Welcome to the RV Life: Mysteries of Operation

When we first purchased a small travel trailer, (two trailers ago) the whole operation thing was much a mystery.  A few years later, I've sort of worked through the process and feel like I understand most of the essentials, though I'm certainly not as savvy as many RV owners.  But there is quite a learning curve to getting up and going.  

First, I like to compare the RV to a house. You have these various systems:  water supply, sewer, electrical, gas (propane), etc.  They work much the same as a house.  They all have connections somewhere on the outside of the rv, and you have to first learn where each one is located on the outside.  

Water comes in: (fresh water or city water hose hookup), goes to the water heater and hot water system, and cold water piping system.  In addition, there is a water holding tank that holds water for use when you are not hooked up to a city water system, which has an electric pump that you turn on that causes water to flow, which has to be turned on when you want to make the tank water run.  

Used water goes into one of two tanks,  Sewer water goes into a "black" water tank.  Dish, shower, and sink water goes into a "gray" water tank.  You have to watch the capacities of these tanks so you don't overfill.  The gauges are notoriously innacurate, so you have to watch these closely.  We don't put human waste or paper in the black water tank, but if you do you have to make sure you have some water in the black water tank from the beginning to keep it from drying and clogging. If you have a sewer hookup at the site, this simplifies emptying, you can do it from the site when you're ready to leave.  And if you stay for a period of time, you can empty periodically without having to move.   If no site sewer hookup, then you have to move to the dump station on your way out, or when full and empty there.  

Electrical:  There are two systems.  When you plug into electrical service box, the system (like house current) will be either 30 amp (two diagonal flat plugs with a round plug, all arranged in a triangle pattern) or 50 amp (used for larger RVs).  If not plugged into electrical service the RV runs off the RV battery.  If plugged into your tow vehicle (trailers) you're also running off your tow vehicle as well as the trailer.  This is a 12 volt system, and the trailer "knows" to switch over to this system.  If you're running on battery, the refrigerator switches over to run on propane, and you can't run microwave or tv.  But the pump on water system will run, the heater motor will run (runs down battery quickly), and lights work, as well as slide motor to bring your slide in and out, if you have a slide,and the jack (on trailers) will work.    

Gas (propane) comes from the tank located either on the front (trailers) or somewhere in a storage area.  It runs the range, heater, refrigerator (when not on electrical current), and possibly an outside connection for outside kitchen or gas grill.  There's a knob at the tank to turn off or on.  If two tanks, they can switch between the two tanks if one runs out.  Most people leave propane on when in transit so the refrigerator will run, and heater can be turned on if desired.