creating an instruction & maintenance manual

Excellent idea, techntrek.  I find myself jumping around the forums, thinking, "Now WHERE did I read that?" To compile all that info into one "manual" would really be efficient.  Good thinking!

We see many of the same questions come up as new owners explore their 'pod, and the generic manual is mostly useless.  I thought it would be a good idea if we, as a community, came up with essays on different topics that we could paste together as a comprehensive 'pod manual.  Make it a sticky thread (like this one is, for now) so everyone can always find it.  I've started a list of topics to cover below, please post new topics if you see one that isn't covered.  I'm hoping people can volunteer to cover a specific topic they have experience with.  We can use this thread as a working thread and I'll start a new "clean" thread with finished posts later.  How does this sound?

• Read this before you read anything else: Checking for a good ground (in-progress here)
  
• Check your home RV outlet for correct voltage (here)
• Winterization (in-progress here)
  
• De-winterization (in-progress here)
  
• Water heater (in-progress here)
  
• Water pump & water tank & low point drain
• Using the control panel
  
• Battery maintenance (in-progress here)
  
• Propane tank (gauges, hot water method, filling by the gallon vs. filling flat-rate vs. tank exchange)
  
• Brake controllers (different types, proper wiring gauge) (in-progress here)
  
• Bargeman connection (here [discussion on fridge use but directly related] and here)
  
• Converter, breaker panel
  
• Stove (tips for easy lighting at the start of every trip, cleaning, stove covers)
  
• TV antenna & amplifier (some antenna info here)
• TV/DVD player (Jensen owners manual here)
  
• Microwave (here)
  
• Fridge (in progress here and here and here)
  
• Toilet, black and gray tanks (here)(black tank flush system here)
• Shower? (tip for using the water cut-off when soaping up to conserve hot water?)
  
• Adding an outside shower (here)
• Lights (replacing with LEDs vs. fluorescent Thin Lights vs. keeping as-is, amperage usage)
• Furnace (using the thermostat)
  
• A/C (low-voltage warning, inability to use this dry camping, possible alternatives and making it quieter) 
  
• Tires and lug nuts (pressure at max, check lug nuts often to at least 100 pound/feet, use of torque wrench)
  
• Hitching/Coupling (gadgets and methods to make it easier, tips for getting the ball in the cup, adding coupler locks and hitch locks, using parking brake to keep TV from moving out of place, air bags vs. weight distribution hitch)
  
• Towing (sway control and inclines/braking/gear selection and a video showing you why you need the right tongue weight)
• Axle risers (in-progress here)
  
• Axle bearing maintenance (here)
  
• Brake pad replacement (here)
  
• Appliance energy usage (in-progress here)
  
• Packing lists, setup/take-down lists (in-progress here)
  
• Dry camping (in-progress here)
• Cleaning the A/C condenser and evaporator coils (in-progress here)
  
• Backing up (in-progress here)
  
• Staying at truck stops, Wal-Mart, etc. (in-progress here)
  
• Converting the incandescent lights to LED (in-progress here)
  
• Slide-out (here and here)
• Generators (here)(Thoughts on home back generators here)
  
• Info on crimping wires here
• Warranty info here

Misc. stuff about the forum:

Uploading a picture, adding a signature (bonus, creating one of those colored maps)

Edited by techntrek - 28 May 2026 at 12:47pm