Finally Bit the FT Bullet

[Rumusical2]

After 4-years of research, RV shows, YouTube videos, and Googling; my wife (Kerri) and I (Aaron) and our two remaining children ages 11 and 13 made the plunge to full time RV living. We purchased a 2020 MHC 362RD and are still truck shopping. We started our FT living just a week ago in July 1st, 2021.

I am a Registered Nurse and likely in the next 2 to 3 years we will start travel Nursing; but until then we will be parked at an RV resort on “the reservoir” in American Falls, ID.

Our first week has been... an adjustment to be sure. I’ve already encountered my first “crisis”... gallons and gallons of water building up in the underbelly... not sure what that’s all about but I’ve opened up the coraplast and letting things dry out. (Not that hard to do in this ridiculous heat wave we are having). Next step... go hunting for the source of the water.

We are very excited to have joined the ranks of full timers... we went all-in... sold everything, stored the “important stuff” and moved in with both feet. We are so happy to have found this group!!!

[RMcNeal]

Aaron, good luck on your "adventures". My daughter and her husband are both nurses in Charleston, SC. They are considering doing the travelling nurse thing as well. Sounds like an interesting idea. I read your other post on the leak. Hopefully, since the water was clear, its only the gray tank or a water supply line leaking. Don't forget to check inside the basement wall to see if anything is wet up there as well. If it is a water line, it could be a real mess behind that wall. I had a leak under the bathroom sink which turned out to be the black tank flush vacuum breaker. I ended up removing and bypassing that and put a backflow preventer on the inlet in the convenience center. Easy fix with shark bite Pex fittings.

[Montana Man]

Congratulations. That should be an interesting lifestyle. Hopefully the unit is under warranty. You'll want to get that leak fixed pronto. If it turns out to be a cracked tank don't let them get away with telling you it's your fault for overfilling it. There is plenty on this forum to research on the subject.

[1retired06]

Welcome to fulltime life. Majority of the time, water fill in the underbelly is caused by a leaking tank.

[mlh]

My nephew and his girlfriend plan to full time. There are both nurses and will be traveling nurses. It seams like a great way for two young people to see the country and make a very nice living.
Lynwood

[JandC]

Hopefully you purchased that unit from a dealer. If you have a split holding tank under there it may not be cheap to fix. At any rate whoever sold you the unit may have possibly known there was an issue?

[Rumusical2]

Originally Posted by JandC

Hopefully you purchased that unit from a dealer. If you have a split holding tank under there it may not be cheap to fix. At any rate whoever sold you the unit may have possibly known there was an issue?

I did purchase from a dealer and they are not exactly jumping at the chance to help me figure this out.

In any case, on another thread I detail out my “Battle of the Bulge” experience. I’ve gotten some helpful tips already, and I believe I have found the source of the leak. It is in one of the tanks where the tank heater wires enter the tank. Not a massively noticeable thing, mind you, but I suppose over time it could build up. I took delivery of the unit the 20th of June... and I would not be at all surprised if there was already some water in the underbelly.

Now I’m off to learn how the tank heater was installed so that I can work backward to repair the leak. Oh... and when I pulled the coraplast down I was met with a jumbled mass of wire harness wires not attached to anything at all and just wadded up in a pile. I cleaned that up too with about 100 wire ties. Lol

Pics attached.

[DQDick]

Welcome to the forum! As someone who's full ltimed for 11 years now, sometimes in cold weather, I can tell you that over the summer you need to learn all you can about winter living in RV's and get the heated water hose and insulation additions and little heaters you may need to make it thru the winter.

[RMcNeal]

The tank heaters are essentially just a heating pad that sticks to the outside of the tank. No wires should penetrate the tank. Even the sensors are wired from the outside.

[Rumusical2]

Originally Posted by DQDick

Welcome to the forum! As someone who's full ltimed for 11 years now, sometimes in cold weather, I can tell you that over the summer you need to learn all you can about winter living in RV's and get the heated water hose and insulation additions and little heaters you may need to make it thru the winter.

Thank you for the advice! And yes... I have already begun the learning process to prepare for winter. I must say that I am a little nervous. There is so much good info out on YouTube and here in the forum!

[Rumusical2]

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

The tank heaters are essentially just a heating pad that sticks to the outside of the tank. No wires should penetrate the tank. Even the sensors are wired from the outside.

Right you are! And had I not waited until I was in the rig taking a break to view the picture I took of the tank heater label, I would have seen that the instructions are right there! What a rookie move on my part.

[brownye]

Welcome to Full timing! You might want to watch No Ordinary Path on youtube. They are a family of 5 and he is a travel nurse. Enjoy your journey.

[dsprik]

Welcome to full timing. About 3 months after we purchased our 3400, I took down the basement wall for another project and noticed wet connections on my water lines near my water pump. I ended up having to tighten several connections. I believe that vibration from the water pump and road vibrations will loosen any joints and should be checked a few months after it is out of the factory.

[JA Cox]

Hope this isn’t high jacking your thread but I too incurred a major water leak in the right floor, we have a wager/dryer installed, and ran the washer while the grey water tank was full (duh), and the back flow came out the coroplasr all across the front of the RV. No system damage or subsequent linkage, just a dump operator.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by dsprik

Welcome to full timing. About 3 months after we purchased our 3400, I took down the basement wall for another project and noticed wet connections on my water lines near my water pump. I ended up having to tighten several connections. I believe that vibration from the water pump and road vibrations will loosen any joints and should be checked a few months after it is out of the factory.

Well Dave, long time, no hearing from you! It has been years since you posted here. Welcome back!

[Gunny B]

We full timed with three kids at ages 8, 5, and 3 for 6 years while on active duty. We full timed in the DFW area and three years in San Diego while living right on mission bay. Those were some awesome years. When the kids become teenagers is a good time to rethink your living situation.