Rapido Fresh Water Tank

Hello All, This is my first post, so go easy if I mess it up a bit. I have a 2008 Rapido 997M on a Mercedes chassis, and I love it. I don't have it that long, but noticed that when I fill the fresh water tank, it does not flow over when full as my last MH did (it was a EuraMobil), but runs out underneath. When I checked the tank, its just over half full at this stage. There does seem to be a small pipe coming down through the floor, and as far as I can see, that's where the water is coming from. I can't see any pipe from the tank at that level inside, nor does there seem to be a crack, or split or wet inside.
Can anyone advise if this is normal, or should the tank not fill until full??

Best wishes and thanks for a very helpful site...

Check that the Bung is fitted properly in bottom of the tank, use the access screw on cover on top, also check is the auto frost dump valve, the auto dump valve opens automatically I'd the temperature drops below 4 or 5c or if the battery is disconnected,

Let us know how you get on

I have a different model Rapido to you. Mine is fitted with two drain valves on the fresh water tank,one empties the tank completely while the other reduces the tank contents to 50 litres which is supposed to be used when driving. Both valves are close together and are piped through the floor. The valves are located in the double floor and are accessed by lifting a small hatch in the floor. One valve is coloured red, the other blue and are operated by lifting the lever on top of the valve. The hatch on mine is immediately in front of the dinette seat.

On other model Rapidos the valves are located in the cupboard below the sink.

Allo Allo

Hello again,

Had a look for the valves on the Rapido yesterday, and 'Kabundi' was right in that there is drain valves under the kitchen cupboard in the floor. One of these drains the complete fresh water tank completely, by lifting the lever up. The other valve there is blue, and turns, to drain the water from the heater/boiler unit, this is automatic when the temperature falls below a set level. None of these seem to have any effect on the water level except to drain the systems completely. I can't see any overflow pipe at the level in the tank where the water starts to flow out underneath. I have searched through the handbook, and there is nothing in the way of an explanation.

Thanks once again...

I have a 2008 990M probably same set up, there are 2 drain pipes under the water tank, these are the only places that water should be coming from. On the auto drain valve there is a reset button on the side facing you, if it's not reset water will continue to leak from the drain pipe.

Why don't you phone Rapido and talk to them and they would solve it for you? I'm sure the have a customer service like Adria?

Hi Smiddytheman,
From what you say there must be a tap somewhere along that pipe sticking through the floor from which the water is flowing.
If I were in your shoes I would trace that pipe back to its beginning.

If what you are saying there should be four pipes coming through the floor.

1. The auto drain from the boiler, this operates in frosty weather to protect the boiler and connected to the hot water pipe from the boiler.
2. The total system drain off, this is connected to the draw off pipe at the bottom of the tank.
3. The overflow when the tank reaches full when filling, this exits from the top of the tank.
4. The one you describe which appears to be an overflow to limit the water load to a half a tank.

No.4 should have a tap to close it off when you want the tank to fill to full.

If you don't have No.3 and there is no tap on No.4 it looks like your 'van is only designed to carry a half load of water to protect its payload for other 'stuff'.

The 997M has a ridiculously low payload so perhaps the last point could be the answer.

Thanks to all for your helpful reply's.

Getting packed up for a few days away before the weather remembers what time of year it is and starts bucketing down.

I'll have another investigation when I get home, and in the mean time, make a few phone calls as recommended. Did ask in Thompson's, but they were unable to throw any light on the situation.

Won't be far away from fresh water supplies, so all should be OK for this trip.

Best regards to all...