would think the first thig to look at is the RV ground. If there is a Hot skin then doesn't that automatically imply bad ground? It does sound to me like the water heater electric element is bad and energizing the skin but it seems like if he had a good ground he would get a breaker trip rather than a hot skin. What are your thoughts on that? I learn a lot from your videos and really appreciate the effort you guys put in to make them so engaging and funny. Take care, Chuck
in short. No so in the RV we have a sub-panel. The difference between a master panel and a sub panel is the separation of the neutral from the ground. because this is not a true ground we do NOT want to bond the neutral to the ground as the chassis would become energized. The ground is ONLY bonded to the neutral back at the master panel. Not even RV pedestals are bonded. This protects the human from becoming a shortcut. As you know if you bond the neutral and ground which makes the ground energized the path back to the master panel is far further. As electrons prefer the path of least resistance they are not all-knowing. They prefer the shortest path but they will fill all paths. If you then come by the rig and create a shorter path to the ground then you become the conductor. The way the NFPA and NEC state it: the ground is isolated from the neutral so we don't get these possibilities of becoming the shortcut. Now as electricity goes if there is NO path back to the ground then yes the ground will become energized. The path back is the master panel in the RV park, house, place of business. not the frame or skin.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy So are you saying that the skin of the rv is not normally connected via cord to the ground at the master panel and is normally floating? I'm not that familiar with RV power cord and sub panel wiring but very familiar with master and sub panel grounding. I just assumed that the rv skin should be electrically tied to the system ground but I think you are saying that is not the case. Thank you for replying by the way. I really appreciate it.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy So then if the skin ground is connected back to master wouldn't that prevent hot skin if something shorted like a heating element? Instead of hot skin your breaker should trip. Is that correct or am I missing something? Thank you !!
Question about travel trailer refrigerator, the small dorm room style fridge. Can I leave it on while traveling? I saw somewhere that the fridge should be level while operating.
The simple answer is nothing. Though you won’t get the full lithium performance. You will need to get a lithium converter / charger to maximize your lithium performance. We will ask Todd for sure!! Edited by Todd: I do not subscribe to the answer as a matter of fact this is incorrect. Lithium batteries need a higher voltage to charge properly. A standard converter will only produce 13.6v in absorption and has a preset time of charge in bulk. Lithium batteries have internal circuits and logic that will cell balance once they are fully charged. When you only halfway charge a lithium battery at 13.6 you lose this feature and protection of the lithium cells inside. Please add or change out the converter for a lithium capable charger. I will get with the staff, pop them in the head to give the right answer next time. ;)
If I replace my propane refrigerator with a 12-volt refrigerator for my travel trailer, can I leave it on while I'm towing. Will my truck be enough to keep it running?
Before leaving your 12-volt refrigerator on while towing, it's important to ensure that your truck's electrical system can handle the increased power consumption. It is recommended that you check your truck's electrical system thoroughly to ensure that it can handle the power requirements of the refrigerator.
My new Grand Design has a 165 watt solar charger and 25 amp charge controller standard. What's the best way to test the parasitic draw from the battery? I want to make sure the charger can keep up with the draw so I don't have to take my battery out on a maintainer in the winter.
get a multimeter with a DC amp clamp. Turn off all loads on the DC side you can. Then simply put the amp clamp (set to DC amps) around 1 of the battery cables and simply read the "parasitic" draw.
get a multimeter with a DC amp clamp. Turn off all loads on the DC side you can. Then simply put the amp clamp (set to DC amps) around 1 of the battery cables and simply read the "parasitic" draw.
Question about water heaters.. I have a Fleetwood Southwind Storm 35 ft.. My water heater works fine with electric but not at all with propane.. How would I diagnose it.. Thx
Your ears and nose will be the first tools you use in diagnosing. Go out to the water heater and listen as someone inside switches the water heater to gas. Now the water temp needs to be cold enough for the water heater board to call for heat. Listen and smell during the ignition process. Do you smell propane and do you hear the igmighter ?
I do not like this. I have seen too many tanks fall out. Now these tanks I am talking about are set below the frame. If the tank is above the frame then sure you can drive with full tanks.
I have a question. I have a 3000 watt victron inverter with 400 amps of lithium batteries. Would you still recommend a soft start? I have no problem running one air cond with or without a 2200 watt generator on startup. Thanks you for your channel
Great videos. Great team work also. Hey, We have a Grand Design fifth wheel with 2 axles. Each year I grease the wheel bearings and spring wet bolts. Use bottle jacks under the I-beam frame. Two questions: 1) Jack under the frame is best correct? 2) Which type of wheel bearing grease is best? High temp , Tacky ?? Appreciate your help
Best grease? New over old. The rest is just a personal preference. Absolutely the bottle Jack under the frame is the best position. Followed up by some jack stands.
I have a 2003 Winnebago Itasca suncruzer and I'm having a problem with only 2 overhead lights inside the RV they seem to only wanna work work periodically, something must be loose and we think it's the neutral not grounded right we can't find that wire to check....we looked behind control panel it's not there. We checked buss bar not there...do you have any ideas?
Who drinks the water in their house? If you use it regularly and sanitize annually or semi-annually, and your water source is safe, why wouldn't you drink it? Think of all the people on well water witht their pressure tanks. How many of them do you think sanitize that pressure tank? To expand on your "Do you brush your teeth," question. How often do you sanitize your toothbrush? Or do you just run it under cold water for a couple seconds before you put toothpaste on it? After it's been sitting in your e-coli breeding room overnight....
i have a 2018 Coachmen Freelander 21 RS with one lead acid battery. If I replace the lead acid with 2 lithiums, is there anything else that has to be done, like with the inverter, or is it just a swap out?
I would suggest getting an inverter/charger combo. Almost all new inverter/charger combos will be able to charge any current type of battery chemistry.... lead acid or lithium.
I have to disagree. There is a purpose to a soft-start in an RV park. If you only have a 30a unit and two AC units. 30a is enough to run both units, just not enough to start the compressor due to that spike of amps used. If you had soft starts you can run both units. That said, do you really want to pay for the soft start over the life of your RV loan?
Question gents, is there a way to increase the fresh water pressure coming from the on board 12volt water pump. My hot water heater is kicking on and off from the pressure getting too low between pump cycles. Any suggestions? Thank you!
@@The_Budleys OK Girard needs .32 gallons of flow per minute. The RV water pump produces either 3gallons or 5 gallons per minute when properly functioning. Do you notice a substantially low water pressure when using your water pump on the cold water side? is it at only 1 faucet/shower or all? Lastly you should be able to adjust the temp on the water heater. When you mix cold water with the tankless insta hots you slow down the potential flow to the hot water side. Try using less cold water in the mix by lowering the output temp of the GIrard.
That did it gentlemen. Using less cold water in combination with lowering the Girard output temperature gave us consistent hot water in the shower. Thank you for the excellent advice and all the information you share with us. It is very much appreciated!
I enjoy your videos, especially your humor. Just one bit of advice from a fellow Texan…stick to RV’s. You seem to be misinformed when it comes to trucks. My Ram Cummins will reliably out-tow anything else on the road. I know, cause I’ve driven everything else on the road. 😆 Love you guys!
When the frame of your trailer is energized by the “hot” 120v wire from you power source. Eventually making the whole trailer, the “skin”, energized or “hot”.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
We also always tell our rental customers as well as our customers for our RV repairs business to keep the propane valve(s) OFF while in transit for major safety reasons. The refrigerator should be by the same token off since the propane is OFF, why? Because besides that it is very dangerous, the refrigerator's igniter can go out since the "pilot" light keeps getting blown off with the wind.
absolutely.
Use Rector seal sealer for any inferior metal combinations and problem solved.
I was an Army Paratrooper and we followed the same rule. No rings when jumping out an airplane door. You know what happens if the ring gets caught on something near the door.
Ouch. Silicone rings are great.
I have one too. Don’t jump out of airplane doors. 😮
Later this year, I plan on taking your class(es). What tools should I begin to accumulate that would be needed for these classes? I know about the manometer, but what specialty wrenches/sockets and other hand tools should I look for? Also, I'm guessing I should update to a clamp multimeter. Which brand or features do you recommend? I've been watching for a while, and I've learned plenty. Thanks for the videos. Oh, and keep the outtakes.... they're the best!
Hi I just started watching your tech tip Tuesdays Love them.
My comment is about toilet ring repair. My trailer was on an angle and I needed to go to the bathroom,( I fell just a little bit, not bad, sat down hard) Longer story shorter, I broke the ring under the toilet! It was holding on by one screw. I bought the metal fix-it kit and started wondering... why don't they add the metal fixer kit to the ring in the first place. 😮. Is that one of those easy preventive methods that we should think about doing??? I called my son he had the same problem and worked me through the solution.
Hello, I'm registered to start class in February. I can't wait! My question is, if I replaced my two 12volt deep cycles wired in parallel with two 6volt deep cycles wired in series. Will I need to worry about anything with my converter/charger?
I installed the MicroAir Soft Starts on my two ACs mostly to increase the longevity of the ACs, since they don’t require the larger inflow of power to startup every time.
Thank you so much... driving to p/u my new to me 5th Wheel this Saturday... Can't wait to take your Owner's course, will have to wait until next year, this years schedule does not work for me! Learning so much!
We look forward to having you here!!
For the T&P valve question: the valve should be installed with teflon tape or pipe dope. Both limit the metal to metal contact (the dope being better as it seals against water at the ends).
Great video GUYs , LMBO, y’all are both crazy, Love the show !
Could you do a video on water pump fluctuating?
I have a grand design imagine. I want to put heat blankets on the tanks under the belly. Can I do that myself and can I add insulation in the under the belly Pan to help retain heat? Your tips are helpful, thank you.
The bloopers are the best. :)
If you use your cruise control with tow haul on it will let computer communicate with transmission and use your overdrive.
Mixed batteries - I would suspect that if you leave the charger set to lead acid it just would not charge the Lithium to it's max charge, nor will it let the Lithium use it's full capacity. Yes, if you charge the Lithium to max charge then install it with a lead acid, you will likely boil the lead acid battery.
I love tech tip Tuesdays.
Great show-Just love the Q&A 😃🚌🇺🇸
Living in Florida, is it even necessary to "winterize" or just drain the water between uses?
The main reason for winterizing is to prevent the water lines from being damaged by freezing weather. Keeping your water lines sanitized and clean would be more important for you.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Thanks, something I can handle when I get an rv.
Regarding the question on the tow/haul, I am reluctant to tow with it turned off. Because on one trip, I was towing at 65mph and without warning I crested a rise on the interstate where you couldn’t see down the highway and there was an accident ahead that had traffic stopping. I was very happy to have the engine brake assist to bring me to a stop. I’ll sacrifice the fuel mileage for the safety. However, my truck seems to move to 6th gear at 65 normally.
you guys are fantastic...thanks!!!
Thank you. You are awesome.
Wow! I really enjoyed this question/answer video and would like to see more!!
What are your thoughts on retroband for your steer tires ?
I have a question about weight management is it better to load up the toad or leave the weight in the RV
What causes water to flow out of a gravity fed freshwater tank (no check valve at the inlet.) when the city water is running?
So the water pump is the common link between the city water inlet and the tank. The water pump is used as a check valve (it shouldn’t be in my opinion). With the pressure constantly hitting the pump, the baffles inside get overcome. And water then flows from the city water through the water pump and into the holding tank.
Get a 1/2” barb fitted check valve and put it on the outlet side of the water pump. Put the arrow of the check valve to go away from the pump. Viola you are done!
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Thank you very much.
Great video, the new editor is making them funnier too.
Does the soft start help in the longer life of the AC.
Do you need a surge protector with a generator?
Where is the best place to get a 12volt table lamp??
I live in Texas. In the summer while towing if you are not supposed to run your propane how do you keep your refrigerator cold while going down the road we do not have an onboard inverter. Our refrigerator is electric or propane
Garret, let's get to the real issues and questions, what is the beard treatment program for Tod's beard. Are we talking oils, beard paste, conditioning treatments? What is the program we need to follow to have a fabulous beard for full time living
I have a 1999 Holiday Rambler motor home. It has 2 house lead acid and 2 chassis AGM batteries. There is a lot of white crud build up around the bottom of the house batteries and inside the battery compartment. This seems to be eating up the metal in the compartment. There is no build up on the terminals. What causes this and what can I do about it?
Todd your so smart and are such a great teacher!! Thank you!
I think the gentleman asking about the tow/haul button, was actually meaning the o/d off button. The o/d off button will turn off overdrive, preventing the transmission from going into the highest gear. For instance my 2006 Dodge Ram has a 3 speed automatic with 4th gear overdrive.
No, the modern trucks have a tow/haul button. Mine is the end of the automatic transmission selector. This also controls the engine brake, which you definitely need to use when towing.
@@patbullard9276 yeah my truck has the same. But if I hit the button twice, it switches from t/h to o/d off, hit it a third time it turns it off. Not all vehicles are the same!
@@TheFiremanJoe Gotcha, I’ve never seen that before.
Would agm be considered like lead acid?
Great Job Guys. Should I disconnect my batteries on my 5th wheel when in storage? I have LiFePO4 batteries w/ Solar on roof, but I do put a cover on my rig while in storage. I did check my solar controller that connect to my phone via bluetooth. I noticed some charging is taking place with cover on?
if you have the ability to plug your RV into even a 20amp outlet you'll be able to maintain the batteries. if you don't then disconnecting is just fine.
i have learned a ton from you guys - thanks! my question is: do you think motorhome manufacturers will ever install "espar" type heaters that tap into existing fuel tanks instead of the noisy propane heaters just about all RVs come with?
Well they do on class c models. I do expect to see more options to the standard forced air furnace. Just know anytime we make heat it uses a lot of energy.
I’m splicing 6AWG 4 connector wire from the shore power cable onto a new run of same to an inverter. Do I need to put the splice in a junction box? And is an insulated crimp connection acceptable? Thank you..
My Brookstone has two switches for the tank heaters. What tanks are being heated? I assume the fresh water, is it heating the sewage tanks as well?
You guys are great
Thanks.
Truck alternator question. I know some manufacturers offer dual alternators. Is there any benefit to having that second alternator?
the second alternator is typically on the "tow package" of the truck. Absolutely it helps. The alternator has to take care of all dc draws in the truck. lights, fan, brakes, battery charge. Any left over watts then go down the cord from the front of the truck to run the lights, brakes, and charging on the RV. Having a second one will help keep the alternators from running at 10-0% and by having two you can get more available power to charge the RV batteries.
Great show! Good information!
how far ahead do I have to plan to take a class? Do the classes fill up fast?
Hello, like your work. I have a 2015 Momentum 348M and the kitchen slide doesn't go all the way out on the left side, as you are inside looking at it, it also does not come all the way in on the same side. This is a hydraulic with the rack and pinion to keep sync from left to right. What could be the issue with the alignment? After thinking about how this system works. The side that goes out and in all the way is the same side the hydraulic cylinder is on, I think I have some play in the rack and pinion that is not letting both sides travel equally. What do you think?
I meant to say: replace 1 lead acid with 2 AGM's. We don't do much boon docking, but thought 2 AGM's would be better for BD (or would 1 AGM work for a night, and then driving to another BD sight for another night?). Can I just remove the lead acid, and drop in 1 or 2 AGM's? If 2 AGM's, in series OR parallel? Not sure if my MH has an inverter, probably does (I don't know a lot about RV batteries and RV electricity). In other words what has to be done to set up 1 or 2 AGM's properly? I exercise my MH running the generator with a portable heater going once a month in the winter, if I turn off the battery disconnect to off in between these exercises, does that work with an AGM?
Is it ok to leave the travel trailer battery outside all winter (Indiana) if it is on a maintainer.
You referred to the NFPA. What is it?
The national fire protection association. They produce the standards by which we go by for fire safety.
The NEC is by the NFPA. NFPA 101 covers many life/saftey issues beyond fire.
I have a life safety question. Can you discuss outside lighting around your rig and the benefits of having good area lighting? It would suck to trip over a fire pit and bash my head in the dark.
Thanks for any suggestions. 👀
Where was this tip yesterday????
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy …😜 I want to see this question answered by Todd on next Tuesdays video. 😂😂😂😂
You need to think about your neighbors if you are going to have outside lighting on your rig at night. Many people go camping to get away from the noise and bright lights of the city.
@@johnnylightning1491 I was just kidding around with Todd.
@@SaltyVetAdventures Got cha.
You still open to questions? I plan to do some boondocking. Am I better with two 6 Volt batteries wired in series or two 12 Volt batteries wired in parallel?
absolutely. Thanks for asking.
Tow haul when you should bump to 6th is such a lost debate because what most people think about is purely rpm but the fuel rate mm3 on modern diesels sometimes youll actually get worse mileage bumping to 6th versus holding 5th. had this debate with my dad many times complaining about how long it holds prior to shifting into final gear towing. Data logging i've proved to him higher rpm but lower mm3 actually burned less fuel. while its true diesels love low rpms for torque there is also lugging it that can often happen on flat ground by running higher gear lower speed.
When using air to blow out your water lines, is there water left in the water pump? also what about the recirculating lines.
Love the videos
thanks.
I have a 2017 Freedom Express 192RBS and a 2017 Ram 1500. Driving down the road truck will say check trailer brake wiring & trailer brake disconnected, then resets. Most of the time the trailer brakes works. Had it checked out at an RV shop. They said it was the truck. Truck dealer said it was the camper. I have changed 7 pin connector plug to camper. RV shop changed circuit breaker going to the brake away switch. I cleaned all the connections to the brake away and got that working. I found a cable clamp too tight on the 7 pin cable and cut the bad part of the wire out and put on a better clamp. I have also checked all the connections in the box the 7 pin cable goes too. Error messages don't happen as often, but still does it. Please help with ideas.
Thanks,
Jim Miller
I have seen this too but on Ford trucks. I would suggest to do what you have done. That being said, if you have done that and It appears to be a common (or too common for our liking) then there is something else that needs to be looked at.
Is the size of the cable sufficient to handle all the load demands? Is there too much resistance, is the circuitry that is making the error code sufficient?
Unfortunately I think it will be something the manufacturers will quietly fix.
What's soft start ac units?
The Soft Start is a device designed to gradually regulate the power demand required to start your RV's air conditioner compressor. It helps to reduce startup power demand by up to 70%. Incorporating a Soft Start device is a fantastic idea if you intend to start your AC on generators, weak shore circuits or inverters. It will not only allow you to get it started, but also help reduce stress on the AC components and the equipment running it.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy thank you so much! That makes a lot of sense. I have a GCFI that wont reset even after replacing the outlet. Every load outlet on half my RV also isn't working (this is the project that led me to yall) Until it's fixed, I'm running a window unit connected to a way-too-long extension cord. When I turn it on straight to cold, i can hear a sizzle! The plug head is starting to overheat and deform. Intuitively I started turning it on in the fan mode, then A/C. Ta-Daaaa! No scary noise so that's fixed in my book!
I love y'alls videos, how they are straight to the point, and so well explained someone like me with no prior mechanical, automobile, electrical or even camping experience can follow along.
You're doing the Lord's work here guys!
I went to an rv park this weekend and a tree right at the entrance of the park, literally overhanging the guard shack ripped my roof membrane and tore off my awnings on my brand new rv as I entered the park. There were no signs or warnings. The manager of the park won’t return my calls. I’m curious if I can sue.
Love your videos! 2 questions: I am planning on putting in a 480 ah lithium batterie and a 4000 watt inverter into my camper. 1) is a 4000 watt inverter too much for a 480 ah battery to handle. 2) To avoid all the work involved in wiring the inverter directly to the breaker box and having to put in a switch box is there any issues with me wiring the inverter to a 30amp outlet and using my standard 30amp cord to plug from the outlet to the camper?
So the size of the inverter is only part of the equation. What’s the demand? 30amp rv or 50?
30 amp under full demand will try to pull about 300amps /hr from the batteries.
So the question is how many batteries do you have in your battery bank and what’s their continuous discharge limit each? If they can handle your demand then you are good.
excellent vid...
More on batteries. How can The Kodiak Solar Generator be able to attached to a lead acid? It has both a + and - terminal on the side. I believe it is a lithium. Did they do something special to make it work?
So I do not have one but I did look into their offerings.
Battery Expansion: Yes - accepts any 12V lead acid or AGM deep cycle battery
shopsolarkits.com/products/kodiak-solar-generator?variant=16221145432175&c1=GAW&source=prospecting&cr2=search__-us-__dsa&kw=all_pages&cr5=559292523089&cr7=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71AcnIrWNuLUAQ68FhNyqPlMZ6jW9FakixjCxdrU9lq-B04DSB0Pr18aAsR5EALw_wcB
Great show guys. What’s the best way to patch a rubber roof on my slides
So the membrane on a slide should remain smooth as the blade seal runs across it. First and best option is to simply replace the entire membrane on the slide out.
If that is not a great option then next would be to use something like eternabond tape over the tear. Make sure to roll the tape with good pressure. The tape is pressure activated. After you roll it on and press it in, get some lap seal and seal the sides of the tape with the sealant.
Thanks for all the great info. I am full timing in place with very hard water supply. Is there a way to descale the RV plumbing?
Great question.
I have 2 Sun power lithium battery’s 100 ah, can I put a battle born ( heated) if 1 get a 100 ah ? Definition of like battery’s ?
I replaced my plastic hot water plug on my Atwood Water Heater this past Spring with a brass plug with a knob so I could easily drain the water heater. Based on what Todd said in this video, I should put the plastic plug back. Am I understanding this correctly?
Yes. The plastic plug is a safety feature. It acts as a backup to the pressure relief valve. If the relief valve doesn't relieve pressure should the heater overheat the plastic plug will blow out so the aluminum tank won't explode.
Q&A: I have a 2016 Dutchmen Kodiak Ultimate Ultra-Lite 295TBHS, I believe the electric Hitch is LCI, The 30 amp fuse burns whenever the hitch is fully extended, or fully retracted, why does this happen? How can I fix it? Thank you.
I would suggest contacting a certified RV Tech. You can find one at RVTAA.org/locate .
I want to put the micro start on. Cant get a real good answer for climbing on the roof. Have a Somerset e3 pup, with the rolled metal roof. I there a trick?
We will ask Todd.
Any tips on replacing my awning I watched tons of different videos doesn't seem hard just need extra hands
It's not hard. It just needs extra hands. All kidding aside, the biggest thing to be aware of is there's a pin that goes into the barrel of the awning. it stops the internal springs from retracting. every brand is a bit different but you'll want to make sure there is something in there or it'll be like a nasty mouse trap on your hands. other then that it's pretty straight forward, you just need a lot of room on the front or the rear to slide it out. and make sure its as straight to the rails as possible. Not a hard fix, just something that takes a few people helping and a lot of space.
I have two questions. #1- If you change out acid batteries with Lithium batteries, do you have to change the Inverter too? And #2 - If you use a space heater, can you use any plug outlet in the RV or should you have one wired special for the space heater?
Space heater: safe as long as you plug it directly into the wall outlet and never in a power strip.
Space heaters consume upwards of 1500 watts. The circuit you are plugging into is limited to 1800 watts., but the problem is; in an rv you have up to 4-5 outlets on the same circuit.
Lithium battery swap, yes you would want to change the converter/charger to one that can handle the voltage requirements if a lithium battery.
Did we ever find out if the soft starts for the AC will void the warranty?
We posted a tech tip on this very topic. Microair’s double warranty
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy thank you so much
What’s the recommended way to keep food cold when traveling if your refrigerator is either shore power or propane? Great tech tip Tuesdays.
I would test your fridge to see how long it takes to get to an undesirable temp. Next I would put dairy and meats in the freezer. Drinks condiments and produce do not need to be below 40 to be safe.
Another option is to pre-freeze a water bottle and stick it in the fridge before departing. Heat runs to cold so the warmth in the fridge will go to the frozen bottle(s)
Tow Haul mode in a Class C? Since a Class C is basically always hauling, should I always set my transmission in Tow Haul mode all the time?
Are you noticing it having a hard time getting up to speed? If so, try it. If not, I wouldn’t worry about it.
After 3days my black tank gets ripe. Flush with black water flush fill flush drain. This is repeated until it’s clear We use the powder unique one scoop. Then it smells okay again. Are we cleaning the tank and getting rid of the good bacteria?
Well yes but we must dump. As long as you keep the tank hydrated. Now regarding the smell, Unique makes a tank deodorant you can add. You should use that in the summer months.
You mentioned putting a “inline filter” between the air compressor and the freshwater lines while blowing them out for winterizing. What filter do you guys recommend??
You can get a plastic inline filter from big box stores, auto parts stores. It will have female threads on both ends, just install your male / female fittings, hook up your air lines and your set. These will trap water caused from the compression of air and any oil that goes through the compressor.
Not expensive, not hard to do. Then your ready to go.
A quick question about a/c soft start, I understand it’s better for the compressor but how does it benefit the batteries? Does it take less amps to start therefore taking less energy from the batteries or is it the same amount of amps over a longer period and no real benefit to batteries? How does drawing out the startup help save your batteries?
So if we are talking softstarts and batteries then we are also talking inverters. The inverter takes the dc and changes it to ac. The air conditioner has a capacitor that burst energy very fast and puts a strain on the inverter to quickly make the change at abd above the full load capabilities of the inverter.
Inverters are equipped to try to handle capacitive loads but this definitely over works them and will wear them down far quicker.
Great Videos Love the 2min tech tips and all your other appearances.
One comment of concern regarding the person who provided a question stating hot skin occurs on RV when running his water heater on electric. I would think the first thig to look at is the RV ground. If there is a Hot skin then doesn't that automatically imply bad ground? It does sound to me like the water heater electric element is bad and energizing the skin but it seems like if he had a good ground he would get a breaker trip rather than a hot skin. What are your thoughts on that?
I learn a lot from your videos and really appreciate the effort you guys put in to make them so engaging and funny.
Take care,
Chuck
in short. No so in the RV we have a sub-panel. The difference between a master panel and a sub panel is the separation of the neutral from the ground. because this is not a true ground we do NOT want to bond the neutral to the ground as the chassis would become energized. The ground is ONLY bonded to the neutral back at the master panel. Not even RV pedestals are bonded.
This protects the human from becoming a shortcut. As you know if you bond the neutral and ground which makes the ground energized the path back to the master panel is far further. As electrons prefer the path of least resistance they are not all-knowing. They prefer the shortest path but they will fill all paths. If you then come by the rig and create a shorter path to the ground then you become the conductor.
The way the NFPA and NEC state it: the ground is isolated from the neutral so we don't get these possibilities of becoming the shortcut.
Now as electricity goes if there is NO path back to the ground then yes the ground will become energized. The path back is the master panel in the RV park, house, place of business. not the frame or skin.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy
So are you saying that the skin of the rv is not normally connected via cord to the ground at the master panel and is normally floating? I'm not that familiar with RV power cord and sub panel wiring but very familiar with master and sub panel grounding.
I just assumed that the rv skin should be electrically tied to the system ground but I think you are saying that is not the case.
Thank you for replying by the way. I really appreciate it.
@@chucklane1338 no I didn’t say that. if wired properly it is connected. Recall I said it’s a long path back to the master.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy
So then if the skin ground is connected back to master wouldn't that prevent hot skin if something shorted like a heating element? Instead of hot skin your breaker should trip. Is that correct or am I missing something?
Thank you !!
Question about travel trailer refrigerator, the small dorm room style fridge. Can I leave it on while traveling? I saw somewhere that the fridge should be level while operating.
What do I need to do to convert from lead acid to lithium?
The simple answer is nothing. Though you won’t get the full lithium performance. You will need to get a lithium converter / charger to maximize your lithium performance. We will ask Todd for sure!!
Edited by Todd:
I do not subscribe to the answer as a matter of fact this is incorrect. Lithium batteries need a higher voltage to charge properly. A standard converter will only produce 13.6v in absorption and has a preset time of charge in bulk.
Lithium batteries have internal circuits and logic that will cell balance once they are fully charged. When you only halfway charge a lithium battery at 13.6 you lose this feature and protection of the lithium cells inside.
Please add or change out the converter for a lithium capable charger.
I will get with the staff, pop them in the head to give the right answer next time. ;)
FYI, I currently have a SOLARFLEX 200
If I replace my propane refrigerator with a 12-volt refrigerator for my travel trailer, can I leave it on while I'm towing. Will my truck be enough to keep it running?
Before leaving your 12-volt refrigerator on while towing, it's important to ensure that your truck's electrical system can handle the increased power consumption. It is recommended that you check your truck's electrical system thoroughly to ensure that it can handle the power requirements of the refrigerator.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy thank you I have a Ram 2500 with two alternators with a diesel engine, but I'll check thank you
T&P?
Thanks for the great content!
Temp and pressure valve on the water heater
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Thanks!
With no science involved I think recror seal number number 5 with help with different meateals getting along with each other
Would you run your refrigerator on electric while traveling since propane is not recommended ?
Absolutely
My new Grand Design has a 165 watt solar charger and 25 amp charge controller standard. What's the best way to test the parasitic draw from the battery? I want to make sure the charger can keep up with the draw so I don't have to take my battery out on a maintainer in the winter.
get a multimeter with a DC amp clamp. Turn off all loads on the DC side you can. Then simply put the amp clamp (set to DC amps) around 1 of the battery cables and simply read the "parasitic" draw.
get a multimeter with a DC amp clamp. Turn off all loads on the DC side you can. Then simply put the amp clamp (set to DC amps) around 1 of the battery cables and simply read the "parasitic" draw.
Can you replace a carefree awning motor with a different motor
I’m sorry we weren’t able to cover that today. We will get to it soon.
Question about water heaters.. I have a Fleetwood Southwind Storm 35 ft.. My water heater works fine with electric but not at all with propane.. How would I diagnose it.. Thx
Your ears and nose will be the first tools you use in diagnosing. Go out to the water heater and listen as someone inside switches the water heater to gas. Now the water temp needs to be cold enough for the water heater board to call for heat.
Listen and smell during the ignition process. Do you smell propane and do you hear the igmighter ?
Can you drive down the road with full tanks? Can they support the weight while bouncing down the road?
I do not like this. I have seen too many tanks fall out. Now these tanks I am talking about are set below the frame. If the tank is above the frame then sure you can drive with full tanks.
I have a question. I have a 3000 watt victron inverter with 400 amps of lithium batteries. Would you still recommend a soft start? I have no problem running one air cond with or without a 2200 watt generator on startup. Thanks you for your channel
Absolutely it is there to help the inverter not get overworked.
Great videos. Great team work also. Hey, We have a Grand Design fifth wheel with 2 axles. Each year I grease the wheel bearings and spring wet bolts. Use bottle jacks under the I-beam frame. Two questions: 1) Jack under the frame is best correct? 2) Which type of wheel bearing grease is best? High temp , Tacky ?? Appreciate your help
Best grease? New over old. The rest is just a personal preference.
Absolutely the bottle Jack under the frame is the best position. Followed up by some jack stands.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Thank you for responding. Looking forward to more Tuesday Tech Tips...
I have a 2003 Winnebago Itasca suncruzer and I'm having a problem with only 2 overhead lights inside the RV they seem to only wanna work work periodically, something must be loose and we think it's the neutral not grounded right we can't find that wire to check....we looked behind control panel it's not there. We checked buss bar not there...do you have any ideas?
It's not easy to track down where a wire may be loose. they are usually connected to other lights in a chain. it could be any spot along the way.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy wow...I thought I would get more detail....I feel like you just blew this one off😒
Who drinks the water in their house? If you use it regularly and sanitize annually or semi-annually, and your water source is safe, why wouldn't you drink it? Think of all the people on well water witht their pressure tanks. How many of them do you think sanitize that pressure tank? To expand on your "Do you brush your teeth," question. How often do you sanitize your toothbrush? Or do you just run it under cold water for a couple seconds before you put toothpaste on it? After it's been sitting in your e-coli breeding room overnight....
i have a 2018 Coachmen Freelander 21 RS with one lead acid battery. If I replace the lead acid with 2 lithiums, is there anything else that has to be done, like with the inverter, or is it just a swap out?
I would suggest getting an inverter/charger combo. Almost all new inverter/charger combos will be able to charge any current type of battery chemistry.... lead acid or lithium.
If you put bug screens on furnace exhaust on out side of the Rv will this void your warranty?
If you have the big screens on during use, yes you would void the warranty
I have to disagree. There is a purpose to a soft-start in an RV park. If you only have a 30a unit and two AC units. 30a is enough to run both units, just not enough to start the compressor due to that spike of amps used. If you had soft starts you can run both units. That said, do you really want to pay for the soft start over the life of your RV loan?
Galvanic corrosion = Electrolysis
Question gents, is there a way to increase the fresh water pressure coming from the on board 12volt water pump. My hot water heater is kicking on and off from the pressure getting too low between pump cycles. Any suggestions? Thank you!
It’s a Girard propane only hot water heater. It works fine when connected to city water.
@@The_Budleys OK Girard needs .32 gallons of flow per minute. The RV water pump produces either 3gallons or 5 gallons per minute when properly functioning.
Do you notice a substantially low water pressure when using your water pump on the cold water side? is it at only 1 faucet/shower or all?
Lastly you should be able to adjust the temp on the water heater. When you mix cold water with the tankless insta hots you slow down the potential flow to the hot water side. Try using less cold water in the mix by lowering the output temp of the GIrard.
That did it gentlemen. Using less cold water in combination with lowering the Girard output temperature gave us consistent hot water in the shower. Thank you for the excellent advice and all the information you share with us. It is very much appreciated!
👍👍👍👍👍
I enjoy your videos, especially your humor. Just one bit of advice from a fellow Texan…stick to RV’s. You seem to be misinformed when it comes to trucks. My Ram Cummins will reliably out-tow anything else on the road. I know, cause I’ve driven everything else on the road. 😆 Love you guys!
Tongue tantalizing TODD! Remember to always check the evidence 👅
love it!!
Q: How can I get my beard to grow like that?
😂
👍
I see Todd got his annual haircut recently. You know barbers are having a hard time right now maybe he ought to go to a semi-annual schedule.
What the heck is a hotskin?
When the frame of your trailer is energized by the “hot” 120v wire from you power source. Eventually making the whole trailer, the “skin”, energized or “hot”.