Community Forums

MurphyMan · 09-20-2015, 07:24 AM

Hi gang.

We have a newly acquired 2006 Winnebago Outlook. My problem is water sloshing out of the filler and vent, when we are driving. It seems we usually lose around a 1/4 tank or so.

There is both a threaded port for city water on the drivers side and the filler neck for the fresh water tank on the passenger side. You fill the tank by stuffing the hose in the filler neck. You know it's full when water runs out the vent and the filler neck itself. The city water does not connect to the tank.

Both the fill tube and the vent connect to the top of the tank, basically in parallel with each other. The fill tube doesn't have much slope down to the tank, probably less than a foot of vertical drop.

I need some way to keep the water in the tank. Maybe I could install a ball check valve in the fill tube to prevent back flowing. It would have to be very lightly spring loaded to allow the gravity water to pass through the valve. Had anyone tried this or have any other solution?

Thanks.

ahicks · 09-20-2015, 07:34 AM

Is there room above the tank for a loop in the vent line?

Or maybe a horizontal loop. There, you would run the vent line to the side of the tank opposite the outlet, then make 180 degree turn and come back.

Tony Lee · 09-20-2015, 07:42 AM

More likely there is another vent running down beneath the MH and that is allowing a syphon to commence and this keeps going by the tank collapsing.
If it was coming out the upper vent, you should be able to see it spurting out if you left the door open.

Isn't there a screw cap to go on the fill opening.

Alternatively a sheet of closed cell foam placed over the two holes and held in place by closing the door should dramatically reduce losses.

MurphyMan · 09-20-2015, 08:08 AM

Nope, no siphon and no other vent. And yes, when I stop there is water on the outside of the coach, obviously coming from the filler door.

Tony Lee · 09-20-2015, 08:37 AM

Then just block it up with anything, shut the door and see if it fixes the problem

Mawheff · 09-20-2015, 11:57 AM

You may be filling your tank to full. Then the H2o tank will siphon its self and crush the tank. We had the same problem

RaisingCajun · 09-20-2015, 01:42 PM

If you are filling your tank until it overflows, I would expect for some of the water to slosh out. But you yank should still be full when you arrive at your destination. You should not lose 1/4 from driving and the water sloshing out.

On my camper, I have at least 3-4 ft of hose from my fill cap to the holding tank. It would be almost impossible to lose water during traveling. I would expect the same from most other campers.

MurphyMan · 09-20-2015, 06:31 PM

It's not a siphon problem. Maybe I can get another photo tomorrow.

ahicks · 09-20-2015, 06:51 PM

Another possibility, if you are shoving a hose into the filler, and waiting for water to come out the vent to signal the tank is full, you may be over filling the tank big time. Under those conditions, you could literally be turning that tank into a water balloon, bulging it's top and sides big time....

If that were the case, I would imagine there might be quite a bit of water coming out after turning the hose off.

FW · 09-21-2015, 08:04 PM

Murphyman; I too have that same problem. Maybe you have the same situation. I've looked at all the piping and found that the bottom of the gravity fill inlet tube is at the same height as the top of the intake tube on the tank. I tried raising both the airline and the fill tube as high as possible(about 2" over where it was originally) but I still lose water to the bottom of the intake tube into the tank when traveling to next campsite, because I don't know where I'll end up, I always travel with a full tank.
Good luck on your solution, and let every one know.

MurphyMan · 09-22-2015, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FW

Murphyman; I too have that same problem. Maybe you have the same situation. I've looked at all the piping and found that the bottom of the gravity fill inlet tube is at the same height as the top of the intake tube on the tank. I tried raising both the airline and the fill tube as high as possible(about 2" over where it was originally) but I still lose water to the bottom of the intake tube into the tank when traveling to next campsite, because I don't know where I'll end up, I always travel with a full tank.
Good luck on your solution, and let every one know.

Exactly, you know what I'm talking about. It would help if the filler port were 16" or so higher than the tank.

I was thinking that a lightly loaded ball check valve in the fill line would do the trick. You would still get overflow through the smaller vent, but not as much. Don't know where to find one though.

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homeless · 09-22-2015, 06:38 AM

Buy Check Valves for Commercial Pool Systems / Chlorinators (Accu-Tab®)

MurphyMan · 09-22-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeless

Buy Check Valves for Commercial Pool Systems / Chlorinators (Accu-Tab®)

That's the kind of thing I'm looking for ( I think), thanks!

KSagal · 09-22-2015, 08:12 AM

I may be over simplifying this, but my filler (totally different camper) has a screw on cap. Do you have one?

I think if you put a screw on cap on the filler before you close the door, it will greatly reduce any water able to slosh out.

It is clearly larger than a hose cap, but so is mine. On the short term, you could use a simple cork, that is held in with the access door.

A ball valve is a fine idea, but I would want a cap on that hose anyway, if for no other reason than to keep out the flying critters.