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  1. #1
    Setting Up Camp north channel novels's Avatar
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    Fresh Water Tank Vent syphoning mitigation

    We have a 2018 Reflection 230 RL which we bought new, and are really enjoying. BUT at the beginning, when we filled our fresh water tank before heading on the road, we often ended up with little more than 2/3 of a tank when we arrived at our destination. No leaks ... nothing left turned on ... waste tanks hadn't gained what the fresh water tank had lost. Strange.
    One day I looked back as I was pulling out on the road with a full tank, and could see water splashing out on the road behind me. I began to realize where our water was going. With the wide, shallow tank full, once the water started to run out the vent, it continued to be sucked out by syphon action until a bump in the road, or change in direction caused the syphon action to be interrupted.
    We don't normally travel with a full tank unless we are headed for unserviced campgrounds or places with uncertain water quality. So when we do fill before starting out, it is a little disconcerting to arrive with less than our anticipated water ration.
    Once I figured out the problem, the fix was simple. I cut several inches off the vent pipe and cemented on a 3/4" (id) plastic (or ABS) water tap from the hardware store. It gets turned off before we roll (a new item on our pre-departure check-list) and opened as soon as we arrive, or stop to add water to the tank along the way.
    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Left The Driveway
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    You can also buy a $10 Sharkbite 1/4 turn valve and just pop it on in seconds. Worked for me on our Imagine 2600RB!


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  3. #3
    Paid my dues 😁 FT4NOW's Avatar
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    This has been discussed a lot with various methods. Whatever your method, make sure the valve or cap is open/removed prior to filling the tank or using the water pump. You dont want to pressurize or draw a vacuum on the tank.

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  4. #4
    Site Sponsor livinthelife's Avatar
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    We just stuck a carrot in the pipe after filling. We removed said carrot when we got to our campsite.

    2017 Reflection 26RL "Mili"
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  5. #5
    Big Traveler Wicked ace's Avatar
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    Because the fill connection is up front at the Nautilus panel I ran 1/2" poly tubing with plastic barb fittings where needed. From the original tank vent it goes up to the propane compartment on the driver side with a goose neck in the enclosure and spilling to the ground below the tank support. I can tell when it approaches full as it whistles when filling. Because the vet is above the tank it stays full and the small amount of water above tank level isn't enough to be concerned about. I also have one less thing to shimmy underneath to reach. If you look at any home that has oil heat you will find a similar application.
    Last edited by Wicked ace; 09-24-2020 at 04:15 AM.
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  6. #6
    Fireside Member azink007's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by livinthelife View Post
    We just stuck a carrot in the pipe after filling. We removed said carrot when we got to our campsite.
    Certainly one of the more humorous (and delicious) solutions out there...
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by detroit_johnny View Post
    You can also buy a $10 Sharkbite 1/4 turn valve and just pop it on in seconds. Worked for me on our Imagine 2600RB!


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    So if it starts syphoning, you close the valve?

    Once you get to your campsite don't you have to reopen the valve to prevent the pump from creating a vacuum in the tank? And if you reopen it doesn't it just start syphoning again?
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  8. #8
    Seasoned Camper
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    Quote Originally Posted by FT4NOW View Post
    This has been discussed a lot with various methods. Whatever your method, make sure the valve or cap is open/removed prior to filling the tank or using the water pump. You dont want to pressurize or draw a vacuum on the tank.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    The water tank should be vented at the gravity fill also so this shouldn't be a problem, right? I know that when I fill my fresh tank via the panel in the pass-through, I can hear it filling through my gravity fill even with the cap closed. The sound is coming up that line, which has a small screen vent next to the cap.
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  9. #9
    Long Hauler huntindog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hampal View Post
    So if it starts syphoning, you close the valve?

    Once you get to your campsite don't you have to reopen the valve to prevent the pump from creating a vacuum in the tank? And if you reopen it doesn't it just start syphoning again?
    Valid concern and there have been reports of just that. It is more work, but I raised my vent above the tank level. Now it cannot siphon, and it will vent to the atmosphere, without me having to remember to open a valve.
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  10. #10
    Paid my dues 😁 FT4NOW's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by uwskier View Post
    The water tank should be vented at the gravity fill also so this shouldn't be a problem, right? I know that when I fill my fresh tank via the panel in the pass-through, I can hear it filling through my gravity fill even with the cap closed. The sound is coming up that line, which has a small screen vent next to the cap.
    Not all GD product lines have a gravity fill port. I've had a Momentum and Reflection and neither had the option to gravity fill the FW tank.

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