Fill fresh water tank from a bucket (newer Airstream)

[WineStream]

Maybe the boondocking spirit had been lost with newer Airstreams, but it seems awfully difficult to me to fill my 2005 with water from a bucket or other non-hose source. My '74, no problem. Pop out the cover for the fresh tank and it was a funnel / bucket holder all in one. With the' 05, no such setup. It's really meant for filing from a hose only. Open a side-swinging door, then unscrew a cap, horizontal hole available at that point.

Has anyone come up with a genius solution for this? The only thing I can think of is a funnel with a tube on it that someone else will have to hold while I stand on a stool and pour in the water. Not real attractive in my book.

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[dznf0g]

I use a 40 gallon water bladder and an old rv water pump connected to the TV battery to transfer with a hose.

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[idroba]

I also use a 12 volt pump with hose connections on each end. Then two short washing machine hoses. A few other connecting pieces and I can hook the system up to the 7 gal blue camping water jugs I got at Wal Mart. Now no lifting of those 45 # jugs high enough to pour into the water fill (if you can get the water in even). Of course this also requires a 12 volt source for the pump, which I installed in the exterior compartment access near the water fill.

My 2014 FC 20 only has a 23 gal fresh water tank, which is too small for any serious boondocking. Airstream needs a boondocking model or option, with good electrical systems and water capacity. It would be far more useful to me than a TV and fancy radio and sub woofer, which are standard on the FC series.

[TBRich]

We were similarly frustrated by the same problem until we solved it in a very low-tech way. We found an offset funnel made from hard plastic at an auto supply store. Spout part of the funnel unscrews and fits inside the funnel part for storage in a 1 gal zip lock bag. The spout part was sort of Z-shaped, but I snipped off the final short angled end so that it was more L-shaped to fits into the water port hole. The funnel will stay in place by itself...no need for another person to hold it. We then fill the tank using a hard sided 6-gal water jug.

[Janie Q]

Originally Posted by TBRich

We were similarly frustrated by the same problem until we solved it in a very low-tech way. We found an offset funnel made from hard plastic at an auto supply store. Spout part of the funnel unscrews and fits inside the funnel part for storage in a 1 gal zip lock bag. The spout part was sort of Z-shaped, but I snipped off the final short angled end so that it was more L-shaped to fits into the water port hole. The funnel will stay in place by itself...no need for another person to hold it. We then fill the tank using a hard sided 6-gal water jug.

Could you please post a photo? Thanks
Jane

[MYater]

Originally Posted by WineStream

Open a side-swinging door, then unscrew a cap, horizontal hole available at that point.

Has anyone come up with a genius solution for this? The only thing I can think of is a funnel with a tube on it that someone else will have to hold while I stand on a stool and pour in the water. Not real attractive in my book.

-sent from the Airforums mobile app

I use the white opaque five gallon bottles and the blue seven gallon bottles. Instead of using the little twist spicket I removed the spicket and threaded in an NPT adapter to hose barb and put a 24" piece 3/4" vinyl tubing on it. I can just hold the bottle for about a minute or two and it is empty.

I also saw a setup while boondocking a couple's years ago. The owner had a setup of tubing and those plastic garden hose quick disconnects. So he just had all the bottles on his tailgate on their sides with a PVC ball valve and a QD attached to each one. He had a 12v pump plugged into his towing jack on his and just connected one at a time, turn the pump on and it pushed it to the trailer. As each bottle was almost empty he up ended to get the last bit out, and then shut the pump off. Disconnected and moved to the next bottle and repeated until full tank or bottles empty.

I wish I had taken a picture of it. :-(

[Rich W]

I have 3 Rubbermaid 6 gallon water cans (small picture attached). The spigot stores inside the can, similar to portable gas cans. I've had these for many years, not sure if Rubbermaid still makes them but Igloo does. $19 at the Sears site. Mine has handles on the top and back, spigot rotates, cap acts as gasket and pour cap.
Sears.com

[WineStream]

Originally Posted by Janie Q

Could you please post a photo? Thanks
Jane

I'll second that motion! I'd like to see a pic too. Did you buy it at a major chain parts store? Would be good to go to the same one if I have them in my area.

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[WineStream]

Originally Posted by richw46

I have 3 Rubbermaid 6 gallon water cans (small picture attached). The spigot stores inside the can, similar to portable gas cans. I've had these for many years, not sure if Rubbermaid still makes them but Igloo does. $19 at the Sears site. Mine has handles on the top and back, spigot rotates, cap acts as gasket and pour cap.
Sears.com

Maybe I have to switch my water transportation method to those instead of buckets. They look nice and would solve my issue.


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[dznf0g]

This is the bladder I use. It folds up to about 12" X 12" X 4" and is really easy to use.

Y2K

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Janie Q

Could you please post a photo? Thanks
Jane

Sure...Here are some pics...

Remember the last "angle" (was about 2" long) of the funnel spout has been cut off... Because the spout sticks well into the water port, the tension holds it there without anyone having to hold it... When the spout is unscrewed and put inside the "bowl" it fits in a 1 gal zip lock bag for storage.

[Bluto]

Terry,
I want one.
Can you name the auto parts store?
It looks like the answer for me.

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by richw46

I have 3 Rubbermaid 6 gallon water cans (small picture attached). The spigot stores inside the can, similar to portable gas cans. I've had these for many years, not sure if Rubbermaid still makes them but Igloo does. $19 at the Sears site. Mine has handles on the top and back, spigot rotates, cap acts as gasket and pour cap.
Sears.com

We also have one of these that we take empty (empty) when there will be water available to take to the trailer (it stores easily because of its shape)...we strap it to a collapsible luggage cart with bungee cords to wheel it back to the trailer from the community spigot. Very handy.

When we know there is no water source where we are going, we take extra water in 2 of those the squarish blue water jugs...I believe they hold 7 gals.

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Bluto

Terry,
I want one.
Can you name the auto parts store?
It looks like the answer for me.

I think I got it at Auto Zone, but you should be able to find it (or something similar) at any auto supply store, Walmart or even Camping World...any where that carries auto supplies. It's primary use is for putting oil in inconvenient or awkward places. I liked this one because of the removable spout to make it more compact....and of course if you need to cut of the end angle, being plastic makes that easy. The brand name of this one is "Ramble"... (I could not find a website...sorry.)

[Bluto]

TB,
That's plenty of info for me to begin my hunt for one.
Thanks!

[Airrogant]

Here are some offset funnels that might work (from high price to low):

Amazon.com: Bel-Art Scienceware Polyethylene Offset Stem Funnel: Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: Sealey Funnel with Fixed Offset Spout & Filter Medium 160mm: Electronics

Amazon.com: LUBEQ 02562 - 1.5 Qt. Plastic Funnel with Detachable Off Set Spout: Automotive

[dznf0g]

I do also carry a similar funnel. I just got a trans funnel which has a corrugated flexible end. I heated it and put a permanent angle so it operates like the one above. But tendinitis and an ulnar nerve issue forced me to the bladder and pump.

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[WineStream]

I did some searching at stores today and couldn't find anything that I liked. I've found this on Amazon, though. The spout is detachable and will require the end to be cut off as discussed above. I think it's the right one. I'll be buying one next time we place an order.

[Bluto]

If you order the one that Airrogant listed above, it is the correct one to order. I received mine today.



Amazon.com:
LUBEQ 02562 - 1.5 Qt. Plastic Funnel with Detachable Off Set Spout: Automotive

[WineStream]

Lol! I should have reviewed the thread before posting! I've rather ignored it for the last week since I was on vacation.

I intended to paste a link with my previous post, but forgot to. It would have been to that same funnel.

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