Another nubee

[Markq]

Hello Everyone
My wife and I just purchased our first RV, a 2000 Four Winds Chateau. I'm still trying to understand what we purchased. Is it an RV made by Four Winds or Thor? I know it's on a Ford chassis and drive train. Being 16 years old, the documentation I received is very sparse and where we have no previous experience with an RV, I'm struggling with many components.

Probably our most immediate need is a step out the door. The seller was run off the road the day he delivered it to my house and tore the hydraulic step off. For the time being I'll probably just buy a step stool at Walmart.

I'm also confused on the water heater and the propane items in general. I figured out how to turn on the water heater but the water didn't seem to get hot and the heater kicked off after some period of time. I'm wondering if there is a separate hot water tank I'm supposed to fill.

Anyway, we are taking our first trip tomorrow, two nights in a campground 20 miles from our house. We're hoping that will be enough time to figure out everything.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for our maiden voyage?

[Jegdrum5050]

Welcome to the forum! Fist thing to do is fill the water heater with water before you turn on electric or gas to the unit. The element will burn out if there is no water. The water normally gets very hot. Make sure the valves at the water heater are parallel with the hoses and the middle one is perpendicular to the hose. Hope I didn't confuse you to much.

[Markq]

Thanks for the reply, I'll check for valves. I thought just connecting to a water supply would automatically fill the hot water tank. Is that incorrect? I know where the flame is for the water heater, is that where I would fill it?

[Jegdrum5050]

It fills when hooked to water supply or when you run your water pump

[Markq]

Thanks