filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Topic: filling fresh water tank and forgetting (Read 2079 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #25 – April 03, 2020, 11:53:39 pm

While I understand why foretravel closed up the bays to make it all look nice nice, I personally don't like that. It's kind of like putting parsley on top of a dinner that you just made. If you're not going to eat the parsley what the heck is the point. Same goes in my opinion with the decorative panels that they put in. Yeah I get that they closed off the unsightly tanks and plumbing and things like that but in my opinion it's much better to have those exposed where you can see them. It kind of tends to take care of issues before they happen. I'm thinking about changing the black and gray tank cover as well. and I took it off to look behind there I saw that there had been leaks in the past causing a mess on the floor. If it had been exposed that would not have happened or at least it would have been something that somebody could have seen happening and then taking care of it. I guess that is the difference between form versus function. I'm more interested in the function than the form or the beauty of it.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #26 – April 04, 2020, 12:25:08 am

I wonder if the panels make it easier to keep the tanks from freezing by keeping the heater enclosed with the tanks.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #27 – April 04, 2020, 06:09:43 am

At least on mine, the passenger side fresh water tank panel blocks air from the bay heater duct.. Like Bob said, the bays look neater paneled in and I like neat BUT I have a greater need of being able to see what matters more.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #28 – April 04, 2020, 08:37:55 am

My FT also has no panel covering the fresh water tank on the driver side so I can see the tank level. But sometimes the sunlight angle makes it hard to see it so I'll open the direct fill when using the auto fill valve. That way I'll see a drop or 2 when the tank is almost full and can shut it off then.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #29 – April 04, 2020, 08:50:37 am

Quote from: craneman – April 04, 2020, 12:25:08 am

I wonder if the panels make it easier to keep the tanks from freezing by keeping the heater enclosed with the tanks.

Crane man that's a good thought. Makes sense. But the panels are just thin ply or glass so not much in the way of insulation there. Still the space would be smaller.
But I think it had more to do with the aesthetics of it. People paying a half mil for a coach would probably balk at anything less?
With that thought in mind may some remote thermometers in the bays would be a good idea. If one was going to spend any time in cold weather. I have some I was going to use in the fridge and freezer. Might get another set for the wet bays.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #30 – April 04, 2020, 08:56:27 am

The panels help contain whatever heat gets added to the bays but don't really add any insulation value.

If you have access to the side of the fresh water tank as it is filling hold a flashlight up to the side of the tank. It helps see the difference between where the water is and is not.

In my 2001 U320 there is a flat shelf above the water pump and a vertical panel between the basement walls in front of the fresh water tank. These are held on with screws. Every winter I had to take these out to do the winterizing thing. To make things easier all of these panels are held in place with velcro now. The vertical panel got modified to clear the AH heat exchanger, turn back towards the fresh tank and near the end of the self turn again towards the forward basement wall. This section is hinged so that I can easily open the section to see the fresh tank. This also adds at least an additional square foot of shelf space for spare oil, antifreeze, and other parts.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #31 – April 04, 2020, 10:11:17 am

I took out the panel on the grey water side and on the fresh water side I replaced the thin angle aluminum with heavier angle
aluminum and fixed it so it is easier to remove and I use the shelf for storage. I made 2 inch insulation to cover the whole doorway
which keeps the whole area a lot warmer.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #32 – April 04, 2020, 12:20:11 pm

Seeing Behind the Wet Bay Panel
I have my wet bay and fuel tank areas open but on our 320 I knocked off Steve & Michelle's idea and installed a removable panel. It provided a good view of the hidden wet bay area without changing the look of the compartment. Same panel that Jeff used for access to the back of the water heater. Also keep an audible alarm on the floor to alert of any water (a Barry & Cindy innovation).

Trying to See through the Water Tank
I had direct fill and a SeeLevel gauge in the wet bay compartment on my last rig. That made it easy to monitor the fill process. On this rig, I just try to see the water level but it's difficult. I've tried all kinds of flashlights but it's always a struggle. I'm just waiting for my OEM gauges to fail so I can install SeeLevel (always a pleasure to throw that Audit box). Anyhow, a number of years ago I knocked off another venerable forum member's (Gary Bouland) idea and installed a simple water sight level. The photos aren't too good but you can see the transparent tube exiting from the bottom of the tank and snaking up the compartment wall. Just another way to see how much water is in that kinda translucent tank.
jor

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #33 – April 04, 2020, 12:44:59 pm

A typical flashlight didn't change the view in my fresh water tank but a LED tough lite bought at Wall Mart pressed against the bottom of the tank where all the light is going into the tank and none in my eyes illuminated the inside of the tank so that the water line is relatively easy to follow. Looks like you have fixed your issue .....maybe the light I use now will help someone else.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #34 – April 04, 2020, 01:30:01 pm

Jor, I like your sight glass idea. Is the top vented or plugged?

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #35 – April 04, 2020, 01:33:48 pm

Quote

Is the top vented or plugged?

When I used that system, I had a little plug for the sight hose. Didn't really need it though as the top of the hose was well above the fill level on the tank.
jor

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #36 – April 04, 2020, 02:14:50 pm

I rebuilt my bulkhead when I bought my coach. Normal procedure for me is turn on the fill valve and shut it off when it overflows. Like others have said ,don't you drive in th rain? Now when it comes to driving on salted roads nope, never ,no way. Fresh water,no problem.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #37 – April 04, 2020, 03:45:15 pm

The bulkheads on my 270 look pretty much water proof from outside underneath with the coating of rubberized sealant covering the bulkhead bolts and surrounding areas by several inches..I don't see where much or any road water could get inside.. Could be wrong.. Unlike my 280 that had molding that ran the length of the coach where the walls meet the floor with the ends open right at the bulkheads front and rear.. May be wrong about the 270 but I don't see a place where road wash can intrude. I will continue to try and keep the top side dry but won't be poking you for what works for you.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #38 – April 04, 2020, 04:09:21 pm

Propane tank in a non dedicated compartment with electrical appliances? Is it in use?

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #39 – June 13, 2021, 11:20:07 am

Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore – April 03, 2020, 09:48:20 pm

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.

Sorry about posting to an old thread but this topic is always relevant. I sometimes have a hard time determining the water level looking at the translucent tank. At those times I have tried shining a flashlight at the tank to little avail. The other day I had an "ah ha" moment when I happened to have the utility bay on the driver side open at the time I was checking the water level on the passenger side. The sun was more on the driver side and the back lighting of the tank made the actual water level show up dramatically. I think I will add a bright LED light on the driver side with a momentary switch on the passenger side for visually checking water level.

I will post photos when I get around to this project.

Richard

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #40 – June 14, 2021, 11:10:14 am

For 20 years we know fresh water tank level by turning on a florescent lamp kept on top of tank. We discarded the fiberglass trim that hides viewing top of tank.

We also made a narrow paper template that is attached to tank surface to know # of gallons.

Works just fine.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #41 – June 14, 2021, 11:35:59 am

Like others, I just put a large bright battery powered light in the manifold/pump bay, then watch from the other side. I too removed the cover.

I like Barry's idea of a fluorescent light.

I lost my bright portable light for a week, only to find it with a dead battery in the plumbing bay!

Chris

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #42 – June 14, 2021, 12:10:19 pm

I marked the tank about at the same level at where the direct fill hole is. Pretty easy to see, especially if you have a flashlight.

Pierce

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #43 – June 14, 2021, 12:21:57 pm

I'm sitting here reading these comments about using flashlights, florescent lamps, LED lights, etc. Then I wonder to myself "Are none of these coaches equipped with SeeLevel readouts in the wet bay".
I just assumed every savvy Forum owner had already converted over to SeeLevel. I guess I was wrong.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #44 – June 14, 2021, 12:23:41 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – June 14, 2021, 12:21:57 pm

I'm sitting here reading these comments about using flashlights, LED lights, etc. Then I wonder to myself "Are none of these coaches equipped with SeeLevel readouts in the wet bay".
I just assumed every savvy Forum owner had already converted over to SeeLevel. I guess I was wrong.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Old school....

Poop and grey I don't worry about, I know where those are at most the time. And my old monitor reads pretty accurate, so does the fresh water, after adding a little more aluminum tape.
Chris

But agree, Seal levels are nice. Put one in my friends toterhome.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #45 – June 14, 2021, 12:35:20 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – June 14, 2021, 12:21:57 pm

I'm sitting here reading these comments about using flashlights, florescent lamps, LED lights, etc. Then I wonder to myself "Are none of these coaches equipped with SeeLevel readouts in the wet bay".
I just assumed every savvy Forum owner had already converted over to SeeLevel. I guess I was wrong.

I don't go above the line as parking on an angle or driving may result in water coming out the overflow and draining down to cause the dreaded ~~Voldemort~~ problem. Savvy designers would have never made this mistake (and many others). KISS works for me.

Pierce

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #46 – June 14, 2021, 12:51:02 pm

Quote from: gracerace – June 14, 2021, 12:23:41 pm

Old school....

Old school is my backup for when high tech inevitably fails at just the wrong moment.

On my tank (below) you can see my black marks that matched the old Audit 1/4 tank level graduations. When the Audit clicked on the "FULL" signal, the water was at the "full" mark on the tank - about 4" below the actual top (overflow pipe).

When I installed the SeeLevel system tape on my water tank, it just happened to work out that the wet bay readout shows 100% the same time the water level reaches my added-on quick fill pipe (top right corner). This is about 1" below overflow level. I consider this my MAX fill line when I need a really full tank for dry camping. Otherwise, I usually stop at 90% which is close to the old Audit full mark.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #47 – June 14, 2021, 12:56:34 pm

When I added the manual fill fitting & valve at the top part of my tank I put it just below the overflow fitting (on the other side of the coach). I can open that valve and when water starts to drip out I'm full enough.

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #48 – June 17, 2021, 06:37:43 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – June 14, 2021, 11:10:14 am

For 20 years we know fresh water tank level by turning on a florescent lamp kept on top of tank. We discarded the fiberglass trim that hides viewing top of tank.

We also made a narrow paper template that is attached to tank surface to know # of gallons.

Works just fine.

Thanks Barry for the idea. I had a strip of 12" LED strip left over, stuck it to the top of the under floor, pointed down over the tank. Then mounted a toggle switch right there. Works awesome. Our tank gauges are actually pretty accurate, but slow to read out.
I have a city fill ordered, going to mount it in the upper flat part of the tank. Had been putting that one off.
I get so many good ideas on this sight.
Thanks Everyone
Chris

Re: filling fresh water tank and forgetting

Reply #49 – June 17, 2021, 06:41:26 pm

Quote from: stevec22 – April 02, 2020, 09:52:36 pm

Mine has done this a few times.
I always cringe when I think about my rear bulkhead.

You may want to re-evaluate driving in the snow and rain.

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