Picked up my 2002 23XL today. Got it home but needed my neighbor to back it into my driveway! What have I got myself into? Have several questions if someone would help. Read manual three times and it says:
1. "Put master switch in down position for lift". When I do that I get nothing. Putting it in up position (top of toggle in) I get a little lift and then click, click, click like a dead battery. Will replace tomorrow but don't get the toggle thing. Seems backwards from the manual.
2. "All master switch positions leave 12V power to fridge". How do I turn the fridge off when not in use? Also, how do I switch fridge from 12V to gas to 110V or is that automatic, somehow?
3. "If battery is dead and you can't lift, use jumpers from tow vehicle". No answer to this one, apparently. When top is down I can't get to the battery to jump it!
4. Haven't attempted dump station yet. Should I buy one of those tapered ends for the hose to fit in the dump receptacle?
On a lighter note, could someone come by my house and teach me how to back this sucker up? LOL
Thanks for any response...

Down should be off. Try plugging in and see what happens. Try recharging battery before getting a new one. Make sure the water levels are correct. Your power controls for the fridge are inside the fridge on the top. I bought a trickle charger at Harbor Freight for 4.99 and connected that to my battery. I plug it in every once in a while to keep the battery up when I'm not tinkering in the trailer and have it plugged in. You should be able to reach the battery treminals with the top down. You should purchase a sewage kit. Wal-Mart has them starting around $30. As for backing....practice, practice. practice! I just scraped my awning on my rock wall backing mine up. Those that have and those that will.

for backing up put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand the direction you want it to go and practice practice practice.

Harry

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9421FLL
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (RIP old friend)
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7L V8

The Master switch is a 3-position switch. The bottom of it should be "in" for the top to raise or lower. You put that switch in that position and then toggle the raise/lower switch to get the thing up or down.

If it doesn't move, you likely have a dead battery. It will have to be recharged before the top will raise electrically. AC power or tow vehicle power is not enough to do it, due to the way the onboard battery charger/converter handles charging current.

You turn the fridge off by pushing on the "off" sensor, or turning it off at the appliance, depending on your fridge model.

There should be a "gas" selection on the fridge too. On mine, you toggle between that and "auto". In auto, it will run on AC if connected, or on DC if not connected to AC.

Yes, put your hand underneath the wheel to back up. BUT - as soon as the trailer starts to turn, turn the wheel in the OTHER direction so the tow vehicle will follow it, but not too far, or you'll straighten the trailer's path out again. If you don't "countersteer" at the appropriate point when the trailer starts turning, it will jackknife, and, you'll have to pull forward and start over. Usually, about the time you can tell the trailer is turning, it's time to countersteer.

Have fun with this!

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T - Tire Minder TPMS on Tow Vehicle and Trailer, 300W Solar Battery Charger, Equal-i-zer WDH, Progressive Dynamics Converter, Fan-Tastic Fan, LiFePO4 battery 12V DC Electrical System, SoftStartRV mounted on A/C
2024 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5L PowerBoost SCrew

I know I've been testing the "there are no dumb questions" adage to it's limits. Put in new battery and up/down works like a charm. Finally inside for awhile, I found all the proper controls, thanks for the answers.

As for backing up...that was a very good hint. Once the trailer began to turn I didn't correct vehicle quickly enough and it wanted to jackknife. I will practice, practice, practice before I commit to a distant trip. Have a State Park 5 miles down the road. That will be great for my first couple of practice trips.

Incidentally, my master switch has to be pushed in at the TOP, not the bottom. Maybe someone re-wired it wrong or had the switch out and reinstalled it upside down.

Can't tell you how much I appreciated the help!!

Some places you camp at are drive through, many wont be, you will learn, just stop early and take it easy, it is not a race to backup a camper.

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From Kansas: 29ft '95 5th, converted to toybox in rear, by Hilo. Pics soon, Some Here.