Hi everyone...been reading these very informative forums for a few weeks now and I have a question I haven't seen answered.We recently bought a lightweight TT ("sure, your minivan can tow it", said the salesman...mmm, not so much) and have been out a few times, really enjoying it. But we seem to have an issue with getting the water tank completely full. My DH fills it until water spills out from the filler, but the meter inside never reads full, more like 2/3 full. And we run out of water before we think we should...we're frugal and last time we didn't even take a shower over the 3 days, yet ran totally dry.So my question is: when filling the tank, is there something else that needs to happen? Should the faucets be opened inside the TT, toilet flushed, to bleed out any air in the pipes, or are we using more water than we think and should ignore the meter, or...?TIA for any answers. These forums have been so educational!

You need to look at the routing of that vent line.They sometimes have a sag in the middle that lets them run water before the tank gets full.Yes you are likely using more water than you think and one way a camper is made "lightweight" is smaller tanks - 10 or 15 gallon.Good Luck, Mike

Meters are notoriously inacurate. Go back to the dealer and make him fix it or show you why it's like that.

One thing I noticed when we fill our FW tank is if we use a heavy flow it will act like it's full and start to spit out of overflow tube well before it is completely full. We now take our time and use a slower fill rate that allows us to get a max fill in most cases. We also installed an Oxygenics showerhead purchased from CW that uses less water than our stock showerhead while producing a more powerful spray.

PureMI wrote:Hi everyone...been reading these very informative forums for a few weeks now and I have a question I haven't seen answered.We recently bought a lightweight TT ("sure, your minivan can tow it", said the salesman...mmm, not so much) and have been out a few times, really enjoying it. But we seem to have an issue with getting the water tank completely full. My DH fills it until water spills out from the filler, but the meter inside never reads full, more like 2/3 full. And we run out of water before we think we should...we're frugal and last time we didn't even take a shower over the 3 days, yet ran totally dry.So my question is: when filling the tank, is there something else that needs to happen? Should the faucets be opened inside the TT, toilet flushed, to bleed out any air in the pipes, or are we using more water than we think and should ignore the meter, or...?TIA for any answers. These forums have been so educational!Had a similiar scenario back with our first pop-up. The major cause turned out to be me filling the tank too fast. If I slowed down the water and let the air fully escape from the tank as it filled, I could get a full load. If the air created a pocket with water on top, then we would think the tank was full when it wasn't.A way to prove it. Fill your tank at home. Then use a 5 gallon bucket or similar bucket with a known water capacity and drain your tank. See how much water really comes out. You can also use this method to determine how much water may stay in the tank because the pump intake is not at the bottom of the tank.Good luck.

Ignore the meter.Fill tank by your normal method and then drain into buckets to determine quantity. Compare that number of gallons to the manual.

Newbie with question about filling the water tank

13 Replies

Alfred622
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
We had a problem in that the fresh water tank could be filled to the brim before we left home, but would be 30% empty when we got to the campground. Turns out that sloshing water would find its way out of the vent tube drain. I put a valve on the vent drain. Solved the problem completely. Now we arrive with a full tank.
mosseater
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2014
I may be how your fill tube and vent tube are connected into the FW tank. Mine, for example, is routed into the side of the top and they're right next to each other. If I fill too fast, the turbulence and volume don't allow the air to escape and a bubble gets trapped in the tank. When I remove the hose, water literally shoots out of the fill pipe, venting the tank. If I fill slower, it seems to take more water and not shoot it back out. My bigger complaint is the drain and pickup tubes are not on the bottom of the tank, they're in the lower corner on the side, so I have about 1 1/2" of water that I can't access. Probably like 7 -10 gals. Don't know why they do that. It never drains completely.
F1bNorm
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
PureMI wrote:
thanks, everyone...we'll try filling slower first and see what happens

I could never get a good fill with a hose that had the threaded end attached. Water always backed up. The cure was 2-3 ft 1/2"hose extension with the threaded end cut off. They sell one for this purpose, but the hose is too short. Also you run the risk of the end falling off, adding to your woes! I use a cut off washing machine fill hose. Add one of those plastic hose shutoff valves for convenience.

Norm
jjjandrbaker
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Sandia Man wrote:
One thing I noticed when we fill our FW tank is if we use a heavy flow it will act like it's full and start to spit out of overflow tube well before it is completely full.

I have learned the same exact thing. A long slow fill is the only way I can do it. If the hose is running too hard, it acts like the tank is full and sends the water right back at me.
Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2014
Water heater may need to have air purged to fill it up. If you start using the heater afterwards, without purging the air first, then anywhere from 6 to 10 gallons of water will travel into the water heater tank lowering your fresh water level. You also run the risk of damaging the water heater by running the heater empty.

When I fill my freshwater tank, after about half way full, I turn on the water pump and open all my hot water faucets and they sputter a lot of air. Once each faucet runs steady water I turn it off. After all faucets run steady water, the water heater tank is full.
Devocamper
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
You also need to check the vent , the air in the tank has to be vented as you fill it, you my have a blocked or pinched vent tube which not alow you to fully fill the tank. Not sure about your setup but with our setup you can hear the air venting as you fill.
PureMI
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
thanks, everyone...we'll try filling slower first and see what happens
F1bNorm
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Is there a way you can actually see the water tank? Often there is a panel that gives you access to the water pump and usually the tank is next to it. Or maybe through a storage compartment?

On my old TT, I cut a small inspection panel so I could see if there was enough water for that last shower. Used magnets to hold the cover in place.

Norm
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
Ignore the meter.

Fill tank by your normal method and then drain into buckets to determine quantity. Compare that number of gallons to the manual.
cubmaster252
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
PureMI wrote:
Hi everyone...been reading these very informative forums for a few weeks now and I have a question I haven't seen answered.

We recently bought a lightweight TT ("sure, your minivan can tow it", said the salesman...mmm, not so much) and have been out a few times, really enjoying it. But we seem to have an issue with getting the water tank completely full. My DH fills it until water spills out from the filler, but the meter inside never reads full, more like 2/3 full. And we run out of water before we think we should...we're frugal and last time we didn't even take a shower over the 3 days, yet ran totally dry.

So my question is: when filling the tank, is there something else that needs to happen? Should the faucets be opened inside the TT, toilet flushed, to bleed out any air in the pipes, or are we using more water than we think and should ignore the meter, or...?

TIA for any answers. These forums have been so educational!

Had a similiar scenario back with our first pop-up. The major cause turned out to be me filling the tank too fast. If I slowed down the water and let the air fully escape from the tank as it filled, I could get a full load. If the air created a pocket with water on top, then we would think the tank was full when it wasn't.

A way to prove it. Fill your tank at home. Then use a 5 gallon bucket or similar bucket with a known water capacity and drain your tank. See how much water really comes out. You can also use this method to determine how much water may stay in the tank because the pump intake is not at the bottom of the tank.

Good luck.