I am looking for some feed back on my idea for filling the fresh water tank. Sometimes when we are boon docking we need to top up the fresh water tank and we haul it in water cooler jugs. To speed up the process I was thinking of purchasing a cheap fresh water pump and wiring clips to attach to the RV battery for a 12 volt power source. Hook up FW hoses to the inlet and run another to the FW tank and pump away. It seems like a great idea for me but wanted to see what others.

Dunno what you have so I'll toss this one out from a thread a long time ago. If you have an anti-freeze position where the pump draws from the 1gal containers, drop that siphon into the potable water tank. I'm sure there are other ways, but next I go to the outside shower with a hose jumper built to go from the outside shower faucet and into the street fresh tank fill. Start pump and open the faucet. Takes me around 2 mins to drain a 7gal portable potable jug.

That is genius and the reason why I joined this forum. My 5th wheel doesn't have that option but I planned on putting a three way valve so it would be a little more convenient to winterize it. All i need to do is carry a short hose to throw in the water jug. Thanks for the idea, that is a great idea.

We use this inexpensive pump.http://www.heartlandamerica.com/browse/item.asp?product=liquid-transfer-pump&PIN=48043&BC=S&DL=SEH3

If you like boon docking that much. Maybe get a larger tank 50g or so that will fit in the back of the TV. Put a 12vlt sureflow pump on it wire it's to the TV how ever you want. Electric plug, alligator clip, ect. Then just fill the fresh tank when needed from the TV. Stop having to haul those coolers.TecheMan

haul the water in a large container like those orange, cylindrical jobbies they use at construction sites, or as large a tank as you want to handle, then just drop in a cheap boat bilge pump and pump it in. I used one to pump in my antifreeze. a bilge pump will pump a lot faster than that one linked to that I use to fill up my kero-sun heaters.bumpy

Water transfer pump | Good Sam Community

Sparky502
Explorer
May 15, 2013
troyb wrote:
Sparky502, what you are thinking of doing is exactly what I have done. I mounted the pump on a piece of plywood and just connect it to the battery with alligator clamps. Works great and have used it many times. Got the pump out of a trailer that was being demolished, bought a couple fittings, and pieces of a less expensive garden hose, and done. Very simple and works fine.

Last summer we had a sewer truck empty our black and grey water tank and instead of moving the trailer we hand bombed 20 gallons with a funnel and water cooler bottle. In hindsight it would have been quicker to just hook up the 5th wheel and go to the hydrant. It was a huge pain in the rear so I thought a system like you have would be a simple and quick way to refill the tank.

Thanks for all the help.
Hamops
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I use a 12V Pony pump and two 5gal foldable water jugs. It worked well but it meant making several trips to the water source to refill the FW tank. I bought a 45gal water bladder from Camping World to take the place of the two water jugs. I haven't had need to use the water bladder yet but it'll get use this summer.
Hamops
Explorer
May 15, 2013
12thgenusa wrote:
I like to run the water through a filter first so I use an external pump.

What a neat device. I like it and will look to making one for our 5vr. It keeps the pump and hoses out of the dirt.

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