I will soon own a 22 ft converted school bus. I wild camp so am never in a camp ground. I haven't seen too many places to fill with water. Gas stations have them less and less. My water tanks are small portables, but I'd be inclined to install a large tank if I felt sure I can keep it full. A clever way to fill jerry cans is with simple clear drinking water hose from home depot. Have two different diameters. they are so pliable they can slip over a faucet in any restroom. I searched on amazon for such a connector, but could not find and realized I was overthinking it and just use the home depot hoses. Looking for ideas of where to look for outdoor water faucets.

The Camco "Water Bandit" adapter lets you connect a hose to most common faucets.Camco Water Bandit

I made my own with some different size heater hoses , hose adapters & garden hose end along with some clamps to hold onto the water spigot, had to use it this week under pressure…

Okay, so you fill a couple jerry cans and then what? Do you use the school bus to drive to the water, fill cans and then back to dry camp site? Then repeat the next day?The faucet adapter I have is a called the water thief. Works on any faucet in the campground. I know the clear tubing you mentioned and it should work for you.

I return to town every couple of days. 10 gallons can last a long time, if I river shower or also fill a few porta-shower bags. I am thinking of a larger installed tank but seeking ideas of where to find places to fill it.

Any of your friends houses would work. Take them a six pack.

Places to fill with fresh water and clever ways to fill ..

mobeewan
Explorer
Jun 05, 2021
Bob Wells video from his YouTube channel CheapRVliving

How a nomad gets water on the road.

I plan to supplement finding water by catching rain water and melting snow. I have caught rain water off of my awning and tarps to use to wash with or rinse off gear. In the future I will have a pump with a trash filter and carbon filter to pump rain water or melted snow into a water tank where I can treat it and then pump it to or gravity fill my fresh water tank.
naturist
Nomad
Jun 03, 2021
Just a suggestion: install a large tank, large enough you can go for a week on one fill, then spend one night a week in a campground where you can refill it and dump holding tanks.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2021
The Bandit is a nice tool. You should get one. If you add a water tank, think carefully about where to place it. Don't forget to make it easy to drain too...reachable valve. Water is heavy.
n0arp
Explorer
Jun 03, 2021
Horsedoc wrote:
dccamper wrote:
I don't own one but here is a thought for you,
https://www.amazon.com/WaterBasics-Emergency-Storage-Filter-RED-II-120/dp/B00P8EBDB8/ref=sr_1_18?crid=2WQGGHLD3P991&dchild=1&keywords=emergency+water+bladder&qid=1622717624&sprefix=emergency+water+bladder%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-18

That 30 gallons of water is going to weigh 250 pounds. Going to take some serious manhandling to get it up the steps of the bus, when you do find a place to obtain the water

We use a Milwaukee M18 transfer pump and a couple lengths of hose... One of our bladders is 95 gallons and when filled, sits in the back of the pickup. We carry a 45 gallon one that we fill in the back seat of our Jeep.
pitch
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2021
You just need to get brave. I only remember one time I was refused water in due too meaness or policy in my travels. All buildings have outside spigots. You just need to be confident enough to walk into a business, be it a store,gas station,church,diner,whatever,and ask. Cemeteries usually will have spigots available.
I once even stopped and asked a woman watering her lawn if I could fill up.
Just get brave.
way2roll
Navigator II
Jun 03, 2021
Not sure about your neck of the woods, but while camping we find a local Co-op and they usually have 3 gallon jugs of RO water for a few bucks. If you bring your own jug, it's like $1.50.
noteven
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2021
You could buy or build a water purification system.

You could seperate your potable and utility water storage and use a simpler system on the utility water when you draft it. If you run low on potable you can final purify utility water into your potable storage.

Recommend you don't store raw water but treat it into your storage when you draft it.

Example water filtration
Dick_B
Explorer
Jun 03, 2021
Are you working on a book of your camping life? Seems like a rather unusual lifestyle that might be of interest to others thinking about it.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2021
I don't dry camp but I also don't drink or cook with even my own home commercial water. I buy it in gallon jugs mostly from Wal Mart.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2021
Getting water while traveling can be a serious issue. In a few States, rest stops provide free water and dump stations. Those are rare, nationwide. It is amazing how difficult it can be to find water in many locations. There are often no spigots available at rest stops or truck stops. There is never any water available at other travel stops such as Walmart or gas stations.

In many locations filling with or without a water bandit does not work. The only option in many areas may be just filling a jug if that is even possible.