Replaced Water Pump in 2020 Sundance 262RB

jbeletti

Well-known member
Back in February, on our move from CO to TX, we noticed the water pump was no longer working (no pumping, no pump motor running).

I had Heartland send me a replacement pump a few months back and today, one day before we head out to the OK rally, I replaced the pump.

Generally speaking, RV water pumps are pretty straight forward and any DIYer and most novices can handle it. Today, I longed for my 14 year-old skinny self.

The water pump location in the 262RB is not only buried but is nearly inaccessible and certainly plumbed and wired before the base cabinet was set in place. I suspect that a good many travel trailers are similar with the water pump under the kitchen counter somewhere - likely buried good.

So my only access was through the lower cabinet face frame drawer openings, with drawers removed. Access was further facilitated by removing the horizontal stile between the bottom and middle drawers. Honestly, removing this stile is the biggest takeaway from this post to anyone else needing to do this.

In most cases, these stiles are put in place with #2 square drive screws into pocket holes. I was even able to fit an electric driver in the space to remove the screws and then the stile.

Now with my access hole as big as it was going to get, I got my tools, my head my shoulders and both arms in there. But it was VERY hard to reach anything and all the work back in the area of the pump was done one-handed and mostly by feel. 90 minutes later, and this 10 minute job was done!

While there is some space to relocate the pump just a little bit to make it more accessible, it would have required reworking some of the PEX piping and I just wasn't up for it today. Too many other things were on my to-do list before we roll in the morning.

Cabinet Opening - Stile In Place.jpg Cabinet Opening - Stile Removed.jpg Old Pump - In Place - 0.jpg Old Pump - In Place - 1.jpg Replacement Pump - Installed.jpg
 

tomhank

Member
Priming your camper's water pump is a simple task. You can also benefit from some helpful priming advice.
Use a clean and safe rubber hose for drinking water. For hygiene reasons, it's best to buy a new long hose for this job. Pour one gallon of clean water into the water pump to check there is no air trapped inside. If you've used antifreeze, let the water run for at least ten minutes through all of your faucets and shower. Alternatively, drain your entire water tank to eliminate all antifreeze.
 

danemayer

Well-known member
Priming your camper's water pump is a simple task. You can also benefit from some helpful priming advice.
Use a clean and safe rubber hose for drinking water. For hygiene reasons, it's best to buy a new long hose for this job. Pour one gallon of clean water into the water pump to check there is no air trapped inside. If you've used antifreeze, let the water run for at least ten minutes through all of your faucets and shower. Alternatively, drain your entire water tank to eliminate all antifreeze.
I believe most RV water pumps do a pretty good job at self priming.
 
Does anyone know where they moved the pump to for 2021 model year? It sounds like it is behind the furnace, under the stove. It seems impossible to get to without tearing the kitchen counter apart.
 

david-steph2018

Well-known member
Does anyone know where they moved the pump to for 2021 model year? It sounds like it is behind the furnace, under the stove. It seems impossible to get to without tearing the kitchen counter apart.
What model to you have? I would start looking behind the basement walls, near the water inlet connections. On our Road Warrior, it is within about 2 feet of the inlet Anderson Valve.
 
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