Fresh Water Tank size

[rosede]

I have a 2013 272RKS Outback. We picked it up last fall, and just used it for the third time last weekend. Over all, I am very happy with the camper. We upgraded from a 18'.

According to the specs, the fresh water tank is 43 gallons, but I don't think that it really is 43 gallons. When I fill it up, it seems to fill up rather quickly. However, we seem to run out of water very quickly, either that, or the sensors are wrong. I have extra water containers that I use to add water, but then we end up filling up the gray water tanks to quickly.

We went out last Friday. I filled up the fresh water tank when we arrived at the campground. There was minimum water usage during the day, and a single shower that evening. When we shower, its not like at home when we just leave it run. Its like when I was aboard ship when I was in the Marines. Get yourself wet, soap up, rinse off, turning off the water in between. When I checked the gauge, we were down 2/3rds.

I have 3 6 gallon water containers. During the outing I must have added an additional 72 gallons of water.

Has anyone else had issues with their fresh water tank being to small? How is the best way to measure how much it can really hold? How do others manage their water usage and consumption? Perhaps we're just not managing our water usage properly?

Thanks.

Daryl

[f6bits]

Sensors aren't always accurate.

You could fill it up and then drain it into buckets. The drain should be a white tube hanging from the bottom of your trailer very near the fill hole.

You can also find out where the tank actually is. Mine is under the bed. My bed hinges up and half of the underbed is the tank. I removed the top panel and read the specs from the tank itself.

When you fill, fill it until it overflows out the fill neck.

[therink]

One thought alsois that youu could be losing a considerable amount of water out the vent during travel from tank flexing and sloshing.

[SGardiner]

Most of the campgrounds we stay at will have a comfort station (washrooms/showers). We shower there and only use the washroom in the trailer at night. With a family of four we are good for about 5 nights.

[MarkS]

Originally Posted by rosede

Has anyone else had issues with their fresh water tank being to small? How is the best way to measure how much it can really hold? How do others manage their water usage and consumption? Perhaps we're just not managing our water usage properly?

It is surprising how fast you can empty the fresh water tank.

Some tips, don't let the water run while you are brushing your teeth. Wipe dishes with a paper towel before you wash. Fill the sinks with water to wash / rinse dishes, rather than running the water to rinse.

The big water user is the shower. Don't shower daily. Wash in the sink in between. A leisurely shower is 10 gallons or more.

Wet down. Turn water off. Soap. Water on, and rinse. RV shower heads have an on/off valve in the shower head to make this easier.



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[KenBob]

We drained the FW tank, then timed how long it took to fill a 5 gallon bucket. Then timed how long it took to refill the FW tank. How fast the water flow is, can affect the venting system for the tank and the tank may not be full. If you try this method and your calculations are close to tank size, then check how the water is used. JMHO

[diugo]

Soon after I got my Cougar, I measured all the tank sizes. That's when I learned my supposed 38-gallon black tank really only held 28 gallons, grumble grumble.

You can easily measure the size of your full fresh tank by first measuring the exact capacity of your toilet bowl. Then just count the number of times it takes to fill and dump the bowl, draining the black tank each time it fills. If you started with an empty black tank, this technique can also tell you its size.

The biggest way to save fresh water is to take "navy showers" as MarkS suggested, using shower water very sparingly. You'd be surprised how many times you can soap up and rinse on less than a single gallon of warm water.

[08quadram]

Are you sure you it was full? I ask because my vent hose was too long and would cause water shoot out the fill. Shortened it and now i can fill easy.

[rosede]

Thank you for all of the replies.

Originally Posted by 08quadram

Are you sure you it was full? I ask because my vent hose was too long and would cause water shoot out the fill. Shortened it and now i can fill easy.

I think this might be my issue, because when I filled up, water was pouring out the vent hole, so I guess I thought the tank was full. How can a person shorten the vent hose? I just don't want to go hacking and end up making it to short and causing myself additional issues.

Thanks.

Daryl

[08quadram]

If you prop up or remove the mattress(needed to remove 2 screws), there is a little "shelf" on the drivers side in front of the side cabinet. 4 screws on top. Remove those. the water pump is underneath that cover. Yo will see the vent hose. Mine was wrapped around the fill tube and zip tied up. had a low loop in it. I took off about 3" and now I have no problem filling up at max hose pressure.

[rosede]

Originally Posted by 08quadram

If you prop up or remove the mattress(needed to remove 2 screws), there is a little "shelf" on the drivers side in front of the side cabinet. 4 screws on top. Remove those. the water pump is underneath that cover. Yo will see the vent hose. Mine was wrapped around the fill tube and zip tied up. had a low loop in it. I took off about 3" and now I have no problem filling up at max hose pressure.

Thanks Mike, I'll take a look and report back.

[rosede]

I looked at the vent hose over the weekend and it didn't appear to be to long. I tugged on it a little, and it was firm, so I don't think it needs to be shortened at all.

We're going to go back out in another week. I'll make sure that the tank is full this time.

Thanks for the feed back.

Daryl

[crohill]

Isn't there a small quick clip adapter to buy as well...I heard it makes winterizing much easier.

[robo]

Stated fresh water on spec sheet also includes the hot water tank i tought if so that could be 6-10 gals there

[LuvsPalmTrees]

We found out that our Laredo fills up and then spills out, kinda burps, and then you can fit more water in it. We don't fill up until we get to the campground usually. We also use the facilities at the campground for showering so the water can last us about 7 days.

[Yak]

One note, fresh water capacity includes the water heater. On my Passport it's 36 gal, 30 in the fw tank and 6 in the heater.

[kguess]

I use the navy shower also ( even t home). Turn water off while brushing, rinse dishes Quick. But it still goes fast.......