Fresh water tank

[Thomas M]

I have a 2017 FourWinds 35SK. My tank fills fine and works great. The question is do you have to fill the tank from the outside filler connect or can it be filled some how when hooked to city water. Thanks for any information

Tom

[Judge]

I believe your 35SK is similar to my 2020 Magnitude. Unless they changed something you can only fill the tank from the outside filler.

I have actually considered changing the plumbing and adding an electronic valve so that I could divert water from the city water port into the fresh water tank. I'm just trying to figure out whether it would be worth the effort.

I just finished installing an electronic valve to drain the fresh water tank so I don't have to take the bed apart ot drain the fresh water tank. I have also been looking at the plumbing to see if I could move the winterization port so I don't have to take the bed apart to winterize.... but if I went through all that I would also want to move the filter for the same reason. I doubt I will do this because it would be a lot of work and I can live with taking the bed apart once a year.

[Popfla]

Originally Posted by Judge

I just finished installing an electronic valve to drain the fresh water tank so I don't have to take the bed apart ot drain the fresh water tank.

To get to the water tank drain valve on mine, I have to remove a lot of stuff from a storage bay and unscrew a panel, then reverse the process once the tank is empty.

Could you please advise a source for what valve you used and where you installed the switch?

Thanks in advance!

[Dsimes]

I’ll have to look in the storage “garage” on our Chateau 28A to see if there is an access panel in there. Right now I have to take the top of the bottom of the bed platform off to gain access to the water tank and all the valves. Considering cutting an access opening in the front of the bed platform and framing in a door so I can see when the tank is full instead of waiting for the water to come out the over flow. May possibly install a hinge on the that section of the platform and a latch to hold it when traveling. Then I would not have to remove the half dozen screws that hold it in place and just hinge it up when filling.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Popfla

To get to the water tank drain valve on mine, I have to remove a lot of stuff from a storage bay and unscrew a panel, then reverse the process once the tank is empty.

Could you please advise a source for what valve you used and where you installed the switch?

Thanks in advance!

Here is my thread on the electronic valve.....

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...tml#post292945

[Judge]

So my fresh water electric drain turned out so well I’ve ordered a 1/2” electronic ball valve and another wireless switch so I can fill my fresh water tank from the city water port.

I’m going to get a couple Sharkbite fittings from HomeDepot, cut the Pex and install the electric valve so I can divert water into the fresh water tank from the city water port.

I’ll post the modification once I get it done this week.

[edkjr]

Originally Posted by Thomas M

I have a 2017 FourWinds 35SK. My tank fills fine and works great. The question is do you have to fill the tank from the outside filler connect or can it be filled some how when hooked to city water. Thanks for any information

Tom

Hey Tom I have the 35sk chateau, and I don't have another way to fill fresh water tank.
You probably could redo some plumbing under the bed to reroute the city water to the tank. But a concern would be that by doing so you may pressurize the tank. When you fill from the hose the normal way we do, it vents out since the cap is off.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by edkjr

. But a concern would be that by doing so you may pressurize the tank. When you fill from the hose the normal way we do, it vents out since the cap is off.

The RV Filler tube has a vent that is to the side of the cap. Pressurizing the fresh water tank would not be an issue with the vent.

I have my plan mapped out to add an electronic valve and some plumbing so I will be able to fill the fresh water tank from the city water port on my Magnitude.

The valve and wireless switch should be delivered tomorrow. I think it will only take me an hour to get it done. I'll post pictures when I'm done getting it installed.

[Jimmers]

Hi Thomas,
We have the 35SF and it also only fills from the outside fill port.
Ours did come with a drain valve on the outside by the rear passenger tire.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Judge

So my fresh water electric drain turned out so well I’ve ordered a 1/2” electronic ball valve and another wireless switch so I can fill my fresh water tank from the city water port.

I’m going to get a couple Sharkbite fittings from HomeDepot, cut the Pex and install the electric valve so I can divert water into the fresh water tank from the city water port.

I’ll post the modification once I get it done this week.

Looking forward to seeing the details...I wish to do the same. Also, can you send me pics and details of the drain system you installed on the fresh water tank? I love the coach but the water management system is no better than the 1983 Prowler TT I owned. Everything electric on my 35SF is mashed all around the water tank. I haven't figured out how to drain the fresh tank yet.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Looking forward to seeing the details...I wish to do the same. Also, can you send me pics and details of the drain system you installed on the fresh water tank? I love the coach but the water management system is no better than the 1983 Prowler TT I owned. Everything electric on my 35SF is mashed all around the water tank. I haven't figured out how to drain the fresh tank yet.

Here is the thread I posted on installing the electronic drain valve for the fresh water tank on my Magnitude. If you have any questions, just let me know.


https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...ain-26457.html

[Judge]

So I just finished the plumbing to add another electronic valve with a wireless switch so I can fill my fresh water tank through the city water port.

After looking at a couple different options, I decided to install the valve after the fresh water filter. That way the water coming into the fresh water tank is being filtered on the way in and then again when using the pump.

I decicded to use Shark Bite fittings instead of the cheaper PEX crimp fittings. I put a Shark Bite T in the PEX line coming out of the filter and then connected the electronic switch. I then put another Shark Bite T into the winterization port before the pump and connected a piece of PEX from the output of the valve to the T in the winterization port.

When I hit the On button of the remote, the valve opens and then diverts water back through the winterization port and into the fresh water tank.

Here is the 1/2" electronic ball valve I installed:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I installed the same type of wireless switch that I used for my fresh water drain valve. In the thord picture the switch on the left if for the fresh water fill valve and the switch on the right is for the fresh water drain:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This will just make life just a little easier. I have a Camco Fresh Water Filler but it often kinks from the wight of the hose... even when I put the hose across the ladder so it doesn't pull down on the filler. Now I can just connect the hose to city water port and fill the tank before we leave on a trip... but the real benefit will be when leaving a campsite I can just add water to the fresh water tank with a press of a button and without having to unhook the hose and drag it around the back of the coach!


While I was doing all this work, I decided to install an Accumulator Tank while I was at it. I used two flexible stainless steel 1/2" FIP flexible water lines to install it between the output of the pump and the input of the filter. You can just see a small portion of it in the lower right corner of the second picture.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One of the things I decided while working on the electronic drain and the electronic fill project is that I am going to add some PEX and some Shark Bite fittings to my collection of spare parts that I carry. You never know when a leak or other plumbing problem may develop on the road so having some PEX, a tubing cutter and some Shark Bite fittings can help fix any unexpected plumbing problems quick and easy.

[Dsimes]

Nice work!

[Thomas M]

Like he said nice work

[Bob Denman]

X 3...

[Glensouth]

You must use the outside fill. Poor design for filling fresh water tank.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Glensouth

You must use the outside fill. Poor design for filling fresh water tank.

Same design RVs have used for over half a century, maybe closer to a century.

[chunker21]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Same design RVs have used for over half a century, maybe closer to a century.

And it actually makes some chores easier. Sanitation for example. Without the gravity fill IF you don't have a whole house filter as the first thing downstream of the city water inlet, you have to get creative getting the bleach into the fresh water tank. Carefully pouring the bleach solution into your empty water hose and managing to get it all connected without spilling on you or something else is tricky at best. With the Omni I now have I can sanitize all the internal city water lines and faucets, but can't get to the fresh water tank. The outside gravity feed lets me do that. Also if you are at remote site camping and only have common water faucets, you can use bucket and funnel to add water to the tank. Try that with city fill only option.

[waynetaylor55]

I'm looking at installing a two cartridge filter system in-line from the city water connection inside the basement of our 28a. There is a cover over the water connections that I think I can get to and mount the cartridges on the wall of the basement (3/4 ply). I would like to plumb a valve to do a tank fill through the filters.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by chunker21

And it actually makes some chores easier. Sanitation for example. Without the gravity fill IF you don't have a whole house filter as the first thing downstream of the city water inlet, you have to get creative getting the bleach into the fresh water tank. Carefully pouring the bleach solution into your empty water hose and managing to get it all connected without spilling on you or something else is tricky at best. With the Omni I now have I can sanitize all the internal city water lines and faucets, but can't get to the fresh water tank. The outside gravity feed lets me do that. Also if you are at remote site camping and only have common water faucets, you can use bucket and funnel to add water to the tank. Try that with city fill only option.

I always carry a spare 7 gallon "jerry can", 4' hose and a small 12v pump with alligator clips. Makes gravity filling MUCH easier! You make some great points... and I always have my trusty bucket/funnel combo just in case! 😉