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Old 12-15-2013, 01:52 PM   #1
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Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

The city water connection is always easier, but what if you want to fill your fresh water tank using the "manual" fill port from inside the van? Stick a funnel in there and spill water all over? Screw that.

http://morebeer.com/products/easy-siphon-38-inch.html

set a bucket or jug up on the counter and let gravity do the work!


(don't mind the towel, that was there just in case...)

This works for filling up the tank with pre-diluted sanitizer too.

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Old 12-15-2013, 03:00 PM   #2
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Been doing that for years. That's how I get the H2O from my jerry can into the house tank. Works great!
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Old 12-15-2013, 03:04 PM   #3
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

I added an external pump.

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...94&hilit=+Pump
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Old 12-16-2013, 08:17 AM   #4
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

My system has a 3-way valve on the inlet of the main pump. This switches the inlet from the bottom of the tank to a long tube. The ball valve above the pump switches the outlet of the pump to the top of the tank (many SMB probably already have this valve to fill the tank from the outside city water inlet). I use this tube both for filling the tank from a bucket and for pumping pink liquid when winterizing. The tube is long enough to have the bucket behind the van or inside the van.



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Old 12-16-2013, 09:22 AM   #5
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Yeah, a 3-way valve on the pump inlet is already on my schematic for when I eventually reconfigure my water system. Llamadave, looks like you have a tempering valve in there too; that's also on my list.

I knew I wouldn't be the only one using a siphon to fill that tank. I actually LOL'd when I read the SMB manual and it showed a cartoon of a beer bong type thing for filling from inside. Maybe if you're dumping in a quart at a time...
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Old 12-16-2013, 10:25 AM   #6
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

I deleted my post after realizing you must be talking about filling where a hose and spigot are not available. Llahma Dave makes my head hurt in a good way.
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Old 12-16-2013, 01:15 PM   #7
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
I added an external pump.
I did something similar but I didn't want to need to remove the jerry cans from the rear bumper holder:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...filler+pump...
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Old 12-16-2013, 01:53 PM   #8
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Quote:
Originally Posted by yvrr
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
I added an external pump.
I did something similar but I didn't want to need to remove the jerry cans from the rear bumper holder:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...filler+pump...
That is really slick! How did I miss that post Jack?
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Old 12-16-2013, 02:05 PM   #9
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
Quote:
Originally Posted by yvrr
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
I added an external pump.
I did something similar but I didn't want to need to remove the jerry cans from the rear bumper holder:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...filler+pump...
That is really slick! How did I miss that post Jack?
That is awesome!!

Of course all his has got me wondering, is there a way to do this by temporarily replumbing the existing pump....
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Old 12-16-2013, 02:19 PM   #10
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Re: Easy way to fill fresh water tank from inside

Quote:
Originally Posted by yvrr
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
I added an external pump.
I did something similar but I didn't want to need to remove the jerry cans from the rear bumper holder:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...filler+pump...
That is a great idea. Too bad there's not another, lower water-tank fitting that you could then use to pump out the water from the tank by reversing the pump. The gravity drain always seemed to take forever on my SMB.


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