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New Owner with a couple of questions.

Yahoo Message Number: 75252
Hi All,

We just purchased a new to us 04 38' Intrigue #11773. This coach was very well cared for by the previous owner.
I am on a very steep learning curve so I will have a lot of questions for the group.
My first question involves grey water smell from the washing machine drain. Since we will not be using the washer very much I wonder if anyone has quick and easy way to keep the drain trap full of water.
My second question relates to the side mounted 8K generator. Has anyone put the generator on some sort of slideout so it can be serviced easier?
The last question is about the batteries. All three batteries are Interstate 8D XHD. The best information I can obtain is they are for starting duty. I am hoping to install 6 Trojan T105 batteries in place of two of the 8Ds. It looks like it might be a tight fit. Maybe some minor modification can be done to the battery box. Has anyone installed T105s or some other deep cycle 6 or 12 volt batteries? I know there are 8D AGM batteries but they would bust our budget.

Norm

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75254
Norm,

Welcome to the group. Just a few quick responses to many of your questions....

1. Washer trap is not the only source of the odor. Any of your other drains can be the source. Some have modified the roof vents with some success and others have found the drain/vent valves defective. We took a different approach to control the odor in grey tank. We make sure when washing dishes all dishes get wiped down with a paper towel before they go into the sink. We will cycle a little bit of water in washer to keep trap full. When driving, all windows are closed and we put the OTR AC on vent with fan on a high setting. This provides a slight positive air pressure in cabin. No more odor problems.

2. I have side mounted PowerTech generator and think it would be structurally difficult to make the necessary modifications to put it on a slide. Hoses, cabling and exhaust are all fixed mounted I service my own generator. Except for being able to check hoses, I am able to do all of the scheduled maintenance items involving filters and fluids. I have almost 1700 hours on the gen and have had no problems. I do plan to take coach to shop sometime in near future to have it removed and have the hoses and other age sensitive items replaced.

3. I did the same thing. However, I used only 4 and they where T145's. Some have put 6, but I felt that in my case it would comprimise the venting of the compartment for the batteries gasing. Unless you plan to hit the house batteries hard in dry camping and using the inverter, 4 T145's will provide sufficient power for inverter to dry camp and allow recovery using generator the next day. We used our configuration in AZ desert as well as during our trip to Alaska and had no problems in providing what we needed. Power management is the key and planning generator and inverter use to optimize.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75255
I just run the washer machine every once in a while to keep water in the trap.
I replaced my (2) 8D house batteries with (6) T-105's. The footprint of the Trojan's is slightly larger than the (2) 8D. I just placed a piece of treated plywood inside the plastic tray to raise the batteries above the box frame. Then I secured a piece of treated 1"x2" in front of the batteries to keep them from sliding toward the bay door. The three other sides are tight within the frame and starting 8D battery. Also, make sure to wire the Trojan batteries in series-parallel.

Rob

'02 Intrigue #11480

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75256
Norm, I will email you a quick and easy set of directions to fill the Splendide trap.

--

Lee (leozbrowski@...) 2007 Country Coach Intrigue 12153
CAT C-13

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75259
Norm

Welcome to the board!

I put plumbers' putty at the top of the drain pipe where washing machine drain hose enters. Others here are concerned with ovestressing the WM water pump with that configuration?
I also made sure grey tank is squeeky clean by dumping the largest bottle of dawn dish soap in a half full with clean water in GW tank, then drove 200 miles and flushed several times. No more smells. You would be surprised how soon the GW tank starts smelling again if you don't rinse frequently with clean water. I have two 8D AGMs for house and one 8D CAT 1500CCA battery for engine start.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75260
Norm,

I have a 05 Inspire so I can't suggest anything for the gen-set but I did solve my odor problem with some roof vents that create a venturi effect.
http://www.coilnwrap.com/products/Xtreme-Vent-%252dWhite-or-Charcoal-Gray.html and take a look at the Lifeline 6V AGm http://www.powerstridebattery.com/lifeline-agm-batteries/lifeline-gpl-6c-6-volt-deep-cycle-agm-battery Four of these 300amp hr batteries would be almost the same as Six of the T-105's in less space (except for Hight) less maintenance and less corrosion.

John

05 Inspire #51399

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75262
Norm,

I replaced the 8D house batteries with T105s and they fit without any modification. You can see photos of my installation as well as others who have done the same thing in the Photos link at left of this window.
We treat our traps with a dose boraxo after we've been parking for awhile with no hookups. Just pour a cup or so of boraxo into the drain and it takes care of the smell for awhile. Then repeat as needed.
I don't know of anyone who has put the side mounted generator on rails, that would be quite an effort but if it can be done I would also be interested in doing that.

Good luck with you coach.
Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75264
Norm;I have a 02 intrigue 11436.The 3 8d`s are separate The first being the chassis or start battery, the other 2 should be deep cycle house batteries.I find this arrange simple and adequate.I seldomly boondock more than one night at a time. We use the washer often so there is no odor problem.

Jim;02 intrigue 11436

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75270
Thanks to all of you who gave me some well thought out answers.
I think I now have a direction to go to solve my problems.

Norm

Re: New Owner with a couple of questions.

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 75304
John:

How many did you install and which vents if not all vents.

Thanks in advance.

Gil Bourdon
'05 Inspire
51322