Finding potable water when boondocking - RV-Dreams Community Forum

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Finding potable water when boondocking

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

This may not work for you, but what I've done in the past is carry two 5-gallon plastic "jugs" that I fill with water and then take it to the coach. Then, using a funnel with a tube attached to the discharge part of the funnel (like a transmission oil filler funnel), I fill the fresh water with that method. Now, in fairness, in the past when I've done that, it was with an RV with a LOT smaller fresh water tank. Now, with a 100 gallon fresh water tank, that previous method would get tedious pretty fast.

Look online for plastic water "bladders" that are used by putting in one's pickup and driving to a water source for filling. A number of those also have pumps that allow one to empty the bladder into the fresh water tank with less effort. Here is a link to one at Camping World, although one would have to buy a pump system separately:

Camping World Water Bladder

None of this will help with the sewage if you are there long enough to need to dump those tanks.

Terry

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

When I plan to boondock I always travel with a full fresh water tank. You'll find that it really doesn't affect performance nor will it affect MPG (maybe lose 1 mpg if hills) to have an extra 800 pounds or so.

However, I have filled up at:
Gas Stations*
City Parks
Fire Stations
Ranger Stations*
Rest Stops
Private Residence (farm)*
Private Campground along the way*
RV Dealer*
Truck Stop*

* I offer to pay for the water however none (but the campgrounds $5.00) have accepted payment. I did buy fuel at the gas station.

waltben · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've vended at art shows up and down the Mid-Atlantic and down to Florida. If the show is anywhere near 'civilization', you should be able to find a tap you can hook up to - we're not suffering from the drought, so I'd think in CA you may have to pay the owner a nominal fee. We've also done a couple of shows that were seriously in the boonies, but were able to make it through five days with simple conservation on a 40 gallon tank. Someone else there had added a 20 gallon tank on thier RV. The bladders mentioned previously would be better in my mind, but you've somehow got to fill them up before getting to where you want.

-- Edited by waltben on Thursday 16th of August 2012 04:37:40 PM

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a 40 gal water bladder which works gravity drain from the roof of the pick up. We also know a friend who puts the bladder on his roof full before he moves into a dry camp area where he knows there is no water. The most interesting experience for us was going up to a house in and area which absolutely no access to potable water and asking the resident if we could buy enough water to fill our bladder. "Fill her up," he said smiling at us, "and no charge." I assume that he thought watching us was entertainment and payment enough. We were thankful because there were no businesses or filling stations for 40 miles.

Larry and JB

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've rigged up a rainwater collection system off my rain gutters. Of course, this only works when it is raining. This is the latest revision, check out the other video for more on rigging up the rain gutters.

[video= http://youtu.be/qQL2DywJzik ]

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Rain water collection is a good idea....just a FYI , in some states out west it is actually illegal although I doubt very seriously any one would pay attention to a single RV capturing and using rainwater.