Fresh Water Connection-what is this for?

[byamcaravanner]

I'm in the process of disassembling my '67 Ambassador and like to make sure I understand how things are set-up before I take them apart so that when it comes time to put things back together I get things set-up properly. On my fresh water tank there are (4) fittings. One large one at the top that connects to the fill tube and one at the bottom that connects to the pump which continues to the rest of the water system. The thing I don't understand is the last (2) fittings... one at the top near the fill tube connection and one at the bottom opposite the pump connection. These two are connected to each other with a loop to nowhere. Why might this be? What is the usual intended purpose of these additional outlet/inlets?

Thanks!

[Gunnyusmc]

The top one is too allow air out of the tank while filling and should be routed outside near fill tube.
The second is for draining the tank and should be routed outside thru belly pan with a on/off valve in a handy location.

Don

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Gunnyusmc

The top one is too allow air out of the tank while filling and should be routed outside near fill tube.
The second is for draining the tank and should be routed outside thru belly pan with a on/off valve in a handy location.

Don

That is what mine is like......only I have 2 tanks. My vent tube(s) end up behind the back rest of the gaucho(s). The drain has a valve and exits under the belly pan.

[byamcaravanner]

Thanks Don!

My trailer was set-up with a drain tee'd off of the line between the tank and the pump. As far as a vent, I guess they figured that the fill tube would serve a dual purpose. Seems that it would have been better to just plug the un-used fittings rather than plumb a loop that could potentially leak.

[markdoane]

Could the loop be used as a sight glass?

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Could the loop be used as a sight glass?

Good guess! It does use a piece of clear tubing...I bet you are right, cause the loop could be viewed rather easily by just removing the gaucho arm rest.

I think you have convinced me... thanks for easing my mind. Now I can continue with the disassembly...

[TomW]

Originally Posted by wader

... I bet you are right, cause the loop could be viewed rather easily by just removing the gaucho arm rest...

Airstream's sight glass implementation did not appear to last very long for various reasons. My Overlander's PO suffered a problem with the lower fitting leaking, and plugged the tank.

FWIW, below are a couple of pictures I took of the setup while stripping the interior. You can see the plastic sight tube on the left side of the left image. It has a red-colored floating 'pea' in it. Note the copper lines (with plastic tube couplers) connecting the tube to the tank.

Tank venting, in 1967, was accomplished by the lack of a sealing gasket on the filler cap.

Tom

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by TomW

...My Overlander's PO suffered a problem with the lower fitting leaking, and plugged the tank.

Tom,

This must be common, because my lower sight glass fitting was repaired at one time and the patch fell out when I was removing the tank, though it wasn't leaking while the tank was in place. I think I'm planning on replacing it with one of the tanks from Valterra. I am reconfiguring my goucho to a U or L so I can accommodate a different size tank if required.

Thanks for further confirmation of markdoane's suspicions.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by wader

Tom,

This must be common, because my lower sight glass fitting was repaired at one time and the patch fell out when I was removing the tank, though it wasn't leaking while the tank was in place. I think I'm planning on replacing it with one of the tanks from Valterra. I am reconfiguring my goucho to a U or L so I can accommodate a different size tank if required.

Thanks for further confirmation of markdoane's suspicions.

The clear palstic tubing was just forward of the lounge, on the road side.

It is, was, a sight glass, or level gauge, your choice.

The vent is thru the fill neck on the outside.

You can, if you wish, not use the sight gauge.

Andy