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Topic: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank? (Read 954 times) previous topic - next topic

Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Greetings everyone,

I feel silly asking this question, but my documentation is woefully incomplete, and this is my first coach. I've been all over and under my 1991 U225, but cannot see any access to the freshwater tank. I know I'm obviously missing or overlooking something, but thought I might save some time by asking here.

As long as I'm asking silly questions, I understand there is a shut off valve to close once the freshwater tank is full. Supposed to be under the sink somewhere. I don't see anything under there. The city water hook up is in the gray/black tank dump bay, goes through the wall, up through the floor somewhere under the sink, and disappears. Can anyone enlighten me?

At least I did find all three system drain valves.  :)

Thanks for any assistance anyone can offer.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #1 –
I don't know how to get at the tank either but suppose it involves taking off the underbody panels.  My fresh water valves are under the step up in the center of the cab area under a door that is carpeted also but has a handle the is flush with the surface of the carpet.  The left one opens the inlet valve and the right one opens the drain valve.  Don't know if yours is similar but I think the valves could also be under the bathroom sink on some models.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #2 –
Steve,

If yours is like my U300, it is under the sink. On the right side as I remember. Too cold to go out there tonight as watching a movie with a nice fire going. A couple of times I had to really feel for it but it's there. A handle that takes a half second to operate. Pretend you're a teenager operating in the back seat.

Documentation not too good is it? Now substitute a couple of other better words.

Have you found all the outlets and switches yet? Remember the brown GFI by the bathroom sink! You will need to know where it is someday. The only brown one I have ever seen. Another outlet inside the medicine cabinet.
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #3 –
Steve,

On my 1993, U225, my water tank is under the raised platform where the driver and passenger seat are mounted.  Between them on the carpet platform is a handle in the carpet to lift a long but narrow lid.  Inside are two handles, one on the right is labeled tank drain, the one on the left is the tank fill.  Under the front hood doors I see the 1-1/2" flex line that is screened with a hose clamp that is I guess the airvent line from the tank.

I have furnace hot air shooting into the handle area, and then coming out two directional plastic vents pointed aft, that keep the tank and waterlines from freezing.

Seems the more I explore and study, the more I find I did not know about the coach.

Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #4 –
Steve,
  The valves that allow fresh water to fill the tank and control draining that tank are up front under the little door on the floor (arrow in first photo). The one on the left has to be open to fill the tank. Just turn the other one to drain. You've probably found the overflow up front. Other than these two locations, I don't think there is any easy access to the tank itself.

  It sounds like you have found the coach water drain valves which are under the couch (at least they were on ours).
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #5 –
Steve, the water tank on my U225 was up front under what would be considered the engine cover if a front engine coach. If you have a raised floor area between the driver's and passenger's seat and there is a trap door in it, that's where the valves to fill and empty the fresh waster tank and part of the tank is housed. The rest of the tank is up under the "engine cover" looking box in the middle of the dash. To get access to tank you have to peel back the edges of the carpet about 1" and unscrew the plywood panel approximately 24" X 24".

You then remove the center drawer in the dash to get access to the four screws inside the drawer hole and remove the drawer box by sliding it forward. This will expose the upper portion of the water tank. The tank is "L" shaped and made of white plastic.

If this makes some sense but is not clear, send me a PM with your phone number and I will call you to discuss directly. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #6 –
Thank you all very much for the replies.

I had found the valves in the rear portion of the stepped up area, under the long hatch. Wasn't sure which valve was which, and the printing on the paper tags had blurred from getting wet at some point. The third valve I did find is under the couch near the water pump, which you've confirmed is also a drain valve. Going to make some nice new tags for everything. :)

The only valve I've found under the sink area is near the water heater, with a very faded tag indicating to close it during summer. I assume this was to limit the heating up front at the heater core during warm weather, but I understand the valve shouldn't be completely closed so some circulation still takes place.

I've already removed the drawer box above the tank to deal with the tray which slid in and out as I accelerated and braked (very annoying, that).  However, with the box removed, all I see is carpet all around. But I think I get the idea - peel back the carpet and unscrew the panels (?). One of the items on my wish list is a better tank monitoring system, which requires access to the tanks to affix new sensor strips. Hence my original question.

Have to admit I'm somewhat perturbed that one cannot assess the tank's condition in any easy fashion. Lord knows what might be lurking in there. :) Hate to think what would be involved in having to replace it.

So, let's see if I've got this straight...

If I want to fill the tank, I open the valve, hook up city water and turn it on. (How do I know when it's full? When it starts overflowing out the bottom?). Then I close the valve.

If I leave the water hooked up, anything I draw bypasses the freshwater tank and pump - yes? Nothing else has to happen? And when I disconnect city water and open a faucet, the lack of pressure causes the pump to kick on and draw water from the tank?

More dumb newbie questions... thanks for your help.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #7 –
You've got it except for when you disconnect city water.  Most do not leave the pump switch on while hooked up to city water and most do not leave it on ever.  Turn it on when you want to run water then turn it off.  Don't ever leave it on and leave the coach.  If a line breaks the pump will flood the coach.  Same with city water.  Turn pressure off outside at the bib when leaving the coach.
Dwayne Keith
1992 U240
3116/MD3060

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #8 –
Just make sure you don't leave the pump on with the city water fill valve open. It will never build up pressure and run constantly. The valve on the drivers side is to fill the tank. The valve on the passenger side is the drain. There were also two drains under the couch on my 93, U225, one for the hot water and one for the cold water lines as I recall. There is also a valve under the cabinet to the right of the sink, a hole in the wall of the drawer cabinet, that turns off the engine heat to the hot water heater. Turning if off in the winter puts more hot water to the dash heater.

Once the drawer is removed, the carpeted box will slide rearward exposing the fresh water tank once the board between the drivers and passenger seats is removed.

If you use the SeeLevel tank monitor system, SeeLeveL Gauges by Garnet Instruments Ltd. - RV Applications, you will have to install new senders on the tanks but you will not have to run any new wiring. Cost was around $400 but it is very accurate.

I was in the middle of this post when we had a 5.2 earthquake here in Central Oklahoma. The house was rockn and rollin. What this world coming to.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #9 –
Also don't leave it on if you have a Microphor toilet with a sticking float in the vacuum breaker either ;o)

best, paul

Quote
Most do not leave the pump switch on while hooked up to city water and most do not leave it on ever. Turn it on when you want to run water then turn it off. Don't ever leave it on and leave the coach. If a line breaks the pump will flood the coach.
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #10 –
Thanks for the clarification.  :) It all makes sense now.

Switching the pump on and off is a new habit I need to develop. Never gave it much thought until now. But I do see the wisdom of it. And of course you don't need the pump with city water pressure, and if the pump doesn't run the tank doesn't empty. Ding, ding. (I can be slow on the uptake sometimes).

So... how do you know when the tank if full? It starts to come out an overflow?

Thanks for the info on the Sea Level Kent. That's the one I've been thinking about. As the drawer box hasn't been reattached yet I'll see if I can get the box out to have a look in there (my curiosity knows no bounds  :) ).

A 5.2 in Oklahoma. When is the last time Oklahoma had an earthquake? And we had snow in October, something that hasn't happened since the Civil War.

Lastly - a somewhat related question - has anyone with a 91-93 U225/240 done the third waste valve mod? I don't see any way to fit a third valve in that bay. Just doesn't seem to be any space to put it.

Thanks again for your invaluable help in schooling me.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #11 –
Quote
So... how do you know when the tank if full? It starts to come out an overflow
Yip, that's how it works, Steve. You have to keep an eye on it. We were in Oregon a couple of months ago with our 93. I forgot I was filling the tank (first, the hair; then, the memory) and created a nice little lake for our fellow campers to wade through.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Is there any direct access to my freshwater tank?

Reply #12 –
Thank you jor.  ;D

I thought that would be the case but felt it better to ask than make a spectacle of myself.

Steve

1991 U225 Grand Villa