Fresh Water Fill new 5th Wheel Questions

[RobWNY]

On my new 5th wheel, there isn't a gravity fill. It only has the type of connection that a garden hose needs to be attached in order to fill the tank. I can't find any overfill or vent safeguard so how am I supposed to know when the tank is full? Going back and forth between the fill area and the inside monitor doesn't seem right and those monitors aren't all that accurate anyway. Or does the water just stop going in the tank when it's full. Also, How would you fill the tanks using containers if you are boondocking? Do I need to get some sort of pump and do a mod? Here's a picture of what the connection looks like. Thanks in advance!

[RobWNY]

I probably won't be traveling with water but thanks for the info about putting on some sort of valve or cap to prevent a lot of water from sloshing out of the overflow tubes while going down the road.

[gkainz]

for those who just want to go by gallons in for gravity fill, I use a meter similar to this

https://preview.tinyurl.com/walmart-water-meter

[djousma]

Me Again wrote:

ACZL wrote:
Rob,

My '18 Big Country has vents for the fresh tank that come thru the frame rail. Once it's full it does seem like it "bleeds off" some, then stops. For the most part, our fresh tank gets filled 3x/year. 2x for sanitizing, 1x for w/e of dry camping. Never had a prob w/ venting, so I'll side w/ AP that the overflow tube is same as vent.

You you will have the same problem that most Landmark, BigHorn and other models have, in that you will loose a 1/3 to 1/2 of your water while traveling on the road. I put vinyl caps on the two vents while traveling. Chris

Same issue with my Cardinal. I installed a couple of quick shutoff valves to my tank drain, and overflow lines for use while travelling. Other than when travelling with a full tank, the overflows are always open.

[Me_Again]

ACZL wrote:
Rob,

My '18 Big Country has vents for the fresh tank that come thru the frame rail. Once it's full it does seem like it "bleeds off" some, then stops. For the most part, our fresh tank gets filled 3x/year. 2x for sanitizing, 1x for w/e of dry camping. Never had a prob w/ venting, so I'll side w/ AP that the overflow tube is same as vent.

You you will have the same problem that most Landmark, BigHorn and other models have, in that you will loose a 1/3 to 1/2 of your water while traveling on the road. I put vinyl caps on the two vents while traveling. Chris

[Gottahaveit]

We have the similar situation when dry camping so we purchased a Pump we plug into the back of the toad and have a water belly...holds 40 gals. Kind of like a water bed and pump it into the rig. No way to pour water without any pressure in ours. Kind of a silly set up but we made it work. We can visibly see when our tank is full which helps.

[RobWNY]

Thanks ACZL, I still have no idea where the vent would be. Like you, Jerry and others have said, it could be one and the same with the overflow tube. I think everything is fine. Can't wait to get camping!

Thanks to all that have helped with this!

[ACZL]

Rob,

My '18 Big Country has vents for the fresh tank that come thru the frame rail. Once it's full it does seem like it "bleeds off" some, then stops. For the most part, our fresh tank gets filled 3x/year. 2x for sanitizing, 1x for w/e of dry camping. Never had a prob w/ venting, so I'll side w/ AP that the overflow tube is same as vent.

[RobWNY]

Thank you Jerry, We loved the floor plan. It's just me and my wife so no need for bunks or more sleeping options. I put that gravel pad in last summer. It's not as firm as I'd like it to be but good enough. Pain in the neck to crawl on it to get underneath the camper though LOL The vent is still a mystery and I have an enclosed/heated underbelly for an expanded camping season (AKA we're covering the bottom and charging 3 grand more but it really means nothing). Anyway, I don't want to rip the underbelly open. I'll just assume it's there somewhere or it's like you suggested, one in the same with the overflow.

[MFL]

I am only guessing here, but the overflow and vent line, may be one and the same. It would be near or on top of the tank, and should be looped at some point, to keep your water from siphoning out. You should still have a water tank drain, with cap or shut off valve.

BTW...I saw the pic of your new FW, in the MY RIG sticky. That is very nice, and a great floor plan! Looked like the gravel pad is a perfect fit too! Have fun figuring everything out, and enjoy that soon to come camp out!!

Jerry

[MarkTwain]

MarkTwain wrote:

Toolguy5 wrote:
Mine had an overflow that I could not find either. But the first time I filled it I found as water started coming out.

On my 5th wheel Heartland, I have the same fresh water filler. When the fresh water tank is full, water will just will just start coming out onto the ground. The fresh water tank will not over fill inside the RV. If you wanted a more accurate way to determine/measure how long it will take to fill your tank, get an empty gallon containter and time how long it takes to fill it. Multiply that by how many gallons your fresh water tank capacity. With my 70 gallon tank, it usually takes 10 to 15 min. to fill it up. The water just start gurgling out to the ground when the tank is full.

[RobWNY]

I found the overflow tube. The fill is in the front on the street side of the camper and the overflow tube is near the rear of the camper on the curb side but I still have no idea where the vent would be. I am noticing that the overflow continues to drip and it's been 30 minutes since I've been done filling the tank. I've read that some people will put a cap on that tube but I'm afraid I will forget to remove it and then have a real problem if I over fill the tank. Anyone have any idea about that? It's not a fast drip. I mean I'm not worried at the rate of the drip that I would lose all my water that way but I can see where it will always be wet under there while camping.

[TxGearhead]

I think it would have to have a vent somewhere to keep the tank from creating a vacuum when using your pump.
Look on the outside of the trailer near the tank. May be a small almost square protrusion. Mine slips off by pushing it upward. Then slips back on when I'm finished sanitizing.
Turn the water on with a low volume and see where it comes out.

[RobWNY]

Thanks everyone. There must be an overflow hose or valve somewhere. Maybe under the 5th wheel. I read that on some campers there's a piece of braided hose sticking out under there. I'll have to crawl under it and take a look. I see Harborfreight sells a 12V pump for around $40. Cheap enough to give that a try. I had bought one of those drill pumps for $10 for when we boondock but that isn't going to work. It took 30 minutes to put 20 gallons of water into the tank and it used up the entire 20v battery. I guess my first mod is happening this weekend! I don't want to spend an hour filling a water tank!

[MarkTwain]

Toolguy5 wrote:
Mine had an overflow that I could not find either. But the first time I filled it I found as water started coming out.

On my 5th wheel Heartland, I have the same fresh water filler. When the fresh water tank is full, water will just will just start coming out onto the ground. The fresh water tank will not over fill inside the dRV. If you wanted a more u way to determine/measure how long it will take to fill your tank, get an empty gallon containter and time how long it takes to fill it. Multiply that by how many gallons your fresh water tank capacity. With my 70 gallon tank, it usually takes 10 to 15 min. to fill it up. The water just start gurgling out to the ground when the tank is full.