Hello all,New to the site, 1st post. Surprisingly, I have been unable to get this answer on google anywhere! It seems like an important topic so I hope someone out there can answer this for me. My question:I boondock around AZ/Utah which requires me to climb some steep, long, highways and mountains and I do not wish to travel with a full (or even half) tank of water if not necessary. Certainly others are in this same situation so where the heck do you get water in new locations as you travel and run out of water in your rigs? Are you "borrowing" it somewhere (where?)? Are you paying for it (where?)? As basic as this seems, I've yet to see an answer to this question. Please be specific as much as possible if you can. Thank you very much!

I travel with the tank full but can get water at any campground or RV park

I do exactly what you are wanting to do. Once I've determined my destination I check the route along the way & locate a source for potable water as close to my destination as possible.Having said that, I only use the fresh water tank for washing dishes, showers etc. I take bottled water for everything else.I also do the same for dumping my tanks. Find the closest dump station upon departure.I boondock 100% of the time.It can be done.

We normally travel with limited water in fresh tank. When we get close to a dry camping location we generally stop at some rest area that have dump stations and water fill, government campgrounds that have water supply or at private campgrounds and pay for a water fill. Some city parks have dump stations and water fills.

Why do you not wish to travel with a full water tank? You will not notice any MPG change, the vehicle will not mind if you fill the tank.Jim

For 9 years of Fulltiming we always traveled with a full water tank. You just never know.............

Where do I get water while traveling????? | Good Sam Community

Big_Blue
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
Since you are a traveling firefighter, consider networking your water from a nearby fire station?
dverstra
Explorer
Jul 17, 2015
Executive wrote:
Judging from your screen name...I would refill my water tank at the nearest Fire House..just sayin...Dennis

I was thinkin that one of those helicopter tankers for fire fightin might do a flyover.:B
sushidog
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
Rather than a barrel you could get one of these:

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/portable-rv-fresh-water-tank-45-gallon/1605

Chip
familyof3
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
I guess you could get a barrel and haul around with you. If you have the room for it. I use todo that till I got a 250 gallon tote.
Flanz
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
Jim-Linda wrote:
Why do you not wish to travel with a full water tank? You will not notice any MPG change, the vehicle will not mind if you fill the tank.

Jim

Not sure I agree with you there. With a 100 gallon water tank that's ~800lbs of weight. I think you'll see a diff in MPG.

YMMV

-paul
down_home
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2015
Don't travel Arizona or the Southwest with near empty tanks. jmo
You can certainly fill at campgrounds you stay at as long as they have water or it is not a boon docking with nothing.
ndilling at Flyin J may take a while and Drivers get angry waiting behind you.
Tow in Ky have water but flow is real restricted, perhaps to keep you from filling your tank. I tired it and after ten minutes when someone else arrive and it was proper to move. I bet I didn't have ten gallons.
It depends on who and what the company permits but most stations that sell you fuel will let you fill your water tank. Some might charge. I don't know. Places, like Walmart where water is considered a controllable expense might not since it would cut into manager's bonus.
What I'm saying is I don't know. Ask when you fill up and use a good filter.
Most city water is terrible stuff.
WandaLust2
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
We stop about every 5, 6 days or so at CGs to do our laundry, take long hot showers, dump both tanks and take on fresh water. Sometimes if the area is interesting we stay 2 nights. But one is enough.
Sourdough_Biscu
Explorer
Jul 01, 2015
Water is slightly harder to find in the west than in the midwest. And, the quality (taste) of the water is often poor. So, when we find water we like, we fill it and KEEP it full. And, we DO drink from our tanks.

Ditto on Flying J.

About once a week to 10 days, we need to do laundry & dump anyway. So, a night in the RV park takes care of all of the above (and fresh water too).

One perfect example of why we travel full... We arrived one time at a state campground north of Parker, AZ. Full hookups. The problem was... the water came out brown and foamy!! So, had we arrived empty... we would not have had drinkable water.
zigzagrv
Explorer
Jul 01, 2015
When traveling, I try to use Flying J. They have dump stations for a small fee, and potable water to fill up the tank, not to mention fuel. If no Flying J, I simply find a campground to dump my tanks and fill up my fresh water, usually for a small fee. Works for me.
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2015
good posts on the board but if you are re-filling just jugs, almost anyone, anywhere will let you fill some jugs.
a restaurant would fill them for you.
gas station would give you faucet access I am sure and down the line.
Firehouse, grocery store, churches, etc....I think any good person when asked nicely would allow you to fill your jugs :)