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06-18-2019, 10:57 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 8
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Water pump works great when tank is full but after using a few gallons pump loses pres
I have checked all lines and cannot find any water leaks. After some water has been used from the tank you hear air gurgling when pumping water. I don't understand how it can work perfectly when full and then start to gurgle and have to reprime before each use.
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06-19-2019, 01:23 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
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Possible air lock due to a kinked vent? Easiest way to check would be to remove the fresh tank cap
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06-19-2019, 05:48 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Georgia
Posts: 581
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new? been going on a while? hot and cold side? water heater full?
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06-19-2019, 05:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Waukee, IA
Posts: 566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by branden.peterson
Possible air lock due to a kinked vent? Easiest way to check would be to remove the fresh tank cap
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x2
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'19 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 Crew Cab
'17 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL
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Days Camped: '17-39, '18-61, '19-64, '20-38
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06-19-2019, 06:18 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 918
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I would gently tighten the pump cover.
Sounds like when full the water is above the pump, or close below and as you use water the pump has to lift harder. Tighten the filter on the suction side too.
Most everything is plastic so be gentle.
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06-19-2019, 10:08 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
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Can you see the tank and the pump enough to get pictures and post them?
Is the pump above the tank?
Does the pump suction exit the tank at the top or the bottom?
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Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
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06-19-2019, 10:11 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FFred
I would gently tighten the pump cover.
Sounds like when full the water is above the pump, or close below and as you use water the pump has to lift harder. Tighten the filter on the suction side too.
Most everything is plastic so be gentle.
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For those of us who don't know, could you please tell us to what you refer when you say "pump cover" that can be tightened?
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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06-19-2019, 10:33 AM
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#8
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Dan
For those of us who don't know, could you please tell us to what you refer when you say "pump cover" that can be tightened?
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I'm guessing they are referring to the silver colored screws that hold the pump head on.
To the OP... check for a damaged suction line or fitting at the pump. Sounds like it is sucking air.
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06-19-2019, 11:17 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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In my trailer the water tank is below the pump so it's imperative that I make sure the connections are snug. The connection to the pump inlet strainer is just basically a hose connector that is tightened by hand. Have found it loose a couple of times.
Also, if equipped with a winterizing port and valve to select port or tank, make sure it's fully in the "tank" position. If it's just part way off of the tank position it can suck air as the pump starts to lift water higher, creating a greater vacuum.
If it worked fine once, look for what may have changed over the seasons of hot/cool/freeze. Start with the simple and obvious, like the suction connections.
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06-19-2019, 12:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
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For what it's worth: Just playing around with my tank and pump system I found out that my pump would not pick up water if I only had a few gallons in the tank. I bought a water meter to check this with and determined that I had to have at least eleven (11) gallons of water in the fresh tank for the pump to pick up the water. My best guess is that the tube inside the tank is nowhere near the bottom of the tank. I have not tore into the coroplast, and don't really want to, to look at the fresh water tank. Actually I don't boondock. So maybe your pick-up tube is not near the bottom of your tank.
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06-19-2019, 01:19 PM
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#11
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thurman
For what it's worth: Just playing around with my tank and pump system I found out that my pump would not pick up water if I only had a few gallons in the tank. I bought a water meter to check this with and determined that I had to have at least eleven (11) gallons of water in the fresh tank for the pump to pick up the water. My best guess is that the tube inside the tank is nowhere near the bottom of the tank. I have not tore into the coroplast, and don't really want to, to look at the fresh water tank. Actually I don't boondock. So maybe your pick-up tube is not near the bottom of your tank.
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This is often the case for the pick-up tube.
I'm guessing they do this so as to not suck dirt/debris from the bottom of the tank but really, there should't be any except for the construction debris that sometimes gets in them during the build. Regardless, 11 gallons is a lot!
An easy fix for this is to tee into the drain line (which is often on the bottom of the tank) and connect the suction line (to the pump) to the tee and then cap off the original suction port.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=64
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06-19-2019, 02:25 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Dan
For those of us who don't know, could you please tell us to what you refer when you say "pump cover" that can be tightened?
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On the suction side of the pump there is usually a filter screen. The housing is black but the clear cover that lets you see the screen screws on and off. If that is loose it will suck air and the pump will lose prime.
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2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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06-19-2019, 02:28 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DouglasReid
On the suction side of the pump there is usually a filter screen. The housing is black but the clear cover that lets you see the screen screws on and off. If that is loose it will suck air and the pump will lose prime.
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I know all of that. Do you call that pump filter screen bowl a pump cover?
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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06-19-2019, 05:43 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaldwin
new? been going on a while? hot and cold side? water heater full?
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I should have added more detail to my original post. It's a 2016 Columbus 5th wheel with an all in 1 docking station. Pump worked great until late 2018. Dealer has provided a replacement water pump at their cost as previous pump wouldn't even self prime, at least new pump does that. I have not cut out the coroplast and insulating foam to get to and look at the tank connections.
Water heater is full, hot or cold side does not matter.
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06-19-2019, 09:29 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 869
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On my 2011 Georgetown, the water pump is located below the tank. I also have full access to one end of the fresh tank and can see all of the fittings on it. It's strange but the pump port in the tank is located lower than the drain line port! Lower it may be, but it's still above the bottom of the tank.
When I want to really empty the tank. I use the jacks to pick up the opposite side of the rig to force the water in the tank over to the drain ports side. It doesn't take a lot of tilt to do this.
Phil
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06-20-2019, 10:20 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 425
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
To the OP... check for a damaged suction line or fitting at the pump. Sounds like it is sucking air.
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^ This would be my suggestion also.
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2013 Rockwood Freedom2381G
2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie 6.7L
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06-20-2019, 11:40 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pawleys Island, SC
Posts: 23
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My 2017 Columbus 5r does the same thing. Works fair with at least a third of the tank full. I have not torn into it either. I do not boon-dock so not a huge problem, but for cleaning at home when water is not connected and for using the bathroom on trips (dw hates public restrooms), it is a big inconvenience and just the fact it should work. Didn't notice it the first year since we barely used the tank/pump and just started screwing around with it this year. Ticks me off though, but problems can be expected. I may have to dig deeper now, no pun intended.
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06-21-2019, 05:10 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Waukee, IA
Posts: 566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thurman
For what it's worth: Just playing around with my tank and pump system I found out that my pump would not pick up water if I only had a few gallons in the tank. I bought a water meter to check this with and determined that I had to have at least eleven (11) gallons of water in the fresh tank for the pump to pick up the water. My best guess is that the tube inside the tank is nowhere near the bottom of the tank. I have not tore into the coroplast, and don't really want to, to look at the fresh water tank. Actually I don't boondock. So maybe your pick-up tube is not near the bottom of your tank.
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Wow, that sucks (no pun intended). When my pump starts sucking air, there is only 2 gallons left.
__________________
'19 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 Crew Cab
'17 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL
Mickey the Rescue Project Schnauzer
Days Camped: '17-39, '18-61, '19-64, '20-38
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07-02-2019, 10:27 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 8
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I have now tried going back through everything again including doing anything from the threads that i could but still no luck. I am down to eliminating things to lessen the problem areas. I have removed the in-line water filter, removed the screen piece on the suction side and attached directly to the pump. I have verified that there are no kinks in any of the lines that I can see.
Next when I get time I am going to build a piece of hose to hook to the water lines into the HW tank and try to eliminate that as a piece. I have attached some photos of my setup.
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07-02-2019, 11:01 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pincher Creek, AB
Posts: 809
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To me, because it happens with the hot or the cold water, it is a pumping issue. Do you have a connection for your antifreeze to the pump? Is it possible that the valve for it is passing just enough to allow in air? Did you try plugging it with your finger to see if you can feel it sucking? Loose connection on the tank? Ours had a loose fill line from the factory..
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