Our first 600 miles with our new to us 397

**Oldcow** · 04-06-2024, 06:55 AM

As some of you have read, we have never towed anything this large, this is our maiden voyage from Savannah Georgia to New Brunswick Canada. For our last night in Georgia, we dry camped. We woke to find no power in the trailer even though we do have a modest solar set up. We figured that while driving and with the sun, the batteries would be recharged.

We decided to stop after about 60 miles for a snack at a rest stop. When we opened to door, we found the kitchen tap on and water splashing off the sink covers everywhere... Some dumb ********** (me) left the pump on and the cheap faucet came on over the bumpy roads I am sure. Opened both main slides and moped up the water mess with all of our towels. And, still no power. Called a friend and together we found the power switch on the shunt (again why did I not find it earlier, jitters?) and reset it, our problem went away.

We get to Asheville and my wife loses one of her favorite rings I purchased for her years ago.

Sitting here in Shaunton VA having our coffee, we are both chuckling now as the mess has been cleaned up with no apparent lasting damage and her ring was found (yes I even went thru the garbage). We still need to figure out the solar issue but we have decided to do that once we get home.

Oh and yesterday when we left Asheville, within 2 minutes I took a wrong turn. My dear wife had to get out and stop traffic so I could back out onto a busy road so we could turn around

I hope you enjoyed our story, it is a first trip we will not forget.

Oldcow

**jkwilson** · 04-06-2024, 07:07 AM

Sounds about normal!

It’s good to have a checklist to use before you hit the road for things like the pump, water heater, vents etc..

We visited New Brunswick and Novia Scotia last fall. Very nice places!

**Oldcow** · 04-06-2024, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by jkwilson

Sounds about normal!

It’s good to have a checklist to use before you hit the road for things like the pump, water heater, vents etc..

We visited New Brunswick and Novia Scotia last fall. Very nice places!

Checklist is on the list of things to get

Oldcow

**ajg617** · 04-06-2024, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by Oldcow

Checklist is on the list of things to get

Oldcow

I made a checklist unique for our 310. And it's different depending upon whether we dry camp, hook up, hook up partially, dump tanks or not, leave TV connected or not, etc. To get around the faucet opening I bought a velcro strap and put that around the faucet and handle to make sure it stays closed because even though pump is off, we still had water everywhere at each stop - residual in the faucet which always turned to point anywhere but in the sink.

**xrated** · 04-06-2024, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Oldcow

As some of you have read, we have never towed anything this large, this is our maiden voyage from Savannah Georgia to New Brunswick Canada. For our last night in Georgia, we dry camped. We woke to find no power in the trailer even though we do have a modest solar set up. We figured that while driving and with the sun, the batteries would be recharged.

We decided to stop after about 60 miles for a snack at a rest stop. When we opened to door, we found the kitchen tap on and water splashing off the sink covers everywhere... Some dumb ********** (me) left the pump on and the cheap faucet came on over the bumpy roads I am sure. Opened both main slides and moped up the water mess with all of our towels. And, still no power. Called a friend and together we found the power switch on the shunt (again why did I not find it earlier, jitters?) and reset it, our problem went away.

We get to Asheville and my wife loses one of her favorite rings I purchased for her years ago.

Sitting here in Shaunton VA having our coffee, we are both chuckling now as the mess has been cleaned up with no apparent lasting damage and her ring was found (yes I even went thru the garbage). We still need to figure out the solar issue but we have decided to do that once we get home.

Oh and yesterday when we left Asheville, within 2 minutes I took a wrong turn. My dear wife had to get out and stop traffic so I could back out onto a busy road so we could turn around

I hope you enjoyed our story, it is a first trip we will not forget.

Oldcow

Just remember this.....EVERY SINGLE ONE of us were rookies and have made our first trip, at some time or another in our camping life. The checklist(s) are invaluable, especially if they are specific to your own rig. Keep in mind, they may need to be amended/corrected as time and trips continue. You may also add some things that you had originally not had, and maybe remove something that is not needed. Another thing we always do is a thorough walk-around when we are ready to leave. In fact, we both do the walk-around.....two sets of eyes vs. one set of eyes.

**livinthelife** · 04-06-2024, 12:17 PM

My solution to the kitchen faucet staying closed is one of those fat rubber bands that you get around celery at the store. It fits nicely around the faucet and handle. And we stow the sink covers during travel, since rough roads can cause them to bounce out of the sink and fly/bounce around causing other damage. This also allows any water leaking to go down the drain.

**Oldcow** · 04-06-2024, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by livinthelife

My solution to the kitchen faucet staying closed is one of those fat rubber bands that you get around celery at the store. It fits nicely around the faucet and handle. And we stow the sink covers during travel, since rough roads can cause them to bounce out of the sink and fly/bounce around causing other damage. This also allows any water leaking to go down the drain.

Good idea on the band, but we will replace it with a residential faucet. Good advice on the covers.

Oldcow

**huntindog** · 04-06-2024, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Oldcow

As some of you have read, we have never towed anything this large, this is our maiden voyage from Savannah Georgia to New Brunswick Canada. For our last night in Georgia, we dry camped. We woke to find no power in the trailer even though we do have a modest solar set up. We figured that while driving and with the sun, the batteries would be recharged.

We decided to stop after about 60 miles for a snack at a rest stop. When we opened to door, we found the kitchen tap on and water splashing off the sink covers everywhere... Some dumb ********** (me) left the pump on and the cheap faucet came on over the bumpy roads I am sure. Opened both main slides and moped up the water mess with all of our towels. And, still no power. Called a friend and together we found the power switch on the shunt (again why did I not find it earlier, jitters?) and reset it, our problem went away.

We get to Asheville and my wife loses one of her favorite rings I purchased for her years ago.

Sitting here in Shaunton VA having our coffee, we are both chuckling now as the mess has been cleaned up with no apparent lasting damage and her ring was found (yes I even went thru the garbage). We still need to figure out the solar issue but we have decided to do that once we get home.

Oh and yesterday when we left Asheville, within 2 minutes I took a wrong turn. My dear wife had to get out and stop traffic so I could back out onto a busy road so we could turn around

I hope you enjoyed our story, it is a first trip we will not forget.

Oldcow

I often forget to turn the pump off as well. This is problematic with the large number of plumbing leaks reported. So I installed a timer on the pump power line. I chose a one hour mechanical one. That is enough time to have a meal and cleanup, yet will assure that any time the coach is not occupied that the pump will not have power for long. With 150 gallons of FW on board it could be a huge mess. I mounted the switch inside the pantry. It is easy to get to when preparing a meal, which tends to be when we need the pump most often. And this would have prevented your misadventure.

**WhittleBurner** · 04-07-2024, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Oldcow

Checklist is on the list of things to get[/COLOR]

Oldcow

Checklists only work if you remember to look at it. Our 1st time out I posted a list on the inside of the door of the power center. Did either of us remember..nooooo. pulling out we hear a loud deep sproinging noise. Stop, look and the antenna was crooked and not sitting exactly straight up and down... Not the first time we had an antenna on a trailer to put down either... things will happen from time to tome.

Sounds like you're rolling wiith the punches pretty well. We use a velcro strap on our sink handle, had that same thing happen early on...add it to your check list