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09-21-2020, 06:48 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern
Posts: 77
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Real world Water Capacity
Hey Team,
I have a 2020 239ML and I really love it. I do mostly off grid camping at state parks around my area so I am always looking for ways to extend that capability. I recently purchased a water flow meter because I felt like I was sometimes unable to get a full tank of water loaded. After getting the flow meter it was confirmed.
My water capacity is listed at 43 gal. The two times I have measured the water in I was only able to get 36 and then 33! Water starts pouring out the inlet port. My question is, do you guys think my tank is smaller than advertised? Or am I unable to drain all the water out? If its the later, I cant believe that I sometimes have 5-10 gal of water that I cant drain. That seems like a problem waiting to happen.
Thansk
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09-21-2020, 06:51 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
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Quote:
Originally Posted by levic900rr
Hey Team,
I have a 2020 239ML and I really love it. I do mostly off grid camping at state parks around my area so I am always looking for ways to extend that capability. I recently purchased a water flow meter because I felt like I was sometimes unable to get a full tank of water loaded. After getting the flow meter it was confirmed.
My water capacity is listed at 43 gal. The two times I have measured the water in I was only able to get 36 and then 33! Water starts pouring out the inlet port. My question is, do you guys think my tank is smaller than advertised? Or am I unable to drain all the water out? If its the later, I cant believe that I sometimes have 5-10 gal of water that I cant drain. That seems like a problem waiting to happen.
Thansk
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43-6 (water heater) =37
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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09-21-2020, 06:51 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hemlock
Posts: 816
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When they publish the fresh water capacity it includes the water heater, usually 6 gallons, and the water lines.
__________________
R.J. and Ginger
2019 Ram 3500 6.7 HO, Aisin Trans 3:73
Reese Goosebox
2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK
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09-21-2020, 06:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 286
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Your hot water tank typically holds 6-12 gallons, depending on the model.
__________________
2018 Springdale Summerland Series 3030BH
2018 Ram 2500 HD 6.4L Hemi Big Horn 4x4
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09-21-2020, 06:54 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern
Posts: 77
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NO WAY!!! I had no idea. Thanks for the info. That is insane.
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09-21-2020, 09:41 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Not to mention you'll likely never totally empty to the fw tank, there may be 2-3, or more, gallons left at any given time.
When I bought my last rv they had the tank full, before I left the lot I opened the drain, for the next month or so every time I turned a corner water ran out of the drain.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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09-22-2020, 05:19 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 687
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Maybe that spec is an industry standard to include the HW tank. It is complete bunk in my opinion because once the FW is so low that the pump no longer pumps, you have 6 gallons in the HW tank that you can’t use. Dead weight.
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
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09-22-2020, 07:01 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skids
Maybe that spec is an industry standard to include the HW tank. It is complete bunk in my opinion because once the FW is so low that the pump no longer pumps, you have 6 gallons in the HW tank that you can’t use. Dead weight.
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I had that same thought... doesn't do me much good in there.
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09-22-2020, 07:04 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
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Quote:
Originally Posted by levic900rr
I had that same thought... doesn't do me much good in there.
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No... it doesn't but it is weight that must be accounted.
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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09-22-2020, 07:41 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by levic900rr
I had that same thought... doesn't do me much good in there.
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So is the black and gray water contents but it does need to factored into the weights being carried.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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09-22-2020, 08:01 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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If that 6 gallons in the wh is that critical to use then you could pull the drain plug & catch it in a bucket then pour it into the fw tank. Or haul a couple 5 gallon jugs of water.
Also if the weight of that 6 gallons is of that much concern a bigger truck may be needed.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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09-22-2020, 10:51 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 67
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When the DW and I go out we go for 5 to 6 days. The grey and black are plenty for those days but the fresh water will run low. As you have stated the State parks do not have water or sewer at the site, so I installed one half of a trolling motor pigtail to the battery and purchased a 12 volt diesel fuel pump and installed the other half of the pigtail on the pump cord. Then I have 2 six gallon blue water jugs that I fill up at the water station and put the pump into the jugs to fill my fresh water tank. This works very well and many campers have copied my method at the park we visit.
__________________
2020 Ford F250 Crewcab 4x4 6.2L
2017 Passport Elite 31RE
DW & Me
<+><
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09-22-2020, 12:01 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 687
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
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Also if the weight of that 6 gallons is of that much concern a bigger truck may be needed.
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Everything is bigger in Texas, right Danny.
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
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09-22-2020, 12:10 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 687
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dblanch57
When the DW and I go out we go for 5 to 6 days. The grey and black are plenty for those days but the fresh water will run low. As you have stated the State parks do not have water or sewer at the site, so I installed one half of a trolling motor pigtail to the battery and purchased a 12 volt diesel fuel pump and installed the other half of the pigtail on the pump cord. Then I have 2 six gallon blue water jugs that I fill up at the water station and put the pump into the jugs to fill my fresh water tank. This works very well and many campers have copied my method at the park we visit.
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I had an extra FloJet pump that use for that purpose and for antifreeze in the city water port and the black flush port. A FloJet pump with a leaky internal check valve will work just fine for this purpose. Save that pump.
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
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09-22-2020, 12:13 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skids
Everything is bigger in Texas, right Danny.
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Yes sir! That's for sure!
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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10-02-2020, 05:07 AM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North Myton Bench
Posts: 42
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After you think the tank is empty, ie; quits pumping water, open the drain valve and see how much is left in the tank.
I had a trailer that came from the factory with the water line in the tank that didn't reach the bottom of the tank.
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10-02-2020, 05:45 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DDuncan51
After you think the tank is empty, ie; quits pumping water, open the drain valve and see how much is left in the tank.
I had a trailer that came from the factory with the water line in the tank that didn't reach the bottom of the tank.
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Good call, I don't typically run it dry but I will run that exercise at home some time to check.
This is one downside of having the enclosed underbelly. On my Clipper I could just look at the tank
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10-05-2020, 06:57 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: St Joseph
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by levic900rr
Hey Team,
I have a 2020 239ML and I really love it. I do mostly off grid camping at state parks around my area so I am always looking for ways to extend that capability. I recently purchased a water flow meter because I felt like I was sometimes unable to get a full tank of water loaded. After getting the flow meter it was confirmed.
My water capacity is listed at 43 gal. The two times I have measured the water in I was only able to get 36 and then 33! Water starts pouring out the inlet port. My question is, do you guys think my tank is smaller than advertised? Or am I unable to drain all the water out? If its the later, I cant believe that I sometimes have 5-10 gal of water that I cant drain. That seems like a problem waiting to happen.
Thansk
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Mine is advertised as a 66 gallon tank and it only holds 40 gallons. Yes they include the water heater, water lines and probably the water in the drain traps. Believe me I was not happy when I found this out and I let Keystone and my dealer know about it too. This is my one and only Keystone product I will buy and it’s 100 percent because of this misrepresentation of their products.
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10-05-2020, 08:19 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North Myton Bench
Posts: 42
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It's almost impossible to determine how much water a tank holds. Most of the fresh water tanks are flat on the bottom. if parked on an angle there will be some water left in the tank. The drain will usually be on one side of the tank, if you park it on an incline with the drain down, you'll get more water to drain.
The only way(s) I can think of to get it all is driving around sloshing it out with the drain open as Travelin' Texans mentioned. Or parking on side incline with the drain on the downhill side, then jacking the trailer up and down while the drain is open. Maybe then...
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10-05-2020, 08:28 AM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DDuncan51
It's almost impossible to determine how much water a tank holds. Most of the fresh water tanks are flat on the bottom. if parked on an angle there will be some water left in the tank. The drain will usually be on one side of the tank, if you park it on an incline with the drain down, you'll get more water to drain.
The only way(s) I can think of to get it all is driving around sloshing it out with the drain open as Travelin' Texans mentioned. Or parking on side incline with the drain on the downhill side, then jacking the trailer up and down while the drain is open. Maybe then...
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To add to DDunkin's advice (which is an honest and factual limitation of how RV water tanks are constructed,
If you do park on an incline to get that last gallon of water, remember to turn your refrigerator off or you'll wind up damaging the cooling section !!!!! Oh, and don't forget to wait between "jacking sessions" to allow the tongue jack/landing gear motors to cool down.
There's NEVER a solution to fix 'everything at once', so take another Pepcid and carry on !!!
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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