Potable Water

It's potable...unless you really mean portable! :)

I have a Harbor Freight 12V pump and an adapted Surefow RV water pump (the same one in our trailer) but if the water tank is above the fresh water inlet gravity will do it.
There are flexible fresh water bladders of varying capacity that will do a better job http://www.amazon.com/AQUATANK2-Water-Storage-Bladder-Gallon/dp/B009MU64Y0
Do a search for potable water bladder for many other possibilities.

I think I would like the water hose intake over the bilge type where the water suction is usually the bottom part of the pump assy. I probably would want a 12VDC pump over a 120VAC one.

I saw a whole line of water pumps at Walmart recently near where the battery display is. The water pumps are probably more associated with boats then anything else...

I have seen a couple of folks getting a spare WATER PUMP that is like the one in their trailer and use it for their portable water pump. Then they have a spare on-hand to use if needed...

We usually just travel with a small amount of fresh water in our tank and when we start getting close to our off-road camping spot will stop along the way in and fill the fresh water water.

When we are at hookup sites we use a regular water hose hooked up to the pedestal water spigot port and fill the fresh water tank in case we need it...

I can still lift our 5-gallon tote but do have a two wheeled cart to carry the 5-gallon tote in case we have to go very far to the bath house where water is usually available and wheel it back to the trailer when needed...

When camping off the power grid we usually tote our dirty water back to the bath room and pour down their toilet. Then bring back fresh water in our clean 5-gallon tote... Normally we use their toilet when camping off the power grid. My trailer does have the on-board cassette potti which has wheels on its tote and can be pulled to their toilet and poured down it...

Also we have never used our fresh water tank for consumption of water - only used for showers and dishes...

I'm sure everyone has their own routine haha...

Roy Ken

I'll let 2OLDMAN find this in the archives since he can do it in his sleep. But there has been reference made about drawing water out of a POTABLE carrier through the RV anti-freeze suck tube, and re-entering it to the RV tank through a jumper on the outside shower faucet. Sounds confusing but it works great if you have the necessary facilities.

Not sure if you have a towed vehicle along, but if you do:

Provided it's tall enough for gravity feed from the roof to your RV input, you might think of a water bladder like the one at this link.

I know it looks expensive, but at 45 gallons it's the equivalent of 9 five gallon jugs. All in one trip, no pump required, and no lifting! The single drawback is that it's not meant for "highway" or long-distance use, just for getting water from a nearby source and schlepping to your rig.

SCVJeff wrote:
I'll let 2OLDMAN find this in the archives since he can do it in his sleep.

Hehe.

I found most information in posts over 1 year old.

Bilge in posts in Boondock over 1 year old.

You can find small pumps that fit inside the 5 gallon water jugs at Grainger. Very reasonable and work great.

We bought a couple of the 6 gallon water totes and walmart and just pour them into the tank. A pump would be nice, but takes more time.

A search on Amazon will reveal many battery powered bilge pumps that could be used for transferring water from an Aquatainer.

For use with my trailer, I set the Aquatainer on the spare tire and use a shaker siphon. No pump needed in my case.

Aquatainer


Shaker siphon

Do what ProfDanT139 does :
Rig a broomstick to hold a water jug .
We dry camp frequently .
We carry 3 of the 5 gallon coleman blue colored water jugs .
I took one of the coleman screw on spigots and modified it so that it had a 2 foot garden hose affixed to the throat of the water jug .
I got a VERY large Carabiner and I loop that through the 5 gallon jug .
I took a sturdy hardwood broomstick and installed a hook on one end .
I place the other end of the broomstick on the ground .
I rest that end of the broomstick against the arch of my foot .
I hook the hook through the Carabiner/Jug .
I then tilt the stick up with the water jug hanging from one end .
The jug is now above the trailer tank fill , being held by the broomstick .
I insert the garden hose into the TT water tank fill .
Much easier than holding 5 gallons up with my arms .
My description is poor .
However , I anticipate ProfDanT to be along anytime now with a slide show AND a YouTube clip showing this process ...