Water problem - but got it fixed - helpful tip

[DutchmenSport]

For some reason, (I thought) I was starting to have problems with the flip valve for the water inlet, between normal run and "Fill" the fresh water tank.

I never run water from the hose. I use the hose to only fill the fresh water tank and then run the water pump. I then turn the shore water spigot off. I've done this since my first travel trailer (no pressure regulator needed this way, if the pump cycles I know there is a potential leak, I just feel better doing it this way).

So, a few weeks ago, when flipping from the normal position to fill position, the water was not filling good at all. Mine makes this whiney - gurgling sound when the fresh water tank fills, and the sound was not normal. A few days later, there was no sound at all. I could flip the valve back and forth and get it to make the sound for a second and then it would quite.

By now, I'm getting concerned.

So yesterday, I needed to fill the tank again (we are sill in North Carolina by the way). And this time, when flipping to "fill" ... nothing ... nada! No sound. I'm getting a sinking feeling in my stomach now thinking for whatever reason that valve is failing and I'd have to replace it. Oh another job! Not looking forward to this at all.

But, before jumping in making plans, I thought,... maybe I should check the hoses, just ... because. My hoses are older. I've been using them for years and years. I have 2- fifty foot hoses on a reel. And I hook the reel to the shore spiggot. At then end of the hose, I have a hose connector with a shut off valve.

So, I unhooked the hose from the camper, made sure the valve at the end of the hose was in the on position, turned the water back on at the spigot and ... no water!

Now, I am breathing a breath of relief! NOTHING wrong with the camper!

I disconnected all the hoses, checked everything out one hose at a time, and the reel. I found out that one of the hoses had a swelling happen INSIDE the hose, causing a complete restriction of water flow! From the outside of the hose, there was no indication anything was wrong.

Well, I was able to use the second hose and got the water filled up with no issues at all. I like to carry the 100 foot of hose, as we have been camped at many sites were we needed lots of hose to reach a spigot to fill the tanks.

So, I guess, the next time we are out .... it's another stop at Wall Mart for new hoses. Like I said, I've been using these hoses for ... maybe 20 years. I guess its time for a failure.

So, just a word of advise for everyone. If yours all of a sudden stops flowing water .... um ... check the hoses first before throwing yourself into a panic!

Happy camping!