Yeah, I did
 

have my fresh water holding tank full; initially so full that water dumped onto the camper floor thru the tanks air vent (it wasn't connected to anything/just laying on the floor). Found and fixed that real quick.

I'm thinking later today I'm gonna try reinstallation and try yet again. This time I'll try and insert water onto the delivered side of the pump line by ... dumping water into an open spigot and see if it'll feed back to the pump. I read where that worked for someone on google.

Additionally, what another suggested - and that I'll attempt - is sucking air (tools required: strong lips) from the nearest spigot while the pump is running.

And I'll carefully fill the tank to near max so it won't have to draw so far.

Nothing to lose.

If the pump is functioning properly and everything is hooked up right, the pump should prime itself.

Looking Good
 

Wrascal
After a week of watching from the outside did your gmail thing and now I'm in with a new name of course.
Glad to see that you have worked your way through so many things. I'm thinking that your really going to enjoy things when it's all over said and done.
Good Luck on the water lines.

Later Tim owner 18ft 1969 hilo

Thanks, and welcome
 

I guess it should be noted by potential new forum users, you can't use Hotmail to join this site. Also noted, gmail does work.

I finally received notice that my new pump is in the mail (due Thur.) so I abandoned my plans to suck the water up. I'm not sure I would have had enough horse-power (or stamina) for the job.

That was quick
 

I received my shipping notice yesterday and this morning, around 0930, the new pump was delivered. By 1030 it was pumping water.

NOTE: contrary to what it says this is not a direct replacement to my original one, just close; both the water inlet and outlets are physically higher up, perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Had my original install used flexible plumbing (instead of hard) it wouldn't have mattered. As it was, I wrestled it into place then somewhat screwed it down. A bit noisy this way but it'll do for now, especially since I likely won't be using tank water.

First final note, before I attempt to re-plumb it correctly I'll just try and stuff absorbing material around it (and the pipes).

Second final note, the entire system is now cooking with chlorinated water, to include the hot lines.

Two things you can do for pump noise. Place a thick rubber mouse pad between the pump and the floor, and add the flexible faucet type supply lines between the pump and the attached lines. Get ones that are long enough to put a complete turn in without the danger of them kinking.

Rinse cycle
 

Twice now I've now flushed the lines and drained/re-filled the storage tank. What I've observed is that the pump is only noisy when I draw just a trickle of water, using more (and there's plenty of it) actually allows it to run quiet.

All this draining/flushing filled up the gray water tank. Knowing I just checked it out the other day I simply drained it in place, w/o the sewer hose.

Cooool, clearrrr, waater (chorus: waater).

Last check out item (I think)
 

was the oven. It too appears to have never been used.

I figured out how/WHERE to light (and retain) the pilot then attempted to heat it up. The pilot blew out - I'm guessing because I had the door open trying to watch it?

Try once again, lite the pilot, wait a bit, close oven door and again turn the oven to cooking temp. Check in again after a few min and the oven was heating up.

Gas now off, as it's now the wifes department. We don't use the oven at home much so likely it'll not be used too much.

Great
 

Glad to see that you have taken care of most of your projects. We are just getting started on ours.

Later Tim

Thinking back to a few posts ago
 

the one with a picture of his trailer in the SNOW reminded me that I've yet to check out my heater(s). I believe that'll have to wait a few months.

I also have to repair my leaking black tank. Maybe a hot glue gun will take care of it (Grin).

Black tank repair
 

Today was the day for black tank repair. In order to perform this I had to move the camper for better access. And before I could move the camper I had to trim some branches that originated waaaay up high.

I have an electric chain saw that attaches to a long pole, but couldn't quite reach them. Plan B involved parking my truck underneath and trying once again. Standing in the bed I realized success; of course, now that meant I had to clean up the mess/ drag limbs to the street.

Deciding to play it safe I lowered the top, disconnected all lines, and pulled it forward 6-8 feet. That gave me room to sit (hunched up) under the camper and go to work.

First I used a sand block to scruff all the surfaces. It actually looked good/clean at start, although I found that the metal bracket that runs underneath/surrounds the drain spout was bent upward in the middle. I suppose that's what damaged the tanks joint at some previous point.

The picture shows the product that I used for repair. I found it at Walmart at about $17. Most of its contents went unused so I'm glad I only bought one ... I had considered two just in case. I also purchased several disposable paint brushes to use with this. I'm glad I did as the brushes made the glue-stuff application much easier.

I mixed up the two parts and Heavily slathered it over my freshly cleaned joint. Then I dunked my pre-cut fiberglas into the supplied mixing bowl, both sides were sopping with this mixture. It was too sticky wet to apply as directed so I used my hands. Then I slathered another dose of the mixture over it and allowed the stuff to harden (recommended 15 min, I gave it 30). I used the extra time to try and clean up my hands ... no go there. After tons of soap and water I started using sand to try and wear it away. No joy.

Getting back to the underside I repeated my previous steps for a complete second coat of goop, fiberglass, and more goop. Final drying time before refinishing is recommended at 90 min, I gave it 4 hours as I could still smell it. And the smell gave me a headache, or perhaps by the actual handling of it I absorbed it. The good news here is after about an hours time it easily cleaned off with soap and water- go figure.

After four hours I relocated the camper back to its spot and filled the black tank full. Several hours later I checked and no drips (so far). I'll leave it alone for several days to be sure.

and then I got stupind
 

Went inside and reset all (6) circuit breakers and attempted to power up the air conditioner. Yes I had remembered to plug it into the outlet. Nothing.
Then I remembered the main switch - I'd intentionally left it in the center position.

Turn off all breakers, throw main back online, power up the breakers and still no AC. NOW WHAT?

Ooops, then I realized, I'd never plugged the camper up to the house. Main off. Breakers off. Plug up the camper, main & breakers on, switch AC to on and SUCCESS.

Yep, that's the way I do it. :D

With all the "false starts"? :cool: That's my way too! :o

- Jack

Black tank results
 

25 hours later: it's still full and no drips. I do believe that fixed it.

Several hours later,
 

and again, NO 120V POWER in the camper.

Long story short, earlier I had plugged an air compressor into the same circuit that protects my outdoor (camper) and bathroom outlets.

It provided enough pressure to fill my tractor tires (before blowing) so it went un-observed.

Nite, y'all.

Checked my Black tank level
 

late this afternoon, still registers full and no apparent dripping. Tomorrow I'll drain it and hope that my repair is road-worthy.

How does Hi-Lo measure lengths?
 

Likely many of you know this but I had to see for myself.

Knowing that mine was labeled as 24 feet I broke out the tape measure.

My lower unit measures approx. 18 feet.
My upper unit measures approx. 20 feet.
My tongue measures approx. 4 feet (3 feet beyond the upper box).

Utilizing Sherlock Holmes advanced mathematics, physics, and horse sense tell me they measured the unit closed, bumper-to tongue tip.
NOTE: I EXCLUDED THE BUMPER/ I recon that adds an additional foot beyond the upper box.

I feel cheated out of 4 feet. As a percent, that's quite a substantial loss.

That's how they did it. Ball to bumper. Sometimes they rounded up and sometimes they rounded down. Our 2310H is 22'-9" I believe. In 2009 they were called 2209T, both the same length.

length
 

In other threads on this site they talk about the overall measurement being from the outside edge of the rear bumper to the center of the ball coupler.

Later Tim & Nancy and a dog that wants to go camping

At least now you know you can fit into a smaller camp space. They normally give the maximum "box length" allowed.

- Jack

In my experience campgrounds are all over the place on this.

We've easily backed into campsites that are not to be used by a TT longer than 18' (ours is 24' bumper to hitch). On the other hand, we've had trouble maneuvering into sites that are supposed to accept a 30' trailer.

You're right of course, Raul. I've found much the same. But, usually, I could fit into a "smaller" camping space.

- Jack

I just noticed ...
 

I'm a Senior Member. How can that be, I don't know nuthin about these things? Why I've not even been camping with it yet (excluding my own yard experiences).
Y'all be warned about the company you're hanging with.

Time to put the yard-bird on the grill. Yumm, yummm.

I think you set the record for the fastest member to reach 100 posts! That's all it takes to become a senior member. Congrats!

So then
 

asking lots of dumb questions
and posting smart aleck responses

presents the keys to the palace.

I've learned a lot here and I appreciate it.

I learned how to make it rain ...
 

yesterday evening I put out some fertilizer and so this morning I started watering it in. Six and a half hours worth of moving hoses until everything was soaked in. Within an hour of retiring the hoses it started to rain.

On and off, all the remaining day long. I didn't even get to play with the new toy (camper). I did check out my black tank repair and its still holding water. Extended forecast says not to bother camping over the forth, more buckets expected.

Boo-hoo, I was wanting to visit this nearby place: Engineer Beach RV Park. Have any of y'all ever been there?

Happy forth to y'all.

Engineer Beach RV Park
 

Engineer Beach RV Park looks nice.
Lived off the Tenn River in UA (Upper Alabama) for 7 years enjoyed the area. Muscle Shoals, Ala in a dry county just South of where they made the movie Walking Tall. Still have a few interesting stories about that area.
But another good camping area.

Later Tim

senior member
 

Well RCREYES and wrascal just have to give you folks an update. While wrascal may have set a record getting to be a senior member he took about 15 days to do it. I just became a senior member also, joined on 6/25/2013. 7 days of posting.
An interesting point, for both of us it took over 3 weeks of trying to get into this website. Guessing it was because we both had hotmail accounts. We both opened gmail accounts and got in. Now we are both Senior members.

I think that we have both learned a lot and shared a few things on the way.

Any rate still trying to learn more about my 1969 Traveler hilo and get out and do some camping with it.
See my "blog" on the hilo

https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f17/...est-data-3278/

Later Tim & Nancy and a dog that wants to go camping.

Show off
 

but I beat you (by calendar date) so you gotta listen to a Sr Sr <grin>.

Just shows how "piling it high and fast" pays off! :p

- Jack

sr?
 

Well I have a feeling that you are much older than I am anyway. So to the last record holder I say -- sr. This one time anyway. Hope you enjoyed it.

Good Luck with your getting your hilo ready to go. I'm picking up a battery tomorrow.

Later Tim & Nancy & a dog that wants to go camping.

Ouch!
 

and I categorically deny it.

Originally posted in the wrong forum
 

and will now attempt to move it to here ...

Several times I've thought (and then forgot) that I should insure this thing. Today I visited my insurance company. She said that my vehicle policy would provide coverage while on the road (which I knew) but not off road claims/example: a tree falling on it.

According to her sources, my Hi-Lo has a retail value of $14,995; I said no way! but that's what they're using as a base price for a total loss.

I elected for a $1000 deductible yielding an annual charge of $134; a $500 deductible was about $195 and a $250 deductible was $234/all annual.

One day next week, after ALL THIS RAIN passes, she'll come by and take photos, then she can submit it for coverage. Now I gotta weather the storm.

I just remembered another question I forgot to address
 

Last week, while I was under my camper working on the black tank, I observed what I presume to be an abnormality. I saw no plumbing that'd dump my shower water into the gray water tank. It almost looks like it's designed to go directly to the nearby black tank. I should have taken some tape measurements to see where things really are as I was just guessing.

But, is that likely, or just an optical illusion?

Trees
 

Well wrascal you know what they say -- Watch out for that TREE!! --
May you weather the storm. I really think the stuff that noaa is talking about is heading to Mex and Tex.

Later Tim

With all the rains
 

I've ignored checking for drips/leaks on my black tank. It's just been too wet to paddle over to it. The end results is I never emptied the tank after several days and here it is now 8 days later. Earlier today I checked the level indicator and it said full, so that's enough testing. When the ground dries out I'll release it from captivity.

Another note ... I've asked several questions as I've continued this story, and they've gone un-replied to. That indicates to me that folks have quit reading this ... sorry if it became boring but I wanted to post my explorations story, start to finish, in one place.

Trying of make it easier for the next new camper fellow to follow.

"Another note ... I've asked several questions as I've continued this story, and they've gone un-replied to. That indicates to me that folks have quit reading this ... sorry if it became boring but I wanted to post my explorations story, start to finish, in one place."

I think it is common, especially after one gets a new trailer and are all engrossed with figuring it out, to assume that everybody shares one's enthusiasm and urgency. I have this issue with my wife- I get all interested and involved with some task( a new truck, boat, idea....) and though she shares my interest- not quite as much.:rolleyes: At any rate- keep in mind it is the fourth of July holliday and summer and lots of folks are out camping and not actively online. It also isn't unusual for folks to be tuning in only every couple of days or, even, weeks. So, I know when I have a burning question even though I am hoping for an immediate response----people tend to get to me when they get to me... sometimes I'll get a response a couple of weeks after i post. Often, I think, people simply don't have an answer.:confused: or,they don't have that much interest at the moment.....which is ok.

At any rate- as to your last plumbing question- I don't think you are likely to see any actual "pipes" etc under the trailer that you can trace to the holding tanks---at least I do not recall seeing any under mine. Most of those runs are done internally-so I think what you are seeing is what we all see unless you definitely have a pipe you are tracing from the shower, say, to the black tank. All in all, that trailer seems to be working fine.

Hang in there-

rick

response to questions
 

Hillotool,I couldn't have responded any better than you did. My first thought was many are out camping on this holiday weekend. Some are on extended vacations. Many of the questions that have been asked have been covered in extended previous posts.

Hilltool,

I personally have never seen a gray line going into a black water tank. I would suggest a closer look to re-verify what you saw. The older units may have been the exception but I do believe it is against health regulations to mix the holding tanks. I have made repairs to my tank using a patch mix that hardens very fast. It has held with no problems. If the tank is dry and no puddling underneath and you can get to the leaks, there are several patches that will fix your leaks[s].

Jerry Curtis
Fredericksburg, TX