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Old 02-18-2013, 12:26 PM   #1
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Fresh water tank - can't use all water

Finally found out why pump draws air/won't pump when I still have 5 gallons left in tank. Intake to pump is on the side, about an inch from bottom. But there's a tank drain, connected to a small sump in the bottom. Looks like same size hoses. Anyone see a problem with capping/plugging the "official" outlet to the pump, and connecting to a tee in the drain line? Thanks.
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Old 02-18-2013, 12:33 PM   #2
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Should be fine. It's strange how most of these fresh water tanks always have the line to the pump an inch or two above the bottom of the tank. It makes better sense to have the line as the lowest point possible so the usable water is able to be used.

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Old 02-18-2013, 02:26 PM   #3
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it would help if you posted year, make and model of RV, so that those that own the same RV, could chime in and see if theirs have the same issue or if they did a mod.
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Old 02-18-2013, 02:48 PM   #4
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With the pump off the bottom of the tank it prevents sucking up any sediment that may collect, in a perfect world we wouldnt need that inch of safety margin
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Old 02-18-2013, 02:55 PM   #5
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it would help if you posted year, make and model of RV, so that those that own the same RV, could chime in and see if theirs have the same issue or if they did a mod.
2011 Rockwood 2604. I'll try to get pictures if I do the mod. Have the underbelly off to pull wires since I like backup lights on my trailers, noticed why I have to have so much water in the tank before it will pump.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:48 PM   #6
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Anyone else have any input on this mod. I can't suck off the bottom 1/3 of my tank on my 21BH. I try to limit the water I take with me.
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Old 04-03-2013, 08:11 PM   #7
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We had the Fac.repair guys move our F/W pickup from the side of the tank to the bottom sump drain area. Youroo!!
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Old 04-03-2013, 09:23 PM   #8
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We had the Fac.repair guys move our F/W pickup from the side of the tank to the bottom sump drain area. Youroo!!
Thank you youroo. I have to fill a lot of water just to make it usable. And, if I was to ever boondock, that is a lot of useless water.
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Old 04-04-2013, 12:55 PM   #9
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Thank you youroo. I have to fill a lot of water just to make it usable. And, if I was to ever boondock, that is a lot of useless water.
It is not entirely useless. You could capture it in a bucket from the low point drain. Annoying, but should be possible.

My Solera has a 35 gallon tank. It is actually a 32 gallon tank, the brochure is wrong. I can only pump 30 gallons. I have 2 gallons of the same problem you have. And we almost always boondock.
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Old 04-04-2013, 03:26 PM   #10
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It is not entirely useless. You could capture it in a bucket from the low point drain. Annoying, but should be possible.

My Solera has a 35 gallon tank. It is actually a 32 gallon tank, the brochure is wrong. I can only pump 30 gallons. I have 2 gallons of the same problem you have. And we almost always boondock.
Mine has about 10 gallons left and it begins sucking air. I will try and measure tonight....
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Old 04-04-2013, 08:30 PM   #11
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I ran the pump today until it started to suck air. I said, why not, run it until it sounds like more air than water. I did. Then I drained the tank. About 6 gallons came out after I ran the pump way down, sucking air and water for a few minutes.

Here is my tank...


Why wouldn't FR put the pump sump on the side near the low point drain. That way, you're not draining from the bottom and you are using 99% of the tank's capacity?
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Old 04-04-2013, 08:50 PM   #12
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I would recommend a sediment filter on your fill hose prior to modding the tank to pump from the drain valve just to eliminate any unwanted particles messing up the pump.
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Old 04-04-2013, 09:01 PM   #13
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I would recommend a sediment filter on your fill hose prior to modding the tank to pump from the drain valve just to eliminate any unwanted particles messing up the pump.
Thanks for the tip. Pump already has one of those sediment filters on it.
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Old 04-04-2013, 09:41 PM   #14
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Water sources at many campgrounds have a high mineral content, aka "hard water" which promotes calcium deposits (gelatinous globs) that accumulate in the bottom of the tank over time. The pick-up tubes in most tanks are about 1" above the bottom or on the side so the pump does not pick up the deposits and other sediment that may enter the tank when filling. Personally, I don't want to get the last drop out of the tank......
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Old 04-05-2013, 05:23 AM   #15
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I agree with sirsea on that one. I'd rather carry extra water in cans than use the bottom of the tank. And as far as filtration goes, I'd rather over filter and be able to drink it than to under filter and use bottled water that costs 100 times as much and is nothing more than over filtered water.
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Old 04-05-2013, 09:20 AM   #16
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I agree with sirsea on that one. I'd rather carry extra water in cans than use the bottom of the tank. And as far as filtration goes, I'd rather over filter and be able to drink it than to under filter and use bottled water that costs 100 times as much and is nothing more than over filtered water.
I don't have that room for jugs. Plus I don't boondock as of yet (although a night at the beach isn't out of the question). I want yo carry less water. Carrying 8 gals just to not suck air, then another 5 gals for use in toilet and washing. Maybe I am just being silly, but I am going to bit the scales next week. I don't want to hear the weight police that I am a tad overweight...that is If I am. I will be going to weigh full of water, so I know if I am over, I know I can drain some to somewhat correct it.

Also, the way I see it, if you're always sucking from the bottom, there will be no sediment.

Another question. How hard is it to make another sump hole? Where the low point drain is, but on the side just off the bottom.
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Old 04-05-2013, 10:56 AM   #17
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I agree with sirsea on that one. I'd rather carry extra water in cans than use the bottom of the tank. And as far as filtration goes, I'd rather over filter and be able to drink it than to under filter and use bottled water that costs 100 times as much and is nothing more than over filtered water.
That is what I do. I carry five 8-gallon water containers along with the 30 gallons that are usable on-board.

I would, of course, prefer a larger tank, but that was not a choice that I had available to me. My previous folding TT had more capacity than the MH, by 8 gallons.
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Old 05-31-2013, 06:44 AM   #18
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Apparently a few people have done this mod on RV.net. Some nice pics. I did mine yesterday.

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Fresh Water Tank won't empty via pump
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Old 05-31-2013, 07:04 AM   #19
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I carry extra jugs when we dry camp but I definately don't want to have an unusable capacity in my FW tank and leave water in there either. I recommend the outlet to the pump be on the bottom, too. Here's mine...
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Old 05-31-2013, 07:37 AM   #20
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Bottom P/U,if it is nasty it needs cleaned. If it is NOT drinkable correct the problem. It is more of a problem to change P/U point if you have EUBelly.Youroo!!
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