2015 Flying Cloud 25FB

[Gene]

Last week in Grand Junction it was in the 60's and 50's up here above the city—fine for spring and fall, but we need winter to have water in the summer. Not that I mind a few days of 60's in midwinter.

Gene

[dkottum]

Brian, I'm wondering about storing the Sewer Solution in the outside access compartments, which are actually inside the Airstream. We usually put it in the pickup bed, but have also put it in the rear bumper storage so it is not within the Airstream's interior space for obvious reasons.

[dkottum]

Anther concern is about using the heat pump in "hard freeze" temperatures. It provides no heat to the plumbing under the floor but the furnace does. I would also recommend draining any storage tanks where their drain valves are exposed to cold air under the trailer, the water inside the valves can freeze and burst the valve. On our 25RB that would include hot and cold plumbing drains, fresh water tank drain, and black and grey storage tank valves.

[rmkrum]

We keep ours in the rear bumper. It just fits with the clear extension on it. The flusher and utility water hoses live there also.

Power cords, potable water hose and other stuff that needs to be clean lives in a plastic crate in the TV with the PP hitch wrench, the stabilizer wrench and a few other tools. I also keep a foam kneeling pad there for my aching knees during setup and tear down.

Just seems to make sense. Our rig doesn't have external access storage, but keeping dirty/possibly unsanitary stuff totally out of the AS makes sense to me.


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[moosetags]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Brian, I'm wondering about storing the Sewer Solution in the outside access compartments, which are actually inside the Airstream. We usually put it in the pickup bed, but have also put it in the rear bumper storage so it is not within the Airstream's interior space for obvious reasons.

We have always stored our Sewer Solution drain hoses in the outside storage compartments on all three of our Airstreams. I realize that these compartments are actually under the bed(s), etc. In nine years of doing this, we have never had an odor problem inside the trailer. Unlike a slinky, the Sewer Solution hose is always thoroughly rinsed prior to storage.

Brian

[Gene]

We have camped in temps as low as 19˚ and if the valves and drains for the tanks froze, they defrosted in time to use. It may have been colder before we looked at the outside temp. So long as the valves are closed, there is little water in the black and grey final outlet—the one with the removable cover. The water in the tanks is heated so the valves should not freeze above about 20˚. The valve for the fresh water tank is more exposed and if you have the plastic one that is installed at the factory, it could crack. We replaced ours with a metal hose bib and it would have to get much colder to crack that. Behind it is a plastic tube attached to the tank, but it is neoprene I think and should handle fairly cold nights.

There is a PVC storage tube under the trailer for a slinky hose and we have one there as an extra, but have never used it. The hoses for sewer and fresh water are stored in containers in the truck bed and since there is little water in them, no problem except they are stiff when cold—below 50˚—but usable. Trying to coil a water hose that has experienced below freezing temps is not easy, but if they won't coil, we just throw them in the back of the truck and move on. An hour in the sun should help, but if it is snowing, then throw them in the truck. Trying to coil them could kink them and/or break them.

If temps are to go below 20˚ at night, I suggest driving south. Also, camping in such cold temps will use a lot of propane to heat the trailer. Make sure the propane tanks are full before you camp in freezing weather. For those who live close to the coasts, remember temps can fall 40 or 50˚ at night, especially in the desert.

Gene

[dkottum]

Isn't it more than odor, we rinse our's as well. It's not unusual to see some water drain from the hose and fittings when in the truck bed. And it's not entirely clean water.

[moosetags]

I realize that there is always some water left in the drain hoses. I need to store these in the Airstream's outside compartments because my tow vehicle is a truck camper. I wouldn't want to put the sewer hoses inside the camper.

Brian

[rmkrum]

In that case, find a nice dedicated tote box that fits neatly in the compartment and only store the designated hoses in it. Mark clearly to prevent mix ups. I don't like the idea of spills that aren't all water...


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[rmkrum]

Watertight bottom in the tote box. 😄


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[Photobum]

This has been a fascinating thread....

[rmkrum]

We're leaving a lot unsaid as well...


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[moosetags]

Originally Posted by Photobum

This has been a fascinating thread....

Thank you for your kind words. I lived in Sioux Falls many years ago (go Canaries!), and traveled the state extensively for work. South Dakota is a great place, and we have been back many times.

Brian

[trakker]

Originally Posted by moosetags

I realize that this is a very long thread, but it would probably be worth your while to read all of it as it deals specifically with the 2015 Flying Cloud 25FB. It might give you some insights and cautions as you take delivery and start to use your Airstream.

Brian

Might? Sheesh. Reading the entire thread and trying to absorb the experience and knowledge was time very well spent. Thank you all.

[Photobum]

Moosetags, I am a born and raised California Native. But when The Governor turned the State over to Mexico I became a citizen of the great state of South Dakota, which I love in the summer. The winter, not so much.

[moosetags]

That is true. South Dakota's winters can get a little long.

Brian

[moosetags]

I found a new Sewer Solution sewer adapter that is quite a bit different than the rubber original that came with the Sewer Solution. Many times the larger ring is too big for the campground sewer outlet and the small one doesn't seal well. This new adapter is stepped and will handle four different size sewer pipes.

I have never understood why there are so many different size sewer outlets at various campgrounds.

Here is a picture of the new adapter.

Brian

[rmkrum]

Hm. That's what came with mine over a year ago. Got it on sale at Camping World.


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[Silverbee]

Originally Posted by moosetags

I found a new Sewer Solution sewer adapter that is quite a bit different than the rubber original that came with the Sewer Solution. Many times the larger ring is too big for the campground sewer outlet and the small one doesn't seal well. This new adapter is stepped and will handle four different size sewer pipes.

I have never understood why there are so many different size sewer outlets at various campgrounds.

Here is a picture of the new adapter.

Brian

So, Brian, where did you find it?

[KJRitchie]

Do you find the 10' length for the Sewer Solution long enough or do you also carry an extension.

Kelvin