Remove the whole fresh water, black water tanks and the wifi electric monitor system and get a simple composing toilet. Very simple to clean, no nasty hoses to store, and they DON'T smell.
Hi Debbie, We really enjoy your videos. We have a 2017 PW Plateau TS with a Norcold Fridge. We also have the outside fridge vent compartment with the fan that you are concerned about. In our van that fan only comes on when heat builds inside the vent compartment, as when it is a hot day and the vent/fridge side of the van is facing the sun. It has only ever run 1 time in the past 2 years on a very very hot humid day when we parked for hours with the fridge vent facing the sun. Opps (We were concerned when we first heard it!) Our fridge runs great (knock wood). So, i believe this fan is not your problem.
Thanks. That's good to know. I met up with a friend today who has a 2010 PW Ascent and I thought it was interesting that her fridge has two fans that are located closer to the fins while the 2018 has one and it is farther away.
Hi Debbie, I also once thought my tank sensors were clogged, but PW says they are on the outside of the tanks, so they don't get clogged. I then noticed I was getting the false reading when my Ascent was parked in my driveway with the typical 1/4 inch to a foot drainage slope. As soon as I put the Ascent on some levelers, the tank sensors were right on. You may want to give that a try Since your fridge already has an outside fan, you may want to just get it working and try that, before you install a second one that may not be needed.Nice video!Skip
The gray tank on my Roadtrek works perfectly and has always done so since new. The black water tank sensor became unreliable very quickly due to debris on the sensor probes. This is a universal occurrence. The See Level system works great with external sensors but uncertain if the sensors could be used with existing wiring and the panel. Great video once again. Our mountain bike e-bikes took us down an extremely rough dirt road yesterday in Sedona. We took them 4 miles down the road to a trailhead. This allowed us to access a ceremonial cliff dwelling that is incredibly beautiful. We could not have done this without the bikes. E-bikes are invaluable for maximum adventure and quality of life on the road.
Love Sedona. Can't wait to get there again. Viewer Skip Stellar told me that PW uses an exterior sensor. Now I'm curious where it is located and how the heck it can "see" through a black tank. So who knows why it registered as 25% full because we were parked on level ground.
From She to Me There is a possibility that the sensor attached to your black water tank needs to be recalibrated. Not necessarily adjusting anything but doing a zero out with the tank empty. I do know that the SeeLevel system on our Class A motorhome calibrates itself through a short learning process as the tank is fully filled and then fully emptied. It is a great system. The factory installed regular probes in the black water tank were useless as usual. I installed the SeeLevel aftermarket system myself. As far as how the external sensing system works is a mystery to me too. There has to be some kind of electrical charge change where the level of the fluid is in the tank and the continuous strip sensor detects where that change occurs. Your first step is to verify whether you have the traditional sensors embedded in your tank with probes or if you truly have a completely external sensor system like the SeeLevel. From there comes the next step. EDIT: One thing you could do in the mean time is to empty your black water tank completely. Pour in a gallon of water through the toilet and count the number of gallons until you see that the black water tank tank is full (not all the way up to the toilet flap obviously). Compare the number of gallons you poured in to fill it to the manufacturer spec of the tank. If you are gallons less than what it should be, then you have a layer of muck on the bottom of the tank. It happens occasionally when draining doesn’t go the right way over time or a leaking dump valve leaks fluid leaving the solids (especially TP). I doubt this is your issue as you are quite savvy RV folks. BUT, who knows. Maybe someone messed it up before delivery...
Thanks for all the tips Debbie & John!. Will have to add to my 'Van Budget' on my last yr of working, the suspension & tires, bike rack & maybe even the e bikes. I like the idea of pumping on my bike, but on road. Could you do a video on the e bike sometime? and a compare & contrast with regular bikes?? + the brand you got. There is so much appreciation for your 'can do mentality & research', I am learning that is the only way to enjoy van life.
Have you read the entire manual on the frig. ? I am thinking you have not. The fan may only run when it is running on propane, but the manual will tell you so. You may look at the manual on the tank reporting system being @ 25% when empty. You may reset it by turning it off or unplug the batteries for one minute then reset everything. Yes it's a pain and that's why people keep going back to the dealer for simple problems. "Read all of those manuals".
Believe me, we've read the fridge manual and researched many hours on line. I'm going to have the regulator replaced before we head out again (even though it was checked when we first got the rig). On our recent trip we had another several days of high fridge temp when the outside air was in the 60's.
Very nice and informative as usual! I learned on a UT video that the water filter pictured (and one that I had been using) only filters down to 10 microns, which is not enough to keep some of the micro critters out of your fresh water. We now use a 5 micron filter just because RVers are visiting so many places with new water sources .... try leveling your van with blocks under the front tires and then experiment with filling the tanks with fresh water and draining them. If the problem goes away, then it may be possible to loosen the tank hanger straps and put a thin shim under the back top edge of each tank to return them to level ... or just get used to the new way of reading your quantities. The black water sensors are very easily disabled by waste on the sensors, and really should be flushed after each dumping. Also always put a few gallons of water back in the black tank after draining, so it is sloshing while driving. YES you should get your own Minnie - you have many years of biking ahead of you! Looking forward to your next adventure!
I think I remember the new BFG tires being larger diameter which would affect the speedometer and the odometer to show fewer miles traveled which will lead to a lower mpg calculation. Jeeps have a way to tell the computer you have switched tire size and adjust for the change. Since your Ram is from Chrysler/Fiat you may be able to do the same thing.
Rad mini ebikes. Etrailer sells the Hollywood rack but I think I have a link on my Amazon Storefront. Http://www.amazon.com/shop/fromshetome. Wilco makes the swing hitch. We’re on the road, but email me if you have questions and I’ll answer when we have cell service. energymaven@gmail.com
Great video. I have got to say I love the title of your channel. My mom was always mentioned as she... she hated that. I love that you are “me” now!! 😜
I think it is a cultural thing. Our daughter-in-law is from Scotland and we learned from her that over there it is considered rude to refer to someone as he or she when they are within ear shot. There are so many interesting quirks between regions and cultures. I get teased by our Scottish friends for saying "really."
I look forward to your STUFF. We ordered our Ascent at the Pomona RV show in October and opted for the 2019 Mercedes chassis thus the long delay. So, I am a fan as we live through you vicariously and get great tips , smiles and laughs. I may have missed this but do you have e-bikes? If so, which ones? Thanks again.
Yes. My brother gave me an e-bike and then John got a Rad Mini and now I have just ordered a Rad Mini step through which should be here in about 2 weeks. They were great fun on our most recent trip and we will be taking them out again after the second one arrives.
Thank you so much to take the time to make these entertaining and educational videos. Your experience is giving me the courage to consider our own Pleasure Way purchase. Sorry about the experiences with your refrigerator, but your experience is really educating the community about how to troubleshoot it. One question for you about water usage. What do you use water (from tank) for? Drinking, dishes and bathing? When you go to these beautiful places, how long do you boondock and how frequently do you and your husband take a shower in the van? I’m on the fence between a Class B with wet bath and the Plateau XLTS with the larger bath. So curious to know if convenience of shower means you shower less? Or because you knew you’d be showering less, you were more comfortable with the wet bath? Thanks again!
We don't use the inside shower at all. When we first got it I thought I might attempt to use it but realized immediately that it would be "too much sugar for a dime" (my mother used to say that all the time). We generally look for some kind of campground which almost always has access to water. I have washed my hair over the sink and used the outside shower when we don't have access to an alternative. But I was a backpacker in my earlier days and am used to going for weeks without a proper "shower." We have a Planet Fitness membership we have used for showers on the road and generally haven't needed to go more than 2 days without a shower. The bigger problem for people who must have a shower, is the amount of water they use. On our trip, we hooked up with my brother and his wife who have a 5th wheel. They went through 60 gallons in 3 days and we used less than 24 gallons in 7 days. Of course, if you go to a full hookup site, you can have unlimited water. We've never hooked up our water or sewer at a full hookup site.
Just looked at the specs on your Ascent. 20G fresh and 15G grey. The XLTS I want has a 28G fresh and 20G grey. If grey capacity is the limiting factor, and figure a standard 2Gpm shower head, that means 7.5 minute shower in the Ascent and a 10 minute shower in the XLTS. …I’ll have to learn to shower quickly. But it makes me think that even when you’re hooked up at a campsite with unlimited hot water via the Truma AquaGo, you still need to manage water. I‘ve learned from Neil (@ Ultramobility) among others that you don’t want to keep black valve open. Better to “mix” solid and liquid waste so solids don’t build up. But is it ok to leave grey valve open? Now that I understand showering limitations, what do you use fresh water tank and the hot water heater for? Do you drink water from fresh tank, or do you prefer to drink from other stored/bottled options? If long showers are out, what do you use hot water for? Is it hot enough to use for instant coffee, oatmeal or something else (like ramen?). I’m guessing you use it just for hand and dish washing. But I’m also guessing that if you want to stretch boondocking time, just bring disposable plates. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.
@@ccartee1 Yes, you could certainly leave the gray open but if you are at a full hookup spot probably better to just hook up the hose and only open the gray valve when it is relatively full so that you move the water and debris quickly through the hose. We do not drink from the fresh tank and instead fill a 2 gallon jug before we leave home from our filtered tap water and then use campground spigots after that. You certainly could drink from the fresh tank but it has a plastic taste that we don't care for. The hot water is used for cleaning dishes, hands, face, outdoor shower. And when we do use the shower outside, someone holds the wand and turns it on and off as the other person soaps up and rinses. I can easily take a shower with a gallon of water. Even at home I take a 2 minute shower. I highly recommend you rent a van and see if you can cut your water use.
Have you been to the Trona Pinnacles with your new set up? Enjoyed the video, you make want to load up my car and hit the road. Keep exploring and safe travels.
Haven't been through Trona in years but remember camping there in college on a geology field trip. We used to drive to Death Valley that way. We'll have to consider it next time. Do you have a favorite spot out there?
About your black tank reading after you drained the tank: Do you use a rhino blaster for clogs? I was watching a video about Top RV Must Have Gadgets... and the folks mentioned a few gadgets that sounded interesting - Rhino blaster, electrical management system (instead of a surge protector) on your post, water pressure controller, buy local-RV. Thank you for your insight and ideas. I appreciate the crafty mind that you have and that can-do mentality. Great inspiration! I am just a wanna-be but I am taking lots of notes and making advanced purchases. For example, the insulated pots are pricey but smart, so they will make a good mothers day present from the kids :) (fingers crossed).
I enjoyed the "wannabe" part of the journey very much. I consumed CZcams videos to the exclusion of all other entertainment for several years. Now to address the essential and much requested topic of toilets...Yes, I do have a wand that you stick down the toilet and blast the inside. I had to get one early on after experiencing the "pyramid of toilet paper" (I think that's what people call it). Anyway, I figured out not to put TP from #1 in the tank. It goes in a separate trash container that sits next to the toilet. Haven't had a problem since. But I will still occasionally use the wand just to clean off the sensor.
I just bought a RAD city ebike!! I have had three RV's with the absorption system refrigerator all of them were unacceptable in their ability to get cold fast and to stay cold. Our SS Agile has a compressor and has never failed to preform well even in 100 degree weather.
Funny you should mention that. I spoke to a Dometic rep this week and asked if they had a compressor unit that would fit and she had the gall to say that you can’t put one in an RV because it wouldn’t work in a vehicle because of all the movement. I said to her that RoadTrek does and what about Truck Fridge. 🥴
@@FromShetoMeShe does not know what she is talking about. An absorbion system works best when level. Even slightly out of level like most class B rv's usually are they do not work well or at all sometimes. An absorbtion system requires heat to move the ammonia through the system so windy conditions are very bad, like driving. Absorbtions systems work great in a cabin in Montana not so much for the rest of us.
@@johnpuccetti9383 I know, she was a complete zero. And on top of that, she was not helpful at all regarding my complaint about the temp fluctuations. Told me I had to go back to the dealer and they would have to do a test where they put a cup of water in the fridge with a thermometer in it. I think I've given up on Dometic. Until we want to invest in a new fridge, we'll carry a small ice chest as a back-up.
@@FromShetoMe Our's is a Norcold compressor refrigerators require a little more cabinet depth. We hope to take a RV trip north in the fall. We are in Ventura.
Thank again, can you tell me what the blue thing is on your water hose that is filling the fresh water tank? Is it a filter? Can you share a link to it?
It's a water filter that is commonly used to filter out grit or larger particles: www.amazon.com/dp/B0024E6V30/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.G1C3NADJCPR6&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_fromshetome_dp_vv_d
I am amazed you can go so many days without needing to dump and fill. We can go only about 2 days, even though I wash dishes in as little water as possible, I do wash them. The toilet needs some water to flush, maybe we are using too much. We are planning a 3 night trip where water and dump will not be available. We plan to use the outhouses whenever possible and take a water purifier for lake water if necessary. If needed we can make an hour and a half round trip to dump and fill, but I would be interested to know how you save water. We have a 2008 PW Excel with 24, 26 and 12 gal fresh/gray/black tanks. What water saving tricks do you use?
Our Ascent has a 20 gallon fresh tank, 15 gray and 12 black. Don't put toilet paper in the toilet. Use a scraper and paper towels to remove food from pots and pans before washing. Use paper plates and bowls. Get a squeeze bottle for rinsing, brushing teeth, etc. Simple meals with fewest number of pans. No showers. All our drinking water comes from a 2 gallon container that we fill about every 2 days. Hope that helps and let me know how you do on your trip.
@@FromShetoMe Thanks. We haven't taken showers in the van. We allow the dogs to pre-wash pots, pans and plates. Currently we only produce about a milk carton's worth of trash in a weekend. May have to reconsider the paper plate thing, but I don't like them. I like the squeeze bottle idea. That could save a lot of wasted rinse water. We also realize how much water is wasted waiting for hot to come to the sink, so might use the bucket trick like in the showers at home. We can use that to rinse. Maybe lake water to flush.
First I wanted to echo others comments on how informative and helpful your videos are. Separately we are looking at buying a PW Lexor later this year and I was curious about your satisfaction level with the laminate cupboards vs solid wood. Thank you in advance.
Thanks for your nice remarks. I'm very happy with the laminate. Easy to clean, and I like the modern look. That said, I used to use a tension rod inside one of the small overhead cabinets and in removing it one day, it chipped off a small piece (not even a half an inch) on the inside of the cupboard. So while it isn't noticeable to anyone, it is a constant reminder to me to be more careful on laminate edges. I'm sure it could be glued back. Also, where I remove the instant pot in the one large lower cupboard, I started seeing some scuff marks so have put some white tape around that edge. So far, knock on wood, that is all the wear and tear we have had (in 18 months).
Thank you so much for answering my water question. Did you guys take showers with that fresh water and how many gallons do each one of your tanks hold?
No, there is no filtered water in our rig although my brother was trying to talk me into adding one. Not sure where we would put it. We just use our 2 gallon jug for drinking water.
those tank sensors are crap.... I have a See Level II system.... far better..does voltage...fresh...grey...black...and propane level...all with accurate percentage readings.. what do.you expect buying a class B for 120,000.00 bucks..
1pilotsteve The See Level works great! However, I am on my third display in 10 years. The first one started to smell like electrical fire suddenly. The second one just quit a few years later.
The trick about the Truma hot water heater, that alone made it worth watching! 🤣
Looks like Borrego.. loved our trip there. We did that trip in our VW before our ProMaster that we have now!!
Actually, that was a campground we discovered using Google Maps, called Corn Springs. Hope to go back sometime.
Just a tip anytime I move my trailer I pour a 10 lb bag of ice down the commode really keeps the debris off the inside of the tank
Clever. I’ll give that a try.
Remove the whole fresh water, black water tanks and the wifi electric monitor system and get a simple composing toilet. Very simple to clean, no nasty hoses to store, and they DON'T smell.
Our new van will be sans black tank.
Hi Debbie, We really enjoy your videos. We have a 2017 PW Plateau TS with a Norcold Fridge. We also have the outside fridge vent compartment with the fan that you are concerned about. In our van that fan only comes on when heat builds inside the vent compartment, as when it is a hot day and the vent/fridge side of the van is facing the sun. It has only ever run 1 time in the past 2 years on a very very hot humid day when we parked for hours with the fridge vent facing the sun. Opps (We were concerned when we first heard it!) Our fridge runs great (knock wood). So, i believe this fan is not your problem.
Thanks. That's good to know. I met up with a friend today who has a 2010 PW Ascent and I thought it was interesting that her fridge has two fans that are located closer to the fins while the 2018 has one and it is farther away.
Hi Debbie,
I also once thought my tank sensors were clogged, but PW says they are on the outside of the tanks, so they don't get clogged. I then noticed I was getting the false reading when my Ascent was parked in my driveway with the typical 1/4 inch to a foot drainage slope. As soon as I put the Ascent on some levelers, the tank sensors were right on. You may want to give that a try
Since your fridge already has an outside fan, you may want to just get it working and try that, before you install a second one that may not be needed.Nice video!Skip
Interesting that the sensor is on the outside. Now I'm gonna have to go see if I can find it. When it registered as 25% full we were perfectly level.
The gray tank on my Roadtrek works perfectly and has always done so since new. The black water tank sensor became unreliable very quickly due to debris on the sensor probes. This is a universal occurrence. The See Level system works great with external sensors but uncertain if the sensors could be used with existing wiring and the panel. Great video once again. Our mountain bike e-bikes took us down an extremely rough dirt road yesterday in Sedona. We took them 4 miles down the road to a trailhead. This allowed us to access a ceremonial cliff dwelling that is incredibly beautiful. We could not have done this without the bikes. E-bikes are invaluable for maximum adventure and quality of life on the road.
Love Sedona. Can't wait to get there again. Viewer Skip Stellar told me that PW uses an exterior sensor. Now I'm curious where it is located and how the heck it can "see" through a black tank. So who knows why it registered as 25% full because we were parked on level ground.
From She to Me There is a possibility that the sensor attached to your black water tank needs to be recalibrated. Not necessarily adjusting anything but doing a zero out with the tank empty. I do know that the SeeLevel system on our Class A motorhome calibrates itself through a short learning process as the tank is fully filled and then fully emptied. It is a great system. The factory installed regular probes in the black water tank were useless as usual. I installed the SeeLevel aftermarket system myself. As far as how the external sensing system works is a mystery to me too. There has to be some kind of electrical charge change where the level of the fluid is in the tank and the continuous strip sensor detects where that change occurs. Your first step is to verify whether you have the traditional sensors embedded in your tank with probes or if you truly have a completely external sensor system like the SeeLevel. From there comes the next step. EDIT: One thing you could do in the mean time is to empty your black water tank completely. Pour in a gallon of water through the toilet and count the number of gallons until you see that the black water tank tank is full (not all the way up to the toilet flap obviously). Compare the number of gallons you poured in to fill it to the manufacturer spec of the tank. If you are gallons less than what it should be, then you have a layer of muck on the bottom of the tank. It happens occasionally when draining doesn’t go the right way over time or a leaking dump valve leaks fluid leaving the solids (especially TP). I doubt this is your issue as you are quite savvy RV folks. BUT, who knows. Maybe someone messed it up before delivery...
@@sunnybluesky440 Thanks. I sure appreciate all you knowledgeable folks.
Thanks for all the tips Debbie & John!. Will have to add to my 'Van Budget' on my last yr of working, the suspension & tires, bike rack & maybe even the e bikes. I like the idea of pumping on my bike, but on road. Could you do a video on the e bike sometime? and a compare & contrast with regular bikes?? + the brand you got. There is so much appreciation for your 'can do mentality & research', I am learning that is the only way to enjoy van life.
Good idea. I will get that in the queue.
@@FromShetoMe definitely the carrier you use and why the improved suspension and how it is working. :) great stuff.
Have you read the entire manual on the frig. ? I am thinking you have not. The fan may only run when it is running on propane, but the manual will tell you so. You may look at the manual on the tank reporting system being @ 25% when empty. You may reset it by turning it off or unplug the batteries for one minute then reset everything. Yes it's a pain and that's why people keep going back to the dealer for simple problems. "Read all of those manuals".
Believe me, we've read the fridge manual and researched many hours on line. I'm going to have the regulator replaced before we head out again (even though it was checked when we first got the rig). On our recent trip we had another several days of high fridge temp when the outside air was in the 60's.
Very nice and informative as usual! I learned on a UT video that the water filter pictured (and one that I had been using) only filters down to 10 microns, which is not enough to keep some of the micro critters out of your fresh water. We now use a 5 micron filter just because RVers are visiting so many places with new water sources .... try leveling your van with blocks under the front tires and then experiment with filling the tanks with fresh water and draining them. If the problem goes away, then it may be possible to loosen the tank hanger straps and put a thin shim under the back top edge of each tank to return them to level ... or just get used to the new way of reading your quantities. The black water sensors are very easily disabled by waste on the sensors, and really should be flushed after each dumping. Also always put a few gallons of water back in the black tank after draining, so it is sloshing while driving. YES you should get your own Minnie - you have many years of biking ahead of you! Looking forward to your next adventure!
+bsjcook LOL. You who went through 60 gallons in 3 days. Thanks for all the suggestions YOU can address on our next visit. 😘
As always, u r so helpful. I’m going to check my refrigerator fan to see if it is working.
+Crystal Stevens Let me know if it isn’t.
I think I remember the new BFG tires being larger diameter which would affect the speedometer and the odometer to show fewer miles traveled which will lead to a lower mpg calculation. Jeeps have a way to tell the computer you have switched tire size and adjust for the change. Since your Ram is from Chrysler/Fiat you may be able to do the same thing.
Good point. When we take it in to Mercedes for its first service we'll see if they can do that.
Always great informative videos! So great you guys had that new suspension and tires!
Looks like an awesome place to visit!
Can you tell us where we can find the eBikes you and John have, the Hollywood Bike Rack and the Swing hitch you use?
Rad mini ebikes. Etrailer sells the Hollywood rack but I think I have a link on my Amazon Storefront. Http://www.amazon.com/shop/fromshetome. Wilco makes the swing hitch. We’re on the road, but email me if you have questions and I’ll answer when we have cell service. energymaven@gmail.com
another great video. Not convinced on the eBikes. It looks pretty flat and you folks look fit enough for mountain bikes.
We are but the fat tires and assist get us where we would never go on a mountain bike. And so much fun.
We have the Rad Mimi’s also - they are great!
Great video. I have got to say I love the title of your channel. My mom was always mentioned as she... she hated that. I love that you are “me” now!! 😜
I think it is a cultural thing. Our daughter-in-law is from Scotland and we learned from her that over there it is considered rude to refer to someone as he or she when they are within ear shot. There are so many interesting quirks between regions and cultures. I get teased by our Scottish friends for saying "really."
I look forward to your STUFF. We ordered our Ascent at the Pomona RV show in October and opted for the 2019 Mercedes chassis thus the long delay. So, I am a fan as we live through you vicariously and get great tips , smiles and laughs. I may have missed this but do you have e-bikes? If so, which ones? Thanks again.
Yes. My brother gave me an e-bike and then John got a Rad Mini and now I have just ordered a Rad Mini step through which should be here in about 2 weeks. They were great fun on our most recent trip and we will be taking them out again after the second one arrives.
as always, enjoyed your informative videos.
Thank you so much to take the time to make these entertaining and educational videos. Your experience is giving me the courage to consider our own Pleasure Way purchase.
Sorry about the experiences with your refrigerator, but your experience is really educating the community about how to troubleshoot it.
One question for you about water usage. What do you use water (from tank) for? Drinking, dishes and bathing?
When you go to these beautiful places, how long do you boondock and how frequently do you and your husband take a shower in the van?
I’m on the fence between a Class B with wet bath and the Plateau XLTS with the larger bath. So curious to know if convenience of shower means you shower less? Or because you knew you’d be showering less, you were more comfortable with the wet bath?
Thanks again!
We don't use the inside shower at all. When we first got it I thought I might attempt to use it but realized immediately that it would be "too much sugar for a dime" (my mother used to say that all the time). We generally look for some kind of campground which almost always has access to water. I have washed my hair over the sink and used the outside shower when we don't have access to an alternative. But I was a backpacker in my earlier days and am used to going for weeks without a proper "shower." We have a Planet Fitness membership we have used for showers on the road and generally haven't needed to go more than 2 days without a shower. The bigger problem for people who must have a shower, is the amount of water they use. On our trip, we hooked up with my brother and his wife who have a 5th wheel. They went through 60 gallons in 3 days and we used less than 24 gallons in 7 days. Of course, if you go to a full hookup site, you can have unlimited water. We've never hooked up our water or sewer at a full hookup site.
Just looked at the specs on your Ascent. 20G fresh and 15G grey. The XLTS I want has a 28G fresh and 20G grey. If grey capacity is the limiting factor, and figure a standard 2Gpm shower head, that means 7.5 minute shower in the Ascent and a 10 minute shower in the XLTS.
…I’ll have to learn to shower quickly.
But it makes me think that even when you’re hooked up at a campsite with unlimited hot water via the Truma AquaGo, you still need to manage water.
I‘ve learned from Neil (@ Ultramobility) among others that you don’t want to keep black valve open. Better to “mix” solid and liquid waste so solids don’t build up. But is it ok to leave grey valve open?
Now that I understand showering limitations, what do you use fresh water tank and the hot water heater for?
Do you drink water from fresh tank, or do you prefer to drink from other stored/bottled options?
If long showers are out, what do you use hot water for? Is it hot enough to use for instant coffee, oatmeal or something else (like ramen?). I’m guessing you use it just for hand and dish washing. But I’m also guessing that if you want to stretch boondocking time, just bring disposable plates.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences.
@@ccartee1 Yes, you could certainly leave the gray open but if you are at a full hookup spot probably better to just hook up the hose and only open the gray valve when it is relatively full so that you move the water and debris quickly through the hose. We do not drink from the fresh tank and instead fill a 2 gallon jug before we leave home from our filtered tap water and then use campground spigots after that. You certainly could drink from the fresh tank but it has a plastic taste that we don't care for. The hot water is used for cleaning dishes, hands, face, outdoor shower. And when we do use the shower outside, someone holds the wand and turns it on and off as the other person soaps up and rinses. I can easily take a shower with a gallon of water. Even at home I take a 2 minute shower. I highly recommend you rent a van and see if you can cut your water use.
Have you been to the Trona Pinnacles with your new set up? Enjoyed the video, you make want to load up my car and hit the road. Keep exploring and safe travels.
Haven't been through Trona in years but remember camping there in college on a geology field trip. We used to drive to Death Valley that way. We'll have to consider it next time. Do you have a favorite spot out there?
No, no favorite spot, it's all beautiful to me. Just being out there is welcome relief from the city of LA.@@FromShetoMe
About your black tank reading after you drained the tank: Do you use a rhino blaster for clogs?
I was watching a video about Top RV Must Have Gadgets... and the folks mentioned a few gadgets that sounded interesting - Rhino blaster, electrical management system (instead of a surge protector) on your post, water pressure controller, buy local-RV.
Thank you for your insight and ideas. I appreciate the crafty mind that you have and that can-do mentality. Great inspiration!
I am just a wanna-be but I am taking lots of notes and making advanced purchases. For example, the insulated pots are pricey but smart, so they will make a good mothers day present from the kids :) (fingers crossed).
I enjoyed the "wannabe" part of the journey very much. I consumed CZcams videos to the exclusion of all other entertainment for several years.
Now to address the essential and much requested topic of toilets...Yes, I do have a wand that you stick down the toilet and blast the inside. I had to get one early on after experiencing the "pyramid of toilet paper" (I think that's what people call it). Anyway, I figured out not to put TP from #1 in the tank. It goes in a separate trash container that sits next to the toilet. Haven't had a problem since. But I will still occasionally use the wand just to clean off the sensor.
I just bought a RAD city ebike!! I have had three RV's with the absorption system refrigerator all of them were unacceptable in their ability to get cold fast and to stay cold. Our SS Agile has a compressor and has never failed to preform well even in 100 degree weather.
Funny you should mention that. I spoke to a Dometic rep this week and asked if they had a compressor unit that would fit and she had the gall to say that you can’t put one in an RV because it wouldn’t work in a vehicle because of all the movement. I said to her that RoadTrek does and what about Truck Fridge. 🥴
@@FromShetoMeShe does not know what she is talking about. An absorbion system works best when level. Even slightly out of level like most class B rv's usually are they do not work well or at all sometimes. An absorbtion system requires heat to move the ammonia through the system so windy conditions are very bad, like driving. Absorbtions systems work great in a cabin in Montana not so much for the rest of us.
@@johnpuccetti9383 I know, she was a complete zero. And on top of that, she was not helpful at all regarding my complaint about the temp fluctuations. Told me I had to go back to the dealer and they would have to do a test where they put a cup of water in the fridge with a thermometer in it. I think I've given up on Dometic. Until we want to invest in a new fridge, we'll carry a small ice chest as a back-up.
@@FromShetoMe Our's is a Norcold compressor refrigerators require a little more cabinet depth. We hope to take a RV trip north in the fall. We are in Ventura.
Thank again, can you tell me what the blue thing is on your water hose that is filling the fresh water tank? Is it a filter? Can you share a link to it?
It's a water filter that is commonly used to filter out grit or larger particles: www.amazon.com/dp/B0024E6V30/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.G1C3NADJCPR6&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_fromshetome_dp_vv_d
Loved the video!
I am amazed you can go so many days without needing to dump and fill. We can go only about 2 days, even though I wash dishes in as little water as possible, I do wash them. The toilet needs some water to flush, maybe we are using too much. We are planning a 3 night trip where water and dump will not be available. We plan to use the outhouses whenever possible and take a water purifier for lake water if necessary. If needed we can make an hour and a half round trip to dump and fill, but I would be interested to know how you save water. We have a 2008 PW Excel with 24, 26 and 12 gal fresh/gray/black tanks. What water saving tricks do you use?
Our Ascent has a 20 gallon fresh tank, 15 gray and 12 black. Don't put toilet paper in the toilet. Use a scraper and paper towels to remove food from pots and pans before washing. Use paper plates and bowls. Get a squeeze bottle for rinsing, brushing teeth, etc. Simple meals with fewest number of pans. No showers. All our drinking water comes from a 2 gallon container that we fill about every 2 days. Hope that helps and let me know how you do on your trip.
@@FromShetoMe Thanks. We haven't taken showers in the van. We allow the dogs to pre-wash pots, pans and plates. Currently we only produce about a milk carton's worth of trash in a weekend. May have to reconsider the paper plate thing, but I don't like them. I like the squeeze bottle idea. That could save a lot of wasted rinse water. We also realize how much water is wasted waiting for hot to come to the sink, so might use the bucket trick like in the showers at home. We can use that to rinse. Maybe lake water to flush.
@@marshaburlingame3760 LOL, dogs are the best scrubbers. We have an instant hot water heater so no waiting.
First I wanted to echo others comments on how informative and helpful your videos are. Separately we are looking at buying a PW Lexor later this year and I was curious about your satisfaction level with the laminate cupboards vs solid wood. Thank you in advance.
Thanks for your nice remarks. I'm very happy with the laminate. Easy to clean, and I like the modern look. That said, I used to use a tension rod inside one of the small overhead cabinets and in removing it one day, it chipped off a small piece (not even a half an inch) on the inside of the cupboard. So while it isn't noticeable to anyone, it is a constant reminder to me to be more careful on laminate edges. I'm sure it could be glued back. Also, where I remove the instant pot in the one large lower cupboard, I started seeing some scuff marks so have put some white tape around that edge. So far, knock on wood, that is all the wear and tear we have had (in 18 months).
@@FromShetoMe Thank you for the response. Great perspective.
Thank you so much for answering my water question. Did you guys take showers with that fresh water and how many gallons do each one of your tanks hold?
Both campgrounds had showers so no need to use our outdoor shower. Tank sizes: 20 fresh, 15 gray, 12 black.
It looks like you have a second water faucet in the kitchen for filtered water. I’ve never seen that on a pleasure Way. Did you have that installed?
No, there is no filtered water in our rig although my brother was trying to talk me into adding one. Not sure where we would put it. We just use our 2 gallon jug for drinking water.
I assumed that was filling up the container in the sink at home.
@@marybeth488 Yes, that's what it was. I don't know why I missed that.
Do you shower in the van?
Inside showering is our least preferred method. But we have done it a few times.
those tank sensors are crap.... I have a See Level II system.... far better..does voltage...fresh...grey...black...and propane level...all with accurate percentage readings.. what do.you expect buying a class B for 120,000.00 bucks..
1pilotsteve The See Level works great! However, I am on my third display in 10 years. The first one started to smell like electrical fire suddenly. The second one just quit a few years later.