water refilling when dry camping

[debbietaylor]

We will be dry camping this summer and would like to stay for longer than 3 days. Our water tank empties the quickest. Does anyone have any ideas about how to refill the water tank using jugs or multi-gallon containers (we would go buy water)? I was imagining that if we could somehow get a short hose that would screw onto the jug and also screw into the fresh water tank. Thoughts? Experience? Thanks!

[Lily&Me]

I carry collapsible, 2 1/2 gallon jugs for extra fresh water, which can then be used for drinking, coffee, etc.

Easier than trying to refill the fresh water tank.

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...IECs4Q8wIIRDAD


Maggie

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

I carry collapsible, 2 1/2 gallon jugs for extra fresh water, which can then be used for drinking, coffee, etc.

Easier than trying to refill the fresh water tank.

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...IECs4Q8wIIRDAD

Maggie

I use the same 5 gallon water carrier (x2), but I do empty them into the fresh water tank. To make it easier I have a short piece of clear tubing that fits over the spout and can fit into the filler neck of the tank. Some people have rigged up a 12 volt pump to transfer the water, but I don't find that necessary.

[Piggy Bank]

We use a five gallon jerry can

Bought on amazon

We chose the specter brand as other brands had reviews saying they leaked. This has worked very well for us. The spout is flexible for pouring into the fresh tank. Also it has a secondary tube on it to equalize the air so it pours quicker

Be mindful that when full it weighs about 40 pounds. But you can fill it less full if that is too much weight for you to manage.

[moosetags]

We have a large funnel with a flexible tube on the end. We have added water to our fresh water tank using bottles of water from the grocery store.

Brian

[thiel]

There are amazingly subtle design choices that go into your choice of water carrier:

-- collapsible things (shown above) store small but generally wear out quick and tend to leak. Also, they are difficult to manage during emptying--the spout needs to be opened while you wrangle a flexible object, the spout is small, and the carrier itself can be tough to hold and tilt. These tend to be cheap, but they fail at a high enough rate that you should plan on occasional replacement.

-- rigid jerry-can type things work well since they are stable to fill when sitting on the ground, and since they are rigid they are easy to pickup, tilt, etc. without spilling. Since they aren't collapsible, they take up room in the tow vehicle. These are generally rugged enough to outlast the owner though, so even if they pricier up front, they might be cheaper in the long run.

When faced with dichotomies like these, I sometimes try to split the difference and see where it goes. In this case, that might mean collecting some free gallon milk jugs and using those. Small enough to carry and empty without spilling, cheap enough to toss or replace when I need to. And I really like milk, so that helps.

[SeaLevel]

5-gallon container by Scepter, that we bought off Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We have 2 that we can bring with us. I put them in the truck to go fill them up, and then pour them into the water tank. As mentioned above, they are heavy when full.

[TG Twinkie]

I carry a 14 gallon tank in the TV. It has a 12 volt pump which plugs into the 7 pin receptacle on the TV.. The hose is long enough to reach the fill port.

[gypsydad]

We followed advice of a friend we met boon docking in Borrego Springs last year...in his 25' AS, and purchased 4 of the 5 gal containers from Amazon, at $20/each. I have heard/seen similar models at Walmart for less. These work well, fit into the AS fill spout, and you can store on their sides with interlocking design while traveling if you have to lay them down..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[dznf0g]

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/s...S_nxoChqrw_wcB

I put it in the bed of the truck and use an old 12 V water pump to transfer to AS tank.

If I need just enough to get by, I use one of the 5 gallon collapsables above.

[featherbedder]

I never hook up to water supply or fill even out 2 wks. 1 reason water tamk only used for sanitary purposes all other water usage by bottled 1gal. jugs and very few camp grounds will I fill jugs. I sanitize tank beginning of summer still will only use for san. purpose. In over 65 yrs. camping never been sick or caught any unsanitary malodies this way. Yes my AS has everpure system and replace filter cart. regularly. I have been in countries that drinking water is a no no never had sickness using bottled products. Except sick a few times as Mike calls them Barley pops. As they say in France, water never wine yes yes.

[BoscoMN]

Last year was our first year RV camping and over the winter we have been working on improvements for season #2. We had been lugging a big blue 5 gallon water jug and gently lifting its 30 lbs onto the top of the propane tanks. Used a potable water safe PVC hose to gravity drain it into fresh water tank. Since we almost exclusively stay at state and national parks in Minnesota the water was excellent.

This season we will have no heavy lifting required and will be ready to take on lower quality water supplies as we travel farther. We got a collapsible dolly and collapsible water jug. Now we have a hose feeding into a Shurflow filter strainer to a spare Shurflo Water Pump to suck the water out of the water jug. It gets pumped into a 3 filter system and then goes into the fresh water tank.

The Shurflo pump is also an "in-hand" spare for the Airstream and we will also be using the 3 filter system when we stay at campsites with water service. Once it gets below freezing here in Minnesota we will be able to test this new approach out.

Shurflo 4048153E75 Electric Water Pump:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

SHURFLO (255-213) 1/2" Twist-On Pipe Strainer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Iron Removal System with Bracket Code: Pbstd2:
https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/Pbstd2.htm

Ironton Folding Hand Truck — 150-Lb.*Capacity Item# 42612:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4015_200624015

If you go a long distance for water maybe a larger capacity "jug" would be useful:

AQUATANK2 Water Storage Bladder (30 Gallon)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...sthrougsolu-20

Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdqa...ature=youtu.be

[jcanavera]

I have 3, 7 gallon plastic jerry cans that I bought from Walmart. They are heavy when full but they have a short nozzle that allows me to pour the water directly into the tank. Cans are pretty low cost.

Depending upon the camp ground there may be a water spigot that is close enough to stretch your water hose to for filling your tank. I carry 2, 25 foot hoses that will work if that spigot is within 50 feet of the trailer. If I'm not sure, I'll carry the empty Jerry cans to fill and use.

[guskmg]

I have a 40 gal. plastic bladder tank that lays on top of the truck cap roof. Fills with pressure from a spigot then empties with gravity in to the fresh water tank. It has a double female hose connection so you can use the water hose in both directions. The only drawback is that you have to drive carefully when the bladder is full or it could roll off the roof. Never had that happen. They fold up nicely into about 12 x12 x 3" box. Camping World use to have them advertised, but I called and they sent me one. Sure is handy if the family uses a lot of water boon docking.
guskmg

[Overloaded]

I have utilized the outside antifreeze port and antifreeze valve and installed a check valve between the two. I use a short hose which I attach to a water bladder or I can drop hose into any vessel. Turn on the in house water pump and it now operates as an external water tank with this setup. Because the outside shower is very close to the fresh water fill port I can remove shower head from shower hose to use same method to actually fill on board fresh water tank, if need be.

[RxGuy]

Has anyone used a Water Bandit? Just curious how well they work.

http://www.camco.net/product/water-bandit-10075/

[RLS]

Originally Posted by RxGuy

Has anyone used a Water Bandit? Just curious how well they work.

http://www.camco.net/product/water-bandit-10075/

Works great if you put a clamp on it. Without the clamp, not so good

[RxGuy]

Originally Posted by RLS

Works great if you put a clamp on it. Without the clamp, not so good

Good to know.

[mandolindave]

MAKE SURE…you get the cans with a HANDLE ON THE SIDE.

My fill is about 3 feet off the ground, and I use a fold up table to rest the cans on, so I don't have to stand there holding them while they empty.

[mandolindave]

My friend uses an old RV water pump, and two 25? gallon tanks to refill his tank.