My 2013 Montana 3402RL Does Not Have a Gravity Fill.

[renorvr]

My 2013 Montana 3402RL does not have a gravity fill to put water into the fresh water tank so how do I sanitize the system with a bleach solution as recommended by the owner's manual?

The “Keystone RV Company Owner’s Manual 5/1/2012” that came with my Montana says on page 50 to sanitize the fresh water system at least annually by introducing a chlorine bleach solution into the fresh water holding tank, then filling the tank with water and pumping the chlorinated water through the lines through each faucet and fixture, letting it stand for a while and then draining the system and flushing it with fresh water. Also on page 50 the owner’s manual discusses a gravity water fill in the section dealing with the City Water Fill and, inside the front street side compartment where the City Water Fill, the Water Heater Bypass and other fixtures are located, is a placard that says when I use the City Water Fill I should remove the gravity fill cap to allow air to exit the fresh water tank. However, there is no gravity water fill cap because there is no gravity water fill fitting. Thus, there is no way to add a chlorine bleach solution to the fresh water holding tank. The only access to that tank that I can find is the City Water Fill which requires connecting a hose from my house or an RV Park. The City Water Fill is not a gravity water fill.

There is a fresh water holding tank vent located at the rear street side of the unit, but it is covered with a permanent cap that has a very small air vent at the bottom. That cap appears to be permanently attached so it can’t be removed and I have no idea what the size of the vent line is or whether, if it were accessible, it could or should be used as a gravity water fill fitting.

Since Keystone RV Company recognizes in the owner’s manual that it is important to keep the fresh water system sanitized periodically to discourage “harmful bacteria or viral growth”, I wonder if the absence of the gravity water fill described in the manual is a defect. Regardless, I just want to know how to sanitize my system and all suggestions are welcome.

[jaycocamprs]

Put the bleach into bucket and suck it in thru the winterizing port with the tank fill valve open.

[waltbennett]

I've seen a couple other brands drop the external gravity feed as well. Once one of them figures out how to save a couple bucks they all jump in. They all must think we buy these things, park them in full hookup CGs and seldom actually use them. While we're very happy with out new/used Montana that has one, I seriously doubt I'd ever buy a newer unit of any brand that didn't.

[Memphisdoug]

You could use a pump like this connected to your city water fill to put the bleach in. Just mix the bleach with some additional water and pump it in with valves set as if you were filling your water tank

RV Antifreeze Pump

[pengle]

I agree with Halmfamily. Put in 1/4 cup of bleach per 15 gallons of fresh water tank into your water hose. I disconnected both ends of my water hose so the air had some place to go as I poured in the bleach. Connect the host to the spigot. Connect the hose to your trailer. Turn on the water and the bleach gets pushed into the fresh water tank.

[Atom_Ant]

That is a little bizzare. I had two Montanas and both had the gravity fill in the back, and one had the tank fill at the docking station.

Now - I have the opposite. I have a gravity fill in the docking station, and no tank fill. So wierd how they decide how to do this stuff.

[ronniedean1234]

The cap you refer to near the back street side where the vent is on the fresh water tank should come off. You may have to use a pair of channel locks to get it off, should not be that tight though...

[BB_TX]

If you are not already a member, go over to the Montana owners club forum and ask your question. Has been asked and addressed there before.

[Us_out_West]

Us out West wrote:
If you have a docking station then you probably do not have a 'manuel' way of putting water or any other liquid in your fresh tank.

On our dock station we have valves to position to do all functions including sanitizing, winterizing, city water and so on.

Check your dock ..you should have one.

Our docking station;

[Lantley]

My Open Range has a convenience center function/setting that allows the on board pump to suck water out of a container. The valves simply need to placed in the correct position and a siphon hose attached

[Artum_Snowbird]

If you fill your 25 foot hose, that is 300 inches, or 300 X 2.5 cm.. about 750 cm.

Your 1/2 inch hose is roughly 1 cm across, or 1/2 cm radius.

The formula for the volume of a cylinder is Pi X R(squared) times length.

So, your hose will hold 3.14 times 1/2X1/2 times L

Roughly 3/4 times 750... about 600 cc. A cup is 250 cc, so you might want to measure how much you put into the hose.

[Us_out_West]

If you have a docking station then you probably do not have a 'manuel' way of putting water or any other liquid in your fresh tank.

On our dock station we have valves to position to do all functions including sanitizing, winterizing, city water and so on.

Check your dock ..you should have one.

[Lantley]

You will need to use convenience center as shown in video.
I have a similar set up on my Open Range
Convenience Center Video

[Halmfamily]

I fill my 25' water hose with bleach before connecting to the house spigot and then just flush the bleach into the tank. Easiest way I found to do it. Good luck.

[broark01]

So how do you put water in the water tank?