Can't use all the water in water tank

Oldnapapartsguy · 09-10-2018, 08:29 AM

I have a 2018 Dynamax Isata Series 3 and when I am dry camping the water pump starts pulling air when the water level is 1/3. I looked at the tank and there is 2-3 inches of water that I can't get at. Anyone else have this issue? Any solutions out there? Thanks

fonzie · 09-10-2018, 09:03 AM

Yes normal set-up. You might be able to move the water pump intake to the drain of the fresh water tank to get all water. See thread below.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ter-34722.html

**Herk7769** · 09-11-2018, 07:25 AM

So, 1/3 in RV terms is "not empty" and not much else.

It depends on levelness of the tank, location of the fill, suction, and drain port on your particular fresh water tank.

Relocating the suction line to the drain port is a great idea (maybe a T if you have room so you can still drain the tank for winter without lowering the covering to remove it).

**KyDan** · 09-11-2018, 07:39 AM

As mentioned 1/3 just means it's not empty. When my trailer was new I discovered that it was "sucking air" when there was as much as 9 gallons left in the tank!
I was able to remove the drain cap and replace it with a sideways T. Then I put a
drain valve in the bottom of the T and moved my pump suction line from the side of my tank to the side of the T in the bottom of the tank. Of course I put a plastic plug in the side outlet.

Sorry I don't have pictures. I was lucky that my pump hose was long enough to reach the drain without any other modifications.

Hope this helps!
Happy Trails!

cmar273225 · 09-11-2018, 04:33 PM

If your situation is the same as mine on a Wildcat Maxx it because they put the outlet line a couple of inches from the bottom of the tank. I assume so you don't suck up crap from the bottom of the tank. I peeled the undercarriage cover so I could see the tank and thats what I observed. The other thing they did was put the fresh water tank drain in the same line with a T before the line went off to the water pump. That causes a problem with draining the fresh water tank period. A simple drain directly out of the bottom of the tank would have been a cheap modification. That way some of the gunk and all of the water could have been drained.

Way to go Forest River, you save a couple of bucks.

Oldnapapartsguy · 09-11-2018, 04:42 PM

I bet a person could take out the fitting and add a flexible pickup that would reach the bottom of the tank. A filter could also be installed if it was not very large. Sounds like a winter project in my heated garage. Thanks all for the insights.

**bclemens** · 09-12-2018, 08:32 AM

I'll ask engineering if there is a code issue that prevents us from doing this. I don't see why we can't do this going forward. Makes sense.

**Herk7769** · 09-12-2018, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

I'll ask engineering if there is a code issue that prevents us from doing this. I don't see why we can't do this going forward. Makes sense.

I see a lot of this type of post here. Nearly every camper's fresh tank has unusable water due to the location of the suction line, unreliable tank indications due to levelness when filling, or a vent line so located that it siphons water out of the tank driving down the road.

mnoland30 · 09-13-2018, 05:50 AM

I installed a small ball valve on my drain, so I wouldn't have to unscrew the plug to drain the tank. Last week, I opened it, and it was clogged with white sediment. I'm assuming it is mineral buildup, and that is why the pickup is above the bottom of the tank. Shurflo makes a sediment filter that screws onto you pump. If you decide to make your pickup come from the bottom of your tank, you'll probably want to have a filter in front of your pump. That hard mineral buildup is hard on diaphram pumps. One small piece of sediment will make your pump quit working.

LTZ470 · 09-13-2018, 10:14 AM

Once it's drained you can pull the suction off add a length of hose with a brass T so it will reach the center or lowest point in the tank, screww that into the backside of you suction fitting (tap and teflon), then drop the heavy brass T into the tank and reinstall suction, the vibration will keep it at the lowest point in the tank always...gained 19 gallons on my 110 gallon tanks that way...you don't have to refit/relocate any thing that way if want...

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