Boondocking and Fresh water

[muddy_hollow]

General question, when you are boondocking and run out of water how do you refill your tanks assuming there isn't a hose nearby?

Move the trailer or lug smaller jugs of water? if you do it in jugs, how large do you use?

[Fyrzowt]

When I boondock, I carry a 35 gallon barrel of potable water in my TV, and use a 12v transfer pump.

[Chuck]

I've only done it once...at a no-hookup state park. I used a 3 gallon bucket, because its what I had on hand, and W just needed to finish her shower, and we were leaving. there was a "community" spigot located not to far from our campsite, so I just lugged a couple of bucket's worth of water over to the trailer.

If you're planning on having to do this, they do make 5 gallon "jerry-cans" for the purpose...I think I saw them at wally-world. anything bigger than that, I would think, would be too unwieldy. OTOH...if you really want to go nuts, you could get a bunch of those, drive the truck to the watering site, drive them back to the trailer, and siphon them into the trailer. (gravity is your friend )

[silverback]

It depends on where we are but if we're in a Forest Service, NPS, state or even BLM area we use our 3 to 5 gallon plastic (jerry) cans. Those places usually have a potable water source. A couple three trips a day is usually good. If you're farther out then that for a longer time then you need to go the extra tank in the TV route.
-KL

[InsideOut]

We use the 5 gallon jerry cans to refill the tank. We also take a 2-gallon drinking water jug separate from the trailer tank which is usually plenty for coffee/tea & kitty...

Shari

[clancy_boy]

If you are going to Wally World to buy a container - look for the ones shaped like a cube and are dark blue and sold in the camping section - much more stable to transport over the jerry can tall slender design.

Been there done that - lost half a water load while remote camping hunting elk in Colorado and really did not want to make the 18 mile trek back to the nearest potable water source. Of course that road (only in name) was a really bad one.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by clancy_boy

If you are going to Wally World to buy a container - look for the ones shaped like a cube and are dark blue and sold in the camping section <snip>

Those are the ones we use...

Shari

[rickandsandi]

We spend a lot of time boondocking and a few times we did need to refill our freash water tank. We keep an empty 5 gallon water container in the truck and I made a short hose that fits into the fill opening and attached a funnel to it for easy fill-ups. We also installed a very pricey special faucet bio filering system so we can put almost anything in the tank. The filter operates off its own faucet so that we use it for potable water only ie, cooking, coffee and drinking.

[SilverCottage]

I picked up 2 of these at Walmart for about $6 each. My Dad has one from the 70's and it still works without leaking. They collapse to a very small size.

Fold-A-Carrier 5G/20L from Reliance Products

We also use a blue $3 Blitz funnel with a flex tube from Autozone to pour the water into the fresh tank. It takes 2 people but goes quickly.

[CaddyGrn]

HI,

We often boondock or stay in NFS campgrounds that only have "community" potable water faucets. We really work on conserving, however, when we need to refill ~ it is like most others. Depends on how much longer we will stay, etc. I have a little bucket and a "oil filler type device" to pour the water in so more of it gets in the little fill hole than out... It is work, but hauling the water helps one decide to conserve!

We always do things that will help. For example, a bucket or container of water outside the trailer for a first washing of hands, etc. saves running the water... think of the little things and find ways to conserve.

Have fun!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)

[muddy_hollow]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I have another thread on fresh water forum about compressors/air pumps for pressurized systems so you the area that I'm thinking about.

I'm working on a 56 caravanner and making reasonable progress. One thing the carvanner had was a pressurized water system, which was not worth keeping due to age and wear. I'm working on a floor plan and a particular sleeping set-up that would eat up a bit of space so fresh water tanks are on my plate to think about.


still trying to decide on an alternative style system or a pvc tank.

TTYL,

D

[jzelle]

We use the 7 Gal plastic water containers and a siphon to transfer to the water tank.
Usually add one re-fill every few days.

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Those are the ones we use...

Shari

Like this one.......

[InsideOut]

Ours are a little different, but close!

You can see it in this photo:



Gotta have water for the Donnarita-machine...and boy, is she thirsty!

Shari

[rseagle]

My low cost method. The can from Wally World, the stand from Home depot and the Super Siphon from the Internet.

[mistral blue]

Originally Posted by muddy_hollow

General question, when you are boondocking and run out of water how do you refill your tanks assuming there isn't a hose nearby?

Move the trailer or lug smaller jugs of water? if you do it in jugs, how large do you use?

hmm ... maybe you could walk a little distance and ask the guy in the funny looking trailer who happens to be in the same predicament if you could combine hoses?

[Silvertwinkie]

I've been somewhat reluctant to put just any water in my fresh tank. Way back when, we were in the UP of MI (where I typically still go) the water there has lots of iron in it. It stained the tank tanish/brown. I'm not suggesting that it's an issue everywhere, but I filter all the water going into the tank. When low I buy about 5-6 of those 2.5 gallon filtered jugs at places like Kroger, IGA, etc. All 6 cost about $18 to $20. That typically can tide me over if I run low. To use these types of jugs though, I found a plastic transmission funnel that is flexible works great.

One way I also conserve my fresh tank when boondocking is to bring along one of those Coleman 5 gallon water jugs and those solar shower jugs with shower head and hose. I fill them up at the manual water pumps at the state forest campgrounds and use it for handwashing, brushing teeth, showering, etc. Doing these extended my fresh water supply by about 5 days, and I didn't have to buy those 2.5 gallon water jugs. If those $10 jugs get stained, so be it....my fresh tank still looks the way it did when it was first installed.

[SilverRanger]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Ours are a little different, but close!

You can see it in this photo:



Gotta have water for the Donnarita-machine...and boy, is she thirsty!

Shari

Now, that's camping!

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by SilverRanger

Now, that's camping!

...and boondocking at that! Didn't say it had to be dry...

Shari

[fltlevel510]

We have seldom had a situation where we needed additional water but when we did we use the collapsible 5 gallon containers like wjboswell. We attached a piece of clear plastic hose to the nozzle, place in the potable water inlet and let it flow. Fewer showers and more deodorant seems to work for us.