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MartiniSCP's avatar
MartiniSCP
Explorer
Sep 27, 2013

'99 Dutchmen Classic Fresh Water Drain?

Hello All.

We just bought this TT used.
It's in pretty good shape but there are a few niggles and I'm trying to fix them and learn the trailer.

It has a fresh water storage tank under the bed at the front of the trailer. The pump sits beside the tank.

I do not see a way to drain the tank directly without pumping it first through the gray water tank.

Am I missing something?

There is a tube from the tank that exits the bottom of the TT but I see no valve. Is that maybe a breather tube?

There is also a valve on the cold water line under the sofa between the bed and the sink and has a ring attached (like a key chain ring) and is there is a white tube below it that extends through the bottom of the TT and sticks out 2 or three inches below.

I tried turning that valve, if that's what it is, 90 degrees to the water tube and nothing happened.

There is a similar valve/tube assembly on the hot water tube under the stove.

Any idea what these valves are supposed to do?
Is there actually a valve to drain the fresh water tank without pumping it through the gray water tank first?

Thanks All.
Happy Travels.

10 Replies

  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013


    Attached is a picture of the drain under the sofa between the fresh water tank/pump and the sinks/bathroom.
  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    Found it!
    There is a valve on the front of the fresh water tank.
    Unfortunately it's buried under the bed and I had to use a mirror to look behind it.

    It's difficult to reach but doable.
    Draining the fresh water as I type this.

    Still don't know why the other two valves don't drain to their respective hoses.

    I'll post a pic when I get a chance, see if that helps.

    Thanks to all.
  • Peg_Leg's avatar
    Peg_Leg
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    My 94 had plastic valves that were the same color as the lines. If it's in a dark corner it would be easy to mistake it for a elbow. The drain will only work if the valve is turned 90° to the correct side. So try turning yous to the other side. Mine was so hard to turn I cut a slot in a PVC pipe to fit over it. If you don't have any grip drill a hole through the other end to slip a rod into. I ended up using a marker on the floor so I could remember which way to turn it. I've got a photographic memory, when I saw the mark I remembered.
  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    Good question. I'll try and trace them.
    The trailer seems to be in good shape and I haven't seen any evidence of customizing.

    I'll see if I can feel any water in that tube.

    Everything works.
    All the faucets produce water when turned on and the pump is on.

    I took it to a dump last night and drained all the tanks and flushed them out.
    I pumped the fresh water tank empty into the gray water tank and emptied it.
    I saw no leaking.
  • kearlms's avatar
    kearlms
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    Have you traced the lines to find out where they are connected? I assume you are getting water at the faucets when the pump is on. Makes me wonder if there is another set of valves or if someone re-plumbed it and did not connect he low points.
  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    But I tried opening those valves with the pump on and nothing came out of those tubes.
  • kearlms's avatar
    kearlms
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    MartiniSCP wrote:
    kearlms wrote:
    I would be that the two lines you describe with valves on them going through the floor are your low point drains. To test this open a sink faucet to the cold and open the cold one then do the same but to hot. If water trickles out then that is what they are. There should be some type of drain for the fresh tank, but as to where it is I could not say.


    So you're saying to open those valves and turn on the sink hot and cold water? Should the fresh water pump be on?


    Don't turn on the pump. They are meant to drain the water from the lines. They will drain some of the water but not all. If you open them and have the pump on it should push water out and drain the fresh tank. Remember if you winterize your trailer for winter to open those valves and run antifreeze through them.
  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    What I don't understand is that this cold water valve is located between the fresh water tank/pump and the kitchen sink, water heater and bathroom.

    If there is water in that line going to the sink, bathroom, etc, why wouldn't water pour out that valve/tube all the time if it's open?

    Yet, when I opened it, with the pump activated, absolutely nothing happened.
  • MartiniSCP's avatar
    MartiniSCP
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    kearlms wrote:
    I would be that the two lines you describe with valves on them going through the floor are your low point drains. To test this open a sink faucet to the cold and open the cold one then do the same but to hot. If water trickles out then that is what they are. There should be some type of drain for the fresh tank, but as to where it is I could not say.


    So you're saying to open those valves and turn on the sink hot and cold water? Should the fresh water pump be on?
  • kearlms's avatar
    kearlms
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2013
    I would be that the two lines you describe with valves on them going through the floor are your low point drains. To test this open a sink faucet to the cold and open the cold one then do the same but to hot. If water trickles out then that is what they are. There should be some type of drain for the fresh tank, but as to where it is I could not say.

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