how do you monitor fresh water tank filling?

[Boomerweps]

I fill till water gushes out the fill tube.
My overflow is a crappy little elbow near the tank top, cheap FR.
I did buy a water meter to use to fill a set amount for travel.

 

[1973Bronco]

I use a very low-tech method. I turn the faucet handle one turn and time how long it takes for a gallon of water to run through, then use that time to do the math for adding water. If I only want a half-full tank, I can calculate the amount of time to let the water run.

 

[highsidephoto]

I use an inline water meter similar to this one >> P3 P0550 Water Meter - Walmart.com

It works great!

 

[Bob K4TAX]

To answer the question at hand requires an extreme high level of math and physics. Here goes:

One crams the hose, previously connected to the water source spicket, into the filler port. Please remove the cap first. Makes things much easier. Turn on the water, about halfway, sit back, sip a cool fermented beverage of your choice and wait for the water to overflow. It will! Using this method, there is no way to overfill the tank. Then go over to the valve and shut off the water, remove the hose from the fill port and replace the cap. In that order. Otherwise, one gets their shoes wet. You now have a freshwater tank that is filled. Disconnect the hose from the site faucet, drain the hose and return it to your storage bay. It is now time for a refill on the fermented beverage.

Bob

 

[Sunseeker16]

To answer the question at hand requires an extreme high level of math and physics. Here goes:

One crams the hose, previously connected to the water source spicket, into the filler port. Please remove the cap first. Makes things much easier. Turn on the water, about halfway, sit back, sip a cool fermented beverage of your choice and wait for the water to overflow. It will! Using this method, there is no way to overfill the tank. Then go over to the valve and shut off the water, remove the hose from the fill port and replace the cap. In that order. Otherwise, one gets their shoes wet. You now have a freshwater tank that is filled. Disconnect the hose from the site faucet, drain the hose and return it to your storage bay. It is now time for a refill on the fermented beverage.

Bob

thats the way i do it.

 

[Aussieguy]

and if you are busy with a cold one....
water the concrete until you get to a good stopping point with the cold one

costs too much to waste a cold one!


BTW I have used the idiot lights inside............ for a partial tank full
whether I got 12 or 15 gallons .. I don't really care, my tank is over the axels so weight distribution is not a factor and I can tow with either full or partial fills

That black tank is a different story
on mine it is so far forward... that it can have a big effect on towing..... after about 2/3rds full

sometimes a detour to Chicago canal is warranted!

 

[Bob K4TAX]

and if you are busy with a cold one....
water the concrete until you get to a good stopping point with the cold one

costs too much to waste a cold one!


BTW I have used the idiot lights inside............ for a partial tank full
whether I got 12 or 15 gallons .. I don't really care, my tank is over the axels so weight distribution is not a factor and I can tow with either full or partial fills

That black tank is a different story
on mine it is so far forward... that it can have a big effect on towing..... after about 2/3rds full

sometimes a detour to Chicago canal is warranted!

Agreed, with the tank over the axle. However, it does make a difference in total towing weight.

 

[Aussieguy]

Not gross weight problem for me
I just don't pack other stuff like food or change of clothes

don't have any problems with people wanting to come along too!

 

[Ravensview]

I’m cheap, what I do is I took an empty gallon jug, then timed how long it takes to fill, check it again, then when I fill my freshwater tank I simply time the fill time based on my tank size, so far has worked for me.

 

[tomupnorth]

That flow meter appears cheap & easy but doesn't help when you walk-away and forget what you were doing.

My camper has the warning label too (about overfilling), but while I don't THINK I have an overflow tube, I DO have a vent tube, so there should be no risk of pressurizing the thing into exploding.

I've removed many/most of the dumb HEAT IS HOT!!! warning stickers on my TT; I think I'll remove the overfill one too.

The below pic shows the vent tube at the left of the fill line, at the top of the tank. The hose to the right of the fill is connected I believe to the side of the tank near the bottom, and goes straight-up to the Shurflo water pump.

 

[ejl923]

I would advise anyone to verify if the tanks full. For instance, this year I finally said, I am going to fill buckets and pour in one at a time to check the lights and see if it s actually full. ( or use a flow meter) Well I found out if filling by hose, the water will start to come out of overflow at only half full. The vent is about half height of the tank. Also, the 3/4 full light corresponds with this. I have to slow down to actually fill the tank fully because the fill port on tank is below full water line.

And yes, I am the person that says what idiot overflows and blows the tank? Well, I got lucky. I forgot about the filling while playing with dog, after remembering I see water blowing out everywhere. I was most worried about the fill tube coming off and filling the area under bed. Luckily, all seems ok, but don’t leave the area or put hose on low flow!

 

[GolfingDave]

I DO have a vent tube, so there should be no risk of pressurizing the thing into exploding.

My bet is that the vent tube may not let the air out faster than what a hose can fill it depending on flow in.

My camper has a ShowerMiser so I always use that and have the fresh water fill cap off for good venting.

Filling thru 3 filters, a water softener and 6-8 quick disconnects that are not full diameter it normally fills at the .8-1.0 gpm range. With all those restrictions it comes out the fill opening at a pretty good clip when full. The flow is a lot bigger than the smaller vent opening next to the fill fitting.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Just fill to the point the water comes out the overflow tube. There is enough space around the hose and fill tube inlet to let a lot of air escape. I've never been concerned about overfilling or over pressuring the tank. I also don't walk away do do something else. In other words, I pay attention to what I'm doing and try not to be distracted.

Bob

 

[Larry-NC]

I wonder filling up at full blast vs half makes a difference with pressure build up.

Pressure (which is what damages the tank) is the same either way. All you're doing adjusting the flow rate.

Not sure why so many people have trouble understanding the difference.

 

[Qwkynuf]

Pressure (which is what damages the tank) is the same either way. All you're doing adjusting the flow rate.

Not sure why so many people have trouble understanding the difference.

Pressure is not the same either way.

The pressure that damages the tank results from pumping water in faster than the air (or the existing water) in the tank can be displaced. Flow rate is not only a factor in this, it is the *key* factor.

As long as something is going into that tank faster than whatever is in the tank can get out of the way, pressure is created in the tank, and it will be relieved via the weakest route. If that happens to be blowing the fill tube off, so be it. If that happens to be jacking your trailers floor up a couple of inches, well...so be that, too.

 

[Aussieguy]

For the standard trailer type water fill not connected to city water via valves

You should never “pump water” into the tank under any pressure
Especially By attaching a hose to the outside filling port/fitting for the tank

You just plonk the hose into the filling tube and let it sit
Adjust the hose pressure so water is not going in fast

Eliminates any chance of building up “pressure”


If you have a tank that can be filled by valve via water control panel…. Via city water connection You must always have a working breather tube…

If tank can get damaged by filling it….
You should replace it …… I would not trust it to travel round my block.

 

[Boomerweps]

Using a water meter is how I found out that the FW listing for my trailer was for the TOTAL FW onboard, NOT the FW tank.
This year, FR started listing the FW TANK capacity at 26 gallons. Previously it was Fresh water 32 gallons. Also throws off weight calculations for us math freaks

 

[RhumbleFish]

Mind you, this particular version is plastic… And is prone to break at the junction immediately above the meter and below the knurled female connector.

Ask me how I know.

 

[jimmcg29]

I struggled with this over the weekend. My first time with this trailer without water hook-ups. I filled the tank using a meter and I think I over filled because water was coming out the vent tube. I have the fill type where you screw the hose on it rather than just sticking a hose in there. Anyhow I don't think I really had a full tank of water because fighting with the stupid on demand water heater which is part of the problem, I ran out of water very quickly.

I read the manual and it said if you overfill and water comes out the tube it can create a siphon and drain your tank. So, when you mention to shut the water off ASAP after water starts coming out the tube, if you are fast enough a siphon won't occur?

Any idea on how you can add more water with a bucket if a hose connection is not available? Could you simply add a funnel to a hose end? Or does this type of connection require some pressure?

A three-page thread on filling a take with water seems ridiculous. There has to be a better way.

 

[tomupnorth]

…I have the fill type where you screw the hose on it rather than just sticking a hose in there…

As I have never seen such before, can you post pics? Notice in my post above my filler cap even says “NON-PRESSURE “ on it.