fresh water intake question

adwizard · 04-15-2017, 09:33 AM

Jayco 1992 1006 camper. In previous posts the topic of fresh water intake came up. However, I'm a little confused as to how this works. I found my fresh water tank in a lower compartment of my pop up. How do I get fresh water into that tank? Do I physically disconnect it from my fittings and fill it up from a well pump at the campground? Do I leave it connected and hook up a hose to my city water intake fitting? Turn on the city water and let er go? Do I leave the city water on or should I turn it off after the tank gets full? How do I know if or when the tank is full? Lastly, of course, I need to sanitize my water system. But I guess I can't do that till I know how the system works. Thanks. I hope I make sense here.

sennister · 04-15-2017, 09:54 AM

Normally there is a separate port on your camper somewhere that fills the fresh water tank. Most campers have a separate city water port that the hose screws to so it stays connected and provides the pressurization to the system. With the fresh water tank it is normally just an opening that the garden hose fits in or you have to hold it there. The FW tank has a vent to let the air out as it fills up or you wouldn't be able to fill it. As you fill it up, eventually the water will start coming out this vent or overflow pipe. Just be aware that once it comes out the siphon effect will pull a lot of water out of it. Let it settle and add some more water if you want to fully fill it. You might find it went from full to 3/4 full because of this.

Then to use the FW tank, you have to turn on your water pump. You don't use your water pump when connected to city water as the city water connection from the hose provides the pressure. The pump has a check valve on it which prevents water from pushing past the pump and filling the FW tank. If you didn't have this you would constantly have water getting pushed out that vent for the FW tank when connected to city water.

adwizard · 04-15-2017, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sennister

Normally there is a separate port on your camper somewhere that fills the fresh water tank. Most campers have a separate city water port that the hose screws to so it stays connected and provides the pressurization to the system. With the fresh water tank it is normally just an opening that the garden hose fits in or you have to hold it there. The FW tank has a vent to let the air out as it fills up or you wouldn't be able to fill it. As you fill it up, eventually the water will start coming out this vent or overflow pipe. Just be aware that once it comes out the siphon effect will pull a lot of water out of it. Let it settle and add some more water if you want to fully fill it. You might find it went from full to 3/4 full because of this.

Then to use the FW tank, you have to turn on your water pump. You don't use your water pump when connected to city water as the city water connection from the hose provides the pressure. The pump has a check valve on it which prevents water from pushing past the pump and filling the FW tank. If you didn't have this you would constantly have water getting pushed out that vent for the FW tank when connected to city water.

So, if I don't see a separate port for fresh water fill, I can only use the "city water" connection I guess because I don't see a separate fresh water fill port on my Jayco 1992 1006. I see a port that allows my sink water to drain but no port can be seen for fresh water fill. That leads me to believe that I can only use the city water connection. Is that correct?

**JFlightRisk** · 04-15-2017, 11:08 AM

I'm not super familiar with your particular unit, but I know it should have a pump-style sink faucet. The water connection you see MAY be how the tank fills. Check the tank, and see how many hoses connect to it, and what size(s). That may answer your questions. I've looked at some pictures , but can't tell from them.

sennister · 04-15-2017, 11:35 AM

Yeah, like the other post, I am not familiar with your specific camper.

Normally there are two ports. However my experience is on the larger travel trailers with an electric pump. Maybe if there is a hand pump type sink it is the one fill. There might be a valve or something to fill the tank. I would doubt you have to unhook anything. I would look around the inside of the camper near where the city water hook up is and if that is close to where the FW tank is. Maybe there is a valve to turn.

RoyBraddy · 04-15-2017, 11:55 AM

My only way to fill the fresh water tank is to pour in it from a fill port next to my access door... I have to be very careful using the fill port as it is made of plastic and you don't to rest the whole 5-gallon Jerry Can weight on it for fear of breaking the plastic holder.

My fresh water fill port looks much like this google image. It does have a small pull out section to aid you in pouring in the water...

This drawing from google shows my water system pretty close and where the one-way valves are located...

I guess some of the more woo hoo trailers may have a water port fill

Roy Ken

bwalton · 04-18-2017, 11:55 AM

adwizard, can you take a photo of the tank? some were just 5 gallon jugs and some were built in. A picture of the off-door side of your trailer would help also.

Unless you have a shower package in your pop-up, chances are you don't have a built in tank. Does your kitchen faucet have two knobs like a home sink would have or is it just a lever?

kayakterp · 04-18-2017, 01:09 PM

I remember last year on my 2nd trip out I camped at a state park that did not offer water hookup at each site but had to share spigots spread around the campsite. I called in advance and asked how close my site was to the closest water spigot? The lady that answered said I should be able to reach it easy with one hose, no problem.
Well I parked and unhooked and got all setup then went to get water. I was about 125' from the closest spigot. The camp host was next door and I asked him if I can borrow his water hose along with my 75'? It barely reached. He had an older model class C and told me many times that my fresh water and city water all go to the same inlet on side of TT. I had recently gone through the PDI and knew I was told 2 separate intakes. one for fresh water & one for city water. And they are on opposite sides of the TT. He had never seen that and kept trying to tell my differently that they are all on the same intake so maybe yours is also. Someone had mentioned to look for a valve to turn from fresh water to city water? maybe that is all you need?

adwizard · 04-18-2017, 03:30 PM

Thanks. I don't see a valve on the outside. Do you recall if they said the valve is on the inside of the pop up?

kayakterp · 04-19-2017, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sennister

Yeah, like the other post, I am not familiar with your specific camper.

Normally there are two ports. However my experience is on the larger travel trailers with an electric pump. Maybe if there is a hand pump type sink it is the one fill. There might be a valve or something to fill the tank. I would doubt you have to unhook anything. I would look around the inside of the camper near where the city water hook up is and if that is close to where the FW tank is. Maybe there is a valve to turn.

I think this was the post I was referring to. I don't have any idea myself as I am fairly new to RV glamping

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