Putting Fresh Water in 22FB??

MisterUg · 07-29-2011, 08:59 AM

Ok We're coming up to camping for our 20th, 21st, & 22st night this year. This is going to be the first time Dry camping. So, last night I filled up the fresh water tank for the first time. Can't believe it holds 90 gallons!? But my question is, we had some water come through a couple of tubes pointing down from between the tanks. I know they were not the low point valves, because they are right next to these tubes. Are they some kind of overflow tubes?

I also was wondering why the 22fb has such a big water supply. I looked at some 5th wheels online, and my Firend's 5th wheel holds 50gal??

Why is the 22fb's water tanks so big????

Rustic Eagle · 07-29-2011, 09:34 AM

I see that a number of Jayco TT's have a large fresh water capacity specified now, but keep in mind that it includes the hot water tank capacity to. If all your low point drains are closed, it sounds like the extra tubes are overflow drains (as long as your tank doesn't drain empty

).

Note: Keep in mind that 90lbs of water is over 700lbs, how does this play into your weights? Also, be extremely careful on what it does to your loaded tongue weight, location of the tank is the determining factor.

Bob

Terry · 07-29-2011, 09:54 AM

Yep! Those are overflow tubes. When water starts coming out of them you are full.

Jayco went with the bigger tanks this year, I imagine more from a marketing standpoint than anything else. I would think the demand for that much water would be small, but I am sure the dry campers really appreciate it!

jwstewar · 07-29-2011, 10:26 AM

I wish ours had the 90 gallon tank(s). We only have the 40(+6 in water heater so only 40 gallon usable) and my family hasn't learned the art of water conservation. We can go just over a day on a tank of water. I have a daily routine of filling the blue tank with the gray water and I have 35 gallons of fresh water in the bed of the truck with pumps that I refill from.

hammerdown · 07-29-2011, 10:32 AM

My 2009 FB FW tank only holds 37 gal. I'll trade with you.

MisterUg · 07-29-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

I see that a number of Jayco TT's have a large fresh water capacity specified now, but keep in mind that it includes the hot water tank capacity to. If all your low point drains are closed, it sounds like the extra tubes are overflow drains (as long as your tank doesn't drain empty

).

Note: Keep in mind that 90lbs of water is over 700lbs, how does this play into your weights? Also, be extremely careful on what it does to your loaded tongue weight, location of the tank is the determining factor.

Bob

With my calculations, the trailer weighs around 5500 lbs with the water & everything else we have in it. My truck is rated at 7900 lbs. The water tanks are right over the trailer wheels. I've had no issues with my combo so far. (about 2000 kms so far this summer). I will be being close attention to the difference in performance with the water on board.

Rustic Eagle · 07-29-2011, 06:38 PM

MisterUg,

Great that you have a handle on your weights

, many folks don't realize the weight of fluids in the tanks, and how it can effect TV/TT handling.

Bob

ps: I'm sure you caught my typo on "90lbs" of water, meant to say "90 gallons".

McMonk · 07-29-2011, 07:04 PM

Yup - water is heavy! Unless we're going to a place without water, we travel with the tanks near-empty. All that weight = poor gas mileage! (and yes...I AM cheap!). Mind you, we're very lucky up here with high quality, and soft, water at the campgrounds....

David472 · 07-29-2011, 08:37 PM

MisterUg,
We have the same 2011 model 22FB. There are actually 2 of 40 gallon FW tanks, connected together. I think Jayco did this to increase capacity, without making a different tank design....just double what they had. The tanks are side-by-side just above and extending a little in front of, the front axle. The most we have filled them for towing, is to just a bit more than the 2/3 full gauge light. For weights, have a look at the yellow sticker on the front left side of the TT. This will list the actual weight of your trailer, as it came off the line. The book says about 4,400 lbs, but ours came off the line at 4,650 lbs. We didn't have any noticable problems when 2/3 full, but we only went about 50 miles, with not much traffic. I know our tongue weight would have been more, but our hitch set-up seemed to take it in stride.
Hope these comments help.

Rustic Eagle · 07-29-2011, 09:25 PM

David,

You bring to light a couple of good points.

The first being that there are two FW tanks, explains the two overflow tubes MisterUg was questioning.

The second was that most of the tank(s) are above the axles (this is a good thing), and just a portion of the tank(s) are in front of the axles.

Third, and most important, was the actual 22FB "ship weight" of 4,650lbs...., add dealer options (battery, hitch, etc.) figure another 100lbs......, now at 4,750lbs......, add around 700lbs for 90 gallons of FW brings the weight to 5,450lbs.

Although we all load our TT's differently for camping, I would put a conservative average of 500lbs-700lbs of cargo and "stuff" as realistic, so adding 500lbs to the 22FB weight of 5,450lbs brings us to 5,950lbs.

So in round numbers a 22FB loaded weight of about 6,000lbs (GVWR 6,500lbs) is easily obtainable when filling the FW tank(s), as in MisterUg's case.

Like always, a brief visit across a CAT scale tells us everything we need to know

Bob

hammerdown · 07-30-2011, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

The first being that there are two FW tanks, explains the two overflow tubes MisterUg was questioning.

I have a 2009 22FB with only one tank but I have two overflow tubes. I never did understand why.

Rustic Eagle · 07-30-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammerdown

I have a 2009 22FB with only one tank but I have two overflow tubes. I never did understand why.

David472 · 07-31-2011, 09:35 PM

When we were getting our initial walk through by the dealer, his comment was; 2 drain spigots and 2 overflow tubes mean faster fill and draining. Sure does take awhile when you're dealing with 80 gallons.

MisterUg · 08-01-2011, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterUg

Ok We're coming up to camping for our 20th, 21st, & 22st night this year. This is going to be the first time Dry camping. So, last night I filled up the fresh water tank for the first time. Can't believe it holds 90 gallons!? But my question is, we had some water come through a couple of tubes pointing down from between the tanks. I know they were not the low point valves, because they are right next to these tubes. Are they some kind of overflow tubes?

I also was wondering why the 22fb has such a big water supply. I looked at some 5th wheels online, and my Friend's 5th wheel holds 50gal??

Why is the 22fb's water tanks so big????

None:hihi:

The truck & rv performed no differently than when the tanks are empty. It was actually quite fun watching my friend having to get water into his 5th wheel with a jug, while we still had 2/3 of a tank left.

Gas mileage was no different as well $30. to go 100Km

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