Forum Discussion

mr__old_style's avatar
Jun 02, 2013

Fresh water tank question

Need a little help in understanding the layout of my freshwater tanks.
I have two tanks 55 gallons each approx. There connected together near the bottom with an approx. 1 1/4" hose. Without pulling them down I cant see all the connections, but it appears each tank has a couple vent lines in the top, I believe the fill line comes into one of them and flows into the second via the 1 1/4" line. I also believe the rear tank has a 1/2" or so line that runs to the pump. That 1 1/4" line that connects the two tanks is close to 1 1/2" up on the sidewall of the tank. That being the case that front tank always has at least and inch and a half of water in it. Is that common or is there a suction line going into that front tank that I'm not seeing. Seriously considering pulling the tanks out and putting the connector line down on the bottom of the front tank and raising it up a little, (or dropping the rear tank down) so the water has a chance to flow into second tank. Any thoughts?

2008 Cyclone 3912
  • mr. old style wrote:
    I have the bottom off mine also, and the line is 1 1/2" up the side of the tank that part I have measured. I just dont know what there thinking when the design/build these things. The drains for the plumbing come out right in the middle of the trailer right above the middle axle, not exactly easy to get to. Would it have been that costly to use an extra 4 ft of half inch house and brought them over within reach of the side wall :h

    The tank is directly above the axle to allow the axles to carry the weight of the water. Access is secondary to structural integrity.
  • The bottom of my 104 gallon tank has an area about 4" x 4" that is about an inch lower than the rest of the tank and that is where the fittings are for the suction hose. It doesn't appear like the hose would ever catch on anything as it is above the axles.
  • I have the bottom off mine also, and the line is 1 1/2" up the side of the tank that part I have measured. I just dont know what there thinking when the design/build these things. The drains for the plumbing come out right in the middle of the trailer right above the middle axle, not exactly easy to get to. Would it have been that costly to use an extra 4 ft of half inch house and brought them over within reach of the side wall :h
  • Since I just took the bottom enclosure off my trailer I can tell you my 2 tanks measure 5 1/2" H x 3' W x 5' L. The line that connects the two takes is about 3/4" up from the bottom of the tanks to the bottom of the outlet. I suppose you could drill a whole in the bottom and connect them. Maybe you could tilt the other side of the tank just a bit? Mine seem to have a little room to do that.
  • Drill and tap holes in the bottom of both tanks, thread in elbow fittings and add a hose between. The distance the loop is below the tank doesn't matter. The bottom of the tank that you want the water to flow from needs to be the same level or higher than the other. You can encourage the process by leaving the trailer slightly nose high or low as the case may be.
  • Lantley wrote:
    mr. old style wrote:
    Jim Cindy wrote:
    I don't know about the 1 1/2" but you cannot put the fittings exactly at the bottom of the tank. Is that small amount of extra water capacity enough to go through all that work. Ying and Yang, is it worth the effort.


    Why cant I put it in the bottom of the tank? Without measuring (I'm at work) I would guess the tank is about 8 inches tall, that means almost a quarter of the capacity is left in there, with no way to drain it. Sets in there all for several week/months between dry camping trips could get pretty funky I would think :p

    Is there clearance to bring a line off the bottom of the tank and then tie it to the other tank? Keep in mind water does not flow uphill.


    But it does flow onto the ground if you rip the fitting off.
  • mr. old style wrote:
    Jim Cindy wrote:
    I don't know about the 1 1/2" but you cannot put the fittings exactly at the bottom of the tank. Is that small amount of extra water capacity enough to go through all that work. Ying and Yang, is it worth the effort.


    Why cant I put it in the bottom of the tank? Without measuring (I'm at work) I would guess the tank is about 8 inches tall, that means almost a quarter of the capacity is left in there, with no way to drain it. Sets in there all for several week/months between dry camping trips could get pretty funky I would think :p

    Is there clearance to bring a line off the bottom of the tank and then tie it to the other tank? Keep in mind water does not flow uphill.
  • Jim Cindy wrote:
    I don't know about the 1 1/2" but you cannot put the fittings exactly at the bottom of the tank. Is that small amount of extra water capacity enough to go through all that work. Ying and Yang, is it worth the effort.


    Why cant I put it in the bottom of the tank? Without measuring (I'm at work) I would guess the tank is about 8 inches tall, that means almost a quarter of the capacity is left in there, with no way to drain it. Sets in there all for several week/months between dry camping trips could get pretty funky I would think :p
  • I don't know about the 1 1/2" but you cannot put the fittings exactly at the bottom of the tank. Is that small amount of extra water capacity enough to go through all that work. Ying and Yang, is it worth the effort.