How to know when the freshwater tank is full?

[TenOCPlus]

I have been RVing since 1979. During this time, I have owned a dozen or more travel trailers and or 5th wheels RVs. Each of these RVs had a gravity freshwater fill port with a vent/overfill drain at a location that was easy to see when the freshwater tank was full. We boondocks more than 75% of the time; therefore, it is very important to have a full freshwater type.

Our current 5th wheel does not have a gravity freshwater filled port and the vent/overflow drain is located near the wheels where it is almost impossible to see when the freshwater tank is full and water overflows. I thought about running some type of hose, connected to the existing vent/overflow drain to someplace such as near the City water hose connection so I can see when the freshwater tank is full. Do any of you have a better suggestion?

I’m not trying to address the problem of siphoning water out of the freshwater tank. There are other threads which address the siphoning problem.

 

[livinthelife]

I have been RVing since 1979. During this time, I have owned a dozen or more travel trailers and or 5th wheels RVs. Each of these RVs had a gravity freshwater fill port with a vent/overfill drain at a location that was easy to see when the freshwater tank was full. We boondocks more than 75% of the time; therefore, it is very important to have a full freshwater type.

Our current 5th wheel does not have a gravity freshwater filled port and the vent/overflow drain is located near the wheels where it is almost impossible to see when the freshwater tank is full and water overflows. I thought about running some type of hose, connected to the existing vent/overflow drain to someplace such as near the City water hose connection so I can see when the freshwater tank is full. Do any of you have a better suggestion?

I’m not trying to address the problem of siphoning water out of the freshwater tank. There are other threads which address the siphoning problem.

You can still hear and see water splashing out of the overflow onto the ground, even if you can't see the actual overflow pipe.

 

[Riverbug]

Or, get a flow meter and use that to fill once you know how many gallons it will take to fill each time?

 

[kb0zke]

The only "gauge" that is at all reliable is the fresh water level one, at least on our trailer. You could watch that until it shows full, then two people go out, one to watch the overflow and one to turn the water off. Another way might be to set up an old phone as a camera pointed at the overflow, and a second one in your hand, so you are ready to turn the water off as soon as it starts overflowing.

I fill until water comes out the overflow, and there are times when it is hard to see the overflow pipe. As was mentioned, sometimes you can hear the water coming out, but not always.

 

[TenOCPlus]

Or, get a flow meter and use that to fill once you know how many gallons it will take to fill each time?

But, how do you know how much to fill the second time with the tank is 1/2 (????) full?

 

[Riverbug]

But, how do you know how much to fill the second time with the tank is 1/2 (????) full?

Oh yes, well you got me there. I was thinking empty to full but you're right.

I used to use the One Control phone app to keep an eye on the water level until it got to 2/3 full, then I would watch for the overflow more closely rather than crouch down and look under (hurts my knees). Now I just stand on the side where the overflow is and wait for it to start coming out. However, we have the gravity fill which I open the cap on so when it gets full it has more openings to run out of without building pressure. I don't use the gravity fill to fill the tank because I want all water in the system to run through our filters and water softener.

 

[robmcqueen]

But, how do you know how much to fill the second time with the tank is 1/2 (????) full?

Same as the 1st. stop when it overflows onto the ground

 

[TenOCPlus]

Same as the 1st. stop when it overflows onto the ground

But I can not hear or see the overflow when parked on grass

 

[robmcqueen]

But I can not hear or see the overflow when parked on grass

Stand by the overflow when water starts coming out then walk over and turn the water off.

 

[Mobile Mesa]

I have been RVing since 1979. During this time, I have owned a dozen or more travel trailers and or 5th wheels RVs. Each of these RVs had a gravity freshwater fill port with a vent/overfill drain at a location that was easy to see when the freshwater tank was full. We boondocks more than 75% of the time; therefore, it is very important to have a full freshwater type.

Our current 5th wheel does not have a gravity freshwater filled port and the vent/overflow drain is located near the wheels where it is almost impossible to see when the freshwater tank is full and water overflows. I thought about running some type of hose, connected to the existing vent/overflow drain to someplace such as near the City water hose connection so I can see when the freshwater tank is full. Do any of you have a better suggestion?

I’m not trying to address the problem of siphoning water out of the freshwater tank. There are other threads which address the siphoning problem.

Stand by the overflow when water starts coming out then walk over and turn the water off.

I don’t intend to oversimplify the issue, as I do understand your concern. I think that when you facilitate your next fresh tank fill, take note of precisely where the overflow water strikes the ground/grass, and that spots’ relative positioning to your tires or some other easily identifiable feature of your rig.

With that knowledge, you’ll know exactly where to look or listen for the overflow in the future, even when parked on grass. Also, with that knowledge, you could then place a 12” piece of plywood (or other material that won’t blow away) on the ground to help you identify the visual point of overflow in lowlight or no light situations.

As I’m sure you’re aware, eventually you’ll begin to learn (generally, depending upon the intake water pressure source) the amount of time it takes to fill your tank when empty, and to estimate fill time when topping off a partially full tank. That minimizes your standing around/wait time.

Hope that helps. Safe travels! ?

 

[Roll With The Changes]

Usually when I fill the fresh water tank I get distracted. When I come back an hour later, I'm either parked in a swamp or there is a river running across the concrete asphalt or whatever... either way, after an hour I'm pretty sure it's full.

Sorry, just had to throw some humor into this. ?

 

[toolman.dustin]

I have been RVing since 1979. During this time, I have owned a dozen or more travel trailers and or 5th wheels RVs. Each of these RVs had a gravity freshwater fill port with a vent/overfill drain at a location that was easy to see when the freshwater tank was full. We boondocks more than 75% of the time; therefore, it is very important to have a full freshwater type.

Our current 5th wheel does not have a gravity freshwater filled port and the vent/overflow drain is located near the wheels where it is almost impossible to see when the freshwater tank is full and water overflows. I thought about running some type of hose, connected to the existing vent/overflow drain to someplace such as near the City water hose connection so I can see when the freshwater tank is full. Do any of you have a better suggestion?

I’m not trying to address the problem of siphoning water out of the freshwater tank. There are other threads which address the siphoning problem.

I count. I run some water into a 5 gallon bucket. If it takes 1 minutes to fill then I know if I need 20 gallons it will take 4 minutes to fill. Sometimes I use the timer on my phone.

Dustin