How to Understand the Functions on Your Travel Trailer

Travel trailers use several different systems to keep the various functions operating. Most travel trailers have three basic systems: plumbing, climate-control and power. Read your owner's guide and then get some hands-on time inside the trailer getting to know the systems of your new self-contained camping shelter. Between the three systems most trailer devices and amenities are powered and enabled.

Instructions

Plumbing System

1

Go to the back-rear side of the travel trailer. Look for a door panel and open it. Prop it open with the rod. Look inside and see the three different tanks.

2

Read the sides of the three tanks to find the grey, black and fresh water holding tanks.

3

Follow the hoses for each tank and see the fresh water tank feeds water to the kitchen and bathroom sinks and to the shower or tub. Follow the black water tank hose and see it connects with the back of the RV toilet to isolate sewage water in the RV. The grey water hose runs to the sinks for the kitchen and bathroom to hold the grey water after cleaning and washing.

Environmental Control Systems

4

Go to the side wall of the trailer cabin and locate the thermostat gauge. Turn the gauge up to increase the heat in the travel trailer. Check for a set-timer and set the time and temperature as you would an alarm clock to have the heater come on automatically at certain times or turn off.

5

Turn the dial down or flip the switch from heat to cool to turn on the travel trailer's air conditioning unit.

6

Turn the fan dial when the heat or air conditioning is on in the trailer to increase or decrease air circulation in the cabin of the trailer.

Power Systems

7

Go to the front of the trailer and locate the LP gas tanks at the back end of the trailer tow arm. These provide liquid propane gas to the kitchen stove, oven and fridge. Turn the LP tank dials to open to use the fuel in the trailer.

8

Go to the deep cycle --- also called DC ---battery housing inside the trailer. Locate the DC battery or batteries and follow the main cords off the batteries to the circuit board. These batteries provide alternate electricity when the trailer is not connected to outside electric sources like those in campgrounds.

9

Go onto the roof of the travel trailer and look for solar panels. Many new travel trailers come with small pre-installed solar panels that help charge the DC batteries through solar charges.