The DW and I bought a TT last year and absolutely love it. We used to camp in a Popup with the kids, but this unit is just for us. We would like to do more Boondocking/dry camping this year. I am installing and second battery and switching to LED lights, but my concern is water. We have a 30 gall fresh and know how to conserve water, but it will run out. How do you gather more water before you are ready to leave? I would like to hear about some different ideas aside from the obvious of pulling the TT to a water spout.

You can get some of the 5 gallon food grade jugs (or smaller) and fill them before you leave, or fill them at the campground. Do check that your campground has potable water available. Many people travel with them in the tub/shower. If the water source is a ways from the site, you can use a 2 wheel dolly to transport them.You can also invest in some type of larger food grade container that lives in your truck bed, if you will have a pressurized source to fill from. If there is enough height difference you can fill the tank by gravity, starting a siphon by mouth, or you can get a 12 V pump to use with it.

Really not much you can do other than carry jugs or an auxiliary tank (if you have room). We carry fresh water for drinking and cooking, the tank water is for washing.

We have a 60 gal fresh, 40 gray & 40 black. When we dry camp we can run out of fresh water before the waste tanks fill up or the batteries discharge to 50%.When water needs to be conserved, we will buy a case of 12 oz. water bottles for most of our consumption needs. We also have a 3 gal jug that has a spicket and set it outside. We fill about a dozen 1/2 gal plastic containers that we recycled from store bought juice containers. We use them for percolator coffee. And I have one 6 gal green jug from wal mart that I will add to the tank when the pump starts spittin.And once we are close to running out of fresh water, it's time to dump the waste tanks, recharge the batteries, buy some groceries, and do some laundry.

Your profile is incomplete - it should include what your TT and TV are - make, model, year, etc. This will help people give you more appropriate answers. If you're towing with a pick-up truck vs a small SUV, they would give two different types of answers.I'm guessing you don't have a truck and room might be tight. I'd by a couple of these collapsible water jugs. After you use the water, collapse them and they won't take up so much room. And with the valve, they're easy to get water out of - you don't have to lift them each time.5-gal collapsible water jugBill

Most of our camping is done without any hookups unless we're on a trip to the Oregon coast or something similar, which isn't really camping but more just using the trailer as a hotel. On camping trips we practice conservation and bring along some extra to supplement as needed and haven't ever had trouble making it several nights. I do have a couple of 5 gallon potable water jugs I always pack along - they just look like gas cans only blue. I generally toss them into the tub to keep them contained. A couple of batteries are a must, and LED bulbs are a good investment. I also cheat and generally pack along a generator.Edit - I not a fan of the collapsible jug linked above. Had too many of them spring leaks on me. I prefer something like this.

Boondocking and Water | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Trackrig
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2016
Your profile is incomplete - it should include what your TT and TV are - make, model, year, etc. This will help people give you more appropriate answers. If you're towing with a pick-up truck vs a small SUV, they would give two different types of answers.

I'm guessing you don't have a truck and room might be tight. I'd by a couple of these collapsible water jugs. After you use the water, collapse them and they won't take up so much room. And with the valve, they're easy to get water out of - you don't have to lift them each time.

5-gal collapsible water jug

Bill
korbe
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
We have a 60 gal fresh, 40 gray & 40 black. When we dry camp we can run out of fresh water before the waste tanks fill up or the batteries discharge to 50%.

When water needs to be conserved, we will buy a case of 12 oz. water bottles for most of our consumption needs. We also have a 3 gal jug that has a spicket and set it outside. We fill about a dozen 1/2 gal plastic containers that we recycled from store bought juice containers. We use them for percolator coffee. And I have one 6 gal green jug from wal mart that I will add to the tank when the pump starts spittin.

And once we are close to running out of fresh water, it's time to dump the waste tanks, recharge the batteries, buy some groceries, and do some laundry.
romore
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2016
Really not much you can do other than carry jugs or an auxiliary tank (if you have room). We carry fresh water for drinking and cooking, the tank water is for washing.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2016
You can get some of the 5 gallon food grade jugs (or smaller) and fill them before you leave, or fill them at the campground. Do check that your campground has potable water available. Many people travel with them in the tub/shower. If the water source is a ways from the site, you can use a 2 wheel dolly to transport them.

You can also invest in some type of larger food grade container that lives in your truck bed, if you will have a pressurized source to fill from. If there is enough height difference you can fill the tank by gravity, starting a siphon by mouth, or you can get a 12 V pump to use with it.

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Boondocking and Water

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