Losing water out of overflow while travelling

[djousma]

All,

On the unit in my sig, we occasionally camp without full hookups. When that's the case, I prefill the water tank at home. Everytime we get to the campsite, I've lost 1/3 -1/2 of the water out the overflow. Very frustrating. My old tt had a gravity fill tank and the overflow was at the fill, so I always arrived with a full tank. New trailer, the overflow is under the trailer near the tank.

Any ideas? Self mod? Or dealer fix for this?

Thanks, dave

[d-mac1]

djousma wrote:
Rather than having the dealer take it apart, and then telling me it is the way it is, I'll just do this myself. Won't be a problem remembering to open/close the valves. I'd prefer a through-the-wall vent, like I have seen on some other brands, but the tank is located almost at the very rear of the 5th, between the opposing slides. the only place for a through the wall would be on the rear cap, and not sure how that would go.

Sounds like the best plan...ie do it yourself. A valve will be needed no matter what.

My dealer 'fixed' ours under warranty via running a line forward along the underbelly to a through the wall vent further forward. However, since there is no way to run it all the way UPHILL from the tank to the vent location it had some downhill sections (eg from the tank to the underbelly) then some uphill over a frame piece, etc. Its routing made nice traps like a bathroom sink, but nowhere near as abrupt.

I took it all apart and reran it myself, and cut out most of the extra line so its tighter, but its not perfect...no way it can be unless an angling support were integrated into the trailer just for the line.

The guy who fixed mine told me something...one guy with a Class A was complaining about the same thing. He vented it straight up...Out the roof! Still would get a surge of water out of it occasionally!! It won't siphon tho!

I agree...don't vent it on the back...imagine what all will get sucked in. That seems to be one advantage of where our vent is now...forward of the wheels and up fairly high.

[STBRetired]

The overflow lines on my fresh water tank have short rubber hoses attach that look like "duckbill" valves. The ends are formed to be pinched shut but they will allow water to pass through if there is any pressure. Always arrive with full tank.

[TomHaycraft]

bucky wrote:
That gate valve on the bottom is a problem looking for a solution. The spare may be blocking it from road debris, can't tell for sure.

Just behind and inboard of the rear driver's side tire. Spare is a bit farther back.

I don't know how long Grand Design has been setting them up that way, time will tell.

[djousma]

Thanks all, for the feedback. I will be adding the ball valves. We don't travel often with a full tank, but when we do its because we are dry camping without easy access to water(even to haul). My tanks are all enclosed, heated, and insulated. Rather than having the dealer take it apart, and then telling me it is the way it is, I'll just do this myself. Won't be a problem remembering to open/close the valves. I'd prefer a through-the-wall vent, like I have seen on some other brands, but the tank is located almost at the very rear of the 5th, between the opposing slides. the only place for a through the wall would be on the rear cap, and not sure how that would go.

[d-mac1]

Mine too was siphoning. Most likely, your vent line is attached on the side of the tank...and with a line hanging underneath the trailer, uhhh....yeah, its gonna siphon. Genius design!

I'd put a small brass ball valve on it, but if you travel in the mountains, your tank should have a way to breathe and a closed valve won't allow that. On mine, the dealer, under warranty, moved the vent to a forward position on the side of the trailer. Doing so added another problem (the horizontal line collects water and won't vent).

After my tank cracked due to repeated ballooning, when I had it fixed (on my dime) I had a second vent added on the opposite side of the trailer that again hangs straight down. I close it when travelling, but having it faciliates great venting when filling and using trailer.

Both of my new vent connections are on TOP of my tank. Previously, the vent was on the side...yes, near the top, but their machine can't get the connections super close to the corner. I had the old vent plugged and new ones created...on the top. Mucho better now...but a big slosh can still push some water out an open vent.

[Me_Again]

This is a problem with Heartland products also. There are two vent lines on my Bighorn that come out on each side of the frames rails. I got a couple caulking tube vinyl caps at Ace Hardware. I am going to get them a try on Wednesday when we tow. Chris

[Mandalay_Parr]

No.....it is not normal.
Mine is like yours and my water does not come out.

[lee_worsdell]

At least you have a large drain. Ours is the same 1/2 inch pec takes forever to drain. I had the same issue ,went to a race track and by the time I got there 1/2 the water had disappeared . Put a valve on the over flow.once I see it coming out I shut it off

[bucky]

That gate valve on the bottom is a problem looking for a solution. The spare may be blocking it from road debris, can't tell for sure.

[You_can_t_take_]

My gravity fill tube is at the same level as the top 2 1/2" of the fresh water tank and the vent line is right beside it. When I drive I see the water spraying out every time I brake or start up. When I get to my destination I'm down to just over 1/2 of the tank. It's a STUPID design! I've put a small rubber plug in the vent line for when I'm travelling and I arrive with my water level intact!! The only thing I need to watch now is when I fill the tank I MUST remove the rubber plug because the hose to fill it pretty well fills the fill tube neck and when I went inside to check the level I noticed that my tank was bulging everywhere because of the extra pressure.. I think it almost blew up!! Scary!!

[TomHaycraft]

ng2951 wrote:
At least on GD owner has reported the fresh water tank draining on its own while underway. I have not comfirmed that either, but i had an empty tank I could not explain (but the unit was serviced so maybe it got drained). It is a little difficult to believe that the tank would siphon dry in a 4 hour trip.

I recall reading about an Imagine owner on the GD Owner's Forum. When reading it, I pictured a an overflow / vent like the older trailers, hadn't thought about what we are talking about here. Would explain his situation!

[ng2951]

I wonder about that. It would seem odd for the overflow line to run to the bottom of the tank. It seems it would be difficult to get a siphon action to be maintained unless the overflow ran to the bottom of the tank.

[TomHaycraft]

enblethen wrote:
Are you sure it is the over flow and not fresh water tank drain?

Surprised me when I did my PDI. The tech advised me to be quick to get out of the way, as the gate valve will dump the tank quickly. Next to it, is the pex outwith valve, that I have assumed is the overflow.

[djousma]

Thanks all. I'll probably just add the valves.