Camping trips often require you to have a freshwater supply to meet your hygiene and hydration needs.
And if you know how to refill fresh water tank during camping, you’ll indeed have a more comfortable and enjoyable camping experience! That’s because of the lesser problems you’ll be facing, especially since water is the most important need for camping survival.
Here are various methods on how you can fill fresh water tanks for campers like you, with or without a hose!
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Ways to Refill a Freshwater Tank During Camping
Some campsites already come with freshwater available, so you won’t need to deal with filling fresh water tank on RV.
But if the campsite doesn’t come with some freshwater supply or you need to refill your tank before you go or leave, you may fill fresh water tank on travel trailer through these methods.
Method 1: Pump Refilling
This is the most common way to fill RV water tank with freshwater. These pumps are usually built-in and can be found in your motorhome’s utility area.
- To refill using a pump, you have to prepare your freshwater in a container or jug first.
- Then, set up your pump by connecting one side of the hose to your RV’s intake valve and the other side to the water jug or container.
- Connect the pump to your trailer’s batteries or to any power supply using alligator clips. And, turn on the valve to siphon all the water into your tank.
This process also works when you use a portable fresh water tank with a pump.
Method 2: Faucet Refill
This method works if you have access to fresh water on your campsite directly from a faucet.
- Set your intake valve to ‘Local or City Supply’ and attach the hose (used for freshwater only) directly to the camp’s water spigot.
- To avoid leaks, you may want to add an RV fresh water tank fill adapter before you attach the hose.
- After the hose is firmly connected– turn it on while making sure that the water pressure is just right. Monitor the water level from time to time as well.
Method 3: Gravity Filling
Usually, small travel trailers come with a gravity fill RV fresh water tank, and this is also one common way to fill Jayco fresh water tank.
If your camper comes with this, you can gravity fill your freshwater tank by having the following materials:
- A funnel
- A cut of 6-12 in of a portable hose.
You can follow these easy steps:
- First, remove your gravity fill’s connection cap and get the hose that you cut out and place it directly into your gravity fill inlet.
- Place the funnel right above the other end of the hose and pour your fresh water.
Check out this video if you want a visual instruction on how to use this method:
Method 4: Pressure Filling
Some trailers only come with a pressure fill and not a gravity fill. So in such cases, you can try the following ways to fill fresh water tank on camper.
- Using Your Tank’s Air Vents
Instead of filling up your trailer’s gravity fill inlet, you can use your tank vent inlet (also called the threaded hose connection). Again, put the cut hose and funnel right into your inlet and pour the water straight.
- Using Drill Pumps
You can also get yourself a drill pump that can pump fresh water straight into these inlets without using those funnels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where To Fill RV Fresh Water Tank?
Leaving your house with a full water tank means that you’ll end up consuming more gas because of a heavier RV. Here are some water sources where you can obtain fresh water when traveling to lessen the load:
1. Travel Centers And Stopovers On Highways
When traveling on highways, you’ll often come across travel centers and rest areas that provide water stations for RVs and campers.
These designated water stations offer a convenient and easily accessible option for refilling your fresh water tank. But take note that this usually comes with a fee.
2. National Parks
Most national parks recognize the importance of freshwater for visitors and offer a designated RV water filling station throughout the park.
3. RV Dump Stations
RV dump stations are not just for waste disposal; many of them also provide fresh water sources. While primarily intended for cleaning purposes, utilizing RV dump stations for water refilling can be a practical solution when other sources are unavailable.
4. Campground Freshwater Hookups
Many campgrounds provide water hookups directly at the camping site, allowing for easy and convenient tank refilling.
These hookups typically consist of a dedicated water connection that you can attach your hose to, eliminating the need for additional equipment or searching for external water sources.
What You Can Do If You Cannot Find Water Sources?
Whether you will be camping or will be using it for mobile detailing services off-road, if water is unavailable– you might want to stock up on a lot of bottled water.
If not, you may be able to find other potable water sources. You can obtain fresh water from a public spring, river, or lake.
Ensure that you purify your water if you choose this option with portable water filtration systems. If that’s not available, you can boil the water for a minute or more if you are in higher areas.
Then, use the pressure filling or gravity filling technique to place the water into your RV’s water tank.
How Long Can You Leave Water In Your Freshwater Tank?
It’s recommended that you leave water for only two weeks in your RV’s fresh water tank. That’s if you’re consuming the water. But if you’re only using the water for cleaning, flushing, and showering, extending it to a few more weeks may not hurt.
Just make sure that the water doesn’t come in a slight change of color or a foul smell to ensure safety.
Conclusion
Knowing how to refill fresh water tank during camping is extremely important for maintaining a stress-free outdoor experience. You wouldn’t want to experience a headache just because you ran out of fresh water supply!
With a filled fresh water tank, you can venture into the great outdoors with confidence and enjoy your camping adventures to the fullest!
So, research the campsite beforehand, plan and prepare ahead, and enjoy! Happy camping!
“Hi, I’m Francis’ husband—Calvin. Our story began with our shared passion for traveling. I have had a career journey for over 11 years at Ford Motor Company, where I took on the role of BMS SW Process Engineer.
Together with my wife, I have dedicated countless hours to exploring every nook and corner of the world. Ten years living in an RV may seem long, but time seems to fly by when I’m doing what I love with the person I love.
FMCA’s 103rd International Convention & RV Expo in Gillette, WY,
Like my wife, I hope to help you see the beauty of traveling off the beaten path by sharing insights into this lifestyle. In addition to my corporate roles, I also launched our website – Outdoorbits, in 2015 and continue to contribute my knowledge and skills to the present day. And I’ll be completely honest with you—no hiding the truth or sugarcoating the possible challenges.
So, if you want to run away from the busy lifestyle to embrace nature, I’m your guy.”