Jayflight Spewing Water all over the Highway!

[20jayflightslx]

I filled up our water tank at home before leaving on our trip. Just minutes into the ride I noticed water spewing out the overflow lines under the trailer.

After a 150 mile trip only 1/3 of my water remained. How can Jayco sell trailers that have water tanks that do not hold water?????? How is this acceptable?

Anybody else have similar issues?

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by 20jayflightslx

Anybody else have similar issues?

Just about everyone...

This is talked about regularly here, the "search" function will bring you to the other threads.

[Riich]

Plug your overflow lines, whether with valves or rubber stopples (corks), and your water loss will end. After you use a few gallons of water at camp make sure you remove your plugs. Repeat on your next fill. Problem solved.

[JFlightRisk]

This is mostly a problem because the tanks are so shallow. We have two under our TT, with two overflow lines. I was just under it today to cinch up the cover straps, and took a very close look at all the lines. On the curb side there's an 1 1/4" equalizing hose (same kind as the tank filler) between the two for filling, and high above that on the same side are two 3/8" braided lines clamped to 90* elbows. It looks like one is an air vent to the second tank, and the other is an overflow. Both overflow lines are routed over the top of the tanks, dropping down on the street side of the trailer.

We installed two 1/4 turn valves to the ends of the overflows. I'll open them for filling, close to travel, and open up again to use the water pump. Many members have re-routed the overflow lines higher up and had no more water loss.

[20jayflightslx]

Thanks for the tips!

But really...when you manufacture thousands upon thousands of travel trailers and are ok with putting out a faulty product such as the Jayflight that can not retain water in its water tank...there is a problem.

This will be the first and last Jayco I buy!

[Lmbrjk]

As mentioned before a 1/4 turn valve lets you vent while filling and close when done to minimize water loss. Open again when using water to vent properly.
You may also notice that your owners manual recommends travelling with empty tanks. If you are expecting more from other TT makers - you may be disappointed.

[JFlightRisk]

All of the RV manufacturers That utilize the underfloor tanks will have the similar problem, unless they use deeper tanks or route the overflow plumbing differently. I've noticed out tanks will bulge some when they're full. They can't help it because they have so much horizontal surfaces. When the fill pressure stops, the tanks will "relax" and push some water out the tubes.

When I looked at ours today, the overflow connections were as high up the side of the tank as they could possibly go, but still probably 1 1/2" from the top edge. Subtract that from the total depth, and the capacity is lessened some. Then while driving, the water is sloshing around, and getting sucked out. There is no hose inside the tank, so it's not a real siphoning effect, like getting gas from a car. I know the brand of our tanks, and will find the dimensions, just for grins.

Our 1996 Fleetwood TT had the 40 gallon FW tank under the bed, and although it was a bunch deeper, that storage space was diminished considerably. That was 33' TT. With the smaller trailers like we have, interior space is a premium, so they put the tank(s) underneath.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by 20jayflightslx

But really...when you manufacture thousands upon thousands of travel trailers and are ok with putting out a faulty product such as the Jayflight that can not retain water in its water tank...there is a problem.

It's not happening just with the Jayflight. The motor homes have the same tanks, and the same problem, and these rigs cost just a bit more. It's a poor design across all products.

[Atlee]

We have 3 over flow lines on our Redhawk 22J and a 43.5 gal FW tank. My problem with putting a plug in each one is they are nearly in the middle of the MH. I really do not relish crawling under the beast all the time to plug and unplug the lines.

I've thought about buying some extension hose, connecting them to the current over flow lines, and terminating them at the side of the MH. Here, I would mount a plug or valve.

Would this idea work?

Originally Posted by Riich

Plug your overflow lines, whether with valves or rubber stopples (corks), and your water loss will end. After you use a few gallons of water at camp make sure you remove your plugs. Repeat on your next fill. Problem solved.

[Radar57]

The airflow across the overflow tube that is cut flat may be producing a low pressure causing it to siphon. Try making a scarf cut, facing forward, on the end of the tube so when you travel the air flow will be forced into the tank potentially creating a positive pressure in the tank therefore preventing the siphoning. That's what we do on aircraft. Just a thought.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Atlee

We have 3 over flow lines on our Redhawk 22J and a 43.5 gal FW tank. My problem with putting a plug in each one is they are nearly in the middle of the MH. I really do not relish crawling under the beast all the time to plug and unplug the lines.

I've thought about buying some extension hose, connecting them to the current over flow lines, and terminating them at the side of the MH. Here, I would mount a plug or valve.

Would this idea work?

Sure will. You can make them as long as you want, and to a more convenient location.

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by 20jayflightslx

Thanks for the tips!

But really...when you manufacture thousands upon thousands of travel trailers and are ok with putting out a faulty product such as the Jayflight that can not retain water in its water tank...there is a problem.

This will be the first and last Jayco I buy!

They are all the same.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by 20jayflightslx

Thanks for the tips!

But really...when you manufacture thousands upon thousands of travel trailers and are ok with putting out a faulty product such as the Jayflight that can not retain water in its water tank...there is a problem.

This will be the first and last Jayco I buy!

Ummmm...welcome to RV ownership, they are all pretty much the same under the skin. You either learn to adapt and overcome all the issues that can come with owning an RV or you’ll soon be selling it and going on to another hobby

[Danno]

Ours does it too! For some reason, Jayco in their wisdom decided to put the overflow at the top of the tank, instead of running the over flow hose up to the fill port where it should have been.

[damaltor]

Originally Posted by Danno

Ours does it too! For some reason, Jayco in their wisdom decided to put the overflow at the top of the tank, instead of running the over flow hose up to the fill port where it should have been.

Interestingly, I've read about this issue numerous times, prior to purchasing our Jay Flight, so it's one of the first things I looked at when we brought it home.
Our 2020 212QBW, came with the breather/overflow tube running up and connected to the fill port, like every other trailer we've owned.
Has Jayco finally addressed this issue??

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by damaltor

Has Jayco finally addressed this issue??

Our 2012 has a breather hose at the fill port also. But with two tanks, they need more breathers to accommodate them both so they fill up evenly.

[Baxter]

I just picked up my 2021 Jayflight SLX 264RLS. This is in my owners manual.

[20jayflightslx]

Originally Posted by Baxter

I just picked up my 2021 Jayflight SLX 264RLS. This is in my owners manual.

What a joke! So Jayco expects all customers to be able to empty all tanks where ever they are parked before they move their trailers???

That is an unrealistic expectation and a total joke of a request which we can all assume is something they are listing in writing to negate any liability for issues with their half-assed products.

[CamperStu]

why would you want to carry all that dead weight? it would be cheaper to buy water than drive it 150 miles..+ the water reduces your load capacity a lot
1 gallon = 8.34 lbs...

when I travel I only carry a few gallons in the tank just in case..

[icr21801]

Originally Posted by 20jayflightslx

What a joke! So Jayco expects all customers to be able to empty all tanks where ever they are parked before they move their trailers???

That is an unrealistic expectation and a total joke of a request which we can all assume is something they are listing in writing to negate any liability for issues with their half-assed products.

Couldn’t agree more. I personally don’t boondock but if I did I’d fully expect to be able to travel with a full freshwater tank going and loaded black/grey tanks on the return trip....otherwise why buy a “travel” trailer??