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Old 05-19-2018, 01:50 PM   #1
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How full is my water tank?

Has anyone invented a device to tell you how full your tank is when boondocking? We are on our 2nd season with our Rockwood Freedom 2318g PUP and are venturing out on some boondocking trips. This was the first trip and I was worried about overfilling the tank with the potable water hose from the park spigot so I stopped early— way too early as we didn’t even have enough to fully flush the winterizing stuff out. The dealer told us to look underneath and make sure the bladder wasn’t bowing because that means it’s too full but IDK maybe I’m looking in the wrong place that seems kind of hard to tell. I was thinking of some kind of external gauge that’s linked to a float indicator or something? Any ideas?
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Old 05-19-2018, 01:51 PM   #2
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your tank should have an over flow that tells you when it is full with out hurting a thing. Fill it till water comes out then stop.
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Old 05-19-2018, 01:55 PM   #3
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Thanks Kimber45 the dealer warned us not to do that because it was too much strain on the brackets that hold the bladder...
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Old 05-19-2018, 02:04 PM   #4
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Thanks Kimber45 the dealer warned us not to do that because it was too much strain on the brackets that hold the bladder...
I’d tell the dealer if it falls out YOU (dealer) will replace it under warranty. Ridiculous.
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Old 05-19-2018, 02:05 PM   #5
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LOL fair! Newbie here obviously!
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Old 05-19-2018, 02:38 PM   #6
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2nd season with your Rockwood huh?

How long is your warranty?
Did the dealer show you where the overflow vent is?

Anyone else on here with a Rockwood Freedom Pup that can confirm this bladder too full story?
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Old 05-19-2018, 02:43 PM   #7
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My fresh water tank was translucent and easily seen. I would just take a knee and look to see where my water level was. So, you could use that to complement the idea given above by just filling until it overflowed.

Another option would be to use 5-6 gallon water cans. Fill one. Then pour into your tank. Rinse and repeat and you can meter how much water it going in.



Another option would be to use a water meter on the hose. Here is an example of such a meter, though I have not used one myself. Anyway, you can simply watch in real time how many gallons are flowing.


So, there you go. You have four options. Fill to overflow. Watch the tank by viewing the water line on a translucent fresh water tank (if you have one). Use known volumetric water cans to meter the water. Use a meter on the filling hose.

The only ways to know how much water is remaining is to either do the eyeball check on a translucent tank or to measure the waste water (ensuring that you capture grey water in a tank). If you started with 20 gallons of fresh water and your 10 gallon grey water tank is about half full ... then you have around 15 gallons of fresh water remaining.

Good luck.
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Old 05-19-2018, 03:14 PM   #8
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I’d tell the dealer if it falls out YOU (dealer) will replace it under warranty. Ridiculous.
It is ridiculous but it is true. There have been many pictures of tanks falling out on this forum. If I was traveling with mine I would not fill it till I got to my destination or close.
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Old 05-19-2018, 03:54 PM   #9
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Been camping for over 10 years, always filled fresh water before we leave. Never had problem, and in Minnesota there are alot of roads
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Old 05-19-2018, 03:55 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by Pom_Mom1993 View Post
Thanks Kimber45 the dealer warned us not to do that because it was too much strain on the brackets that hold the bladder...
The brackets can let go if tank is filled completely and travelling....here is a an example.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nt-160198.html
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Old 05-20-2018, 12:31 PM   #11
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Water tank

Can you not use the monitor panel? Or, don’t trust it
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:04 PM   #12
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My fresh water tank was translucent and easily seen. I would just take a knee and look to see where my water level was. So, you could use that to complement the idea given above by just filling until it overflowed.

Another option would be to use 5-6 gallon water cans. Fill one. Then pour into your tank. Rinse and repeat and you can meter how much water it going in.



Another option would be to use a water meter on the hose. Here is an example of such a meter, though I have not used one myself. Anyway, you can simply watch in real time how many gallons are flowing.


So, there you go. You have four options. Fill to overflow. Watch the tank by viewing the water line on a translucent fresh water tank (if you have one). Use known volumetric water cans to meter the water. Use a meter on the filling hose.

The only ways to know how much water is remaining is to either do the eyeball check on a translucent tank or to measure the waste water (ensuring that you capture grey water in a tank). If you started with 20 gallons of fresh water and your 10 gallon grey water tank is about half full ... then you have around 15 gallons of fresh water remaining.

Good luck.
I’d go with the volumetric method-fill up with the 5-gallon jugs. I thought about the little water meter and although they are inexpensive online, the reviews were basically making it out to be a piece of junk. Plus, who doesn’t benefit from having a plastic Jerry jug?
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:15 PM   #13
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Can you not use the monitor panel? Or, don’t trust it


I don’t have a monitor panel that I know of (rockwood 2318g)?
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:15 PM   #14
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I’d go with the volumetric method-fill up with the 5-gallon jugs. I thought about the little water meter and although they are inexpensive online, the reviews were basically making it out to be a piece of junk. Plus, who doesn’t benefit from having a plastic Jerry jug?


Agreed — I just ordered a 7 gallon one off amazon. Now just need a funnel and I’m set
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:17 PM   #15
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2nd season with your Rockwood huh?



How long is your warranty?

Did the dealer show you where the overflow vent is?



Anyone else on here with a Rockwood Freedom Pup that can confirm this bladder too full story?


The only overflow I know of is where you put in the hose.
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:33 PM   #16
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I believe the Rockwood 2318g is a pop up and would not come with a monitoring panel. To the OP, I would find the fresh water tank which would be behind the wall where the fill tube is located (perhaps under a bench seat) or under the camper below the fill tube. These are nice campers and should hold 20+ gallons of water. Your fresh water tank plus a couple 5 or 7 gallon containers would provide you with plenty of water while boondocking for a several days.

Good luck.
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Old 05-20-2018, 03:39 PM   #17
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I believe the Rockwood 2318g is a pop up and would not come with a monitoring panel. To the OP, I would find the fresh water tank which would be behind the wall where the fill tube is located (perhaps under a bench seat) or under the camper below the fill tube. These are nice campers and should hold 20+ gallons of water. Your fresh water tank plus a couple 5 or 7 gallon containers would provide you with plenty of water while boondocking for a several days.



Good luck.


Thank you!
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Old 05-20-2018, 06:07 PM   #18
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fresh water tank

Wy not fixing the real problem?
That stupid blader BRAKET!
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Old 05-20-2018, 06:12 PM   #19
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Can you not use the monitor panel? Or, don’t trust it
Since this thread is in the Tent Camper/Popup section of the of the Forum and the OP has a popup, many popups don't come with a monitor panel because they don't have gray and black tanks.
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Old 05-20-2018, 06:15 PM   #20
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Wow, This is my first tent trailer with an onboard water tank. Thanks for the pointer on not filling until I get on site.
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