Can't find my water pump

rlw999 wrote:
So sounds like the rule of thumb is "The pump should be close to the freshwater tank. Or not." and "The pump should be close to the water heater. Or not." and "The pump should be near the kitchen. Or not.".

Or in other words, until you find it, you won't know where it is, different RV's put it in much different places.

So true! I've had 8 now and they were all different. I've always found them by accident or followed the noise. They put them in some strange places sometimes! The Airstream was the worst! 31' Rear bath, fresh water tank in the rear bumper / storage area behind the tub. Kitchen was 3/4 ways to the front, then a pretty large living area. The pump was in the very front under the couch. 25' from the tank and bathroom and 5' outside the kitchen!

So sounds like the rule of thumb is "The pump should be close to the freshwater tank. Or not." and "The pump should be close to the water heater. Or not." and "The pump should be near the kitchen. Or not.".

Or in other words, until you find it, you won't know where it is, different RV's put it in much different places.

If there is a removable panel under the oven take a look. That is where ours is.

In all my Montana's it is behind the convenience center where the shower dump valves etc.. take out the false wall and there it is

On my last 2 5th wheels the pump was accessed from the basement storage. On my Laredo I had to unscrew a panel on the back wall of the basement to reach the pump. That was on the passenger side. On my current trailer, the pump is accessed by a door on the back side wall of the basement.

Beverley&Ken wrote:
Do you have a gravity fresh water fill, not the city water connection if different. The pump should be very close to the fresh water tank, which also close to the fill.
When I winterized my neighbours 5th wheel a few years ago, I had to search for the pump and winterizing line. She told me that she had always put 10 gallons of pink in the fresh water tank and pumped it through. Long story short. City water conection near the front under the bathroom, upper level, Gravity fill in the rear wall, fresh water tank under the floor just in front of the bumper, could't get any further away from kitchen or bathroom. The water pump was on the floor inside an end table between the recliner chairs. When all was quiet, you could hear the pump running. I had to dig through carpet and trim just to remove this end table and access the pump.

Ken

At least in my Alpine, which is the same year so should be more or less the same, there is no gravity fill and the pump is about 25ft from the fresh tank. Fresh tank is at the very rear, and pump is in the front basement behind the water works and a false wall.

Do you have a gravity fresh water fill, not the city water connection if different. The pump should be very close to the fresh water tank, which also close to the fill.
When I winterized my neighbours 5th wheel a few years ago, I had to search for the pump and winterizing line. She told me that she had always put 10 gallons of pink in the fresh water tank and pumped it through. Long story short. City water conection near the front under the bathroom, upper level, Gravity fill in the rear wall, fresh water tank under the floor just in front of the bumper, could't get any further away from kitchen or bathroom. The water pump was on the floor inside an end table between the recliner chairs. When all was quiet, you could hear the pump running. I had to dig through carpet and trim just to remove this end table and access the pump.

Ken

Mine is in the basement, behind a false wall behind the water center. It's the same year Alpine, but a 3730FB. I'd bet on more or less the same location on yours.

You will not burn up the pump by letting it run dry.

When I was looking for my pump, it was easier to locate it by sound from beneath the RV. When I was inside the RV, it sounded like it was under the sink near the water heater, but after crawling underneath the RV, it was easier to hear that it was actually under the bed (which as it turns out, is where the freshwater tank is). The bed base isn't hinged so it can be opened, if I remove a small under bed drawer I can see the pump, but if I had to service it, I think I'd have to unscrew the bed base to reach it.

Even now that I know where it is, from inside the RV it's hard to tell where it is from sound alone, the sound travels weirdly.