where to fill up with fresh water

[jsmall01]

Kinda a dumb question, but I'll chalk it up to being an AS newbie. (got our first Airstream in May) We are heading out on CA 395 for a week of boondock camping. We also going up to Lassen in November. Non of these places have water hookups or spigots to fill our fresh water tank. Lassen actually shuts off the water in October.

I don't want to tow the AS full of water, so where do most people fill up the tank along the way before setting up camp? Gas station, Wal-Mart? Any ideas, suggestions would be great.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by jsmall01

Kinda a dumb question, but I'll chalk it up to being an AS newbie. (got our first Airstream in May) We are heading out on CA 395 for a week of boondock camping. We also going up to Lassen in November. Non of these places have water hookups or spigots to fill our fresh water tank. Lassen actually shuts off the water in October.

I don't want to tow the AS full of water, so where do most people fill up the tank along the way before setting up camp? Gas station, Wal-Mart? Any ideas, suggestions would be great.

Why tow empty?

After all that IS the reason for having a FW tank.

We filter fill at home. 👍
Recommend a quality filter no matter where you fill the tanks.

Bob
🇺🇸

[kscherzi]

Fill it full at home. Makes no difference in towing. Actually may be more stable with lower center of gravity.

Fill it again wherever you go to dump the gray and black tanks. Just don't fill from faucets painted red, and always use the basic blue Camco water filter at a minimum when filling from strange sources.

[azflycaster]

We always fill at home before we travel.

[n2916s]

As noted, fill up at home. When you get a chance, top off on the road. Many Pilot/Flying J Truck stops have potable water at the RV lanes or nearby. Most private campgrounds will let you dump and top off your water for a small fee.

I never leave home or a campground that has potable water without topping off.

[waninae39]

IMHO, ALL WATER NEEDS TO BE FILTRED.

Never trust any water source.

I re plumbed my water system so that city and tank water merged before my high volume dual filter system treats the water
At the merge point, both water sources go through their own one way check valve. Thus the dont flow into the other source

You can get the high flow water fileres at home depot

[rbs]

we fill at service stations, truck stops almost always have water at island where trucks fuel. We never drink the water from the tank

[Ginophiles]

We have friends we caravan with at times, that if fully loaded, like to get over Donner Summit with FW tanks empty, so people do that.

Look for RV parks along your route. Like kscherzi said above, your going to have to dump too. Dumping actually becomes more important. You can always buy jugs of water in a pinch, but you can't just open the valves anywhere you want.

The huge KOA Boomtown, outside of Reno, was $10 to dump and fill. Same with the RV park in Chico when we lived there. I'd imagine most others are similar.

[Hans627]

I fill the FW tank at home before traveling like many others have suggested. At first I was also concerned about towing the extra weight but I've noticed no difference, either in the towing experience or in MPG.

[jsmall01]

thanks all. our TV is a v6 grand cherokee so was a bit concerned about the extra weight of the water.. but sounds like the vast majority of people fill up before heading out.

[eubank]

Some RV parks might be willing to sell you a tank of fresh water near your destination. Just don't let them direct you to the faucet near the dump station.
Lynn

[Lily&Me]

I always fill up before heading out.

When I know I will be boondocking, I usually spend the night before in a campground with hookups, emptying tanks and topping off fresh water.

Maggiw

[Goin camping]

Fill before I go and top off wherever I can.

Important part:

Get a water filter that goes on the fill hose. Why trust strange water?

[kgottleib]

Is the importance of filtering more for drinking water or it is also important for preservation of components within the trailer?

Thanks

Ken

[hahnstead]

I agree with many on this thread. Fill up at home and always try to travel with a full tank. Increases your low center of gravity and thus ur safety.

[Silvr_Bullet]

If you’re going to drink water from your on board tank, I would only fill up from a known source, from home as you are more likely to know the quality or have had it tested or have a report from your provider / municipality. In the absence I personally use bottled water as it at least has been tested by the bottler. That’s me.

[Lily&Me]

I don’t hesitate to fill up at public and private campgrounds around the country, and never had any issue in 18 years.

The filter is most important for neutralizing the taste of water in various parts of the country, in my experience.

I drink the water from my own tank after sanitizing each year once I have dewinterized.

Maggie

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

I don’t hesitate to fill up at public and private campgrounds around the country, and never had any issue in 18 years.

The filter is most important for neutralizing the taste of water in various parts of the country, in my experience.

I drink the water from my own tank after sanitizing each year once I have dewinterized.

Maggie

This is it! We have safe water in the US. Yes, there are places where it might be high in iron, or sulfur or....simply does not taste as good as what I am used to. Is it safe? No question. When is the last time you heard of someone contracting a serious disease when drinking from a city tap? We do like Maggie does. Fill your tank at home after you sanitize your tank. If you are really concerned I suggest you take along some "home" water in a 5 gallon tote, or two. In a pinch, use campground water. You will be safe doing so .

[Elkhounds]

Originally Posted by aftermath

This is it! We have safe water in the US. Yes, there are places where it might be high in iron, or sulfur or....simply does not taste as good as what I am used to. Is it safe? No question. When is the last time you heard of someone contracting a serious disease when drinking from a city tap? We do like Maggie does. Fill your tank at home after you sanitize your tank. If you are really concerned I suggest you take along some "home" water in a 5 gallon tote, or two. In a pinch, use campground water. You will be safe doing so .

Dearborn and Flint, MI. Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Newark and many others report high lead content among other contaminants. We use a Camcorder filter and Berkey filter for drinking water. Better safe

[Dennis C]

I fill my tank at campgrounds, using an inline filter as mentioned above. I also fill it at my RV storage facility before heading out. We've got a small Britta pitcher that we use for drinking water, so it is essentially double filtered.