New to Montana & this forum

[miklman]

Is there an inverter on board, if so, where can I find it. How does one gain access to the waste tanks and valves? Is there a seperate galley tank?
Thanks for any info.

[jimcol]

Probably not an inverter unless one has been added since manufactured. You have to drop the belly covering to get to the tanks and valves. From your first post I see you have a 3400 and yes they do have a galley tank. Jim

[mainer]

Just in case you don't know, the handle for the galley tank is in not too convenient of an area, it's by the wheels and a pain to get too.

After Jim hooks up electric, water and sewer, we pull the handle for the galley tank before the slides come out.

[NCFischers]

Are you asking how to dump the tanks? You have a converter on board.

[Ozz]

Could you list the trailer, or 5th wheel model and year you have? Why did you ask the questions, so we can better help you?
Ozz

[sreigle]

As mainer said, the galley tank dump handle is back by the wheels. On our 2007 3400RL it's between the wheels. On our 2003 3295RK it was behind the rear wheel. So look around, it's there somewhere!

[CORattler]

I had to learn this the hard way. I think I still have rocks embedded in my knees!!

quote:Originally posted by mainer

Just in case you don't know, the handle for the galley tank is in not too convenient of an area, it's by the wheels and a pain to get too.

After Jim hooks up electric, water and sewer, we pull the handle for the galley tank before the slides come out.

[Art-n-Marge]

Lucky for me I have the kitchen and entertainment slides on the driver's side rear. The galley dump handle is located, between the two slides. If I gain too much weight I'm never getting in there. The other two handles are in the driver's side right inside basement door.

This may depend on your model, so you might help us by describing your rig year and model. Many of us put this info in our "signatures". If you need any help with the rig or using the forum just ask. There is no such thing is a bad question.

Inverters are typically an option, so there is a good chance your rig does not have one. If your rig is new, the dealer would have told you about this unless you bought from a horrible dealer. If you bought used, then you should ask the prior owner and hopefully they can tell you. Otherwise check in the front storage areas, and behind ANY door. People have been known to put them in lots of places depending on how they want to plug in 110v devices when they are boondocking (off the grid, using only 12v).

[miklman]

The model and year of Montana is 2005 3400RL with 4 slides. BR,Kitchen and Entertainment on drivers side and LR on passenger side.
The reason I asked about an inverter is both AC and 12V items operate while pluged into AC. With one new HD deep cycle battery, while dry camping, with one 12V light and Fridge on the batt lasted 3 days. My thought was that it wasn't charging while plugged into AC.

AS far as waste tanks; I know their capacities and they seem to fill rapidly. Sometimes they leak from somewhere under the 5er when full. When I run the fantastic fan to exhaust some warm air inside the 5er I get some horrible smells from what I think is from the washer drain pipe. Hope this helps.

[racerjoe]

I think 3 days on a single battery and charge is quite good. The fridge running on battery alone will use up power running the electronics, also, do you have a rechargeable flashlight that came with your rig? If so,I think that also uses 12v to charge itself. Did you use your water pump too? You could be right with the odor coming from the w/d drain. Get some water in the trap or cap it off if you are not using it.

[jimcol]

Miklman, You have two different electrical systems in your 5'er, 12v dc & 120v ac. Each has their own distribution panel. The 120v ac side is protected by circuit breakers like you have in your house. The 12v dc side is protected by fuses similar to what you have in your automobile. Not sure where these panels are located on the 3400 but they are close to each other. When plugged in to shore power all your 120v ac stuff works like televisions, microwave, and anything plugged into your standard ac outlets that are similar to what you have in your house. The 12v items like slide motor, landing gear motor, vent fans and ceiling lights are working off power supplied by the converter which changes the 120v ac to 12 v dc. A part of your converter is also charging your 12v battery. When unplugged from shore power the only thing working is 12v dc items. (refrig set to gas, water heater on propane, 12v light fixtures, fans, furnace, propane leak detectors to name a few) The power for all these items is being provided by your 12v HD deep cycle battery. When not hooked up to shore power the battery is in constant decline so 3 days dry camping probably depletes the battery. To recharge it you will have to hook up to either shore power or a generator. (You can get some power by hooking the imbillical to your truck but it won't do much to recharge a dead battery.) I hope this helps you understand the two electrical systems in your 5'er. I'm sure others will be along who can provide you with more detailed explanation.
Your washer drain pipe should have a quick vent cap on it. If that is missing or not working correctly it will allow sewer gas odors back in to the trailer. Can be coming from your holding tank or the park sewer depending on how it is plumbed. These caps are available at most HD, Lowe's or hardware stores. Should look something like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1...5#.UYatXrWG2So
Hope this helps. Jim

[miklman]

Thanks to all for your responses to my problems!

I did find the Galley gate valve

Once I closed it The odors stopped entering the 5er

Still haven't found an inverter for 12v when hooked to shore power.

Thanks so very much for your input!; Greatly appreciated!!!

[Carl n Susan]

quote:Originally posted by miklman


...Still haven't found an inverter for 12v when hooked to shore power.

The converter takes 120V AC and produces 12V DC. An inverter does the opposite (12V DC in, 120V AC out). You do not have an inverter, but you do have a converter. In a 3400RL, the Old World Craftsmen cleverly hid the converter in the bathroom *BEHIND* the circuit breaker/fuse panel. Remove the screws holding the panels and pull them out to access the converter.

[sreigle]

Miklman, I'm glad you found the source of the odor. There's another source we've found out about that you might want to be aware of when running the fantastic fan. The black tank vent on the roof is close to the crank up vent in the bathroom. If we have that crank up open and the fantastic fan exhausting into the atmosphere, sometimes it will pull fumes out of the black tank vent and into the coach via the open crank up vent.

Also, if you've been on the road and the traps under the shower and sinks maybe have managed to lose their water and thus their "seal," you can get odors pulled out of those drains, too. The solution, of course, is to run some water to refill those traps. This sometimes happens even when you're not running the fantastic fan.