Fleetwood Water Level Monitor

[beacher]

How is life with the water level monitor?  I have heard about 2003 GTE models with a Water Level Monitor.  I have never seen one.  My 2004 GTE Niagara dosn't have one.

[Turn Key]

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing but I assume your refering to a panel inside the rig that indicates the amount of water in the tank.  If it's the same as on TT's and 5'ers, sensors are used to send an electronic signal to the panel that in turn lights up LED's that tell you the amout of liquid in the tank.  Sounds like a great idea but have found that it's not very accurate.  Don't use the fresh water tank on our 5'er as we always camp with hookup.  "Black" and "Gray" water tanks use the same sensors and I have found them to be far from accurate.  On both, I'll get a "full" indication at about half full.  Have talked to others and all indicate that they find this to be about normal.

It's my understanding that there our some companies producing units that are suppose to do a far better job of giving accurate readings on all tanks (black, gray, fresh and even LP).  Have looked at them but feel that the cost and effort to install one of these just isn't justfied for us.  Not sure I could justify the cost on a PU.
 
Hope this helps.  Good luck and Happy Camping!

[beacher]

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing ...

Yes, that is what I was talking about.  I'm not sure if it was an option, or standard equipment on pre-2004 Fleetwood PUs.

I have not heard anyone complain about them on PU message boards, so it either works perfectly, or it was an option that nobody has.

[GeneF]

I think I have to agree with TurnKey on the monitors.

I have read a few threads on this topic on other boards and the monitors do not seem to be that accurate.

I didn't trust the ones I have on the Kiwi, especially the black water one.
Which is the one I am more concerned with than the other two.

I think the RV industry has to do some work on improving them.

[tlhdoc]

I think paper and stuff build up on the ones in the black water tank so that they are not accurate.  I know even my cassette potty gage doesn't work well.  Tim5055 installed a gage in his old PU's freshwater tank.

[beacher]

....Tim5055 installed a gage in his old PU's freshwater tank.

That one is probably closest to what I was talking about.  A FRESH WATER tank water level monitor.  However, the one I'm curious about is an actual Fleetwood part for PUPs.  It appears as an option for GTE PUPs up until 2003.  It is Fleetwood Part Number: 4756-9041 (Water Level Monitor).

[tlhdoc]

It was called a "Fresh Water and Battery Charge Indicator".  It was standard on the 2003 1/2 back through 2001 (I don't know if it was available in 2000) on the Grand Tour Elite only.  It was not available on the other lines of Fleetwood/Coleman PU trailers.

[brainpause]

Sounds like a great idea but have found that it's not very accurate.  Don't use the fresh water tank on our 5'er as we always camp with hookup.  "Black" and "Gray" water tanks use the same sensors and I have found them to be far from accurate.  On both, I'll get a "full" indication at about half full.  Have talked to others and all indicate that they find this to be about normal.

I frequent the fifth wheel boards too, because that is what we eventually want. There was an interesting article on one of them, that suggested using some bleach or soap or something, and it kept them pretty accurate...I'll go see if I can find it.

Larry

[brainpause]

Here's the article from rv.net, called the GEO method (after the author's handle on rv.net, I suppose):

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/13148780

Interesting read (at least I thought it was), even though I never use tanks!

Larry