Water Tank Mangement

I have a 2017 FWC Fleet and I have some questions about managing the water tank during the camping season when camping in areas with out water connections available.  I don't have the hot water option installed.

 

*  Do you always keep it topped up to the full 20 gallon capacity?

 

*  Do you use water from the tap or do you fill from purchased water bottles?

 

*  During the camping season do you empty it after each trip or do you just add water as needed to refill?

 

*  How often during the season do you drain and sanitize the tank?

 

Thanks for replying.

 

Mike

When possible. Tap water. Refill as needed. Yearly sanitization.

I fill according to the trip length. We use a camping water softener and white camping hoses, can be purchased at Camping world. On an 18 day trip to Colorado, we had approximately 1/4 of a tank left. When we have water available we use a pressure gauge and small water filter also purchased at Camping World. We use the tank gauge and check it every couple of days. Depending how many days between trips will help determine whether we empty the tank. If we are going to remove the camper, we empty the tank so we don't have a weight issue and/or have the wood bottom pull loose from the frame. We winterize and in the spring flush out the tank and lines and then add 1/4 cup of bleach to sanitize, flush out and fill.

Edited by longhorn1, 05 January 2018 - 10:38 PM.

Longhorn,

 

Do you save and reuse the antifreeze?  When do you add the bleach?  Before flushing the Antifreeze?  In the fall?  

 

Vic

* Rarely, depends on trip length. We carry separate "drinking water" to increase capacity. Sometimes I'll partially drain just before last day going home to reduce wt - and hope I don't meet someone who needs it

 

* tap, using potable water hose that we carry

 

* yes

 

* usually only end of season

 

we also carry a largish funnel to assist refilling using a bucket or jug.

Vic, since there can be 2 gallons of water left in the water tank, it becomes diluted. I might get a couple gallons and reuse them with brand new antifreeze. I add a lot of water and run it through the lines. I will keep adding water to get the antifreeze out. I will then add the bleach and run the bleach water through the line
Then one final flush and fill the tank. 20-30 minutes tops

What process do people use to flush the tank? When I drain I use the valve on the outside but it takes a really long time. Is this the flush procedure? Thanks for any advice.

When in Baja we fill the tank with purified water from jugs we purchase, actually we go to a place where they sell the water and refill the one jug we carry with us.  I use two 10 foot white hoses, a clear plastic nozzle and a 12 V water pump.  When filling from a hookup at a campground we use the pressure reducer and a water filter, the hoses and the nozzle.  

 

I usually empty it after every trip and we sanitize it once a year.  My wife doesn't like me using antifreeze so I work very hard to be sure as much water is out of the system as possible so it doesn't freeze.  So far, so good.  

Outnabout, since the tank holds water, I add about 5 gallons and then empty at the rear of the camper. I do this a couple of times, then turn the pump on and open the cold and then the hot faucet to run things through the lines, pump, hot water tank, and do the same for the outside to get remaining antifreeze out. After I do that I will add 5 gal +/- and 1/4 cup of bleach added to a jug of water and then poured into the tank. I run water through the lines, pump, hot water tank, and outside shower. Hope that helps. As I said maybe 30 minutes to get everything flushed and tank filled. jd

Edited by longhorn1, 06 January 2018 - 01:07 PM.

I have had two fc and never use antifreeze . They both had it when I bought them. End of season I empty the hot water tank and empty tank as much as I can . Live in New England . Never had issues. And clean tank with vinagar . I use pure water filter on faucet . Easy way