Forum Discussion

kmb1966's avatar
kmb1966
Explorer
Sep 02, 2019

Refill fresh water from when no gravity fill exists

Does anyone have a really good setup to fill fresh water in the tank when you don't have a gravity fill ability, and only a water hose method? I'd like to purchase something fairly ready-to-work so that I can re-fill fresh water when needed with some fresh water containers. I have several 6 gallon fresh water containers, but I am searching for options to do this. I need more information than just "find a pump" please.

18 Replies

  • Well.... actually ..... yes ..... get a pump!

    Most of our camping is at State Parks that has electric sites only. Water fill-up is at a specific spots, unless you are lucky enough to get near a spigot to run a hose, fill the tank and then disconnect.

    Planning campsites within 200 feet of water spigots became a real pain after doing it for years and years. One day, I got smart and purchased a 35 gallon water tank from TSC (Tractor Supply Company) and we've been able to transport water at will now, without having to move the trailer or fill up only when entering the park.

    But then, there was the problem that my "gravity fill port" on my previous TT was actually higher than the be bed of my pick-up truck and ... face it ... water does not run uphill. Thus! The pump!







    Filling the camper with pump:





    The pump is a 120 volt, AC purchased from Lowe's. I have a 400 watt inverter I keep in the truck all the time. The inverter can run the water pump with no problems, so we have the ability to transfer water from anywhere, to anywhere we are camped. It also allows us to carry extra water, and sometimes we would fill the water tank in the truck just so we would have water for showering or hosing down after playing in muddy creeks and salt water. A garden hose sprayer on the end of the hose works wonders.

    We now have the ability to choose any campsite, regardless of how far we are from a water source, because we can alway fill up at the source and cart it in. It was one of the best things we purchased.

    FYI, tank was a little over $100, and the pump was near $100 also. We've had the tank and pump for about 5 years now, and it's been worth every penny, over and over and over again.

    Something to think about? Get a pump!

    I now have a Montana High Country Fifth Wheel. It does not have a gravity fill port at all. I still use the transfer pump and it pumps the water just fine into my fresh water tank in the 5er.

  • grumpy3b wrote:
    assuming you mean you cannot connect the hose for whatever reason.... but just buy a 12v or 110v water pump on Amazon. Setup as external pump, attach hoses to feed through normal fill, put other end if hose in external container filled with water.
    Depending on size if your external container it might take quite a few trip to fill it then pump it into your internal tank.

    Sounds like you want some other idea but i don't see a simplier solution. Gravity fill has drawbacks including the installation itself which i didn't find appealing.

    i opted for a 12v pump gicen new battery capacity and solar power over a 110v pump though might be handy to have both.

    There are even a couple ready to use external pump setups on Amazon. they run about $75-$100.

    I actually wondered why gravity fill and such an external pump option isn't standard equipment anyway.

    have heard there is some problem with the check-valve? what size pump to work with the check valve?
  • I added a 3-port valve to my water pump inlet line that switches between drawing from the onboard tank or an external source such as a bucket or RV anti-freeze jug. By switching the city fill valve, I can select whether the pump output goes to the tank or the house water system.
  • I use my water pump with my antifreeze line and spliced into the fresh water line to the pump and put a shut off valve on it
  • assuming you mean you cannot connect the hose for whatever reason.... but just buy a 12v or 110v water pump on Amazon. Setup as external pump, attach hoses to feed through normal fill, put other end if hose in external container filled with water.
    Depending on size if your external container it might take quite a few trip to fill it then pump it into your internal tank.

    Sounds like you want some other idea but i don't see a simplier solution. Gravity fill has drawbacks including the installation itself which i didn't find appealing.

    i opted for a 12v pump gicen new battery capacity and solar power over a 110v pump though might be handy to have both.

    There are even a couple ready to use external pump setups on Amazon. they run about $75-$100.

    I actually wondered why gravity fill and such an external pump option isn't standard equipment anyway.
  • i'd look into adding a fresh water gravity fill. might be worth the one time cost.