Fresh water tank drain

[jb44588]

I have the 2020 Passport 3100QB with a 43 gallon fresh water tank and it takes forever to drain it. What are people doing to drain the tank?
Thanks

[flybouy]

Other than being patient you could turn on the rw pump and run the outside shower and or fill a 5 gal bucket from the inside shower several times. If you don't want to fill your gray tanks. If your going to a dump station then fill the holding tanks via the toilet, sinks, etc.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jb44588

I have the 2020 Passport 3100QB with a 43 gallon fresh water tank and it takes forever to drain it. What are people doing to drain the tank?
Thanks

Per the red question......I go do something else for a few hours if I've put water in it, which is very seldom. Not being a smart aleck it's just so dang slow. I've seen some (can't remember) that had a 1 1/2" drain pipe out of them with a valve which would be nice, but those little 1/2"?? drains are a pain.

[travelin texans]

How often do you need to drain the full 43 gallons?
Maybe next trip only fill it 1/2 full!
Not trying to be a smart a##, but what's the hurry?
Open it & walk away, you'll never completely empty it unless you tilt the RV towards the drain.

[JRTJH]

Fresh water tank drains come in all sizes from 1/2" petcock style to 2" "dump valve" style. The all have plusses and minuses.

If you've ever been on a dirt/gravel campsite/parking site and pulled the handle on a 2" FW drain, you know the "rut/mudhole and erosion" that can occur. In that situation, having a 1/2" drain is a "blessing, not a curse"...

On the other hand, having a 1/2" drain when you're in a hurry can be a curse, not a blessing....

I've learned, many years ago, to compensate for the limitations of my trailer. So, if my "task for now" is to drain the FW tank, I plan my time so after I open the valve, I go do something else rather than "stand there watching a tiny stream of water for an hour"....

To me, it's a "small inconvenience that I've learned to use without difficulty".. Sort of like using the time waiting for my oil to be changed in the truck. I could "pace the waiting room, doing nothing" or "use the time to catch up on something I can do during that 15 minutes that I'm waiting"....

As for "modifying the tank drain, the "tank limitations" are the major factor. If there is a 1/2" threaded drain fitting in the bottom of the tank, you can't add a bigger valve to speed the flow without a major tank modification.

[Logan X]

Whenever I have to drain the full tank (and mine is 60 gallons), like when I’m sanitizing the fresh water system, I just plan ahead and find something else to do for a couple of hours. Or I let it drain overnight.

[jb44588]

That's what I was thinking if you could put in a bigger drain valve

[crk112]

Mine is the 2" dump valve style so only takes about 5 minutes to fully drain.. I didn't even realize other styles existed!

The only time I've ever dumped freshwater is at home on the driveway. It's concrete and slightly sloped to the street, so it drains right away and doesn't swamp my yard or anything.



The times that I tanker in freshwater to a campsite I use it to fill the black tank before dumping at the end of the stay. I don't usually tanker FW back out unless I need it for some reason (such as if the next site is also without water hookups). I've never drained FW at a campsite or a dump station.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jb44588

That's what I was thinking if you could put in a bigger drain valve

Nearly all of the FW tanks that I've seen have a specific size molded in, threaded drain fitting. I don't know of any way to "cut out the old 1/2" fitting and install a 2" fitting without risking destroying the tank. You can't "add larger fittings by using adapters to make the 1/2" hole any larger.

Essentially, what you've got is what you're going to have to use. The alternative could run hundreds of bucks if you change out your tank yourself up to thousands of bucks if you drag it to a dealership and tell them to install a fresh water tank with a bigger drain hole.....

Is it worth it??? Only you can decide that.

[jb44588]

Thanks everyone for the reply's. The good new's is Ohio campgrounds open on 5/22.

[NH_Bulldog]

Not to split hairs, but it isn’t a 43 gallon tank. The fresh water capacity is 43 gallons which includes the 6 gallon water heater and all the water in the lines, so you are actually about 35 gallons for the tank. As for the tank drain, it is VERY slow. They filled mine for the PDI and when we stopped for gas 250 miles later it was still draining. It isn’t about lack of make-up air, there is a vent. It is just a small pipe that has a 1/4 turn valve that makes it even smaller. As others have said, you can turn on the pump and open all the faucets to speed it up but that’s about it.