New member from GA - Petcock valve under camper?

dwgrayjr · 06-08-2015, 11:31 AM

Very excited to join!! We are the proud owners of a new Aspen Trail 2730RBS!! We've never owned a camper before and we're like children at Christmas time! We purchased it a week ago and camped all week!!

There is a white petcock valve under the belly of the camper that I have no idea what it's used for?

Any and all advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks - Don, Kim, & Jasper!

Nana & Poppy · 06-08-2015, 11:35 AM

We don't have the same trailer as you .......BUT..... I would think it is to drain the water out of your fresh water tank.......give it a try!

dwgrayjr · 06-08-2015, 11:39 AM

Thanks!! And that makes sense! I'll give it a try today!

kalm_in_NJ · 06-08-2015, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwgrayjr

Very excited to join!! We are the proud owners of a new Aspen Trail 2730RBS!! We've never owned a camper before and we're like children at Christmas time! We purchased it a week ago and camped all week!!

There is a white petcock valve under the belly of the camper that I have no idea what it's used for?

Any and all advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks - Don, Kim, & Jasper!

Welcome to the forum! If you have questions you're definitely in the right place.

We have the same white drain valve under our freshwater tank so Nana & Poppy are most likely correct.

Hey that trailer is a beauty!

Ken

dwgrayjr · 06-08-2015, 12:33 PM

Ken,
Thanks! I'm going to give it a test water run today. We utilized shore power and water this past week so my fresh water tank stayed empty, but I'll give it a wet run through today. Thanks again, Don

**wahoonc** · 06-08-2015, 02:55 PM

While you have water in the tank go ahead and try out the pump, and check for leaks while you are at it!

I would also agree that the petcock is for draining the tank. I have one on my Coleman too.

Aaron

Adair1965 · 06-09-2015, 12:00 AM

That would be the fresh water tank drain. Welcome from Canada, enjoy your new trailer.

dwgrayjr · 06-09-2015, 06:14 PM

Awesome - thanks!!

dwgrayjr · 06-09-2015, 06:16 PM

Thanks!!!! Now another question sorry! I've got the reducer connected to my 30amp plug and plugged into my home outlet, can I run the ac?

dwgrayjr · 06-09-2015, 06:25 PM

Ken,
I apologize for asking too many questions but can I run my ac while plugged in at home? I've got the reducer connected to my 30amp cord and plugged into my garage outlet. It's running the lights and a small box fan, but goodness I'd love to run that ac while packing! Thanks

dwgrayjr · 06-09-2015, 06:27 PM

Nana & Poppy - you're correct!!! Thanks!!

DesertRat · 06-09-2015, 07:01 PM

Welcome...........and don't worry about asking questions we all were RV new bees at one time.

As far as the running the A/C my guess is it might work for a time but the 15 amp reducer is going to get hot & cause problems.
Yes as you have found out that valve is the drain for your water tank. Also I agree you need to put water in it & test your pump. Also put your frig & water heater on gas & make sure they work.

macman83 · 06-09-2015, 09:59 PM

We used to use a very heavy extension cord designed for RVs and plug it into the garage plug(15amp). It would run our 11K BTU A/C unit with no problem.

kalm_in_NJ · 06-11-2015, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwgrayjr

Ken,
I apologize for asking too many questions but can I run my ac while plugged in at home? I've got the reducer connected to my 30amp cord and plugged into my garage outlet. It's running the lights and a small box fan, but goodness I'd love to run that ac while packing! Thanks

No trouble at all. You can't get answers if you don't ask questions.
Ken

kalm_in_NJ · 06-11-2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macman83

We used to use a very heavy extension cord designed for RVs and plug it into the garage plug(15amp). It would run our 11K BTU A/C unit with no problem.

That's interesting. I wonder what gauge the wire was in your cord. We haven't had to use our 30A-to-15A plug adapter yet but our AC says "low starting voltage" so I think it would work. Our AC is only 8K btu though.

As others already have said though, I'd be concerned about the adapter heating up too much. Even if your garage outlets are 20A allowing for a higher starting current from the AC, the adapter/extension cord, etc is going to be the weak link.

Ken

kalm_in_NJ · 06-11-2015, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwgrayjr

Ken,
I apologize for asking too many questions but can I run my ac while plugged in at home? I've got the reducer connected to my 30amp cord and plugged into my garage outlet. It's running the lights and a small box fan, but goodness I'd love to run that ac while packing! Thanks

We live in an apartment and keep our trailer in storage between camping trips. But if we owned a house, I'd definitely install a 30A outlet in the garage.

Ken

HornedToad · 06-11-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwgrayjr

Ken,
I apologize for asking too many questions but can I run my ac while plugged in at home? I've got the reducer connected to my 30amp cord and plugged into my garage outlet. It's running the lights and a small box fan, but goodness I'd love to run that ac while packing! Thanks

15K & 13.5K BTU ACs are wired to a 20 amp breaker and require just about all of that to start and most of it to run.

I've run my AC off a 15 amp household plug, disregarding the naysayers that caution it could damage the unit. I do flip off all the other breakers so the AC is the only load and start/run the AC on low cool.

Don't worry you'll still have your 12V lights, but you should not try to run a box fan, the converter, or really anything else beside the AC off a 15 amp plug.

As mentioned above if you use an extension cord, make sure it's short and heavy duty, like a 25 ft 12 gauge cord. Better yet use your 30 amp cord with the adapter if it will reach the plug.

VCToyhauler · 06-17-2015, 05:53 AM

Yes you should be able to run 1 A/C if the garage circuit is 30A. It should not hurt to try. When I exceeded my garage circuit, firing up A/C 2 inadvertently, that house breaker tripped, so that is how you will know the limit

HornedToad · 06-17-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ

We live in an apartment and keep our trailer in storage between camping trips. But if we owned a house, I'd definitely install a 30A outlet in the garage.

Ken

For anyone considering installing an RV plug at the house...
go with a 50 amp plug.

You can adapt a 30 amp trailer to a 50 amp plug, but not vice versa.

I started with a 30 amp plug and had re wire when I got a 50 amp trailer.

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