Ok. We ran out of water again this weekend while boon docking up in the mountains. I am wanting to purchase a few water containers and a pump to pump into our fresh water tank. Our current MH does not have a gravity fill. Only a hose bib connection to fill the tank. Through a little research, I found the 7 gallon auqua tainer by reliance. I'm just not sure what kind of pump to get. I'm leaning toward an AC pump and just using the generator while filling. Do I need a self priming pump? The auqua tainers have a port in the cap for a spigot. I wonder if I can remove the spigot, and instead adapt it to a 1/2" line to go to the suction side of the pump. If the full auqua tainer(in the back of our jeep)has this set up and is then put onto its side, water should flow to the pump without having to prime it as long as the pump is beneath the water level, right? Am I on the right track here? Some 1/2" line and an adaptor for the hose bib. Any other tips or suggestions?Thanks,Mark

mark52, First, I find it a bit odd that you have no gravity fill. I'm certainly not an authority on all motorhomes ever built but, I've had a gravity fill on all four of ours but, that's another story. Anyway, As you've already figured out, just tap into the intake side of the pump or, install a check valve right behind where your pressure fill is, (if you can get access to that area) and put your additional filling system in that way. Now, as far as a pump is concerned, don't goof around with any other pump than, a standard water pump for an RV. Sure-flow makes a dozen different pumps at various gph ratings and even different pressures. The good part, they're 12 VOLT! And, one other serious good point, THEY NEED NO PRIMING! You can setup the pump on a small board (platform for mounting), some nice, flexible hoses, one into the water jug and the other into your new filling system. Then, all you need is a "cigarette" lighter type power plug, with or without a switch and fuse etc. and, plug in your pump and make sure your hoses are in place and, have a cool drink while your pump is working away and, the jug can be on the ground. Done!Scott

FIRE UP wrote: I find it a bit odd that you have no gravity fill. THEY NEED NO PRIMING! all you need is a "cigarette" lighter type power plugI do too. Some do, you just don't notice it when the pump is lower than the water supply. Or a garden battery.

Mark the gravity fill in our Winnebago would make it hard to fill our tank too. We do a lot of dry camping and its a pain to pull out to fill the tank. I've come up with 2 solutions. 1) If you are at a USFS type of campground with the non-threaded hose bibs you can buy a device called a "Water Thief" I carry enough hose to reach about 200' which does the trick sometimes. Those new bungee hoses would be smaller and lighter. 2) The other thin I found is that I can put a 5 gallon blue jug under our bed and feed the anti-freeze siphon hose in and the water is then drawn to the lines. It's not ideal but it works in a pinch

I am in the same situation, no gravity fill. I am considering getting another 12 volt water pump to fill my fresh water tank. I would have a spare if I ever needed it for the trailer.

Y-Guy wrote:1) If you are at a USFS type of campground with the non-threaded hose bibs you can buy a device called a "Water Thief" I carry enough hose to reach about 200' which does the trick sometimes. Those new bungee hoses would be smaller and lighter.I don't think the "bungee" hoses are for potable water.

Refilling fresh water tank when dry camping | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

zman-az
Explorer
May 29, 2013
Rich D. wrote:
Not all fresh water tanks have a gravity fill but they ALL MUST have a vent (if there is no fill/vent combo). Otherwise the tank would not fill even with city water pressure and it would collapse when draining. Simply locate that vent and connect a "T" with a hose that can go to your gravity tank located higher than the fresh water tank. No pump needed.

That would be a PITA in my Winnie. The vent line is 1/2" pex. A hose would have to be routed down and out of the storage area. Then someone would have to hold it in place and use a funnel. Does not sound fun to hack up the RV and add gravity fill and then hold the water jug for a long time due to the small vent opening. I like turning the two valves on my RV and let the pump do all the work while I have a beer and watch.
zman-az
Explorer
May 29, 2013
mark52 wrote:
are you talking about the pipe coming off of what appears to be on the inlet side of the pump (see my set up in the picture above. if i unscew that cap and connect water to it, it seems that it would go strait to the MH sinks and not fill up my tank. is this how yours is set up?

With all that insulation in there I can't tell for sure. But based on what you are saying that sounds right. When you turn the pump on you will "fill the sink". The other step is to switch the fill/city water valve to fill just like you do when you fill your RV with a hose. When all done put the two valves back and your good to go.

Ever forget to switch that fill valve off? When you turn on the pump does it continue to run and never build preasure. That is becasue it recirculates the water in your lines from the tank, to the pump, thru the water lines and back into the tank again. So when you use the winterizer inlet you pull water from your portable tank and put back into your RV tank.

BTW, I have a couple of those colapsible 5 gal clear plastic jugs. They store real nice when done. It also happens to be that the spickot on the jugs is the same diameter as the winterizer fill line. You can get a nipple to addapt to that inlet and use the right size tubing if you use the jug, otherwise unscrew the top and let the hose suck it in.
Rich_D_
Explorer
May 29, 2013
Not all fresh water tanks have a gravity fill but they ALL MUST have a vent (if there is no fill/vent combo). Otherwise the tank would not fill even with city water pressure and it would collapse when draining. Simply locate that vent and connect a "T" with a hose that can go to your gravity tank located higher than the fresh water tank. No pump needed.
Belgique
Explorer
May 29, 2013
I use the CW Bladder and a 110V transfer pump that Lowes et al sell for about $90 Clicky

The bladder can be filled in the trunk and pumped from there.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 29, 2013
I also do not have a gravity fill. I rarely stay in the same spot for more than a week but if I do and need water I have 2 overflow hoses and use one with a 3 or 5 gallon water jug that I hang of the side of the MH. I also have a old Sure Flow pump set up that I tried in my driveway and it works well but have yet to use it camping. It is easier to just slide the overflow tube in an upright position and insert another tube from the 3 gallon shower and fill.
Gottahaveit
Moderator
May 29, 2013
Buy a 44 gallon water bladder from camping world. Folds into a small space. Then buy a 12v transfer pump at Harbor Frieght if you one around. Simply connect the pump one hose in and one hose out. Make sure water is at the pump before you connect it to the battery. The pumps we buy come with the connecters etc. We hook it up to our Tow Veh. battery. BE SURE WATER REACHES PUMP BEFORE CONNECTING TO BATTERY. We just bought a new one today...12 v pumps 200 gal per hr. Works great. Pump was about $37 and the Bladder was approx, $100 well worth the joy of dry camping :B
mena661
Explorer
May 29, 2013
mark52 wrote:
we are not in a camp ground. We are off of a dirt road where there are several camping spots with fire rings. I dig a small hole and slow drain some grey then cover it up. No chemical. Just sink and shower water.
Thanks much.
mark52
Explorer II
May 29, 2013
zman-az wrote:
As mentioned, use the winterizer feature of your motorhome. When using it just turn the inlet valve to the fill position and turn on the water pump switch. Easy Peazy.... It's free, no need to buy a second pump and hook it up. For those that do not have the winterizer feature you can buy a 3 way valve.

are you talking about the pipe coming off of what appears to be on the inlet side of the pump (see my set up in the picture above. if i unscew that cap and connect water to it, it seems that it would go strait to the MH sinks and not fill up my tank. is this how yours is set up?
mark52
Explorer II
May 29, 2013
zman-az
Explorer
May 29, 2013
As mentioned, use the winterizer feature of your motorhome. When using it just turn the inlet valve to the fill position and turn on the water pump switch. Easy Peazy.... It's free, no need to buy a second pump and hook it up. For those that do not have the winterizer feature you can buy a 3 way valve.

As far as more grey water. If you are in a place where you cannot dump you can purchase this device to transfer grey water into your black tank. Just close the new valve, open grey water, open black water and the grey should fill the black water. Of course if your black tank is higher or fuller than the grey water tank you could reverse the flow. I don't bother with the garden hose setup but its also a nice feature.

Camco PN 39062