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Topic ClosedNew to RPods and a question

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tlauterio View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: New to RPods and a question
    Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 2:22pm
I wanted to let everybody know how glad I am to have found this forum! I am a complete newbie to travel trailers. 

My wife and I recently bought a used 2012 R-177 TT, and am in the process of going through it bit by bit to learn the workings. My wife used to have a travel trailer years ago, but I am completely new to this. We're looking forward to short weekend trips, so while I am not particularly worried about the need for accurate readings on my tank levels I would like to know that they are working properly.
Does anyone have any experience with replacing these?

I crawled underneath the unit and looked at the sensors. What I found was the wires for the fresh water tank were cut. I looked at the grey and black tanks to compare them, and they seem to be intact. I thought about replacing them, but the sensors that appear to be in place do not look like any of the ones I've seen in any you tube videos on replacing them. The ones I saw looked like small rubber tubes of sorts that acted as plugs also. The ones that seem to be installed on my unit seem to be attached to a coin sized disk with two tabs on the outside of them. I'm assuming these tabs are to turn the sensor for removal/placement. The wire is attached via a screw that inserts through the center of said disk. The disk appears to be sealed with silicone or something not pliable at all. I did not want to attempt removal until I knew what/how/why I was removing it!
Anyway.....

It seems like the 4 wires from the sensors meet at a small rubber looking junction of sorts. For both the grey and black tanks there seems to be one rubber junction that all 4 wires connect to, but for the fresh tank there seems to be 2 of these junctions, and all I can see are 3 connections. 
Does anybody have any idea about this? Is there anywhere to go for any kind of definitive answer? I feel fairly confident in my ability to actually do the work. 

I'm hoping someone can help me make sense of this situation. I know there are many different permutations of campers and setups, so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance
Todd and Sally

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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 2:34pm
My advice: ignore the sensors, they are notorious for not working right.

You can see how much water is in the fresh tank by looking at it. All 3 tanks are 30 gallons, so if you start with a full fresh tank and empty black and gray tanks its impossible to overfill either one. When the fresh tank is empty or when you leave the campground dump both the black and gray tanks and you'll be fine. Go enjoy your rPod!
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 3:01pm
+1. On a new trailer, the sensors might work for a while, but they will get flakey at some point, and be pretty much useless after a couple of years. At least that seems to be the consensus.

We gauge the tank fullness based mostly on seat of the pants guesstimation. Like OG says, if you start with a full FW tank, the gray tank will get most of the usage, and the black will get a smaller fraction. Then empty your tanks before you go home, and you're good.

bp
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 4:32pm
We have a 2016 RP179 that we purchased in December, 2015. The fresh water tank is the only one that is reliable. The gray is mostly reliable. The black is completely unreliable. After much use, I have a pretty good idea of tank levels.
StephenH
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podwerkz View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 6:01pm
Eight year old travel trailer tank sensors not working...like that's never happened before.

If the wires have been cut, well obviously the previous owners figured out the...'solution'. 

In the aftermarket, there are expensive external replacement sensors that you attach to the outside of the tanks and they use a combination of technology and magic to report the levels. They are several hundred dollars.

Or you can 'wing' it.




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lostagain View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 6:07pm
I say use the Zen of tankage and visualize the tank levels in a meditation session.  Confused  You'll find it far more accurate than the OEM tank level indicators.  It's also very relaxing and makes your camping trip more enjoyable.

The others are right about the OEM tank sensors being utterly useless and unreliable, though the fresh water may actually kinda-sorta work, sometimes.
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 6:56pm
Sensors? Sensors? We don't need no stinkin' sensors.


Yep, the fresh water tank sensors are the ones that work the best. But, being the only translucent tank, its also very easy to eyeball. So, why bother with sensors? 

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tlauterio View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 7:15pm
Well gee! So what I'm getting here is that we should never ever leave the house without properly working sensors? Big smile Ha! 

Thank you all so much for your time...it's certainly going to be a heckuva lot easier to zen it that seems for sure! I'll definitely be heeding your's all advice. 
Thanks!
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CyndyRPOD190 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 8:59am
Hi everyone! 

Thanks so much for this forum. My husband & I are just setting up our new RPOD. I don't want to break anything, yet! LOL So, the string that is connected to that pin tack is hard to undo. We want to open the windows & put the blinds up. Is there anything special to that string? Do you just untie the knots? Do you keep the pin thing there that goes into the wall?

Sort of silly question but just curios if some of you keep the pin thing there to hold it down or have you pulled it out? Seems good to secure the blind for travel.

Thanks!

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Cyndy
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 11:23am
Hello Cyndy,

The blinds slide up and down on the string. The strings keep the blinds from swinging around and knocking into things. Please don't untie them.
StephenH
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