100% RV Virgin - Lots of Questions & Need LOTS of Help!

Hello Everyone!

My wife and I recently just bought our very first RV, a 2005 Forest River Surveyor Lite Travel Trailer, and we're 100% RV virgins who have absolutely NO idea what we're doing. I can't even stress this enough; we've ever even been inside of a camper until we bought this one!

That being said, we have more questions than one could imagine and really need the guidance and suggestions of RV'ers much more experienced than we are (that shouldn't be hard to find, ha!)

As we're just trying to familiarize ourselves with the camper and learn what everything is, we've put together a starter list of things along with some photos. Your input would be so greatly appreciated!

Best Wishes,
Bear

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1) Inside of the bathroom is a "Micro Monitor" panel for the battery and the tanks. The indicator light lights up fine for the grey and fresh tanks, as well as the battery, but doesn't light up at all for the black tank. What does this mean and what can I do about it?

2) On the ceiling above the largest bunk, there's a small silver outlet type thing on the light. It's the only light in the camper that has it. What is it?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uimfm8oqu4uuc6b/Bunk%20Light.JPG?dl=0

3) The freezer door in the fridge automatically opens whenever you open the fridge door. I can't be sure, but it doesn't look like there was ever a latch of any type there to keep that from happening in the first place. Is that normal? If not, any suggestions on what to do about it?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ud2a6u4ex6fzgjt/Fridge-Freezer-Door.jpg?dl=0

4) What is in this "under the bench" compartment? Is it the water heater? What is the clear little tank full of water? Why does it have a green ring of algae in it?

Photo 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q3ywpb1pit2i8em/Water%20Heater.JPG?dl=0

Photo 2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0j6mbmu5kyo1wfn/Water.JPG?dl=0

Photo 3: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a006qvk0h8x4aea/Water2.JPG?dl=0

5) The screen door handle doesn't latch very well to the door frame. Just the slightest push opens it right up. The little "tab" on the latch doesn't extend far enough past the lip on the door frame. It seems, however, that the door handle is already moved as close to the frame as possible so I don't think I can move it any further towards the door frame. Any ideas for making the screen door more secure? We have dogs so can't risk them pushing the door right open.

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/21svdeo7u8xt679/Latch.JPG?dl=0

6) The bunk door has some water damage near the hinges that spans the entire width of the door and is about 8" high. In this photo, I drew a red line to show where the delamination begins. A red arrow shows where the outer layer of fiberglass (?) has popped out of the seam. The bunk is solid and is safe to use, I believe. However, I'm worried about the outer layer that's popped out of the seam and am not sure how to fix this. Should I use a utility knife to score off the length that has popped out of the seam and then seal along the entire seam?

Photo 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kcuslskqhe465ct/Bunk-Door2.jpg?dl=0

Photo 2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/akcwfj7xzntpyor/Bunk%20Door%20Close2.JPG?dl=0

7) Some of the baggage/storage compartment doors have damage to their black foam/rubber seals. What do I do about this? I'm assuming I can buy new seals but where do I get them and how do I know what kind I need? Any references on how to install new seals?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhzye2whbnmr8ao/Storage3.JPG?dl=0

8) Which lever is for the grey tank and which lever is for the black tank? The lever handle to the left has been broken. Can this be replaced? Is it a DIY job? The sign above says that the sewage cap must always be in place when in motion but it looks to me like there is no cap to be found. Can a replacement be ordered?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oq4uuj2tda653vn/Tank%20Drains.JPG?dl=0

9) What are these dark brown water streaks running from the window? Looks like they're coming from the weep hole but I'm not sure why. What does that mean and what do I do about it?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v27bcgqx1le08b3/Window%20Streak.JPG?dl=0

10) Can anyone explain to me how to read and understand the electrical panel here? I understand the 15 amp fuses and how they're listed. But what are the two 30 amp fuses for? And what do the circuits mean on the left?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j3jgdzhlkjk6bwy/Electric%20Panel.JPG?dl=0

11) In the front of the trailer, right underneath of the "fender" area, there's a black fabric membrane type thing that is split/torn along the front. You can slip your fingers inside of it and it's just soaking wet in there; a lot of dirt, debris, tiny bits of rotten wood, etc. come out. What do I do about this, if anything?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/e5py82106ofs514/Front%20Fabric.JPG?dl=0

Welcome to the RVForum!

I can say that for question #4 that is the water heater and an inline filter. You will need to unscrew the bottle, Clorox it thoroughly, and get a filter for it from Walmart or just about any hardware store.

Question #8 The smaller diameter tube is gray, the larger is black. You can get a new cap online for under $10. Camping World has a clear one so you could see if there is anything getting past the valves. Replacing the valves is simple, and inexpensive.

#9 I'm guessing these are from tree debris that has built up in the window grooves and water weeping out of the drain holes has picked up the color like an herbal tea.

#10 The 30A fuses look to be mains. Pull them and see if the power to the 15A fuses goes off. If not, they may be for a charging circuit.
The breakers on the left are the 110 circuits for your 30amp shore power. Just like in a house distribution panel you have the main breaker for incoming, then the other breakers for your appliance circuits. These only work when plugged in at a campsite, or if you have a generator running.

Just guessing again for #1, the ground wire for the black tank monitor sensors might be loose. and for #2 the previous owner probably needed 12V DC at the bunk. Maybe a CPAP machine?

Welcome to the RV world !

0- thanks for numbering your questions

1- I'd do nothing. Black tank sensors are notoriously inaccurate. Pay attention to how much you use your RV. If its just weekend trips, empty the tank when you break camp on Sunday. If spending more time you might have to empty the black tank twice during a weeks stay. Even if your sensor worked well as mine, you'd still have to learn how long it takes you to fill your black tank. If you get really bored and want to spend the time chasing down the electrical fault, I wouldn't stop you. Its not  a major priority in my book.

2- That chrome thing is so you can plug in a remote light, the type with a spiral cord.

3- Can't tell from the pic. Who made the fridge?

4- The foam covered thing is your hot water heater. The clear thing is a water filter holder without a filter in it. Clean it with a little bleach and add a filter. Normally filters are in locations easier to access changing the filter. Consider moving the filter.

5- Make the screw slots in the black plastic longer ? Make new screw holes ?

8- The smaller one is usually for the grey tank. The whole valve mechanism is replaceable. Shop on Amazon.

9- Clean the window frames, then grab a bottle of clorox clean-up for the stains

10- The top 30 amp breaker is the whole coach (main) The others are as labeled, the 20 is for the air conditioning,15 amps for the converter (it makes DC power from the ac) 15 each for the microwave, fridge, and the GFI outlets.

11- Can you take a few more photos ? some closer, some further away ?

I just took another look at your fridge and just realized the freezer door swings down. If you close it, does it stay closed on it's own? Is it spring loaded so it will stay shut? Maybe if it has the tendency to open, the spring may need replacing. I think what may be happening is when you open the fridge door, it sort of pulls a vacuum on the interior of the fridge and the freezer door opens.

10) Can anyone explain to me how to read and understand the electrical panel here? I understand the 15 amp fuses and how they're listed. But what are the two 30 amp fuses for? And what do the circuits mean on the left?

Click to expand...

The two 30A fuses protect the 12v portion from reversed battery wiring. Owners too often make a mistake when connecting the battery wires to the battery terminals (e.g. plus wire to negative terminal) and those fuses will blow if that happens. That prevents damage to the converter/charger itself.

The left side is the 120vac (shore power) side. The 30A breaker (labeled Main) is for the entire RV, and the lesser breakers are for subsets of it. A/c, converter/charger, microwave, etc. GFCI means a GFCI-protected circuit that probably supplies the outlet in the bath and the exterior, and likely most other outlets that aren't dedicated to one thing (like the micro or fridge).  The first outlet in the series is probably a GFCI outlet and often in the bath area.  If that GFCI outlet trips with a ground fault, all other outlets in the group lose power as well.

The 30A main will trip only if the combined load of the lesser circuits exceeds 30A.

Thanks so much to you guys for your replies so far. It's greatly appreciated!

You all have confirmed that I do need to clean out the water filter and put a filter inside of it, thanks. Can you point me in the direction of a good tutorial or video to learn how to do it?

I now know I can get a new drain cap online and that the whole valve system can be (easily) replaced. Again, any tutorials or videos that can teach me how to do it?

Houston Remodeler, Dometic made the fridge. I'll work on trying to get more photos of the ripped/wet fabric under the front of the trailer but it's in a tough spot and pretty dark as well. I'll post some updated photos as soon as I can.

Rene T, no, the freezer door does not stay shut no matter what. The only thing holding it shut is the fridge door, lol.

You guys are great, thanks for the help!

Just to set things straight, there is only one 30 Amp breaker. The other is a 20 Amp for the AC.

As far as the freezer door, there is probably some type of spring someplace in the hinge assembly which would keep the door shut. You may have to dismantle it to get to it.

scoopsdad said:

Thanks so much to you guys for your replies so far. It's greatly appreciated!

You all have confirmed that I do need to clean out the water filter and put a filter inside of it, thanks. Can you point me in the direction of a good tutorial or video to learn how to do it?

I now know I can get a new drain cap online and that the whole valve system can be (easily) replaced. Again, any tutorials or videos that can teach me how to do it?

Houston Remodeler, Dometic made the fridge. I'll work on trying to get more photos of the ripped/wet fabric under the front of the trailer but it's in a tough spot and pretty dark as well. I'll post some updated photos as soon as I can.

Rene T, no, the freezer door does not stay shut no matter what. The only thing holding it shut is the fridge door, lol.

You guys are great, thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

Lots of tutorials on youtube. Just type in what you're looking for.