Fresh Water tank drains on it's own FR won't cover fix!

[AJAbbott]

So, took my 26RR toy hauler over to the dealership for warranty work because the fresh water tank drains out via the overflow vent hose. Few days later (today) was told that FR would not cover cost to remove tank to properly route vent line. The reasoning behind their decision is that "you shouldn't travel with water... but instead should fill up when you get to your destination. Kind of defeats the purpose of buying the toy hauler for boon docking with the 4 wheelers.
FR states it is in their manual that you should not travel with full tanks, however it only states in manual that less water means less to tow, I bought a bigger truck so this wouldn't be an issue.
What do you all think about this?
Just as a side note if I fill the tank with water it is empty by the time I get 20 miles down the road.

[Ford Idaho]

BS.

FR is trying to pass the cost to you with that line IMO, traveling without water really!

You need to contact some one in the division that manufactured your unit and gently remind them that their workers muffed a simple install and it NEEDs to be corrected.

[5picker]

I say BS too but this is one of those situations where we don't know whether FR said this or the dealer is using this as an excuse not to fix it.

[Crabman]

I know that some Jaycos had the issue of water siphoning out the overflow hose during travel and they would arrive at their destination with half full tanks. The owners solved this by placing a valve on the end of the overflow hose. Open it when filling, close it after the tank is full before travel. This cured the siphoning off of the water in the tank. And I also call BS on not being able to travel with water in the tanks. If that was the case nobody would boon dock where water is not available.

[B and B]

Reroute the overflow higher than the tank, put a valve in it. I did this on a TT back in the 80's to stop draining of the tank.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I say BS too but this is one of those situations where we don't know whether FR said this or the dealer is using this as an excuse not to fix it.

X2 or 3 or 4....
Making contact with the manufacturing division (not F.R.) as stated above might just dislodge this issue IF the dealer is shirking his duty.

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by B and B

Reroute the overflow higher than the tank, put a valve in it. I did this on a TT back in the 80's to stop draining of the tank.

That's what I did, routed the vent over the lp tank with a valve at the low point to drain the hose.

My dealer wouldn't fix it, they said some loss was normal.

[mlatter]

I had the issue of water draining out of the tank while driving as well. My solution, like many others, was to put a valve on the vent. One thing I noticed was that if I'm boondocking, I don't have to open the vent valve, because the tank will vent through the diverter valve if it is in the "gravity" position. So, the only time you have to open the vent valve is when you are actually filling the tank, with the diverter in the gravity position.
This is the diverter valve I'm talking about:

[1000RR]

Similar to above... We just got rid of our Diesel Pusher that had this issue. The vent line was routed into the top of the freshwater tank and stuck down into the tank a number of inches (not sure how many). The water would basically siphon itself down about 1/4-1/3 of capacity. I just routed the overflow to the bottom side of the motorhome and put a 1/4 turn valve on it. Never had a problem after that. I'd just open the valve after we had been where we were for a day or two.

[retired06]

On my 19rr, the fresh water tank is the only one you can see and it has three 2'' straps that look like 16gage material that have a couple of self tapping screws on each end between crossbeams. It doesn't look like it could carry 400lbs. of water, so I only carry 6 gallons and fill the rest of it when I arrive at cg. Makes me feel better driving these Michigan roads.

[AJAbbott]

Originally Posted by B and B

Reroute the overflow higher than the tank, put a valve in it. I did this on a TT back in the 80's to stop draining of the tank.

That is exactly what I said. Right between the tank fill and city water hook up is where the vent line should be, it's there they (FR) just filled it in with clear silicone.

[SEAYALL]

Originally Posted by AJAbbott

So, took my 26RR toy hauler over to the dealership for warranty work because the fresh water tank drains out via the overflow vent hose. Few days later (today) was told that FR would not cover cost to remove tank to properly route vent line. The reasoning behind their decision is that "you shouldn't travel with water... but instead should fill up when you get to your destination. Kind of defeats the purpose of buying the toy hauler for boon docking with the 4 wheelers.
FR states it is in their manual that you should not travel with full tanks, however it only states in manual that less water means less to tow, I bought a bigger truck so this wouldn't be an issue.
What do you all think about this?
Just as a side note if I fill the tank with water it is empty by the time I get 20 miles down the road.

Fill only 1/2 or 3/4 full, if it still does it elevate breather tube or extend it to elevate it. I hardly doubt if FR made that statement

[Mewcasa]

Just another reason why I probably won't purchase another FR... They don't give a $&!7!

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Mewcasa

Just another reason why I probably won't purchase another FR... They don't give a $&!7!

Good luck finding any manufacture that meets your expectations

[CharlieS3]

I had the same problem in my 2005 Sportscoach. I tried replacing the overflow lines, elevating them as much as possible before looping down, and adding additional higher vents to reduce siphoning, but none of that worked. The problem for me with that approach was that there was not really any room above the tank to get an anti-siphon loop adequately elevated above the water level.

Last year, I added two 12V DC normally open valves in line with the vents. Since I have a class A, I wired these directly to the ignition switch activated bus, with an inline fuse, along with a switch that I added to my switch panel. Now, these close whenever the engine is running. I did this before my trip to Alaska last summer, where most of our camping was boondocking. It worked beautifully.

Be aware that you can't use most of the $10 normally open valves you will find on Ebay. Those cheap types require water pressure in order to close, which you won't have on your vent line. You need a positively closing valve.
I used

https://smile.amazon.com/Brass-Elect...&keywords=open

I combined this with some barbed connectors and clamps, then mounted them to a rail.


Charlie

[n0ms]

i had the same problem and fixed it my self. The over flow for the fresh water was not hooked up. i ran a hose from the over flow to the vent above the water fill making sure the vent was clear.

[mcwhirtj]

Ditto to what others have said - you need to talk directly to FR, and specifically to the manufacturing unit that made your toy hauler. FR has a LOT of manufacturing sites. I had a complicated warranty issue that needed corporate intervention, and I started with the "Contact Us" link on the FR web site, and that eventually got me to the right person. I had to be very persistent (but polite) and eventually got it resolved. But getting through to the right person at the plant that built your unit is key.

[NMWildcat]

Easy fix is like others have said, put a valve on the end of it or put a removable cap on the end. I've done that to all of our rigs. Easy.

[CaptnJohn]

I fill my FW tank before every trip ~~ 60 gallons. Never lose any. There are places you cannot add any.

[debit]

Very interesting, "retired". I have a new Surveyor 251RKS, with the water intake up front. I have filled that tank twice for dry camping. I know that it was full, since it sure did sit the front of the TT down on the hitch. I did not notice any water spills, and had water plenty of water while camping. (I drove over 100 miles and even on what one would call 4x4 roads. I did wreak one of the front jacks).
I will take more care to notice it now. Access to the fill hose is via a panel in the pass through, as such, it is well above the level of the tank. But thanks for this thread; I'll pay attention now. Dry camping does require water! Duh!

_______________________
Ram 2500, 6 speed manual trany, regular cab, 8' bed, diesel
Bow, WA (near Canadian border)