All of my previous rigs had a gravity fill opening for the water tank.While I have had my current rig for several years, I just now came to realize that the ONLY way to get water into the tank is via connection of a fill hose from a pressurized source (home, campground, etc).I can access the tank in a compartment, but there is no external fill available. I am trying to find a capped fitting that I can install at the top of the tank in the compartment so if I need to get water into the RV from a bucket, I can do so.I cannot get to inside the tank, so the fitting will need to 'glue' to the top of the tank since there will be no way to secure it from the inside.Any thoughts?? Fittings and source?? Thanks!!

Use a 12V water pump to transfer from the bucket to the pressure hose connection?

I assume that this will not be a "normal" thing but a situation that may come up in an emergency. In that case, you could make a short hose that connects to your normal shore water fill outlet and extend that hose to a funnel that is held above the level of your water tank. Since most water tanks are low, this hose/funnel combination does not have to be very high. Once this is hooked up, you just dump water in the funnel and the gravity siphon effect will take care of the rest. Rather than a bucket, I am sure that you can rig up some kind of a 5 gallon water container that would hook up to a hose and make the fill process easier.

Looks like you could find something at Home Depot but one problem I would see is that when you hole-saw out the tank, (for the new fitting), you would get plastic "sawdust" down in the tank. Might want to install a filter in the line coming from the tank to catch the sawdust for a while. I'd silicon the fitting to the tank but use a type that was safe for tanks that held drinking water.

Yes, making a hole in the top of the tank will certainly cause some 'sawdust' to drop into the tank. My thought is that I'll have the tank full and after the hole is cut, add more water and let the floaters go out via the overflow pipe.And after several different word searches, I found what I need on Amazon:Valterra A01-2003BKVP Gravity Water InletThanks to all. And yes, this would be only used in difficult and unusual circumstances! But I remember from a very long time ago: "Be Prepared"!!

Water Fill Concern - How To If No Pressure??? | Good Sam Community

BrianinMichigan
Explorer
Jul 14, 2015
This is what I've used for 12 years
It takes about 4 minutes for a 5 gallon bucket of water. I have used this many times. I just put the whole pump into the bucket and when it's done I store it in the bucket.
holstein13
Explorer
Jul 14, 2015
Just buy a cheap $7.19 drill pump from Amazon.com and you are done.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2015
How about a small 12 volt water pump (or 120 volt for that matter) and a short garden hose?

That's how I'd do it.. everything you need at any RV store or Harbor Freight.
Raymon
Explorer
Jul 14, 2015
Nuke-E wrote:
If you're going to try to fill with gravity through the city water inlet, you're also going to have to generate enough pressure to force the check valve open (often right at the inlet)

Exactly my thoughts. I do not think gravity pressure will open the check valve no matter how high the water container is elevated about the water inlet connection.

Ray
Nuke-E
Explorer
Jul 14, 2015
If you're going to try to fill with gravity through the city water inlet, you're also going to have to generate enough pressure to force the check valve open (often right at the inlet).
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2015
When I relocated the pump on our Landau, I added a 3-way valve to the pump inlet line, and about three feet of nylon reinforced hose. To add water from a jug or bucket to the fresh tank, all I do is turn the valve, open the existing fill valve, stick the hose in the jug and turn on the pump. To use the same setup for winterizing, just leave the fill valve closed and draw from an RV antifreeze jug to winterize the coach water lines without getting antifreeze in the fresh tank.
Empty_Nest__Soo
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015
Triker33 wrote:
Use a 12V water pump to transfer from the bucket to the pressure hose connection?

That is exactly what I do. I bought an RV water pump, mounted it to a board, with a cord and 12-volt plug, plus sections of hose in and out of the pump, wired a 12-volt outlet, controlled through a separate switch, near the water fill.

Wayne
darsben
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2015
Just get some 5 gallon collapsible containers. Put a tee wit shutoff on the water pump intake line. Cut a long piece of hose o fit the adapter and put one end on adapter other end in Collapsible container then turn on the pump. Water should flow
Winnipeg
Explorer
Jul 12, 2015
I had the same issue. I tried using the winterizing line but couldn't get it working (not a necessary skill when you live in So Cal).

I upgraded the original on/off water pump for a variable speed one and kept the old one as a spare. I can easily reinstall if the main pump dies.

The spare pump is set up to connect to a hose and transfer water from blue cans. I power it with a fused line into the toad cigarette lighter.
Jay58
Explorer
Jul 12, 2015
Do not cut holes in tank before assuring that the silicone, adhesive will adhere to the tank material,,,,just saying....