Gravity filling is when you use containers to fill the fresh water tank of your RVs instead of using external sources or hoses. It is an ideal method when water pressure is low in your area. Depending on the size and water pressure, you can fill the tank within 30 to 40 minutes.
How To Gravity Fill RV Fresh Water Tank? You can gravity fill the RV fresh water tank by parking it on a stable ground surface. Turn off the faucets and valves located inside the RV. Cut the plastic hose to decrease its size and connect it to the funnel. Attach the funnel to the hose section and fill the water via container.
I was traveling with my friend last night, and the fresh water tank was not full. I continued the journey without checking its level. I opened the bathroom faucets, and the water did not come out. I realized that the fresh water tank was empty, so I took help from my friend, and we filled the tank with a gravity filling system.
How do you gravity fill an RV’s fresh water tank?
I always take extra water gallons in my RV, especially during long trips, to cope with emergencies and meet my requirements. Once, my tank ran out of water, and I used the method explained below for gravity filling.
Park your RV on a stable surface
You have to park your RV at a leveled ground surface for gravity filling. It is necessary to park these on stable roads to check water levels in tanks.
You cannot check its level when parking on uneven ground surfaces. In addition, it can also lead to overfilling and leakages.
Moreover, you have to close the faucets and valves inside your RV to stop the water flowing through them. You cannot fill the tank when faucets and valves are open.
I was doing this procedure and heard the water-dripping sound from the interior side. I stepped inside my RV and realized that the bathroom faucet was open, and the sound was coming from there. I moved it counterclockwise to stop the dripping.
Cut water hose
Take a high-quality plastic hose of about 10 to 12 inches. Mark it from the center to divide it into two parts. Use a sharp cutter or knife to cut the plastic hose. You have to use these hoses to redirect the water flow via a funnel.
You have to select the hose according to funnel size. Check the diameter of the hose so you can fix it on the opening side of the funnel.
Connect the hose with the funnel and tighten it by wiggling it with your hand. Tight attachment of hoses with a funnel is necessary to reduce the risk of leakages and ensure supply is directed to the freshwater tank.
These help adjust the funnel position vertically and reduce the chances of dripping.
Position funnel on hose section
Position the funnel on the hose section for refilling purposes. Fill a gallon or tank with water and slowly pour it over the funnel head.
It is necessary to adjust the pressure to avoid leakages and water wasting. You cannot hold the fully-filled gallon because of their heavy weight.
Fill the half gallon and slowly pour it into the funnel. In addition, it is also necessary to check water levels in the tanks to avoid overfilling.
One of my friends also filled his RV tank with gravity filling. He told me that he attached the tap to the container and positioned it on the table to ensure proper contact with the funnel.
He said that he could not hold the heavy-weight containers in his hand. You can put it on the table while checking the level indicators on the tank.
How many gallons of water do you need to gravity fill an RV fresh water tank?
You need 30 to 100 gallons of water to fill the fresh water tank with the gravity filling method. However, number of gallons required for their filling also depends on the size of the tank.
In addition, it also depends on the size of the container that you are using for this method. Several RV tanks have distinct capacities depending on their classes and types.
Class-A RV fresh water tanks can hold 30 to 40 gallons of water. Moreover, several Class-C RVs have requirements of 40 to 60 gallons.
You can use 10 to 20 gallons for the filling process. The number of gallons also depends on your requirements and the holding capacities of tanks.
It is better to add 10 gallons because it can last for 8 to 10 days.
Why do people prefer gravity filling for an RV fresh water tank?
You can fill RV freshwater tanks with various methods, including the use of hoses directly supplied from the campgrounds and city area. Gravity filling differs from all of the above methods to fill these tanks when alternative sources are unavailable.
Dry camping area
Sometimes, you have to stay in a dry camping area that does not contain a direct supply for refilling RV tanks. Many people connect the plumbing system with the campground supply to conserve fresh water tanks.
You can also use the campground supply when water levels become low. However, some campgrounds do not contain direct supply, so you have to follow the gravity-filling method for refilling.
These are also beneficial when you are moving in mountainous and remote areas where other alternative sources are not present.
Conserved water
Many RV owners prefer to keep extra gallons of water in the storage compartment to fulfill their needs during emergencies.
However, these can also increase the overall weight, so it is necessary to check the weight-carrying capacity of the camper and towing vehicle to reduce the risk of damage.
You can use these gallons when your tank runs out of water and alternative sources are not present in your location.
Fill the tanks with the conserved water gallons to restore the supply in the plumbing system.
Failure of the water pump
My friend used the gravity-filling method to refill his RV’s water tank. He told me that he was staying in the campground, where water pump usage was not allowed.
They restricted the use of pumps because of noise production, which can disturb other people. You can use containers or gallons to fill the tank via a funnel.
Things to consider while gravity filling RV fresh water tank
Always check the quality of water that you are using. Avoid using low-quality water because it causes contamination and debris build-up. The mineral build-up also affects the functioning of valves and causes the narrowing of plumbing lines.
You also have to consider the water pressure while pouring it through the funnel. High pressure causes leakage and overfilling of tanks.
RV fresh water tanks contain overflow vents. It is necessary to keep an eye on these vents to decrease overfilling chances because they create puddles in your surroundings.
They also have level indicators to warn you when they are running out of water. You can also use these level indicators to check their correct levels.
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