Travel trailer fresh water fill question

[NanciL]

This is in regards to the fresh water tank fill. -Not the city water hook up
I have no problem filling the tank by holding a hose to it, but it is impossible to pour water in via a funnel. I even bought a funnel with a tube attached and had the tube way in, but the water just pours back out.
The pressure relief valve is not clogged.

Is it that I need some pressure behind it ?

Can any one suggest any gravity method that has worked for you other then with a hose

Jack L

[Marauderer]

I just got a new to me 2009 Puma 29FQS and after reading this thread I went out and checked the fresh water aka potable water tank empty. Made sure the drain was shut and then commenced to fill it with the hose and a spray nozzle on straight stream. It is a 51 gal. tank so after I got it 1/3 full by my level indicator I added 3/4 cp of clorox bleach mixed in a gallon of water. I then filled the tank till it overflowed out the fill line. I then turned the pump on and and opened each valve until all the bubbles were out of the lines. Kitchen sink, bathroom sink, inside shower, toilet flush. I forgot the outside shower. I will do that after this post. I then refilled the tank till it overflowed and will let it set 3-4 hrs. Then I will drain and refill and flush everything, drain again and refill and that should do it.

Questions and comments are always welcome on my projects.

[Lynnmor]

mayo30 wrote:
I just use a spare 12 volt rv Shur flow pump and garden hose to pump it in from what ever water container I use.My battery leads are short,as I set the pump by the battery case.I can usually fill and empty the jugs in the truck without lifting in and out,by getting close enough to fill taps and Rv.

I use the onboard pump that is already wired to the battery. Just made some simple plumbing modifications. Turn a two valves and turn on the pump... sucks it right in.

[mayo30]

I just use a spare 12 volt rv Shur flow pump and garden hose to pump it in from what ever water container I use.My battery leads are short,as I set the pump by the battery case.I can usually fill and empty the jugs in the truck without lifting in and out,by getting close enough to fill taps and Rv.

[dgtjhatt]

We had a trailer that the water tank was under the walk around bed so the fill was higher than the water tank as it went threw the outside wall ,then down to the floor and back up to the top of the water tank. If you tried to pour water into the tank it would not work, you have to have water pressure to force water up into tank. The dumbest system I ever saw. I went to Home Depot and bought a 3" sewer line clean out with cap, cut a hole in the top of the tank glued the clean out in place and filled it that way. It was actually easier than filling it from the outside.

[Marauderer]

So Jack, did you get your water fill problem corrected? I have just got a new to me TT and am getting ready to fill the FWT.

[profdant139]

Jack, make sure that the fill hose inside the trailer slants DOWN all the way from the fill port to the tank. When we first got our trailer, we had the same experience you did --- the water would back up and would not go down the tube. Sure enough, the tube had a slight rise in it. I used a cable tie to realign the tubing inside the trailer, and now it fills just fine. An easy fix -- I hope yours is just as easy!

[Gjac]

I had the same problem using funnels. What I have evolved to is using an old 5 gal water bag that I used to use for back packing years ago which I hang from the awning strap bracket. The hose is the same dia. as my overflow hose. I re rout the over flow hose up to the bladder hose and connect with a 1/2 in double male barbed fitting. It takes several mins to drain the 5 gals. Make sure there is no kinks in the overflow hose. When I am done dry camping I just stick the over flow tube back where it belongs. 5 gals a day after after 7 days is usually all I need to replenish the FW.

[PAThwacker]

I was just dewinterizing, and sanitizing, and noticed a leak. DAMN, searched it out and found it. It was the potable fresh water fill. Whenever it overfills and pours out it starts to leak. I check all hose connections and of course it is the fitting itself. The neck is stripped or shot, does not compress tightly or form a seal.

[popeyemth]

NanciL wrote:

popeyemth wrote:
Add a 6 inch piece of hose to the funnel to get past the neck of the fill spout.
I had to add one to my drinking water hose because the metal "male" end wouldn't go into the filler neck.
Good Luck, Mike

See my OP. there is a piece of tubing 12" long attached to the funnel.

Jack L

Use a bigger outside diameter hose.
Mine fits snug enough to seal the neck .
I believe the OD is one inch. You just have to get samples and try. Most big box stores will give you a couple inches to try.
Good Luck, Mike

[Gaffer222]

We use the 6 gallon Jugs from Walmart. Stick it in the fill tube and pull the vent plug on the jug and fills like a Nascar pit stop. Maybe not that fast but it works well.

[NanciL]

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
I bought a funnel in Lowes in the lawn mower section. Think it is for filling oil, etc on lawn mower. Has a long flexible hose type neck. stick the hose in the fresh water fill and you can turn funnel opening at at angle that you can pour into easily.

That doesn't work with mine

jack l

[NanciL]

popeyemth wrote:
Add a 6 inch piece of hose to the funnel to get past the neck of the fill spout.
I had to add one to my drinking water hose because the metal "male" end wouldn't go into the filler neck.
Good Luck, Mike

See my OP. there is a piece of tubing 12" long attached to the funnel.

Jack L

[PAThwacker]

i have a 14" hose rigged up on a 7 gallon aquatainer. I use a 3 step stepstool and sit the 7 gallon beast on top. I thread the hose into the fresh water fill and slowly tilt the 7 gal onto it's side. works great.

[leftybj]

put a 5 gallon bucket on the tailgate of the truck. put your water jug on top of that. get a length of 1/4 inch tubing that will reach from the jug to the frseh water fill spout. siphon to get started. have a beer. repeat.