Water Usage

[Hans627]

We pick up our AS on 6/5/15 and are planning our first trip. We are thinking of staying in a state park that has electric but no water hookup. How much water is typically used by two people per day being conservative? We have a 39 gallon fresh water tank and wonder how long we can plan to stay.

I know it is asking a lot, but I would think the guess of someone with some experience is better than a guess with someone (me) with no experience!

Thanks!

[NCMEDIC]

We have an 87 gallon FW tank. If the wife is along, that will last three days.

[Minno]

How big are your holding tanks? We have 45 gals of fresh water, and after 3 or 4 days, I'm adding 6 or 12 gals to the tank. We have enough black and gray water capacity to handle the extra fresh water, so we can go 4 or 5 days before we need to dump. We carry a 6 gal green water jug and I use that to haul water to the trailer from the closest faucet.

Chris

[aftermath]

This is a tough question. How long will this $100 last? For some, a long time while for others, not long at all. This is the way with water.

Chris brought up a great point. I have two 6 gallon tanks that I bring along. One sits on the picnic table for coffee water and other such things. The second one is used to refill the Airstream tank from faucets near by.

If you don't do dishes, if you primarily use the campground facilities and if you minimize showers, 39 gallons should last you a few days. Remember, the more you turn on the tap the faster you will use up the water AND the faster your gray tank will fill. Getting water is one thing, dumping a gray tank is another.

You will figure out all of this soon enough. These first trips will be learning experiences and that is all part of the fun.

[dznf0g]

The two of use about 15 gallons a day...2 showers, toilet and dishes once a day.

If we stay put more than 4 days, I use a blue boy to dump and one of these to get water. I have an old 12V pump to fill the AS tank.

Y2K

[Debnw]

We have a 45 gal Fresh, 24 gal Gray and 18 Black. (Nice balance in vs out....hahah) and actually thats about the actual split for grey vs black.
We frequently camp at Smokey Mts. Natl. park (Elkmont). We can get 4 days and Fresh empty and Gray/Black full. The dump station is 7 miles away... so...we are a lil conservative.
The 45 gallons gets us
2 showers - water on to get wet. off to soap up. on to rinse off. Quick enough that the 6 gallon hot water doesn't go cold.

Food prep - lunch and dinner, couple gallons for iced tea.

Dishes at the end of the day (utensils and pans) paper everything else...

Toilet usage - night time...only use during the day if its an urgent need.

As folks stated...you get a much better idea of your personal uses after a couple of trips...Also we carry a couple of 5 or 6 gallon containers ($6 or 8 bucks at Walmart...incase I wanted to haul water or use in addition to what I have brought in. Also have a small Blueboy for Black Tank.
Check the park for dump station location... if its close Id get a couple of fresh water containers and may buy that Blueboy and stay long as you want...

Best of luck on your trip and hope the weather is GREAT...

[Wayne&Sam]

Just go and see how long it lasts. If it's a state park they probably have a dump station and water fill. Worst case is you have to go dump and fill once during the stay.

[grizbear]

We use about 7 gal per day navy showers and so on. Carry a couple of 5 to 7 gal jugs in back of truck carry full if no water is nearby carry empty if the campground has faucet nearby. Good camping Rand

[LongShot]

My FC 19 has a 23 gallon tank; that lasted 2 guys 5-days with daily showers, a few dishes and of course washroom breaks. We were more concerned with power consumption and almost ran out of water - monitor everything carefully (actually our tank ran dry on the fifth day after we showered while I was washing some dishes).

On another trip with my wife this time, we ran out of water and the tanks needed to be emptied mid-day on Sunday (we arrived Friday afternoon!) Govern yourself accordingly.

[kstewart23]

The greater problem we have found (same size tanks) is the grey water fills rather quickly and having to empty it is a pain in the bum. State Parks are not going to want you to empty your tank onto the grass. So that is something to consider too.

[LBOskiBear]

When I've stayed in public campgrounds, they usually have had fresh water at a central location (located near the dump station). Can you check to see if that's the case?

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by LBOskiBear

When I've stayed in public campgrounds, they usually have had fresh water at a central location (located near the dump station). Can you check to see if that's the case?

There is water available several campsites away. So assuming one could fill a portable container, is a funnel needed to pour the water into the AS tank? I guess I'll find that out when I pick up our AS tomorrow but just curious.

[JBBeaubeaux]

Originally Posted by Debnw

We have a 45 gal Fresh, 24 gal Gray and 18 Black. (Nice balance in vs out....hahah) and actually thats about the actual split for grey vs black.

Also have a small Blueboy for Black Tank.

We have a 39 gallon black water tank and 37 gallon grey water tank.

What size blue boy do you suggest we get? Also, any name brands you recommend?

Also, if the black or grey tank is full, how do you stop the emptying before you over flow the blue boy? Maybe that easy, but I'm not so sure.

[robert claus]

Our 26 gallon fresh water lasts us 3 days. We always bring an additional 6 gallons but don't always need it. We shower e'day, too. You'll learn quickly what your useage is and how to predict what you'll need. If the trailer has no water in it, fill the fw tank and then turn the pump on-it will then pump water into your hot water heater. That's 6 gallons down, so now you can top it off again.

[mhilley]

My wife and I figure about 7 gallons minimum per day with two very quick showers and paper plates.

[McDave]

My wife and I prefer to camp away from established campsites. With our 39 gallon tank, we can stay out 3-4 days if all the water we use is to cook with, sort of wash dishes, and keep minimally clean ourselves without taking a full blown shower. There is usually enough water left for each of us to take quick showers on the day we leave.


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[TinShack]

Originally Posted by aftermath

This is a tough question. How long will this $100 last? For some, a long time while for others, not long at all. This is the way with water.

Chris brought up a great point. I have two 6 gallon tanks that I bring along. One sits on the picnic table for coffee water and other such things. The second one is used to refill the Airstream tank from faucets near by.

If you don't do dishes, if you primarily use the campground facilities and if you minimize showers, 39 gallons should last you a few days. Remember, the more you turn on the tap the faster you will use up the water AND the faster your gray tank will fill. Getting water is one thing, dumping a gray tank is another.

You will figure out all of this soon enough. These first trips will be learning experiences and that is all part of the fun.

I agree with aftermath. My wife and I can use our 54 gallons in 2 days or make it last a week. If we will be dry camping in one location for awhile, and I know there is access to water, I have a 16 gallon water tank and 12v transfer pump i can use to refill. I also have a 15 gallon blueboy to dump the grey water. My black water tank is 36 gallons so that is generally not a problem, at least for awhile.

A couple ideas to help manage dishwater are to run the cold water before it gets hot into a tub and use that to rinse the dishes. If you do your dishes in a another tub, you can dump that water out on the ground (if allowable) to avoid adding to the grey water tank. We keep a pair of plastic nesting tubs that fit perfectly inside our trailer's double sink for situations like this.

Have fun learning by doing!

[rodsterinfl]

Yep, like dznf0g, when I take one family member it is about 15 gallons/day but that is also taking semi-navy showers, toilet visits, etc. We are not too conservative but aware of use.

[NCMEDIC]

Rather than drag the plastic tote through the cg to dump gray water, I have a macerator pump (12v) and pump it into the tote while it sits in the back of the truck. Then, you just drive to the dump station. This is particularly useful at places like Edisto Beach SP, where you have to drive out on the main road to reach the dump station.

[xrvr]

That's a great idea! Trying to manhandle a large blueboy is not fun. Only get one that is light enough to handle. Thirty pounds plus of water is too heavy for most of us to handle and a tip over is not good. Jim