What can cause such loud banging?

[Grand Master IceMan]

Hello,
Several times in the middle of the night, there was a really loud banging noise -- similar to someone knocking 3 or 4 times very loudly on the front door!
The only thing running (though not necessarily at that moment) was the propane furnace on a cold night.

...Very strange. Any ideas? Haven't heard at all today ...so far
Thanks!

 

[triplethreat]

Outside vent for the microwave not latched??? I don't know if you even have one....and outside vent....but if you do, it's worth checking.

 

[A.Texas.Yankee]

Hello,
Several times in the middle of the night, there was a really loud banging noise -- similar to someone knocking 3 or 4 times very loudly on the front door!
The only thing running (though not necessarily at that moment) was the propane furnace on a cold night.

...Very strange. Any ideas? Haven't heard at all today ...so far
Thanks!

Hydraulics, perhaps? Temperature change, especially to cold temps, can cause a popping sound.

Full Timing Family in a 2021 Momentum 395MS-R, towed by our
2021 Ford F450 King Ranch

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

Hydraulics ...as in my tongue jack?

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

Outside vent for the microwave not latched??? I don't know if you even have one....and outside vent....but if you do, it's worth checking.

Thanks, but the sound is VERY VERY loud!

 

[A.Texas.Yankee]

Hydraulics ...as in my tongue jack?

I was thinking slides. But, not sure if you have hydraulic slides or not.

Full Timing Family in a 2021 Momentum 395MS-R, towed by our
2021 Ford F450 King Ranch

 

[Always Learning]

Hello,
Several times in the middle of the night, there was a really loud banging noise -- similar to someone knocking 3 or 4 times very loudly on the front door!
The only thing running (though not necessarily at that moment) was the propane furnace on a cold night.

...Very strange. Any ideas? Haven't heard at all today ...so far
Thanks!

“cold night” how about trailer parts contracting. We have a Reflection 337 and it does a lot of snap, crackle and popping. Sometimes it sounds like something hit the side of the trailer. When we first got the trailer a few times I went outside to see if anything did hit the trailer. The trailer pops a lot more on move days and when it is cold. As I write this I am listening to many little pops and snaps. Earlier we had a nice loud thud from the back of the trailer. We moved today and the trailer sat in good sun for a few hours and now it is cooling off outside. You are sitting in an aluminum and fiberglass box on top of a steel frame and suspension. Lot of expansion and contraction going on. Water heaters can also make some strange noises.

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

Thanks for the reassurance! What was so troubling to me was just how LOUD it was! These were definitely not snap, crackle, and pops, though I do know what you are referring to. This sounds more like the police banging on your door to get in (not that that's ever happened to me ...just a joke, but I truly thought someone was knocking using forceful knocks.

 

[Always Learning]

Thanks for the reassurance! What was so troubling to me was just how LOUD it was! These were definitely not snap, crackle, and pops, though I do know what you are referring to. This sounds more like the police banging on your door to get in (not that that's ever happened to me ...just a joke, but I truly thought someone was knocking using forceful knocks.

My loud thuds have never been multiples at the same time. Just one loud thump. Are you sure someone was not playing games and pounding on your trailer in the middle of the night? Hope you get it figured out.

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

Yeah, thanks, but no, I'm the park host and no one is here except for an older couple. It was definitely not anyone pounding on my door, but that's the closest thing to the actual sound I heard that I could think of as an analogy.

 

[Grammy&Grandad]

Yeah, thanks, but no, I'm the park host and no one is here except for an older couple. It was definitely not anyone pounding on my door, but that's the closest thing to the actual sound I heard that I could think of as an analogy.

Any chance you had a storage bay door open and it was banging around until it slammed shut? Propane door not secured?

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

I thought about that, then I couldn't think of anything that would cause that to move, let alone shut.

 

[Jerryr]

Woodpecker? We have occasionally have one knock on our house and it’s loud.

 

[RPAspey]

Hello,
Several times in the middle of the night, there was a really loud banging noise -- similar to someone knocking 3 or 4 times very loudly on the front door!
The only thing running (though not necessarily at that moment) was the propane furnace on a cold night.

...Very strange. Any ideas? Haven't heard at all today ...so far
Thanks!

I'm not familiar with your camper, but here's an idea.

Could it be something related to the gas, like a back flash. Is the fridge running on propane? While dry camping a long time ago, I had an occasional popping noise, much like you described. Investigated and found the propane for the fridge wasn't igniting right away so it would pop when it finally lit off. I could see flames briefly outside the vent. What I found was a mud dabbers nest in the burner tube. It would be worth checking out.

 

[Corky2]

Are you under a tree?

If yes, check your roof.

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

I'm not familiar with your camper, but here's an idea.

Could it be something related to the gas, like a back flash. Is the fridge running on propane? While dry camping a long time ago, I had an occasional popping noise, much like you described. Investigated and found the propane for the fridge wasn't igniting right away so it would pop when it finally lit off. I could see flames briefly outside the vent. What I found was a mud dabbers nest in the burner tube. It would be worth checking out.

...I think you could be on to something! ...However, the Frig is not running on Propane.
But, after another day of experiencing this, I can say now that the loud thumping/banging/popping noise is definitely related to propane, because it only happens (but only sometimes) when I turn on the furnace het. ...Now, another thing I'm sure is related, is that this morning and for lunch, my stove/oven would NOT ignite UNLESS I first run the furnace heat for a few seconds. And now, for dinner, it won't even stay lit unless I continuously run the furnace heat. And yes, I've heard the loud noise a few times while going through this cycle to use my stove/oven. ...What in the world is going on?

 

[Jerryr]

This may be unrelated but your Imagine may fall into the recall for the propane regulator
https://www.granddesignrv.com/sites...SARecall-21V-393-RetailNotificationLetter.pdf

 

[RPAspey]

...I think you could be on to something! ...However, the Frig is not running on Propane.
But, after another day of experiencing this, I can say now that the loud thumping/banging/popping noise is definitely related to propane, because it only happens (but only sometimes) when I turn on the furnace het. ...Now, another thing I'm sure is related, is that this morning and for lunch, my stove/oven would NOT ignite UNLESS I first run the furnace heat for a few seconds. And now, for dinner, it won't even stay lit unless I continuously run the furnace heat. And yes, I've heard the loud noise a few times while going through this cycle to use my stove/oven. ...What in the world is going on?

That sounds like a regulator or tank issue. That's the only thing common between them. Swap tanks and try again.

Edit: I just read the recall. if you're getting too much pressure, that would explain it.

 

[Grand Master IceMan]

If by "tank' you mean the Propane (LP) bottles, yes, I've swapped them out and that didn't change anything.

And yes, I've read and thought about the Propane Regulator 'Recall' and that would explain the excessive oven/stove flames when igniting.

...But would that also explain them NOT igniting until I run the furnace heat for a few (10-15) seconds?
...And, you say that LOUD noise I'm hearing could also be caused by a faulty Regulator ...but I wonder why this is NOT mentioned anywhere in the Recall letter? It only talks about the possibility of "excessive flames", and not the two other things I'm experiencing.

 

[Always Learning]

If by "tank' you mean the Propane (LP) bottles, yes, I've swapped them out and that didn't change anything.

And yes, I've read and thought about the Propane Regulator 'Recall' and that would explain the excessive oven/stove flames when igniting.

...But would that also explain them NOT igniting until I run the furnace heat for a few (10-15) seconds?
...And, you say that LOUD noise I'm hearing could also be caused by a faulty Regulator ...but I wonder why this is NOT mentioned anywhere in the Recall letter? It only talks about the possibility of "excessive flames", and not the two other things I'm experiencing.

It sounds like you have isolated the problem to to propane system. It is good you figured out the source of your problem. You need to get this problem fixed NOW. From your description of the problem you need to turn off the propane at the tanks and not use propane in the trailer until you get it fixed. If you can’t park the trailer and not use it until you can get it to a dealer for the recall then you need to get a mobile tech to work on it. Yes it will cost you money but that is much better than having a propane leak in the trailer, fire or explosion.