Filling the fresh water tank

[kb0zke]

I thought I had asked this question before, but maybe I just thought about it.


On each of the three RV's we've owned I connected the fresh water hose to a fitting attached to a pipe that let to the fresh water tank. In looking at some Airstream videos, and reading some posts, I have the impression that Airstreams don't fill that way. I've seen people holding a hose in a fill point. Is that the normal way, or can I connect the hose to a fitting and do something else while the tank fills? We're looking at a 2012 FC 30 RBQ.

[NutmegsCamper]

Our NuCamp had the “tank fill” fitting that our hose threaded on. Our Airstream has a hole that we push the hose into, Both work the same way. Get the water flowing, and turn off the spigot when it starts overflowing. While either is filling, feel free to do something else.

[kb0zke]

So Airstreams don't have a fitting to attach the hose? Just an open hole that you shove a hose into?

[NutmegsCamper]

Correct. A lot of manufacturers go this route. It’s actually a little bit simpler / quicker than threading on the hose.

[NutmegsCamper]

Out of sheer curiosity, how do you have 1,421 posts on an Airstream forum and not have an Airstream?

[kb0zke]

I have wanted an Airstream ever since I read Wally Byam's book "Trailer Travel Here and Abroad" when I was in junior high school. That was in the early 1960's. Two years ago we found a trailer in Florida that really looked good. Price was in our price range, description was what we wanted, and the pictures looked good - until the last three. Those were of young ladies in small swim suits. We couldn't figure out what those pictures had to do with selling a used trailer, so we didn't ask any more questions. When the Foretravel sold suddenly, we had to buy whatever we could at short notice, so we got this trailer. Finally, after many years of wanting and researching, we may be 10 days away from owning an Airstream.

[NutmegsCamper]

I love that story! The anticipation has to be Incredible!

[BikeCamper]

On our 19’ trailer, the fill inlet for the fresh water tank is not wide enough to insert a typical garden hose. So it has to be held in place manually while filling. But the tank is only 25 gallons or so, so it fills very quickly.

I assumed they do it this way to avoid contaminating the fresh water system by allowing a dirty hose to be inserted down into it.

At the city-water connection point we can physically screw the hose into a fitting on the side of the trailer. But there is a pressure regulator there to protect the fresh water system.

As for not having a screw fitting at the fresh water tank fill, that would seem risky to physically connect municipal water without having a pressure regulator between the hose fitting and the trailer’s fresh water system.

[BGClassic]

This is what I use to fill the fresh tank:

[overlander64]

Greetings David!

Originally Posted by kb0zke

So Airstreams don't have a fitting to attach the hose? Just an open hole that you shove a hose into?

The answer to your question is actually somewhat of it depends upon the model year of the Airstream that you are considering and whether it remains stock or if it has been modified. For instance, prior to the mid-1960s (about 1964) when the demand water system became standard, Airstream utilized a pressurized potable water system that relied upon either a cylindrical galvanized or aluminum water tank that was pressurized by filling through a city water connection that both filled and pressurized the tank using water from a hose connection on the exterior wall of the trailer -- these trailers typically had a Grover Air pressure pump to replenish the pressure as water was used from the tank (and also had a Schrader Valve for air pressure replenishment next to hose fill connection on exterior wall).

Once the demand potable water system with the PAR (Peters and Russell) water pump was adopted around 1964, the potable water tank was typically some form of plastic, and the fill fixture varied considerably from one model year to the next before the drawer-type was settled upon. Most of these early fill fixtures didn't easily accept the end of the garden hose so required some form of adapter -- the bung opening on the sidewall of my 1964 Overlander being a primary example -- it requires a slender, flexible hose of at least 8-inches for the most efficient fill, and even that will be somewhat slow going for its close to 36 gallon potable water tank. My 1978 Minuet had its original drawer type fixture for its first few years in my possession, and it was much the same as my Overlander. When that failed, my Airstream dealer suggested a more modern ABS fill fixture, and it too requires the flexible hose for ease of filling, but the tank being only about 24 gallons means that the time factor is less than on the Overlander.

I am aware of a number of members who have modified their trailer's water systems such that they can turn a valve inside of their trailer and fill their potable water tank while connected to city water. That is a bit easier to do if your tank is mounted on top of the floor where it is possible to monitor it as it fills. Where the tank is under the floor, it requires relying upon the tank monitor to relay the amount of water being added to the tank so it means one must have a high degree of trust in the monitor panel.

Kevin

[kb0zke]

Thanks, everyone! Lots to learn. Since we're looking at a 2021 Flying Cloud 30 RBQ, maybe someone with one of those can chime in on this discussion.


Another question: Does this trailer have an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, or is the overflow only out the fill port? On the two trailers and one motorhome we've owned, there is an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, so that air escapes there as water fills the tank. When the tank is completely full, water comes out of that pipe. Is that the same on this Airstream?

[BikeCamper]

Hopefully you’ll hear from someone with a 30’.

On our 19’ Flying Cloud, the fresh water tank has an additional air vent to help with filling. But there is no separate overflow per se. If we overfill, it backs up and comes out the fill tube.

[Trekers]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Hopefully you’ll hear from someone with a 30’.

On our 19’ Flying Cloud, the fresh water tank has an additional air vent to help with filling. But there is no separate overflow per se. If we overfill, it backs up and comes out the fill tube.

Our 2022 30-foot Flying Cloud has the exact same setup. -Ari

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by kb0zke

Thanks, everyone! Lots to learn. Since we're looking at a 2021 Flying Cloud 30 RBQ, maybe someone with one of those can chime in on this discussion.


Another question: Does this trailer have an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, or is the overflow only out the fill port? On the two trailers and one motorhome we've owned, there is an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, so that air escapes there as water fills the tank. When the tank is completely full, water comes out of that pipe. Is that the same on this Airstream?

Hi

There is a fill point that your water goes into. Since the tank will *not* take full city water pressure, there is no thread.

There is a vent right at the intake. That vent is fed by a pretty small tube. It will allow pressure to equalize as long as you do not go to crazy.

The overflow on any / all tanks (if it exists) is out the roof of the trailer. In the case of the fresh water tank, that would be a bit of pressure. They depend on the back flow past the inlet to overflow the fill.

Since air can build up in the tank as you fill it, there can be an "eruption" if you fill to fast.

Bob

[Mikebrady62]

Originally Posted by BGClassic

This is what I use to fill the fresh tank:

My drinking hose doesn't stay in the filling port very well. This little extension makes a big difference for us.

[Tim A.]

There is a recent thread that might help you understand how the water fill for an Airstream works: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ks-255929.html.

Your experience with filling an RV's tank while firmly connected with a hose can be arranged for an Airstream and in that same thread are a couple of contributions including this one from me: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ml#post2761827.

Tim

[Outdoors4me]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

On our 19’ trailer, the fill inlet for the fresh water tank is not wide enough to insert a typical garden hose.

I just wanted to make sure you're not filling your tank with an ordinary garden hose which has unsafe chemicals. It should be a white one for drinking water.

But you probably already know this.

Our potable water hose fits in the opening of the fresh tank. I don't have to hold it there.

[BikeCamper]

[QUOTE=Outdoors4me;2762572]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

On our 19’ trailer, the fill inlet for the fresh water tank is not wide enough to insert a typical garden hose.

I just wanted to make sure you're not filling your tank with an ordinary garden hose which has unsafe chemicals. It should be a white one for drinking water.

But you probably already know this.

Our potable water hose fits in the opening of the fresh tank. I don't have to hold it there.

Yes, I am using a potable water hose. But the fittings on each end are identical size to an ordinary garden hose. These fittings don’t fit into our tank fill inlet. I wouldn’t stick them in even if they did, to avoid contaminating the fresh water system.

[Life is a Highway]

PM me if you have questions or your sale goes South.

Originally Posted by kb0zke

Thanks, everyone! Lots to learn. Since we're looking at a 2021 Flying Cloud 30 RBQ, maybe someone with one of those can chime in on this discussion.


Another question: Does this trailer have an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, or is the overflow only out the fill port? On the two trailers and one motorhome we've owned, there is an overflow pipe on the fresh water tank, so that air escapes there as water fills the tank. When the tank is completely full, water comes out of that pipe. Is that the same on this Airstream?

[BTCMUSN]

Found this on ETSY from a vendor with 3D printer. Works very well and can just leave it connected if you want. No spill at full pressure on fill.