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Topic: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices) (Read 618 times) previous topic - next topic

A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

I have been working on my coach ''Nelson" and am getting close to having everything back in tip top shape as far as everything working as it should. I will be sanitizing my water system in a few weeks and am wondering, after I get it cleaned out and start using it should I filter the water when I fill the storage tank? And do you carry full tanks of water or fill when you get near your destination if you are not going to be connecting to a campsite water source?
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #1 –
Stump,

We filter along with a softener all the water that we use.

We carry a full tank of water when we travel. This gives us the option to dry camp at any place we run across in our travels.

This works for us.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #2 –
We also keep a full water tank. Even when we are at a full hookup campground long term I work out of my tank. That way I have fresh water coming into the tank at least once every 10 days, usually its chlorinated which helps keep everything sanitized frequently. I never leave my water or sewer line hooked up. I hook up only when I need to fill the tank. It works for us.

We aren't fully Full Time anymore but we are Most of the Time now. We will be on the road 6 to 8 months out of the year.   
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: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #3 –
We filter and soften all water going into the fresh water tank. The filter system includes two fiber filters. a charcoal filter, and a softener. We generally keep the tank full. I use an automatic fill system that keeps the tank full without overflowing. All water we use in the coach is pumped from the fresh water storage tank.

For about four years, we used RO (reverse osmosis) filtering for all water. I switched to softened water and find it more satisfactory for bathing and washing. Filling the tank is more convenient, also, because there is no effluent and fill time is much faster.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #4 –
A sediment filter is a good idea. One time we filled at a state park the water was so dirty we had to change the water filter into the tank. I travel light so I plan on traveling with a max of half tank. This amount of water can last a few days if properly dispensed.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
We also keep a full water tank. Even when we are at a full hookup campground long term I work out of my tank. That way I have fresh water coming into the tank at least once every 10 days, usually its chlorinated which helps keep everything sanitized frequently. I never leave my water or sewer line hooked up. I hook up only when I need to fill the tank. It works for us.
We use water like Kent and Peggy.  I also mounted a sediment filter in the service bay to filter all the water when filling tank.  I change the filter every three months.  We also travel with the water tank full or near full.
Dave A 
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #6 –
I forgot to mention that we too always use either a household style sediment filter or charcoal filter and a household style pressure regulator. Always.

As JD mentioned, we don't use an RO system. I managed a chemical company for years and we were warned not to drink our RO water. There are several technical reasons so although its arguable, I just don't think its a good idea.
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: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #7 –
I use a sediment filter and a charcoal filter for all water going into coach. The only exception is when I start out from home. Then I use only the sediment filter, so we have some chlorinated water to start.
Eric & Nancy
1999 36 Ft. U320 WTFE
2016 GMC Terrain

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #8 –
Depending on where we are going I usually try to keep about 1/2 a tank of fresh water. When I fill the F/W tank I try to fill from a chlorinated water system. No problems in the 10 or so years.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #9 –
Another advantage of running off of your onboard tank is that when you leave for the day, all you need to do is turn off the pump. In the event of some kind of leak or commode malfunction, you will not have water, water everywhere.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Carol Savournin –
Another advantage of running off of your onboard tank is that when you leave for the day, all you need to do is turn off the pump. In the event of some kind of leak or commode malfunction, you will not have water, water everywhere.
That makes perfect sence to me,Thanks Carol. I'll get the system sanitized and water flowing and check into filter setups for filling the tank and take it from there, Thanks ya'll.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #11 –
We're here in a church parking lot for six weeks with three other couples, working on a small building project. The other three rigs (one MH and two 5'ers) all are connected to the hose for their water supply. We connect only to fill the tank. It has started to get cold at night, so the others are concerned about a frozen hose. We're not.

Re: A few questions (Fresh water filtering and best tank fill practices)

Reply #12 –
We travel with a full tank and connect to water only when we need to refill it. As do others, we always turn off the pump when we leave so that we have no chance of returning to the beautiful sight of a waterfall flowing out below the door!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186