Fresh water tank drain issue. 2004 Journey 36G

[bigtoy-WO]

I have a 2004 Journey 36G. When I pull the t handle out to drain the fresh water tank, nothing happens. I don't see the drain tube anywhere. I have been removing the rubber cap close to the bottom of the tank. I'm not sure if this method drains the tank completely? I've tried to follow the cable to the drain valve but...

 

[Eagle5]

Page 7-8 of your Owner's Manual says you must also:

• Turn the water diverter valve to WATER TANK FILL position.

 

[bigtoy-WO]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I was hoping for something stupid, but that is not what it is. Something is wrong where the cable attaches to the valve, and I don't know where the valve or drain are.

 

[Eagle5]

I will send a note to Richard to see if he can help. He is really good at pulling-up the schematics.

 

[Morich]

UGH! Bad one as we get far less precise info on the RV before 2010!

All we get are drawings that kind of show some of the details and we get good info on parts to order but little on WHERE that part hides on the RV!
But I will shoot you the info I can see and possibly that can lead you closer to help?
I see the tank and see what must be the drain. But missing where the control and rod are, so missing the big thing of exactly where that line runs and where it stops at the valve?
Parts catalog here:

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Files/Winnebago/Service/wincd/2004/4wkp36g.pdf

Way down to page 298 in the water section, I see a drain valve and think that is where you likely need to go. This is a common type valve that acts much like the larger black waste valves. Handle pulls a cable which moves the sliding part of the valve to open. Difference seems to be the size is 1 1/2 inch instead of l3-4 inch!
Item 10 here shows a valve of what looks right as 1 1/2 inch is too small for much other than fresh tank drain?

Then we get the info that the control line is 48 inch long?

I see where I feel the drain on the fresh tank must be but nothing actually shows the valve there!

If we then switch to the plumbing drawings, I see what HAS to be a drain?

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Files/Winnebago/Resources/Diagram/2004/04_p36g_plumb.pdf

Page 8?

Not finding other than at 48 inches can you get from handle to near this drain line and we assume the valve is near there?
do not find any better ideas but I would expect the drain to go pretty well straight down from the valve. Any chance of putting fresh water in and see if it comes out of a stub of pipe underneath near this point?


Or is the valve closed and that is the big problem?

 

[KEDWARD]

The drain valve is located` directly behind the square plate that the drain is poking through in post #5 that Richard has posted.. remove the 10 screws and the plate and you will find the valve and the cable that attaches to the valve there…. And yes, it is an inch and a half valve.
hope this helps you out..

 

[bigtoy-WO]

UGH! Bad one as we get far less precise info on the RV before 2010!

All we get are drawings that kind of show some of the details and we get good info on parts to order but little on WHERE that part hides on the RV!
But I will shoot you the info I can see and possibly that can lead you closer to help?
I see the tank and see what must be the drain. But missing where the control and rod are, so missing the big thing of exactly where that line runs and where it stops at the valve?
Parts catalog here:

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Files/Winnebago/Service/wincd/2004/4wkp36g.pdf

Way down to page 298 in the water section, I see a drain valve and think that is where you likely need to go. This is a common type valve that acts much like the larger black waste valves. Handle pulls a cable which moves the sliding part of the valve to open. Difference seems to be the size is 1 1/2 inch instead of l3-4 inch!
Item 10 here shows a valve of what looks right as 1 1/2 inch is too small for much other than fresh tank drain?
View attachment 1941916
View attachment 1941917
Then we get the info that the control line is 48 inch long?

I see where I feel the drain on the fresh tank must be but nothing actually shows the valve there!
View attachment 1941919
View attachment 1941920
If we then switch to the plumbing drawings, I see what HAS to be a drain?

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Files/Winnebago/Resources/Diagram/2004/04_p36g_plumb.pdf

Page 8?
View attachment 1941922
Not finding other than at 48 inches can you get from handle to near this drain line and we assume the valve is near there?
do not find any better ideas but I would expect the drain to go pretty well straight down from the valve. Any chance of putting fresh water in and see if it comes out of a stub of pipe underneath near this point?


Or is the valve closed and that is the big problem?

Thank you for the reply, I was hoping that's where I would find the mystery valve location!

 

[Morich]

Good luck on the project. It does seem like the whole placement behind a panel is just a lot of work to make life difficult?
I'm a simple thinker and wonder what drives the need for such a large expensive valve and then to hide it where it looks like it is inside the tank?
What drives the need for such a large drain? I often dump the water in the yard and doing it slowly to let it sink in is one of the things I try to do, so an 1 1/2 pipe is not one I find helps.
Are folks in that much rush that we need to open a fire hose?