Unplanned Dry Camping (water issue!)

[SunnyApp]

Well folks, I knew it couldn’t last. After four months of no issues in the 2024 Airstream Interstate 2024 GT with E1 package, we have a new issue.

Out camping (boondocking).

Just sitting enjoying the evening.

Then the water pump comes on.

Why?

Who knows, but it isn’t coming out of an open faucet!

Turned off the water pump. (Thankfully only on for less than a minute).

Water dripping outside by the exhaust pipe for the furnace / hot water system.

Am guessing our issue is going to be the same as Wanderlocal had (see their YouTube channel if interested) where a water hose separated from the clamp that holds it onto the heater.

Looks like another trip to Airstream of Virginia.

Will update when we have a solution!

[BikeCamper]

Sorry about the hassle.

Why not tighten the hose clamp yourself? Or at least do a little troubleshooting to learn more - - could be a very easy fix. You may even be able to close a valve that will isolate the leak from the rest of the water system, and continue using it.

As a general rule, it’s best to only turn the water pump on when you are actively using a fixture. Turn it off again as soon as you’re done. That way if a leak develops it doesn’t become a fast flood fed by pressurized water.

[SunnyApp]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Sorry about the hassle.

Why not tighten the hose clamp yourself? Or at least do a little troubleshooting to learn more - - could be a very easy fix. You may even be able to close a valve that will isolate the leak from the rest of the water system, and continue using it.

As a general rule, it’s best to only turn the water pump on when you are actively using a fixture. Turn it off again as soon as you’re done. That way if a leak develops it doesn’t become a fast flood fed by pressurized water.

It is a good and fair question. I suppose the short answer is that I paid good money for the unit and warranty. I feel that if as an owner I don’t hold the company accountable for their work then others will continue to experience the same defect.

The longer view, too, is that it takes a lot of effort to tear everything out to even get a look-see. If my issue is the same as others, the issue is on the side of the heater you can’t access without removing the whole unit! Definitely not a field repair.

I will see if there is a bypass I can see. That is an excellent idea.

You are 100% right on only keeping the unit pressurized while using. I had just finished the dishes and showers were next on the schedule! We never leave it on at night or while driving.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by SunnyApp

It is a good and fair question. I suppose the short answer is that I paid good money for the unit and warranty. I feel that if as an owner I don’t hold the company accountable for their work then others will continue to experience the same defect.

The longer view, too, is that it takes a lot of effort to tear everything out to even get a look-see. If my issue is the same as others, the issue is on the side of the heater you can’t access without removing the whole unit! Definitely not a field repair.

I will see if there is a bypass I can see. That is an excellent idea.

You are 100% right on only keeping the unit pressurized while using. I had just finished the dishes and showers were next on the schedule! We never leave it on at night or while driving.

Copy that. And I agree, you shouldn’t have to tear into a major project on a unit that is still under warranty. I was thinking more if it might be a quick fix it would save the hassle and unpleasantness of visiting A of VA.

[ROBERT CROSS]

On our first outing, I learned the lesson, turn the pump off until needed.
This happened at 3 am, MacGyver fix with MarineTex.

Still holding.

Bob

Cross-threaded, not caught on the PDI

[JeffKim]

We don't have an Interstate, but I quickly found that our new Airstream forced me to be handy if we didn't want to go into the shop several times a year. In the two years we've had ours I learned all about things I never knew existed or how things worked. This included the water pump, furnace, and anything to do with the electrical system. Most of the time things are easy to fix, but the furnace required warranty work (but then I refixed it last trip because I knew about the sail switch from my adventures trying to fix it before).

It's not what we expected with a million-dollar camper (or your two-million dollar one), but I guess the silver lining is when things do go out of warranty, I'll have enough basic knowledge to fix things when they will inevitably break.

We always leave the pump on when camping. So far, no disasters.

[SunnyApp]

Quick update. Airstream of Virginia was able to schedule me in for analysis and possible repair at the earliest time convenient to me (next Friday). They had earlier options which didn’t work for me. I’ll let you all know what we find out :-)

In the meantime we have been ‘dry’ camping with bottled water.

[SunnyApp]

Kudos to the team at Airstream of Virginia, working in partnership with the Timberline folks. They pulled lots of bits apart, found where the leak was coming from, made a new (hopefully stronger!) connection and then put it all back together.

Took two trips but we’re back in business able to camp with water.

Now if we can catch a break from other things we can record a 1-year+ update video on the Interstate. We’re about 26k miles now.