Fresh Water Tank Question - This Doesn’t Seem Right

[DBS]

I’ve got a 2016 Coachmen Apex Nano 193BHS that I’m winterizing for the first time. Filled three gallons of antifreeze in the fresh water tank to realize it’s not even up to the level of the pipe yet. What sense does this make? I estimate it’s about five, maybe six gallons to fully submerge the pipe. That’s five or six gallons of completely unusable water. Or in this case, that I’d have to waste of antifreeze before even pumping it through the system.

Is this really how these travel trailers are set up? Doesn’t seem right to me. Why wouldn’t the pipe be from a low point on the bottom?

[markb5900]

If you don't have a "wintersize" inlet, You are right, your just filling the fresh water tank with antifreeze.
Most units have a wintersize inlet to pump antifreeze to the fresh water lines.
If you don't.
Get an adapter that hooks up to your sink inlet in the kitchen and pump your antifreeze through it.
Make sure your hot water tank is empty and your plug is in or you will be putting at least 6 gallons into it.

[DBS]

Thanks. I have seen the winterizing inlets online. May have to go that route.

Even beyond my immediate winterizing needs though, why would the fresh water tank hold 5-6 gallons of unreachable water? So for my 30 gallon tank, after I fill my hot water heater the first time (6 gallons) and take the 5-6 gallons of unusable into consideration, I’m really at 19-20 gallons remaining.

This explains why we ran out of fresh water so fast this summer and it didn’t take 30 gallons to refill it. That mystery is solved anyhow.

[markb5900]

Not really,
Your hot water is 6 gallons and your fresh water is 30 gallons, two different things.
Your hot water does fill from your fresh water when the pump is turned on, but hot water does not fill your fresh water. Hope that makes sense.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Regarding winterizing, most people don't put antifreeze in the fresh water tank. They drain it and leave it empty. That does sound like poor design on the tank water connection. I'm not familiar with your design, may not be able to do a lot with it.

[FrankinKane]

They sell a pump that draws anti frz. from the gallon jug and hooks up to your Fresh Water hose inlet. This way you can open faucets one at a time until you see pink.

[RitaB]

The water pump in most units I'm checked out can be fitted with a by pass, which will be able to draw antifreeze from the gallon jug instead of the tank. Make sure you turn the hot water heater to bypass so the antifreeze doesn't fill it up. I wasted 7 gal of antifreeze when I got my first travel trailer, after that I got the bypass put in.

[Swampy]

Originally Posted by RitaB

The water pump in most units I'm checked out can be fitted with a by pass, which will be able to draw antifreeze from the gallon jug instead of the tank. Make sure you turn the hot water heater to bypass so the antifreeze doesn't fill it up. I wasted 7 gal of antifreeze when I got my first travel trailer, after that I got the bypass put in.

Save all the grief and quit wasting the antifreze. Buy one of those Camco fresh water adapters to screw into your city water inlet. pressurize the water system with a small air compressor ( not more that 50psi) and open each faucet until it blows clear. shut it all down when the air is finished blowing all the water out. run your water pump about 30 seconds then pour a cup of antifreze down each drain for the P traps, and a cup or 2 in the toilet bowl. Have a brewski, you're done!

Swampy

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by DBS

Is this really how these travel trailers are set up? Doesn’t seem right to me. Why wouldn’t the pipe be from a low point on the bottom?

Most often, the outlet is from the side near the bottom of the tank. This provides more clearance underneath and is less prone to breakage.
How low the installer made the hole for the water line is the factor in your issue. You could set up your trailer a bubble off level to drain the tank more thoroughly.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by DBS

I’ve got a 2016 Coachmen Apex Nano 193BHS that I’m winterizing for the first time. Filled three gallons of antifreeze in the fresh water tank to realize it’s not even up to the level of the pipe yet. What sense does this make? I estimate it’s about five, maybe six gallons to fully submerge the pipe. That’s five or six gallons of completely unusable water. Or in this case, that I’d have to waste of antifreeze before even pumping it through the system.

Is this really how these travel trailers are set up? Doesn’t seem right to me. Why wouldn’t the pipe be from a low point on the bottom?

Some are... some aren't.

To overcome the shortfall of the suction port being up higher on the side of the tank, many folks move the suction line to a tee installed in the drain pipe. You'll get it all that way.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by FrankinKane

They sell a pump that draws anti frz. from the gallon jug and hooks up to your Fresh Water hose inlet. This way you can open faucets one at a time until you see pink.

This won't winterize the water pump.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Swampy

Save all the grief and quit wasting the antifreze. Buy one of those Camco fresh water adapters to screw into your city water inlet. pressurize the water system with a small air compressor ( not more that 50psi) and open each faucet until it blows clear. shut it all down when the air is finished blowing all the water out. run your water pump about 30 seconds then pour a cup of antifreze down each drain for the P traps, and a cup or 2 in the toilet bowl. Have a brewski, you're done!

Swampy

I've see far too many toilet valves or faucet cartridges with a drop or two of water left behind from only blowing out that have froze and broke to convince me to suck antifreeze into the system. Why take a chance when you can be 100% sure.