Ever run out of fresh water while boondocking?

[Bobbo]

We boondock a lot, and occasionally run out of fresh water in the tank. I don't always want to break camp and drive to a hydrant, so I bought 2 collapsible 5 gallon water carriers. Now, 4 trips to the hydrant will completely fill my 40 gallon tank.

HOWEVER, holding a 40 pound 5 gallon jug of water high enough to pour it into my tank is tough. I came up with a solution.

My rig came with a Shurflo 2.8 GPM pump #2088-422-144 (OEM version). I bought a Shurflo 2.8 GPM pump #2088-422-444 (after market version, but identical). I now have a drop in replacement spare pump, in case mine fails. I also put long hoses on it and a plug that plugs into a 12v connector I have near the water port. I put the hose on the input side into the 5 gallon water jug, the hose on the output side into the water inlet, and plug it in. No more lifting the water jugs.

EDITED TO ADD PICTURE OF PUMP:

[Gottahaveit]

We dry camp in Quartzite AZ every year in Jan. Had A 50gal old water tank that we hauled in the back of the truck with a pump from Harbor Freight. Since we bought the MH we purchased the Water Belly (40 gallons) from Camping world and use the pump from Harbor freight or wherever. About $35 for the pump. The Water Belly folds up into the size of a small mattress. Needless to say we fill all our friends when dry camping as well. We have 120 gal. of fresh water as do most of our friends but after 10 days...well we don't want to rough it that much :W

[69_Avion]

I like to bring my water from home because I know it is clean. We can carry 80 gallons of fresh water with our 19.5' trailer. Two pumps provide the flow. 40 gallons are in the camper plus 6 gallons in the water heater. The rest is under the trailer.

[tred0956]

tred0956 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

alliemac9 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Do you have a 4 valve, or a 5 valve Water Works panel. As I recall, the 4 valve cannot be configured to pull from a jug into the the fresh tank, only into the piping for winterizing. The 5 valve panel that I have will do both, although filling the fresh tank from the pump is not shown on the panel diagrams. All it takes is switching one valve from "Winterize" to "Suction Fill" with the others in the "Winterize" configuration depicted on the panel.

Thanks for the response! So I don't "over" hijack this thread with random pics, here's a URL to a photo of my panel. Not sure how to tell if it is 4 or 5 valve? Water Works Panel Image

Edited to update link to hopefully work based on comment below...

Oops! I forgot about the small 2-valve panel version. Yep, doesn't work with that one either. There may be a way to add a valve or two to accomplish it though. I'd need to see a plumbing diagram of your panel to be sure.

Actually, I think you can with the 2 valve model. I'm going out tomorrow, I'll check it out, I think I start it on winterize and then switch to fill and leave the pump on. I'll try it again and let you know.

OK, just got back from a beautiful sunny long weekend and tested filling tank with the built in water pump. I have the 2 valve panel; I set it to Fill Tank but instead of connecting a regular garden hose to the city water inlet like you normally would, I connect a hose to the Winterize connection, and then turn on the water pump. Sucks water out of a bucket or whatever and pumps it directly to the water tank. Works great!

[Lynnmor]

My trailer came with a water pump already equipped with wiring and a switch. I just altered the plumbing so that the pump can pull the water in thru the city water inlet.

[mobeewan]

Bobbo wrote:
OP here. Here is a photo of the finished pump. Just add a pair of 10 foot water hoses, one into the water container and the other into the fresh water tank inlet.

Great minds think alike. I did the same thing. I mounted my spare pump on a small (6? x 10?) cut plastic cutting board. Kind of hard to lift a 50 gallon water tank. I got tired of lifting the 15 gallon barrels on my old TT and setting them on the spare tire to drain into the 18 gallon FW tank. Not getting any younger myself. My newer TT has a thirsty 36 gallon tank. I carry the 50 gallon tank and 3 - 15 gallon barrels in the truck bed when boondocking.

[tred0956]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

alliemac9 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Do you have a 4 valve, or a 5 valve Water Works panel. As I recall, the 4 valve cannot be configured to pull from a jug into the the fresh tank, only into the piping for winterizing. The 5 valve panel that I have will do both, although filling the fresh tank from the pump is not shown on the panel diagrams. All it takes is switching one valve from "Winterize" to "Suction Fill" with the others in the "Winterize" configuration depicted on the panel.

Thanks for the response! So I don't "over" hijack this thread with random pics, here's a URL to a photo of my panel. Not sure how to tell if it is 4 or 5 valve? Water Works Panel Image

Edited to update link to hopefully work based on comment below...

Oops! I forgot about the small 2-valve panel version. Yep, doesn't work with that one either. There may be a way to add a valve or two to accomplish it though. I'd need to see a plumbing diagram of your panel to be sure.

Actually, I think you can with the 2 valve model. I'm going out tomorrow, I'll check it out, I think I start it on winterize and then switch to fill and leave the pump on. I'll try it again and let you know.

[Dutch_12078]

alliemac9 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Do you have a 4 valve, or a 5 valve Water Works panel. As I recall, the 4 valve cannot be configured to pull from a jug into the the fresh tank, only into the piping for winterizing. The 5 valve panel that I have will do both, although filling the fresh tank from the pump is not shown on the panel diagrams. All it takes is switching one valve from "Winterize" to "Suction Fill" with the others in the "Winterize" configuration depicted on the panel.

Thanks for the response! So I don't "over" hijack this thread with random pics, here's a URL to a photo of my panel. Not sure how to tell if it is 4 or 5 valve? Water Works Panel Image

Edited to update link to hopefully work based on comment below...

Oops! I forgot about the small 2-valve panel version. Yep, doesn't work with that one either. There may be a way to add a valve or two to accomplish it though. I'd need to see a plumbing diagram of your panel to be sure.

[CincyGus]

I do it on the cheap. I have two of the 7 gallon blue water jugs. I go get them filled and drive back to the camper. I then have a 3-step step ladder (maybe 4' tall) that has a platform on the top step about the same size as the water jugs. I put the step ladder in the bed of the truck, the jugs on the platform and gravity feed it into my fresh water fill using clear plastic tubing I bought at Lowes.

[mbopp]

I have a 15-gallon plastic drum sitting on an inverted, cut-down pallet in the truck bed. It's high enough to gravity feed into the TT.

[Bobbo]

OP here. Here is a photo of the finished pump. Just add a pair of 10 foot water hoses, one into the water container and the other into the fresh water tank inlet.

[2Macs]

I have a 55 gallon food grade closed lid blue plastic barrel that I take along to fill with fresh water. I sanitize it just like I sanitize the TT fresh water tank. I use a barrel siphon pump to drain the barrel into the fresh water tank. I have put a male hose connector onto the end of the siphon outlet hose in case I need to add additional water hose. Of course, the closer you get between the barrel and the fresh water tank, the better. This method keeps me from having to move the TT to fill with water or to make multiple trips to with smaller containers.

[RoyB]

We always spot out where fresh water is available as we go in.... We have to bring out gray water as well so have both fresh water and gray water totes with us...

I have room on my off-road trailer front deck for the containers... I also carry a two-wheeled foldable cart for the short trips. Otherwise just load the empty containers on the truck and pump them out with the 12VDC pump...

We only use the fresh water for dishes and showers etc. Bring along bottled water to drink and cook with...

Just part of the ritual when camping...

I too have a small 12VDC water pump from WALMART...

Got to always have a PLAN B when camping off the power grid...

Roy Ken

[BobsYourUncle]

Your URL returns "Internal Server Error" to me.

[alliemac9]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Do you have a 4 valve, or a 5 valve Water Works panel. As I recall, the 4 valve cannot be configured to pull from a jug into the the fresh tank, only into the piping for winterizing. The 5 valve panel that I have will do both, although filling the fresh tank from the pump is not shown on the panel diagrams. All it takes is switching one valve from "Winterize" to "Suction Fill" with the others in the "Winterize" configuration depicted on the panel.

Thanks for the response! So I don't "over" hijack this thread with random pics, here's a URL to a photo of my panel. Not sure how to tell if it is 4 or 5 valve? Water Works Panel Image

Edited to update link to hopefully work based on comment below...