It's that time of the year again. Several weeks ago I took Agatha through the dewinterizing process, guided by very detailed instructions. I knew the propane was low so in preparation for this weekend's opening Glampers' camp out with possible frost forecast, I planned to take it in Thursday to get the propane filled. When I opened the camper that morning, I found the dash (which is very large) covered with water puddles. Evidently I have a leak along the top of the large windshield.
I mopped it up and headed to Iowa City to the propane dealer. Refilling the tank was a quick process, but when I went back inside, there was a strong smell of gas. The service guy and the boss both could smell it. The boss said they didn't deal with internal workings of RVs and I should take it to the nearest RV dealer, about six miles away, in case there was a leak. By the time I arrived, I felt nauseous from the strong smell, in spite of having windows open on that rainy day. I went in, explained the problem, and waited about 20 minutes for a technician to look at it. We stepped inside the camper to fresh air and no gas smell at all. The technician said it was probably fumes that got in through the slide seams and should be fine now.
On the way home, I reevaluated my plans for the weekend. The propane was filled and the gas smell gone, but I still had a leaking window. However the forecast was no rain and I decided to chance it. On Friday, I finished loading and headed north to Palisades-Kepler State Park between Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon. Despite the best efforts of Mother Nature to blow me off the road, I made it in one piece.
I mopped it up and headed to Iowa City to the propane dealer. Refilling the tank was a quick process, but when I went back inside, there was a strong smell of gas. The service guy and the boss both could smell it. The boss said they didn't deal with internal workings of RVs and I should take it to the nearest RV dealer, about six miles away, in case there was a leak. By the time I arrived, I felt nauseous from the strong smell, in spite of having windows open on that rainy day. I went in, explained the problem, and waited about 20 minutes for a technician to look at it. We stepped inside the camper to fresh air and no gas smell at all. The technician said it was probably fumes that got in through the slide seams and should be fine now.
On the way home, I reevaluated my plans for the weekend. The propane was filled and the gas smell gone, but I still had a leaking window. However the forecast was no rain and I decided to chance it. On Friday, I finished loading and headed north to Palisades-Kepler State Park between Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon. Despite the best efforts of Mother Nature to blow me off the road, I made it in one piece.
I filled the fresh water tank and proceeded to my campsite. With the bitter northwest wind, I got set up and pulled a couple of lawn chairs out of the storage compartments, but that was it. Once inside, I turned on the water pump and checked the faucets--all working. I turned on the furnace--also working. I plopped in my recliner with a blanket and book and recuperated for an hour or so. I still needed to reconfigure the water heater valves and turn the water heater on. This process requires unscrewing a grill down near the floor and fishing through heating ducts to close the bypass and open the intake and outflow valves. I think when they design RVs, it's a little like packing for a long trip when you pack the major items and end up stuffing small items or forgotten necessities in every corner you can find.
So as I did this, the water pump came on to fill the 6 gallon water heater but seemed to be running an inordinately long time. When I finally went out side, I noticed water under my camper and the gauge for the fresh water tank showed EMPTY! I rechecked all of other valves (which are under one of the beds) and everything that was supposed to be closed was. Time to call on my tribe. After consultation with several Glampers, Carla's husband Jason came up to take a look. He agreed that I had every valve positioned correctly...until he checked the outside water heater compartment. The pressure release valve was still open. In my defense, it wasn't on my list of instructions.
So that problem was solved, but now I had an empty water tank. I could unhook everything, pull the slide in, and drive over to the dump station to refill the fresh water. Or, there is a water hydrant across the road and a few sites down, so we decided on a team effort here. I have two hoses, Betty and Ann have two, and Carla and Jackie each contributed one. We were still short. Another camper across the road came out with another and said he needed to refill his tank also because he had been here several days. Soon we both were up and running. Ironically, one of the other women in our group had exactly the same experience a couple of years ago in the same campsite. She had just had her camper dewinterized before she camped here and someone had forgotten to close the pressure release valve. Lost all of her fresh water. We have decided it was the campsite's fault.
So that problem was solved, but now I had an empty water tank. I could unhook everything, pull the slide in, and drive over to the dump station to refill the fresh water. Or, there is a water hydrant across the road and a few sites down, so we decided on a team effort here. I have two hoses, Betty and Ann have two, and Carla and Jackie each contributed one. We were still short. Another camper across the road came out with another and said he needed to refill his tank also because he had been here several days. Soon we both were up and running. Ironically, one of the other women in our group had exactly the same experience a couple of years ago in the same campsite. She had just had her camper dewinterized before she camped here and someone had forgotten to close the pressure release valve. Lost all of her fresh water. We have decided it was the campsite's fault.
So the day ended well with a beautiful sunset and I was reminded once again of the wonderful supportiveness of campers. All of these women (and one manper, as we call them) did what they could to get me up and running. Even a complete stranger pitched in. It enabled me to enjoy the rest of the evening and weekend, even thought the weather was not ideal. Still a wonderful getaway!
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