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Topic: How to Fill Water tank? (Read 2252 times) previous topic - next topic

How to Fill Water tank?

New to the Foretravel, a 1999 U270 34'.  I can't figure out how to fill the water tank and the owners manual is no help.  There is a quick connect for water down in the bay where the black and grey tank drains are located.  I assume it is for a city water hookup. Question is how do I fill the water tank and then how do I know when it is full.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #1 –
On our 95 there is a gate valve under the bath sink. Just hook up city water and use it with no water pump needed. Turn it 90 degrees to fill tank, but be sure to turn it back or water pump will just run and run if inadvertently turned on. Don't ask how I know this.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: MikeandPat –
New to the Foretravel, a 1999 U270 34'.  I can't figure out how to fill the water tank and the owners manual is no help.  There is a quick connect for water down in the bay where the black and grey tank drains are located.  I assume it is for a city water hookup. Question is how do I fill the water tank and then how do I know when it is full.

I believe you have the electric switches 1 is in the bathroom and the other is in the bay where you have the hookups.
I won't get into how to tell if it is full or this thread will go crazy.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #3 –
The U270 model has the manual valve under the sink in the Head.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #4 –
U270 has one switch under sink, or a manual valve in bathroom I believe

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #5 –
As Peter says, my 295 has a valve on the floor of the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom you will be able to here it filling.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #6 –
We installed a quick connect on the top of the water tank in the wet bay. It fills much faster this way. In my '93 Grand Villa using the valve in the bathroom fills the tank from the bottom. It takes more effort to fill from the bottom of the tank than the top.

That hose you mentioned in the wet bay may be to rinse your black tank.

Edited to add: The Javalina in our coach was shot so using the FT level gauges wasn't possible. We installed 2 SeeLevel 709's, one in the bath and one in the wet bay. It shows levels for fresh, gray, black, propane and batteries. Until we got the SeeLevel's I listened for the sound of water exiting the overfill hose. I wasn't comfortable do this so after a couple of fills I used a flash light and watched the tank. I can see mine from the wet bay.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Jeff & Sandy –
I can see mine from the wet bay.
I use the same "visual" system to monitor tank filling when I'm outside by the wet bay.  Our Audit 860 tank levels still work great, so if I'm inside I just watch the CRT display.  When the Audit water tank gauge shows "FULL", the water in the tank is right at the full mark I made on the side of the tank.  I shut off the filler hose at this point, which leaves about 2" of air space in the top of the tank. 

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #8 –
Found the valve under the bathroom sink.  Thanks

Will have more questions as they arise.  First voyage on Wednesday and unfortunately  we have to go to Phoenix and their 115 temps.  On Sunday we get to retreat to the high country.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #9 –
All the best on your first trip out.  We all were new to our coaches and had lots of questions, and got help here as well.

I would suggest that you go to your profile and add your signature to include your coach model, length, and year.  There are lots of members with great knowledge for your coach, year, model and more.

As one moves up the line up, by year and models from 270 to 295 to 320, things change for the options and standard features.  To completely confuse all of us, these were sometimes custom built with different specs as well, or have been modified by previous owners.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #10 –
I have a 89 grand villa and have no idea how to fill the water tank.  Can anyone help? This is a320.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #11 –
Hard Time,

Welcome to the ForeForum.

We will need a little more information.  The 320 did not come out until 1995.

Valve will be in one location on a 1989 Grandvilla and a completely different one on a 320.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #12 –
Hardtime,  Your manual ball valve to fill the freshwater tank is between the driver and passenger seat under a removable carpeted panel, at least it was on my Granville.  With the shore water hose connected to the coach and on, just open the valve till as full as you wish.  If completely full, water will run out the overflow line onto the ground.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: MikeandPat –
Found the valve under the bathroom sink.  Thanks

Will have more questions as they arise.  First voyage on Wednesday and unfortunately  we have to go to Phoenix and their 115 temps.  On Sunday we get to retreat to the high country.

Don't all manufacturers place the fresh water fill in the bathroom?

You gotta love the designers at Foretravel.  Not for the unique locations of switches and valve, but for the beautiful way they disguise the valve location itself.  On our U225, there's a nice finger pull in the carpeting between the driver's and passenger seat leading to a small heated compartment where the fill and drain valves reside.

Welcome to the adventure.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #14 –
Yep. Fill into you hear the water overflowing and your full then close the valve under the sink to use the pump. I just went thru this

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #15 –
Quote from: dans96u295ft –
Yep. Fill into you hear the water overflowing and your full then close the valve under the sink to use the pump. I just went thru this

Not a good idea to overfill your water tanks. That water is bad for your bulkheads.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #16 –
If a previous owner changed things up then it could be anything. On mine it was a mishmash of valves and electric valve. I replumbed it.

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Jeff & Sandy –
Not a good idea to overfill your water tanks. That water is bad for your bulkheads.

I keep reading this and want to confirm why.  The overflow tube comes off the side top of the tank, curves up to be above the top of the tank and then exits through the bulkhead.  Mine has a shroud on it in the wheel well.  It is caulked to the extreme on the tank side where it goes through the bulkhead. It would appear that when it overflows it runs down inside the wheel well.  That area gets tons of water running the coach in the rain.  And surely gets water when the tank is full and you're sloshing around on driving the coach.  The only reason I can accept that it is bad for the bulkhead is if the overflow tube actually does not get all the way through or has no sealant where it exits the bulkhead.  That would allow water to get IN the bulkhead.  Of course if that is the case so would sloshing around with a full tank and driving in the rain.  And it would be a very poor design/workmanship flaw.  Here is the best picture I could get right now of the overflow tube and shroud.  I have a new inspection camera that I will try to get up and look closer.  Just curious about this statement that is everywhere on this forum.  Thank you!

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #18 –
Quote from: coastalbuilder –
Just curious about this statement that is everywhere on this forum.
Personally speaking, I (mostly) avoid over-filling the fresh water tank because:

A.  I don't like wasting fresh water (we are long-time desert dwellers).

B.  I try to avoid making a big mess (puddle) under our coach.

(IMHO) I do not believe that letting some water run out the OEM overflow vent will cause our coach to disintegrate into a pile of iron oxide.

On the other hand, I also do not think it is wise to poke a hornet nest with a stick:

ARGUMENTUM AD POPULUM

Re: How to Fill Water tank?

Reply #19 –
There is a fellow on the FB forum where the PO got fancy with wood floors and sealed-up the location for the water in/drain location between driver and pass.seats. He is now cutting the whole area apart to have access ! :facepalm: .  Here's our location (maybe re-plumbed by Brett) and the guy's who's having to cut into his floor.