filling fresh water tank and forgetting

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filling fresh water tank and forgetting

April 02, 2020, 09:33:59 pm

Ok. I filled my fresh tank and got to thinking, if I walked away and forgot it's hooked up to city water and filling, What happens after it's full and still on and I'm not there to shut off?. Does it equalize and stop filling?
Thank you

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #1 – April 02, 2020, 09:37:23 pm

If it's like mine it will pour out the overflow and keep doing so until the water is shut off.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #2 – April 02, 2020, 09:52:36 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – April 02, 2020, 09:37:23 pm

If it's like mine it will pour out the overflow and keep doing so until the water is shut off.

Mine has done this a few times.

I always cringe when I think about my rear bulkhead.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #3 – April 02, 2020, 10:07:07 pm

You need to stay close when filling.. The overflow is in a bad place and dumps the overflow in a place that needs no water.Remove the panel that prevents you from seeing how full the tank is and add a direct fill.. Search will show you how it's done.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #4 – April 02, 2020, 10:08:11 pm

If you have an electric fill valve here is a solution. If not it can be used for an alarm buzzer or light.
Water Fill Valve Auto Shut-off

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #5 – April 02, 2020, 10:23:25 pm

Mine has an automatic shut off.
But I'm still very attentive.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #6 – April 02, 2020, 10:25:48 pm

Aside from getting the rear bulkhead wet, plan on staying-put for a few days... since you're not getting out of the mud hole, you just created, anytime soon.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #7 – April 02, 2020, 11:10:37 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – April 02, 2020, 09:33:59 pm

Ok. I filled my fresh tank and got to thinking, if I walked away and forgot it's hooked up to city water and filling, What happens after it's full and still on and I'm not there to shut off?. Does it equalize and stop filling?
Thank you

On my previous coach with no auto fill shutoff, I put a large rubber band around my hand until I shut off the fill.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #8 – April 02, 2020, 11:23:55 pm

As others have said, don't do that.
I recommend you te how long it takes to fill 3/4 of the way, then use your smartphone and set a timer.
Direct fill will fill your tank much faster.
I plan on modifying the tank overflow as well one of these days.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #9 – April 03, 2020, 02:28:14 am

We are here at FOT (thank you FOT for letting us stay in place for a while!) and on Monday night on our evening walk around I noticed water pouring out of the back few bays of a brand new 2019 IH-45. I knocked on the door and no answer so I turned off the water at the spigot and the deluge stopped. I wrote them a note and taped it to their entry door window. They departed the next day with their brand new painted to match stacker trailer that looked to be a bit taller than their coach and nearly as long - it looked beautiful but I would not want to be hauling that behemoth around. I checked with the service rep yesterday and asked if the IH-45 no longer came with an auto shut off and told him what I had seen. I said maybe my note blew off in the wind. He said he would call the owner and check with them.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #10 – April 03, 2020, 03:04:01 am

I have a 1997 u320 and when I forgot to shut mine off it just spilled out the overflow onto the ground. I have a electric fill valve in the water bay and inside the bathroom.

On Thu, Apr 2, 2020, 9:35 PM dans96u295ft via ForeForums noreply@foreforums.com> wrote:

Quote

A new topic, 'filling fresh water tank and forgetting', has been started in 'Foretravel Tech Talk'.

Ok. I filled my fresh tank and got to thinking, if I walked away and forgot it's hooked up to city water and filling, What happens after it's full and still on and I'm not there to shut off?. Does it equalize and stop filling?

Thank you

1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #11 – April 03, 2020, 07:20:38 am

I know this will be contradicted but I don't concern myself with an occasional fresh tank overflow. I have mistakenly done it three or four times in the last five or so years. The bulkhead in front of the passenger side duals where our overflow is located gets soaked every time I drive in the rain or wet road conditions. With more water and for longer periods of time than a short time overflow. I agree the bulk head issue can be and is a serious issue, probably not the best design either. But why be so concerned about the bulkhead getting wet with and overflow when it gets soaked anytime you drive on a wet road? I have stopped many times, at many rest areas and examined this area after driving in the rain. Dripping wet.
Just my opinion, don't understand unless you never drive in the rain or on wet roads. Unfortunately In my situation I do drive in wet conditions and will deal with the bulkhead issue when the time comes.

End of rant.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #12 – April 03, 2020, 09:25:23 am

I'll use the rubber band method. I do have a monitor panel I can also watch and at 100% it is not quite full. Is there anywhere on a 1996 u295 you can visually look at the tanks top without pulling panels?

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #13 – April 03, 2020, 10:25:13 am

As soon as I found the forum, I read about the bulkhead issue and did the Brett torque test. All was good at that time. Then I cleaned all across the the angle iron and above it and sprayed two layers of automotive undercoating. I am going to clean the bolt heads and check again and respray as I still have about 12 gallons of the Penzoil undercoating in the drum. They sell a consumer version in an aerosol can that could protect this area from both rain and tank overflow.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #14 – April 03, 2020, 10:27:21 am

I used blue painter's tape to mask off each Rolock bolt head before I undercoated. Makes rechecking torque a lot easier/cleaner.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #15 – April 03, 2020, 11:47:56 am

I pulled the panel hiding the water tank. I still set my iPhone timer in 10 minute intervals and visually check the tank level before restarting the timer.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #16 – April 03, 2020, 12:25:10 pm

Dan,

To allow a direct view of my fresh water tank I cut an opening in the rear panel above my fresh water pump on the starboard side of the coach. I glued plexiglass on the back side of the panel so as to maintain the integrity of the water system heating plan. While I had the panel off, I marked the quarter, half and three quarter level of the tank with a Sharpie pen. I also changed the compartment light to LED and moved it to the area behind the panel to make the marks easier to view. Now I can just open the compartment door and see exactly how full (or empty) the tank is.

Richard

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #17 – April 03, 2020, 12:46:53 pm

One of the first things I did was lengthen the overflow hose below the bulkhead after I got the coach.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #18 – April 03, 2020, 01:02:57 pm

Quote from: oldguy – April 03, 2020, 12:46:53 pm

One of the first things I did was lengthen the overflow hose below the bulkhead after I got the coach.

Yes, that is my fresh water overflow tube on the left side of the image which empties directly below the lower floor.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #19 – April 03, 2020, 01:10:24 pm

I'm betting most of us have forgotten and run into the overflow situation. I think the best solution is total dedication to the process, just like hookin' up the toad. It is so tempting to take care of something else when that water is filling. The redirected overflow hose solves the wet bulkhead issue and the manual fill makes the process a lot quicker.

Jan & Richard, that is a sweet setup.
jor

(deleted my remark about the wet compartment. Thanks, Crane)

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #20 – April 03, 2020, 01:23:23 pm

Great idea, Jan and Richard. Thanks

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #21 – April 03, 2020, 09:20:34 pm

My white tank is actually exposed in the bay but I can't see the water level as it is milky. Any ideas? And I don't see the overflow hose at all. How tough is it to post pictures

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #22 – April 03, 2020, 09:37:09 pm

I let mine run over once and rushed around to shut water off.. since then use direct fill and sit on a stool watching and it doesn't take long to fill..Justin makes a point and I see his reasoning.. My bulkhead's and bolts have a heavy coating of rubber spray on protectant from the bottom so I just don't have a problem doing my part from the top and inside bays.. Really wish the bulkheads and at least the first runs of steel closer to them had been done in aluminum but that's for another thread..I just plan to remain diligent in keeping water out of my bays.. Sure it will happen to all at sometime or other via plumbing and the likes but I can and will continue to keep em dry as I can.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #23 – April 03, 2020, 09:48:20 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – April 03, 2020, 09:20:34 pm

My white tank is actually exposed in the bay but I can't see the water level as it is milky. Any ideas? And I don't see the overflow hose at all. How tough is it to post pictures

The tank is translucent. You can easily see the water level through it. At least on my tank and I would bet on yours as well. I'll include a couple pictures. The green hose coming out of the top is the overflow.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #24 – April 03, 2020, 10:54:06 pm

Weird. I'll try to post a picture

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