Add water tank gauge?

[ABBB]

I own a MOAB Fort XL trailer. It’s missing just one pivotal piece of equipment, a water gauge for the 18 gallon tank. For the life of me I cannot with any kind of accuracy estimate how much water we use on a daily basis and I’m either surprised it’s gone as fast as it has or that it’s lasted as long as it did. Anyone have any suggestions for adding a gauge - of any variety - to an already completed trailer? Or any other tips or tricks for measuring with adding some kind of gauge? Open to brainstorming. TIA.

- Andy

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[Peter_n_Margaret]

I am fitting this style to our new build. Lots of depths and variations available.

Fuel Level Sender Tank Level Sending Unit Gauge 240-33 ohms For Car Marine Boat | eBay

Reed switch, steady output signal. Suitable for truck, generators/gen set, bus and marine field. Blue: signal Input Connect the signal of the fuel sender. Sender connection Gauge Connection Economical level sensing solution, long service lifespan.

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Cheers.
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

18 gallons isn't much, how many people normally camp with you?
Do you shower daily?
You can't estimate daily water consumption per person? Hmm..
If each person was allocated to 2 gallons a day,to include cleaning yourself and hydration ought to be in the ballpark.
But to answer your question, a primitive device such as a stick should suffice.
Is the water tank clear for visual observation?
A stick is not very ....sophisticated but it doesn't involve electronics or monitoring device.

 

[J!m]

Get a stainless steel ruler… open top and dip in.

You can calculate volume per inch based on length and width of the tank.

Print and laminate a chart with the volume per inch near the filler.

 

[J!m]

Another option is an inline flow meter. I have some around that attach to a garden hose. Made to calculate large volume chemical mixing etc. they are very cheap. Place in outlet line and you know what you used.

 

[Beardy]

At the tank outlet fit a tee piece and add clear hose tubing up the side of the tank to sight the water capacity

 

[ABBB]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Before I get into dismantling and installing and power sources I’m going to try the simplest product (aside from a stick) I could find.

Looks like these can be calibrated for vertical and horizontal tanks and you manually set at empty and full. I doubt it can stay on full time in a pressurized system (bonus if so), but even if not it’s no big to throw it on once or twice a day to get a roundabout read on water level. I’ll update once I’ve given it a proper go or if I try something else. Cheers and happy travels.

- Andy


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[J!m]

Doe the mechanism tolerate the float sloshing around all the time? I think that is made for a static tank, but I could be wrong (and why I mention it).

Looks interesting if it doesn't care about sloshing.

 

[ABBB]

Doe the mechanism tolerate the float sloshing around all the time? I think that is made for a static tank, but I could be wrong (and why I mention it).

Looks interesting if it doesn't care about sloshing.

It probably would indicate sloshing if I tried to read the gauge while in motion, but I’ll only need readings when in camp or static so it should do the trick. If indeed it’s accurate enough…


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[J!m]

I wasn’t thinking that- just how durable/tolerant it is to the sloshing was my question/concern.

Sometimes these things break when “worked” constantly.

 

[ABBB]

I wasn’t thinking that- just how durable/tolerant it is to the sloshing was my question/concern.

Sometimes these things break when “worked” constantly.

If it were cheaper I’d get two and put one to the test to see how it handles being the plug in a pressurized system and how it holds up to sloshing. But I’m just going to drop it in at camp when we’re parked. Maybe I’ll still see how it holds up to pressurization. Reviews aren’t bad for use in rain barrels and other drums. You calibrate them to your specific container at empty and full. Seems a pretty straightforward device for static use cases.


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[J!m]

I think it’s great!

My tank is not pressurized but it’s not baffled either. I think it works out to 11 gallons in mine.

 

[Trail Talk]

I've been looking into the Mopeka Pro wireless units. Has anyone tried them? They have both water and propane gauges using sonar but must be mounted on the bottom of your tank. They are also compatible with Victron Connect app.

 

[Alloy]

I use one of these to fill the tanks but it would also show how much water you've used.

 

[Alloy]

I've been looking into the Mopeka Pro wireless units. Has anyone tried them? They have both water and propane gauges using sonar but must be mounted on the bottom of your tank. They are also compatible with Victron Connect app.

Metal tanks only??