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Fresh water tank gravity fill

Cindy cleaned the water bay and took a few pics.

The first photo shows our gravity water fill plumbing.  The end cap on the large diameter PVC pipe in the upper right corner unscrews and we screw on an extension that sticks out, into which we pour a couple of ounces of diluted bleach with every weekly water fill of about 90 gallons.  The same PVC is tee'd to a ball valve that is fed from city water hose, so we fill the tank from the top and we pour in the bleach mix while filling. 

In the 17 years of ownership, we have never connected a city water hose to the factory capped off city water inlet.  We also removed the two long plumbing hoses that connect the bathroom cabinet fill valve to water pump area plumbing. 

The photo also shows our closed off sewer hose storage door, which did not work well for our sewer hoses.  Also shows the florescent lamp on top of the tank that we use to visually see water level.  We removed the factory fiberglass trim that covers the top of the tank to have access to that space.  Our homemade water level gauge strip is attached to the tank. The strip takes into consideration the diminishing capacity of the tank slope. 

On the faucet side, the photo shows our Radio Shack intercom that we use to communicate with each other while dumping and cleaning with a hose fed through the window.  The original faucet has been modified to attach a warm water hose.  Also note the top trim panel above the faucet is gone and we use the space for sewer hoses.

The second photo shows why we prefer to not have hose and cable reels.  We trade the convience of a reel for storage space.  All that stuff on the ground easily fits into the open space in front of the fresh water tank.  The space holds spare water pumps, autoformer, hoses, filter, electric tester and on top of all that we wind up our 50-amp shore cable with room to spare.

All the stuff sits on the aluminum metal shelf in the photo.  Shelf is raised up off floor by an inch or so to air flow above the fiberglass floor.

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #1 –
You've inspired me with this post, B&C. I got rid of the sewer hose PVC and capped it off but I think removing that little door is a better idea. Also, we only use the direct fill and water pump for water so I like your idea of getting rid of the goofy under-the-sink pex and valve too. I'm adding these two to the list.
jor

93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #2 –
Will someone please explain the benefit of adding a gravity-fed/direct tank fill? 

My intuition says that the pressure from city water is greater than the air compressor produces internally, which could lead to a great likelihood of developing leaky fittings?
James
w/ DW Erin, sons Gideon and Tobias, cats Oscar & Oliver
Fulltime 1999 U270 34' #5508

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #3 –
Gravity fill is a faster, direct way to fill the fresh water tank.  Being full time I have my system of a whole house filter, then my water softener, then directly into my tank.  I can fill my tank in 15 minutes from almost empty that way.  Then I disconnect, and we run off our filtered, soft water.  No need to worry about city pressure being too much or no water at all.  It is also easier if we have to move quickly as the only hook up I use in a RV  park is electric.  Dump hose only comes out when I need it then back away.

This is my system and it works well for us- in RV park, or boon docking.    ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #4 –
Try our older GV coaches with the water tank up under the dash! The only way one could get water into the tank was by using a hose attached to the coach--in the engine compartment-- and a pressurized supply (either a pump or city water supply). Pressure had to be high enough to overcome the check valve that kept the water from leaking back out the inlet.
I found that, when boondocking, that the water tank would run empty before the holding tanks were full. Now what? How does one get some water into the fresh water holding tank?
I put a Tee fitting up front up under the windshield where the tank overflow comes thru the forward wall. I bought a 12V water pump and some 3/4"ID milk house clear hose,  two female hose end couplers, some wiring and a toggle switch and plumbed it into the overflow tee. Added a small "burp" tube to let air out of the tank while filling. We go fill up our 6 gallon containers and then  it takes about 25 seconds to suck the water out and into the tank. I leave the containers on the back end of the Vue and toggle the pump on & off when switching containers.
The pump, hoses, and switch remain mounted up under the windshield when not in use. Access is thru the small door under the driver's side windshield.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Blinded04 –
Will someone please explain the benefit of adding a gravity-fed/direct tank fill? 

My intuition says that the pressure from city water is greater than the air compressor produces internally, which could lead to a great likelihood of developing leaky fittings?

I use a pressure reduction valve at any water source when I connect to fill my tank. Gravity fill from the top of the tank is much faster than the stock bottom fill.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #6 –
We always follow Ted & Karen's method of running 100% on water pump and removing water & sewer hose after weekly use.  Been our way of life for over 20 years. 

We have a consistent amount of chlorination, never at risk from transient high city water pressure, easy to turn water pump off when leaving motorhome to prevent water damage and recycle water tank so it does not get stagnant.

To answer James & Erin, gravity / direct water fill has zero resistance as it flows water into tank, like taking a bucket of water and dumping it into a bathtub.  No restrictive plumbing involved, and when bathtub is filled the water hose is removed.  Our main benefit of gravity fill is to add diluted bleach into each tankful.

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #7 –
I have some followup questions I'd like to ask about your (everyone's) water use - but I will start a new thread as to not distract from your nice work above!
James
w/ DW Erin, sons Gideon and Tobias, cats Oscar & Oliver
Fulltime 1999 U270 34' #5508
 

Re: Fresh water tank gravity fill

Reply #8 –
Filling our fresh tank takes about 1/3 less time through the direct fill port at the top of the tank than pushing it in theough the plumbing maze.  And in a pinch you can add water using a portable container.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN