Water Filling

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

How do you get a siphon in a vent line that is attached to the top of the tank and doesn't go below the surface of the water in the tank? Maybe you get a little water slosh out but I don't see how it can siphon since the supply end of a siphon has to be submerged in the water. Maybe my vent is installed different than others.

In some RVs, the vent line is installed so it dips down into the tank, making the siphoning action easier to start. If a solid 'wave' of water splashes into the vent opening, filling the hose with enough water to start the siphon, it will continue until the vent line in the tank can suck air and break it. A small hole in the top of the loop will stop the action as the water moving down the vent hose will immediately draw in air and the siphon will stop.

[KEH]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

I always fill the water tank before leaving. If you ever break down and have to spend some time in a dry repair lot you'll understand. The weight of the water is irrelevant. The motorhome is designed to carry it and I'm not worried about the .0001% reduction in fuel mileage.

Absolutely smart advice. I do the same. You cannot predict when an emergency situation will arise. Best to be prepared when possible. I witnessed a guy draining his fresh water tank just after a hurricane last year in the Florida Keys, not knowing if there would be water where he was going, because he was worried about the weight. There was devastation everywhere and no fresh water source for over one hundred miles. It was one of the craziest things I've witnessed.

[KEH]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Unless you're headed out to boondock in a desert wilderness, why would you need to fill to maximum capacity? I can see my water tank in the open door of my wet bay, I can monitor water level as it fills. Even if I don't have the door open, I can hear a change in sound as the gravity fill starts to get near the tank's capacity.

At 8.4 pounds per gallon, I carry enough water for use, I don't carry a full tank unless I'm headed to a place without it. I've not been there yet.

When you get there someday and have no water, then you will realize how valuable the 8.4 pounds would be...in your tank.

[the docktor]

On my 2000 tradewinds you cant see the freshwater tank, it has a drain valve near the entry door and thats all you can see. If I fill the tank and even the slightest amount comes out of the overflow vent then the tank will siphon until only about 1/3rd remains!!!I have to put in water in stages and go by the gauge inside to show how much is in the tank.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by KEH

Absolutely smart advice. I do the same. You cannot predict when an emergency situation will arise. Best to be prepared when possible. I witnessed a guy draining his fresh water tank just after a hurricane last year in the Florida Keys, not knowing if there would be water where he was going, because he was worried about the weight. There was devastation everywhere and no fresh water source for over one hundred miles. It was one of the craziest things I've witnessed.

Do you stop at every fuel station to keep the tank topped up? There might be a zombie apocalypse after your last fill up and you'd be caught with the last fuel available on earth!

Of course if in the FL Keys, during or just after a hurricane it wouldn't be smart to drain your fresh water tank, but we don't know why the fellow was draining his tank.

Growing up on a boat that only had a 20-gallon water tank, and having done a lot of backpacking, I know how to conserve water. Since our 'home' has wheels, we can boondock, then drive to a water source if necessary.

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Do you stop at every fuel station to keep the tank topped up? There might be a zombie apocalypse after your last fill up and you'd be caught with the last fuel available on earth!

I don't think there's ever been an zombie apocalypse in recorded history. However, RV's break down all the time.