Converting fresh water from pressure intake to gravity fill

[Vicfor01]

We so a lot of dry camping and realized we can't pour water from our 6-gallon bottles into the fresh water tank, because we have to threaded hose connection to add water from a pressurized system (water faucet at our house).

Is there a way to remove the pressurized intake and replace it with a gravity intake?

[TheWolfPaq82]

Buy another 12v pump like in the RV. Pump from a tank, jug, bladder into the FW connection.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Buy another 12v pump like in the RV. Pump from a tank, jug, bladder into the FW connection.

#1

I've done exactly this even though I have a gravity fill tank. A lot easier than lifting and pouring.

Also makes it possible to use a much larger water transport "container" like a bladder, barrel, or tank, depending on vehicle available for transport.

The pump I use (same as onboard pump) empties 5 gallon collapsible "cubes" in 2 minutes. I line up 6 cubes on the bed of my pickup, empty them one after another, and the entire process including setup takes ~20 minutes.

No lifting, spilling, or sore back afterward

Bonus------If I ever have a pump failure in my TT I have a spare pump that uses the same fittings for easy changeover.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

#1

I've done exactly this even though I have a gravity fill tank. A lot easier than lifting and pouring.

Also makes it possible to use a much larger water transport "container" like a bladder, barrel, or tank, depending on vehicle available for transport.

The pump I use (same as onboard pump) empties 5 gallon collapsible "cubes" in 2 minutes. I line up 6 cubes on the bed of my pickup, empty them one after another, and the entire process including setup takes ~20 minutes.

No lifting, spilling, or sore back afterward

Bonus------If I ever have a pump failure in my TT I have a spare pump that uses the same fittings for easy changeover.

I recall you posting about the same info awhile back. That's what made me suggest the same to the OP.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

I recall you posting about the same info awhile back. That's what made me suggest the same to the OP.

[Sunseeker16]

Has anybody used the winterizing hose built into the pump? Turn the valve and drop the hose into a fresh water jug. Wouldn't that work?

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Sunseeker16

Has anybody used the winterizing hose built into the pump? Turn the valve and drop the hose into a fresh water jug. Wouldn't that work?

X2. If you do not have a gravity fill, there is a way to use the onboard pump to fill your fresh tank from a container. You just have to figure out the valve settings. Most RVs of this type have a diagram explaining it.
Quite few of our camping group now have new RVs w/o gravity fill. We always managed to figure out how to use the onboard pump. Some were easy, some took some head scratching.
If you can't figure it out, an external pump will work also.

[sdelam]

Originally Posted by Sunseeker16

Has anybody used the winterizing hose built into the pump? Turn the valve and drop the hose into a fresh water jug. Wouldn't that work?

This shouldn't allow water/antifreeze in to the fresh water tank. The system should be set up that the valve bypass's the fresh water tank when winterizing.

However, I have seen someone position that valve 1/2 open and "cheat" the bypass. It wasn't fast and I cant speak to whether or not it will cause damage to the pump, but it did allow water to be sucked from a jug into the freshwater tank.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Sunseeker16

Has anybody used the winterizing hose built into the pump? Turn the valve and drop the hose into a fresh water jug. Wouldn't that work?

Some use the winterizing port and have rigged the outside shower hose to provide pressurized water to the city water inlet. Then just use tank fill valve.

[Dwilcox]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Some use the winterizing port and have rigged the outside shower hose to provide pressurized water to the city water inlet. Then just use tank fill valve.

This is what I do. It also allowed me to verify my fresh water capacity.

[mmarken]

I called Forest River and they said that using the winterizing pump would not fill the fresh water tank.

[Homebrew]

It can be done, adding 2 tees and a valve with some pex you can create a bypass . I did this when I had to reinstall the two way valve that was installed wrong.
Picture shows set up before attaching to main pipes in trailer.

[01tundra]

Those who's trailers are equipped with a Showermiser can pull water in though the antifreeze fill line with the factory pump and direct the water back to the fresh water tank via the Showermiser bypass.

Below are instructions for filling from the city water port, but it can also be achieved by using the antifreeze port and pump.

https://aquaviewinc.com/rv/

FILL YOUR FRESH WATER TANK FROM INSIDE THE RV
The RV fresh water tank is normally always filled from the outside, which isn’t much fun when the weather is bad! NO MORE! When you are at your site and still connected to a water source and ready to fill, simply follow these steps:

Do not disconnect your outside water source.
Check your control panel to see how much fresh water you have in your water tank.
Turn the SHOWERMI$ER lever/valve to bypass the shower head.
Turn the cold water shower valve to full pressure.
Keep an eye on the water control panel.
When it shows full, turn OFF the shower valve.

[Flybob]

A 12V marine wash down pump works great. You can power it from the TV Bargman connector so pump and water container can stay in bed of TV.

[nayther]

i have a spare onboard pump from a previous RV. I mounted it to a piece of plywood, some hose fittings and a 6' piece of garden hose. For power a 12' cord with aligator clips. I can put the hose in a bucket or connect to a tank, etc. then use my regular fresh water hose to discharge into the tank. I have a spare 5 gallon bucket with lid that it fits in so I now have a bucket for any use, with a lid and it can be used to transport water or to use as a kind of sump to pump from a spigot without threads, set the bucket under the faucet, connect pump, etc.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by mmarken

I called Forest River and they said that using the winterizing pump would not fill the fresh water tank.

You are asking someone who has most likely never used a camper let alone had to use their imagination and ingenuity to figure out what needs to be done to get by. And of course, the experience of life-long rv'ers and forum members far outweighs what some salesman or pencil pusher says.

[HaroldPE]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

You are asking someone who has most likely never used a camper let alone had to use their imagination and ingenuity to figure out what needs to be done to get by. And of course, the experience of life-long rv'ers and forum members far outweighs what some salesman or pencil pusher says.

Precisely correct. I modified our outside shower hose by attaching a standard hose thread at the end - which I usually attach a hose sprayer. But if I need to fill the freshwater tank, simply route the shower hose onto the fresh water fill and then use the winterizing intake with the water tank of your choice, i.e., a 5 gallon jug, turn on the outside shower valve, and the water pump fills the tank from the jug.

I also have a spare RV water pump mounted in a tackle box with a switch, with a tube on the inlet end and hose on the outlet, that I used to use with a travel trailer.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

It can be done, adding 2 tees and a valve with some pex you can create a bypass . I did this when I had to reinstall the two way valve that was installed wrong.
Picture shows set up before attaching to main pipes in trailer.Attachment 240217

Based on your advice I did the same yesterday. It works well.

I tested it with a 25' hose and with the 6 gallon tank on the ground. It emptied it quickly without strain. I used the long hose to simulate connecting to a large water bladder in the bed of my truck.

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

Based on your advice I did the same yesterday. It works well.

I tested it with a 25' hose and with the 6 gallon tank on the ground. It emptied it quickly without strain. I used the long hose to simulate connecting to a large water bladder in the bed of my truck.

That’s great! I also have a bladder bag for fresh water which I use. I could only find a 40 gallon version when I purchased mine.
Thanks for the feed back.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

... I could only find a 40 gallon version when I purchased mine.

Where?