Community Forums

golfnut788 · 05-05-2017, 07:33 AM

I'm new to my 2017 Dutchstar and love it so much as compared to my 2011 Phaeton. It's like driving a BMW. Anyway, what do you guys do with the fresh water option. Do you use the Autofill or Manual? I was freaked out last weekend when I have to pull over because my entry door was not on the 2nd lock (PIA) and noticed fresh water overflow pouring out water. NorthTrail has it now and it's not leaking on it's own. They feel it's just the turning and road motions while driving. I am not fond of driving around another 870 pounds of water everywhere I go. What do you guys do??

BBelanger · 05-05-2017, 07:50 AM

When you use the manual fill, it overfills then siphons out. Water running out when you leave the campsite is normal. Surprised North Trail doesn't know that. There is a thread here that explains the siphon effect and how to stop it. I like drilling a hole in the overflow pipe the best. Haven't tried it yet but makes sense to me.

vsheetz · 05-05-2017, 07:50 AM

By autofill I assume you mean filling the freshwater tank via the city water connection. And by manual you mean the gravity fill.

I usually use the city water fill. We keep the water tank full as we dry camp often and maintain the coach in 'life boat' mode when home.

With a full tank of water it may well have some water come out the overflow when moving. There is also sometimes a siphon effect - water continues out the overflow for awhile after filling.

Vince

BBelanger · 05-05-2017, 08:10 AM

vsheets the newer Dutch Stars have an autofill position lever on the water inlet when plugged into city water. When your fresh tanks gets down to 1/3 it automatically fills the tank up. I believe the reasoning is so that you can turn on the fill and walk away without worry of running water onto the ground for half an hour. But it really only fills to 2/3. You can put it on manual to top it off, which is the standard on other coaches, and either watch the gauge inside or wait for water to come out the overflow.

2003Mountain · 05-05-2017, 06:38 PM

I was wondering about filling the fresh water tank. We have a 2003 Gas Mountainaire and my question is, does the water get filtered before it enters the water tank or after when you pump it out. Or both before and when pumped. I haven't been able to figure that one out.

TOM

**TonyDi** · 05-05-2017, 08:17 PM

When I'm traveling I only carry about 1/2 tank. Don't need a full tank as I very rarely boondock. Plus I don't want the extra weight.
So to answer your question, even though I don't have auto fill, I fill it manually.

**TonyDi** · 05-05-2017, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2003Mountain

I was wondering about filling the fresh water tank. We have a 2003 Gas Mountainaire and my question is, does the water get filtered before it enters the water tank or after when you pump it out. Or both before and when pumped. I haven't been able to figure that one out.

TOM

On my DS the filter is before the fresh water tank. I also have a RO filter at the sink which also supplies the water to the ice maker.

Spk64 · 05-05-2017, 08:25 PM

On our 2002 MADP there is a filter in the wet bay that filters the water coming in through the hose connection. Filters it as it fills the tank or filters as you use it if on city connection. We have another filter under kitchen sink that filters water at special faucet at sink and filters water going to ice maker.

reubenray · 05-06-2017, 06:00 AM

Will the Ventana LE have the same setup?

fsudelt · 05-06-2017, 06:27 AM

When traveling and knowing we'll be staying at campgrounds with hookups we'll fill to about 1/2 to 2/3 before leaving, then use auto fill once parked at site as we use water pump 100% of time instead of city water. When we know we'll be somewhere with no hookups for a few days we'll fill to about 2-3" below top of fresh tank (you can monitor filling through wet bay) and we've had no issues then with over flow or siphoning. Filling to that level I've gone as long as 5 days and still had fresh water left over.

"007" · 05-06-2017, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfnut788

I'm new to my 2017 Dutchstar and love it so much as compared to my 2011 Phaeton. It's like driving a BMW. Anyway, what do you guys do with the fresh water option. Do you use the Autofill or Manual? I was freaked out last weekend when I have to pull over because my entry door was not on the 2nd lock (PIA) and noticed fresh water overflow pouring out water. NorthTrail has it now and it's not leaking on it's own. They feel it's just the turning and road motions while driving. I am not fond of driving around another 870 pounds of water everywhere I go. What do you guys do??

Its another learning experience needed to know when to shut off the water when filling the FW tank so you do not have water siphoned out when your on the road.
If your not boon docking no need of a full tank and more weight, so as some have mentioned only 1/2 or 3/4 tank should hold you till the next stop, older coach's you could see the tank fill not sure how much of tank you can see now but if you look may see it or you may have a remote fill indicator if you have the SEE LEVEL indicator near your water fill location.