Okay...it's official...HATE the water filter!!!!!!!!!!

[RalphieAdie]

Besides being in a very awkward location and impossible to remove to winterize without slopping water out of it. Today, as it wasn't re-installed properly, it leaked water all over the inside of our unit! So, who has completely eliminated the filter and simply installed another piece of waterline in place of the filter inside the unit?

[indybp57]

This was my first year for winterizing a TT. I started by using an air compressor and blow out plug. I found that it forced most of the water out of my filter, eliminating the water slopping out when I removed the element. I have also opened it up when full, placing a small flat pan under it to catch any sloppage. Is the filter really necessary? In my opinion no, since we camped for over 20 years in tents and PUPs and never getting sick from bad water, but we have always camped in campgrounds with modern water systems. It's probably most useful for killing bad taste that gets picked up from the fresh water tank. Many people keep bottled water for drinking and using the fresh water tank only for washing dishes and showering.

[johnleann]

We have left the filter cartridge out of ours. Just using the clear spin on cover to close the water system. Instead we use one of the filters that go inline with the fresh water supply line. First piece on the hose bib is pressure regulator, inline filter, hose to fresh water city connection on TT. When filling the fresh water tank, put filter on bib, minus regulator, then hose and fill tank.

[Herk7769]

Water filter is gone and a 2 gallon surge tank is in its place.
Love the quiet flushes at night when boondocking.

[johnleann]

Good idea herk7769

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Water filter is gone and a 2 gallon surge tank is in its place.
Love the quiet flushes at night when boondocking.

Thats got me thinking and that can be dangerous Would that surge tank give me 2 gallons of water for flushing when on the road, without filling the tank and using the pump?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Nigels

Thats got me thinking and that can be dangerous Would that surge tank give me 2 gallons of water for flushing when on the road, without filling the tank and using the pump?

Yes to "without using the pump"
Yes to "without filling the FW tank" - Provided you understand the pressure will drop as the water is used and the maximum starting pressure is determined by the water pressure used to pressurize the system and the air pressure in the tank.

If you use the water pump to pressurize the system, that will be about 35-40 PSI of water and it will hold that pressure until the tap is opened. As the water is used be cause the air in the expansion tank will push the water out of the tank at the pressure of the air.

There is an optimum setting for the "unloaded" air in the expansion tank (you will need to play with this number for your particular rig.

When the expansion tank is full of water, the air pressure reading must be higher than the "ON" pressure of the pump; but lower than the "OFF" pressure so the tank holds the most water possible yet will completely empty if needed.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Nigels

Thats got me thinking and that can be dangerous Would that surge tank give me 2 gallons of water for flushing when on the road, without filling the tank and using the pump?

Just wanted to add to your question, you could temporarily connect to city
water inlet just to pressurize your surge tank and water lines even with a dry
fresh water tank. Then you'd get a bit of water out of a faucet or toilet until
the surge tank was empty.

[KyDan]

Hey Ralph, I took out my water filter the 1st time I tried to winterize it.
Like you- mine was in a terrible place to reach and there was no way to
empty it without making a mess AND it didn't have a bypass so if I wanted
to pump pink antifreeze thru the system, it was going to take half a gallon
just to fill the #$%&! water filter housing.
AND some folks have reported that their water filters cracked when left
absolutely full of antifreeze!

I bought a brass 1/2 pipe coupling (might have been 3/4 pipe in the filter housing?) and removed the fittings out of
both sides of the water filter housing and just put the coupling in the place
of the filter.

Then I went to Home Depot and got a whole house filter for about $30.
I then added brass garden hose to water pipe fittings on each side.
One side is male hose and the other side is female hose.
I put that on my city water inlet and connect the city water hose to it.
I still get filtered water but it's easy to tip on it's side and drain when not
in use.
I even use it on a hose to fill my fresh tank when we're going boondocking
so my fresh tank is full of filtered water.
Look for a whole house filter with a built in shut off for more convenience.
I just put a little garden hose ball valve on one side of mine.

Probably could have used the filter out of the trailer but in my case I
already had the outside filter setup from a previous trailer.

[Filthy Beast]

We took ours out of our last rv early on. Our water here is not real good so we don't drink from the tank, we bring RO water that we bottle at home.

[mike54]

when we went to the FROG rally in Goshen this summer I had the factory reps take the filter system out it was a PIA

[Hoo Dad]

Originally Posted by ralphieadie

So, who has completely eliminated the filter and simply installed another piece of waterline in place of the filter inside the unit?

I'm sure my system if very similar to yours. So, a few days ago I removed my inside filter canister and replaced with two gator push on type elbows and a straight piece of pex pipe (the newer type of pex pipe). It took longer to go to the hardware store than it did to replace the filter canister. I've been using an in-line water filter for over a year now. It will sure be easier to winterize now! I can take a picture of the work I did if it would help.

[Hoo Dad]

BTW Ralph...Nice Truck.

[troyt]

Like Herk, I removed the filter and added a surge tank. Filter was a pain. I use an external filter when using city water connection and use filter when filling FW tank. But don't use FW tank to drink anyway.

[Nigels]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Yes to "without using the pump"
Yes to "without filling the FW tank" - Provided you understand the pressure will drop as the water is used and the maximum starting pressure is determined by the water pressure used to pressurize the system and the air pressure in the tank.

If you use the water pump to pressurize the system, that will be about 35-40 PSI of water and it will hold that pressure until the tap is opened. As the water is used be cause the air in the expansion tank will push the water out of the tank at the pressure of the air.

There is an optimum setting for the "unloaded" air in the expansion tank (you will need to play with this number for your particular rig.

When the expansion tank is full of water, the air pressure reading must be higher than the "ON" pressure of the pump; but lower than the "OFF" pressure so the tank holds the most water possible yet will completely empty if needed.

Thanks Lou, did you have a thread on this install/Photos/Parts, etc?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Nigels

Thanks Lou, did you have a thread on this install/Photos/Parts, etc?

No, but I will put one together.

[VTX Al]

I too removed the factory water filter from our 8315BSS (mainly because of it's locatiion and tendency to leak) and replaced it with an external filter. I went to Home Depot and purchased a dayglo orange traffic pylon, cut it off at the appropriate hieght and use it as a "water filter holder" beside the trailer.

...VTX-Al

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Water filter is gone and a 2 gallon surge tank is in its place.
Love the quiet flushes at night when boondocking.

I bet that is real nice!

[Twisty]

The dealer removed our filter and simply connected the the two pieces of tubing with a fitting.
Like others, I've camped for many years and never had bad water.

[KyDan]

Lots of folks remove the factory water filter for reasons listed here.
I know there are plenty of folks who do use the factory filter but......

If I'd been asked ahead of time- knowing what I know now- I'd MUCH
rather they installed a battery disconnect switch and kept their filter!!