Hello all!
We just brought home a new Coleman Carmel Saturday and need some guidance on filling the water tank & water heater... we moved up from a 2001 Taos that just had a little 5 gallon portable tank with no pump or heater. Anyway to make a long story short, we " dry-camped" in the driveway tonight. I filled up the water tank (10 gallons) to the top. Went inside, turned on the water pump switch, and it filled up the water heater. Now the water tank had 6 gallons less water in it after the heater was filled. If we were really dry camping, we would be popped up at the site and unable to go to the water spigot down the road. What does everyone do?? Do you fill up jugs and and go back & forth to re-fill the main tank??
Now my second question is how to drain the tank & heater... I shut off the pump and opened the hot & cold faucets. I then went under the PU and opened the 2 little petcocks... both hot and cold water came out, and it seemed that having the faucets open inside let the whole thing vent. Did I do this right?? I was also thinking to leave the little petcocks open. Should they be closed or open during transport / storage??
Any help and / or advice would be greatly appreciated!
copcarguyTo be honest I seldom drain the HWH, I just leave it full. I see no real reason to drain it as we are usually camping a couple times a month in the summer.
I removed the drain plug from water tank and replaced it with a ball valve. At the end of a camping trip I just reach under and drain the tank.
Are you sure you have a 10 gallon tank? I thought all Colemans with hot water had 20 (plus the HWH = 26)
This is our normal routine for campgrounds that have water (but not at each site):
When arriving, stop at the fiorst water source and fill the tank before we even get to the site.
Set up as usual.
Fill the tank as needed using a blue jug
Drain before leaving
Good luck. I m sure you will work out a system that works for you
copcarguyCopcarguy,
You are on the right track[:D] If I know we are going to be dry camping I will fill the HWH before we leave home. Other wise I will leave it empty. I always drain the tanks before we leave the campground by opening the two valves and turning the sink taps on. I usually leave the drain valves open, but If you forget to close them[&:] The next time you go to fill up and turn the pump on you can lose a lot of water quick[:@] Then you have to tote more.[8D]
Aaron[:)]
copcarguyRick now you are finding out about all the little extra to do items when you have hot water. I drain my fresh water tank and the water heater every time we camp. Like Tim I put a valve (1/2 male thread if it is like mine) on the fresh water tank to make draining it easier. I also open both of the drain valves on the water heater to drain it. I used to wait until all of the water is out before I left the campground, now I leave and close the valves (all 3 of them) a short distance down the road. I close them so I don t get any bugs or dirt in the tank. I used to open the faucet at the sink when draining the water heater but I stopped doing this and will explain why. I fill the freshwater tank at the water faucet and then I fill my water heater (you should have paid attention at NS Lake 2 weeks ago [;)]). To fill the water heater hook the hose to the city water connection and then open your outside shower. Turn on the hot water faucet and then turn the hose on. The water will fill the water heater and you will not loose the 6 gallons of water out of your fresh water tank. Make sure you have your inside faucet closed before you hook up the hose to the city water connection, or you will flood the inside of the trailer. I know.[8D]
copcarguyThanks everyone!!
Tracy - I KNEW there had to be a trick! The reason I didn t pay attention at North-South Lake was because I didn t know I was going to buy Stephie a new PU at that time. She really surprised me with this whole Carmel thing. [:)][:)] Boy what a difference from the Taos. We did get really sad leaving him at the dealer. Lots of memories in that little guy... [:(][:(]
copcarguyI m just curious, but why drain the water when you leave the campground. I usually top them off before leaving so I don t have to mess with it again.
TheWallRocks
QuoteORIGINAL: TheWallRocks
I m just curious, but why drain the water when you leave the campground. I usually top them off before leaving so I don t have to mess with it again.
Two reasons that are commonly reported:
[ul]
- If your Bayside has the hot water option you will be towing an additioal 200+ pounds (26 gallons at roughly 8 pounds each)
- If the tank is not completly full, in an emergency manuever, the water can begin moving side to side in the tank and induce a sway condition
[/ul]
tim5055
QuoteORIGINAL: tim5055
QuoteORIGINAL: TheWallRocks
I m just curious, but why drain the water when you leave the campground. I usually top them off before leaving so I don t have to mess with it again.
Two reasons that are commonly reported:
[ul]
- If your Bayside has the hot water option you will be towing an additioal 200+ pounds (26 gallons at roughly 8 pounds each)
- If the tank is not completly full, in an emergency manuever, the water can begin moving side to side in the tank and induce a sway condition
[/ul]
That is why[:)]