Camper Question, 2004 Quantum Terry Camper?

[Big Bubba]

Hello to everyone,
I have two questions concerning my 2004 Terry Qunatum camper model# 320DBHS. First question is what causes black sooty deposits above the Water Heater exhaust and above the exhaust on the white fiberglass siding? Second question is do you have to treat the grey water holding tank the same as the black holding tank. Reason I ask is becuase I went camping with my family and when we opened the camper door up it smelt like something had died inside of it and especially when we turned the water spicots on to bleed the water lines out. Since I have owned the camper since 2003 I have never treated the grey water holding tank but just emptied it but the balck holding tank I drained it and then flushed with fresh water and drained an put the blue formidalhide stuff in it. Today I put the ble formaldihide in the grey holding water tank to see if that smell is there when we camp again in maybe a few weeks. What do you think? Also I know we have a problem with rodents mice and don't kniow what to do to get rid of these also so I have three questions that I am not sure of. Let me know Bob

 

[gstanton]

Re: Camper Question, 2004 Quantum Terry Camper?

Regarding the sooty deposit on the side of your camper, I assume you have been using propane to heat water or run the furnace. Whichever it is, it is running rich and needs to be adjusted. Probably not a big deal, but not correct.

You don't need to put chemical deodorant in the grey water, although it won't hurt anything. It all drains out the same tube when you dump the black (first) and then the grey. You definitely want to put chem in the black water tank. The other smell could be from the "sulferization" in your hot water tank. There could be other reasons also. In a typical travel trailer system in the hot water tank is an anode rod that sacrifices itself to keep corrosion at a minimum. Also, there is a bacteria issue that can produce a "sulphery" smell. Simply dose your entire freshwater system with a 1/4 cup of bleach mixed with a full load of water. Run that mix through all your lines. Wait a while (overnight if you can) then dump that and refill again with plain water. Sometimes you can put some baking soda in the fresh water refill to "sweeten" that new water. You should be good to go. For drinking water, you don't want to leave fresh water sitting for very long... couple of weeks is pushing it.

There should not have been a smell from the tanks when you opened the door. Perhaps some critter came in and croaked? Unless, there is a crack/break/hole in the air vent that comes from your tanks to the atmosphere. That is one of the vent pipes on your roof, just like your house.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Camper Question, 2004 Quantum Terry Camper?

Good possibility that something did die in there.! Here in Florida the squirrels and fruit rats inhabit everything out doors. They can find their way in some pretty tight spaces. Since our pop-up was near power outlet, I plugged in one of those ultrasonic rodent zappers and never had another problem. Grey water can contain food scraps from your sink, organic material that can and will have an odor. Not a bad idea to treat the grey water tank as well, just not as concentrated of a solution...

 

[avenger79]

Re: Camper Question, 2004 Quantum Terry Camper?

I can't guarrantee the results of this except to say all my neighbors campers have mice and mine doesn't.
My better half puts dryer sheets all over the place when we leave it for ny length of time. Something in the smell or chemical make up the mice do not like.
I never treat the grey water, but I do empty it and rinse the tank out every time we leave the camper unused for more then a day.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Camper Question, 2004 Quantum Terry Camper?

Big B, the smell you talk about, does it want to burn your eyes a little when you first go in?