Drain valves

RottieMom · 07-08-2014, 10:14 AM

OK, I've been reading all the posts about the plumbing system with great interest... how to fill fresh water tank (with modifications and TM closed), how to drain system, etc. And, I just looked under my TM to locate the drain valves as shown on a diagram (that I think Bill did awhile back), and I only have 3 drain valves, not 4. There is one drain valve in front of the tire and two drain valves behind the tire, which I think are the hot and cold valves for the bathroom. The single valve in in front of the tire also has next to it what looks like an overflow tube behind a mesh screen.

My TM is a 2013 2720SL. So, do you think the single valve in front of the tire is for draining both the fresh water storage tank and the water heater? Or, do you think the water heater drains thru the bathroom hot water drain valve?

I'm really puzzling over why TM doesn't include a schematic of plumbing system in the Owner's Manual.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Padgett · 07-08-2014, 10:57 AM

Microsoft used to say they did not document a lot of things so they could change them as needed.

tentcamper · 07-08-2014, 11:19 AM

No the fresh water holding tank has it own drain valve. The water in the tank is isolated from the pluming withing the camper by the pump which has a one way check valve.

It sounds like in the rear you have what I have.

What I have up front is a cold water line drain valve and a fresh water tank drain valve. I'm wonder if what your looking at that does not have a valve and you think may be an overflow, may be the fresh water tank drain. The valve was either knocked off or the valve is inside the camper at the bottom of the tank and you'er just seeing the drain tube.

I would follow the tube up into the camper and see where it go's. You may need to add a valve to be able to fill you fresh water tank?

RottieMom · 07-08-2014, 12:25 PM

Thx TentCamper, I'm going to take a picture of what I see at the front and see if that looks familiar to anyone. I'm also going to open up TM this weekend and check out all the plumbing stuff before I take it on first trip in a couple of weeks.

Here's the pictures of what I see under my TM. The first two pics are what I see in front of the tire and the third pic is the two valves behind the tire. Does anyone else's TM look like this in front of the tire?

scrubjaysnest · 07-08-2014, 03:11 PM

Your first picture looks like the where the refrig vent fan is supposed to be; and the hose will have to be followed back but is likely the missing drain valve.

**Kidkraz** · 07-08-2014, 03:57 PM

Scrubjaysnest,

You are correct on the first picture, it the drain for the fridge.

Wingedryder · 08-14-2014, 04:30 PM

cmboyd,

I also have a 2013 model TM (27/20 SD) currently back to the dealer for a brake issue - so I can't go out and trace things inside right now. However, there IS only the one lower drain valve in front of the street side wheel on our yr/model of TM. The 2 bathroom drain valves behind the wheel remain the same. I've observed this difference for myself on an older TM vs. mine at a Trailblazer rally last month. Me thinketh that both the holding tank & hot water heater may drain from the same valve as water was warm when I drained upon leaving our last outing(?).

I'd also like to make this fresh water tank fill modification, as to have to raise shells just to take on water before reaching a campsite w/o full hookups seems very antiquated to me. BTW, I believe the other plastic hose ending just above the mesh screen cut-out forward of the single drain valve is an overflow for the regular fresh water fill (& possibly for the frig as well).

I hope we get some clarification from someone here on the Forum with a new TM. The mfr. also saw fit to separate the grey & black water discharge valves for some reason(?).

WingedRyder in Colorado