Best way to fill freshwater tanks with garden hose

immanence

I don't have a nautilus manual, should that have come with the trailer, or is there a .pdf?

I have a new 2021 tab 320, and I want to fill the freshwater tanks by attaching it to my garden hose. What is the best way to do this?

immanence

Nevermind, I found the manual here! Any tips would be welcome still.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bandbmolders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Nautilus-p2.5.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiEo935job5AhX1FlkFHS_sCYYQFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1V7_Sc6pZFbphJpqa3lnLb

johnfconway

Don't know where inlet is on Nautilus for filling fresh water tank, but if it is at all similar to 2020 T@B 400, this Camco "water tank filler" works great. I use cell phone stopwatch to get the 2/3 fill we want for a two-night boondock. I got ours in the scrawny RV area at local Ace. Link is to item on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Shutoff-Efficiently-Eliminates-Backflow/dp/B0006IX850/ref=asc_df_B0006IX850/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167145078899&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15143465703079428404&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030627&hvtargid=pla-273132597529&psc=1

Maple_Geek

Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ8NbuxjNj4

screwlose

You say with a garden hose, but where is the water coming from?
Is it connected to a hose outlet or is it in a bucket?
If its a hose outlet then connect it to the City Connection and set the levers to fill.
If its in a bucket use the other connection and you will need the pump.

immanence

Thanks, this was the distinction I was missing. I kept finding videos of folks using the pump to fill from containers, and I started thinking I couldn't just use city water pressure to fill.

That raises another question though: if I'm just filling the tanks, levers set to fill like screwlose says, do I worry water pressure? Should I still attach the pressure regulator and regulate down to 50 psi, or is that unnecessary because it is going straight into tanks (or is it)? 

Thank you all!

Denny16

Yes, whilst not technically needed, you still should use the pressure regulator just to be safe.  The fill settings do not add any significant back pressure like you would have in City Water camping mode, but it pays to be safe.  

Cheers 

manyman297

I used to use the pressure regulator but it took forever to fill the tank. Nothing is under any static pressure so I wouldn’t worry about using house  pressure.

Another thing is I’ve installed a shutoff valve on the water input which does two things:

1. Allows you to slowly open the valve and puts less stress on your pipe fittings.
2. Avoids any overuse of the cheap plastic nautilus inlet. I can see potentially cross threading this over time. 

This is what I use:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-3-4-in-Threaded-Brass-Shut-Off-Coupling-27933/100659291

TravelPod

When I tank fill with a water jug, I can't completely fill the water tank.  I always get to 2/3 and it doesn't seem to want to pump anymore.  Is this normal?

SLJ

I stick a hose with a camco water tank filler from the source into our five gallon jug and fill it, and a cut off hose from the Nautilus into the jug and fill using the pump. Seems to be the fastest way and no worries about water pressure.