refilling onboard water from containers?

[Rapidly]

Is there a way to refill the water tank from containers? The manual for our 2011 Model 1007 popup appears to say there is, running a hose into the tank from a container and turning on the pump. But it's poorly written and therefore hard to make sense of; I've tried it the way they say, and nothing. We dry camp a lot (i.e. no city water) and I really like the hot water heater, so it would be great if I could find a way to refill the onboard water tank from containers. (Other than pouring into a funnel, of course, which with 5-7 gallon containers would really be a 3-hand operation.) Any input appreciated.

[tlhdoc]

I use a battery operated pump to move the water. It looks like a kerosene hand pump, but it has batteries in the top of the pump, where you would squeeze it to get the kerosene flowing.

[3'senough]

I think what they are saying is that you might be able to use the city water connection and pump to fill the tank? On my unit there are several valves that allow me to do this but it requires switching in order to do this. You will need to try to do this at home with a jug and hose.

Keep the hose short though and make sure the connection is good as you will loose the suction if air is getting into the system. How it will fill the tank without directing it that way I don't know as the city fill usually comes into play after the pump. If you can access your pump take a look and see if there are any valves to switch to push water back into the tank rather than draw it.

Otherwise gravity filling is going to be it.

[sailor]

This is what I use.
http://www.rvtoyoutlet.com/p-W03-0028.html

The price seems high at this site. I'd check around for price.

[dalenoel]

You might try a pump like This one from Amazon.

The price is not that high and you can transfer 6 quarts per minute with the batteries. Do not know how long they will last but that might be another problem.

Good luck with it.

[3'senough]

If you can't figure out your pump try this.

http://www.amazon.com/SIPHON-HOSE-FO..._bxgy_hi_img_b

I used these for filling my boats from 5 gal Jerry cans and now use it for filling my genny. They work great are very clean and allow you to walk away while it fills. Figure 30-45 seconds a gallon. Although you might look for just the heads and add a regular potable water hose to it. I can't see why they say no food use on amazon. It's copper and a ceramic ball with plastic hose.

The only down side is that you need to have the container higher than the fill site but if you have a folding table that would probaly do the trick for setting the water jug on. No battery drain either.

If you need to buy water jugs make sure they have a vent. The ones without a vent take forrrrevvverrrr to drain in the tank if pouring in through the spout. West marine has 6 gal ones for somewhere in the 12-15 buck range that I picked up before my bladder.

[dalenoel]

Better Clicky

[Quahog]

Oops... I didn't see you had already fixed it, dalenoel

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by sailor

This is what I use. http://www.rvtoyoutlet.com/p-W03-0028.html .......snip

X2

[dg1971]

X3....sure gets heavy, though.

[sailor]

I fill them about one half full and make more trips. Seems easier to me.

[Terry]

I have never understood that paragraph in all the manuals about somehow pulling in water with the pump. Based on the plumbing I don't even know how it is possible.

[tlhdoc]

Originally Posted by dalenoel

You might try a pump like This one from Amazon.

The price is not that high and you can transfer 6 quarts per minute with the batteries. Do not know how long they will last but that might be another problem.

Good luck with it.

That is the pump that I use. I set the 5 gallon jug on top of my 2 step, step ladder and let it pump the water into my holding tank.

[Rapidly]

Originally Posted by tafische

I have never understood that paragraph in all the manuals about somehow pulling in water with the pump. Based on the plumbing I don't even know how it is possible.

Me niether. Anyone know a contact at Jayco from whom we could request clarification on this?

[dalenoel]

It might be really stretching what you need to do and also a royal PITA but you could use the winterizing hose to draw water into the system via the pump. Then you would need to use the outside shower to spray water into the fresh water gravity fill via a hose extension.

Not good, not right, not easy but doable. Also not something I'm going to do.

Gravity fill from a jug is the easy way.

[3'senough]

Jayco may be utilizing some existing instructions from model to model to save which is why you might be finding something in your manual that does not seem to exist or make sense.

Contacting Jayco through the Jayco.com web site will most likely get you the answer you need. You will need to enter your vin to assist in a response and get one.

Just as a side note on my unit and others there are now features in our utility centers that have 4 valves and combinations of such for winterizing, sanitizing, regular plumbing uses like the bypass and city or water pump use. There is no gravity fill on my unit, only a city water connection and this is the only way to fill the water tank. You can select country fill or city fill for the tank. With the country fill the winterizing hose is put into a tank and with the proper valve combination, water is drawn into the tank through the pump.

This is where the confusion could be occuring with the multiple manuals having all be it similar features, some units have very specific ones too.

I read the excerpt in your manual and it is confusing.

[Seann45]

I use one of these... but rather than carry it on the roof I carry it in the bed of the truck and use an old water pump to refill my trailer tank... <my system also works well to wash the RV while boondocking> from the roof of a vehicle the system will gravity fill your tank

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...45-gallon/1605

[jim44646]

I just use an old pump I salvaged from a scrap TT attached 2 hoses and lengthened the wires and attached large alligator clips. When I need to add water I hook up pump to TT or TV battery and transfer water from portables into main tank.

[Mamacast]

I only have a city water fill, will the pump overcome the pressure needed to fill through this port?

[RoyBraddy]

My starcraft 14RT has a fresh water fill port that look like this...



I can use a 5-gal water can with water fom the bath house spigot or connect a water hose to city water spigot and fill it using that.


Photos from google images

Yes the 5-gal water can gets pretty heavy - having a 12VDC transfer pump (Walmart) would really help that out alot.


photo from google images