F/W Gravity Fill on passenger side

Sagecoachdriver · 03-11-2016, 01:58 AM

On our Trip to Death Valley this week, we met a very nice couple with a Sunseeker. During our chat, he informed me that he had a big issue with the F/W gravity fill being on the passenger side a few feet from the rear. He said that on many occasion he would have to pull around on the wrong side to fill the potable water.
I never realized mine is also on the passenger side but at the passenger side rear corner. We've alway filled up at home for our 3-4 day trips. I know I have seen the portable water on both sides at some dump stations. Will a water bandit or water thief work where you can add a longer hose to the dump stations potable water hose that's been cut off?

leftyneil · 03-12-2016, 04:27 PM

It was nine talking with you in Death Valley. On my Forester I have only one fresh water tank fill, it's on the drivers side. The port on the passengers side is the black water tank flush.

Sagecoachdriver · 03-12-2016, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftyneil

It was nine talking with you in Death Valley. On my Forester I have only one fresh water tank fill, it's on the drivers side. The port on the passengers side is the black water tank flush.

It was nice meeting you, Caroline and your daughter too! We moved over to 77 on Tuesday from Fiddler Campground. The space next to you was taken by the Sunseeker. It's nice to meet other FR class C owners and have great informative discussions. Always learning something new. Safe travels and keep in touch.
Sagecoachdriver

Papa-t · 03-12-2016, 05:45 PM

Yes you should be able to use the water their as long as it has a hard end like some places cross the threads so no one can screw on a hose. I stayed at a place last summer where I was told by the male camp host that I couldn't hook a water hose to the fresh water outlet to fill my tank; saying I would have to drive 6 miles to the next campground, fill up and then come back. We had reservations. Then his wife came by and said do you have a water thief? I told her I did and she said; you can use that and fill with a hose. Don't worry about it. And there you go! For those that might not know what a water thief looks like.

Sagecoachdriver · 03-12-2016, 07:03 PM

Thanks Papa-t for the photo, heading over to CW tomorrow for one. I hope they have it in stock as they always seem to be out of the items I need. Going to get a 10 foot FW white hose just for use with the water thief. Maybe look at auto parts store for a thumb tightening hose clamp.

Sagecoachdriver · 03-13-2016, 10:34 AM

Going to get a 25' FW hose so I have enough length, a yellow filler adapter with the 1" clear vinyl f tube and a water bandit. Will see what we will encounter in the upcoming trips. Anyone use an external inline water filter filling the tank or just rely on the whole house filter that the Foresters come with?

chuckteri · 03-13-2016, 12:55 PM

Make sure with the Water Thief that you have two clamps that fit over the thief when it is installed and watch how mjuch pressure you run thro it. It will blow up. Chuck and Terry.

Sagecoachdriver · 03-13-2016, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckteri

Make sure with the Water Thief that you have two clamps that fit over the thief when it is installed and watch how mjuch pressure you run thro it. It will blow up. Chuck and Terry.

Thanks, I read that on a review. We frequent Yosemite many times a year the the Upper Pines dump station potable water is high pressure. I'm going to be very careful as I don't want to have it whipping around getting everything and everybody wet.

Sagecoachdriver · 03-13-2016, 03:20 PM

Since I have multiple lengths of FW hose, I can just use my yellow/clear vinyl filler nozzle, attach hose(s) and the threaded connection or water bandit as needed. Works for me! Tom K, you'll need a longer hose to reach your gravity fill.

MNtraveler · 03-16-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

On our Trip to Death Valley this week, we met a very nice couple with a Sunseeker. During our chat, he informed me that he had a big issue with the F/W gravity fill being on the passenger side a few feet from the rear. He said that on many occasion he would have to pull around on the wrong side to fill the potable water.
I never realized mine is also on the passenger side but at the passenger side rear corner. We've alway filled up at home for our 3-4 day trips. I know I have seen the portable water on both sides at some dump stations. Will a water bandit or water thief work where you can add a longer hose to the dump stations potable water hose that's been cut off?

A typical RV including Sunseeker is 8' wide. Is there anyone who does not carry 12' or more of fresh water hose that would reach around to the other side near the rear of the unit (no extra length to run up the side)? I mean, there's no guarantee even in a campground with water hookup it will necessarily be within 10' of the unit.

MNtraveler · 03-16-2016, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckteri

Make sure with the Water Thief that you have two clamps that fit over the thief when it is installed and watch how mjuch pressure you run thro it. It will blow up. Chuck and Terry.

OK - if needed, however to fill a f/w tank that is not done under pressure so no clamps needed - only needed if using to attach to city water using a water thief - a dicey connection at best, though with clamps it may work. But who has a city water connection not threaded?

PS: saw the post about the high-pressure potable water spigot. Even so, since the f/w fill is not a closed circuit, the HOSE would not be pressurized.

PPS: OK, if you put a hose nozzle on the end to shut it off or slow it down, then it would be under some up to a lot of pressure, so, you know, if you don't have hose clamps, don't close it off at the other end....

newRVer · 03-17-2016, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

A typical RV including Sunseeker is 8' wide. Is there anyone who does not carry 12' or more of fresh water hose that would reach around to the other side near the rear of the unit (no extra length to run up the side)? I mean, there's no guarantee even in a campground with water hookup it will necessarily be within 10' of the unit.

Since I have not taken a single trip yet in my new RV, most of what I know has some from reading about the experiences of others, although I did rent a RV a couple of times. I actually bought (2) fresh water hoses. One 25' to use as a connection to the RV, just for the reason above. And another 50' to attach to the 25' so that I can fill my fresh water tank at home while the RV is parked in the street. I would think this would be a typical approach for many, but maybe not.

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