[Solved] Water fill leak - '95 Roadtrek 190 Versatile Dodge

[ZHammer]

Hello!

I just joined the forum and am hoping for some help.

I just got a 1995 Roadtrek 190 Versatile and pretty quickly found that the gravity fill on the water leaked something fierce.

As I was trying to fill it up, it basically rained right under the front passenger side.

I checked the levels on my meter thing too, and it went from 3/4 full all the way to empty, so it definitely isn't holding any of the water either.

I haven't fully gotten under there to check it out, but I was wondering if you all had any tips for potential problem areas that might be a likely culprit, or if there's a potentially simple fix.

Oh! The dealership I got if from said that they checked the system to make sure it was good to go and has said that it was. Based on the other effort they put into getting this ready when they didn't have to, I personally believe them on this. One of the ideas they threw out as a possibility was that they may have left a valve open when they flushed the system (i'm not sure if the leaking I'm seeing would make sense for this or not).

The RT was delivered to me in Vegas from California, so it's possible something broke on the drive.

Anyway - again, mainly looking for things I should be checking out, if possible some ideas of where to find it, etc...

Thanks in advance! Let me know if I missed anything that would help 🙂

[ZHammer]

Updating for posterity.

We were able to get this fixed, it wasn't super simple, but it wasn't the most complicated either.

After unscrewing the gravity fill well thing, we could see that the tank was right there - unfortunately, the hole was too small to do anything about it.

After picking up some new hose to replace the shredded hose that was there (ours was 1 1/2" flex hose), we removed the front passenger sized wheel and jacked up the rt (you could use leveling blocks).

From there we could see a vacuum pump that I believe was part of the chassis system, that we removed to gain access to the tank. Once we had access we were able to get the new hose on the barbed tank connection, resecure with a hose clamp, (return the vacuum pump), and finish the install on the gravity fill well from just inside the passenger door.

Hope this helps if anyone else runs into this situation 🙂

[GaryKH]

If the fill tube is disintegrated as you say, maybe an easy fix would be to get a drinking water tube, with just a slightly smaller diameter & thread it inside the existing tube. You would have to figure out a way to fasten it in place, or just use it as you need it. Or, would your regular water hose go further down doing the same thing?

[ZHammer]

I searched the forum and couldn't find anything (could be my searching that is the problem), but does anyone have any tips or advice for dropping the tank?

[My_Roadtrek]

You may need to drop the tank.
If you purchased it with the promise (hopefully a written guarantee) that all systems were working, I would take it back to the dealer, and have them fix it.
FYI about the Rt systems. They would often make changes, sometimes during the same year. You may find small differences in your Rt from other of the same year.

[ZHammer]

It is a Dodge chassis, but in this year (1995) the gravity fill is in the front passenger side step well inside the door.

I can actually see the tank when I unscrew the fill cap thing, so I can see where I need to undo the hose, just don't know if there's an easy way to get there.

It's basically right behind the front passenger side wheel, but the hose connection is on top, facing toward the rear.

[RnRs-RT]

If it is a Dodge chassis The gravity fill will be in the latch side / RS post on the rear door. The fresh water drain cap is behind the left rear wheel. You may have to lay down on a cardboard or similar to get to it. The dump /Tee handles for the black and gray water are located under the driver side running board.

The gravity fill hose may be bad or if the tank is full, like was said in a previous post, the water will run out of the top vent like it is raining. This is by design so as not to over fill. Do not trust the gauges!!!!
Hint, I carry one of the silver bubble wrap windshield covers to lay down on to check anything underneath. It is light, soft and folds up so it does not take up much room.

[ZHammer]

Great news! VE3ESN's suggestion led me to the problem.

The gravity fill flex tube was shredded all to pieces.

If they had tested the system they must have tested the city water fill and not the gravity fill.

Should be a fairly simple fix! Except I'm not quite sure the best way to get under there.

Anyone know the best way to access the top of the tank there? The opening from the gravity fill thing doesn't seem like quite enough of an opening to undo the connection at the tank itself.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[ZHammer]

Thanks for all the replies!

Quick update - I do see the low point drain on the driver's side that is connected to the sewage dump hose, and as far as I can tell, that seems to be fine. As you noticed, though, I do see the leaking coming from under the passenger side (though I can't pinpoint any specific spot, it just kinda rains).

Thanks for the tips about city water fill.

Also thanks for the tips about checking the gravity fill hose - that's a great idea! That would make a lot of sense for what I am seeing.

In regards to the gauges, I guess it is possible it's full, and I just don't know it - I haven't tried running water through the system at all, just assumed. But the gauges were changing while I was filling it, so I guess if it were full it would likely have read correctly on that I think, but I'll try that regardless to be sure.

Thanks again for all the tips - that's exactly what I was looking for before getting under there 🙂 Just some good ideas of where to start/look 🙂

[VE3ESN]

I read somewhere (on this forum or another one, but I can't remember) that the water "hose" on the inside of the gravity fill can come loose from the actual fitting. Our gravity fill is also on the passenger side and can be removed with a few screws to inspect it. Might have loosened on the California to Vegas trip.

As an aside, we use the gravity fill more often than the city water fill, since there's no pressure involved, and you don't get any air in the system which causes spurts when you first turn on the water. Unless, of course, you run some water through the taps in the city water mode (pump off) first, which I sometimes forget to do.

[NoVa_RT]

One of the ideas they threw out as a possibility was that they may have left a valve open when they flushed the system (i'm not sure if the leaking I'm seeing would make sense for this or not).

If the 1995 Roadtrek is like more recent models, it does have a freshwater low point drain valve on the bottom of the rig just a bit in from the driver side door. Can't really see it, but you can feel it fairly easily if you get down on your knees. Normally it used to drain the water in between uses, but it kind of sounds like the dealer may have drained the tank without closing the valve. Your Owners Manual has more info, and if you don't have one, the Roadtrek website has the manuals available for downloading.

EDIT: I see the OP said his leak is on the passenger side. Maybe they did things differently on the 1995 models, but the drain and gravity fill are on the driver side on mine, so maybe that's not where the problem is. Could try filling the tank through the city water fill and see if you get a different result.

[My_Roadtrek]

Are you sure the tanks aren't full? The fresh water tank has an overflow at the top, and water will run out if the tank is over filled.
Don't rely on the gauges they can be very inaccurate.
Make sure the fresh water drain cap is on, and not leaking.
Be sure to read the Sticky FAQ at the top of the B home page. Lots of good info there especially for older Rt's.
Go to the "Forum Tech Support" forum and read the FAQ sticky explaining how to search the archives. Probably an answer to every question you have, or ever will have can be found there.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, lots of Rt owners here.