How To Refill Fresh Water Tank During Camping? – 5 Easy Ways

The water tank in RV is the main source of water for you while camping. Even when you are boondocking, you cannot rely on natural water sources. Not all water sources are consumable, it is very necessary to filter and purify your water before drinking.

Especially, when we are experiencing climate change, we cannot rely on freshwater bodies in nature. The tanks in your RV does the task for you and you can enjoy your trip without any worries and without getting dehydrated.

There are 3 tanks present in your RV- a black water tank, a Gray water tank, and a freshwater tank. Two of them are used for wastewater, but the freshwater tank stores and pumps the potable water.

Of course, tanks have a limited capacity of water in them, and a refill is necessary. However, cleaning your tanks now and then is equally necessary.

REMEMBER- water stored in a properly cleaned tank should be consumed within two weeks.

Scarcity of water is also a very well known concept to us. Planning your expenditure of water and avoiding wasting it will help you from refilling it frequently.

We have some basic but important and right ways to refill your freshwater tank.

Let’s get started, shall we?

5 Easy Ways To Refill Your RV Freshwater Tank

1. Use A Faucet/Tap

Refilling your tank with this method is the easiest of all as it requires only a hose and water supply.

This can only work when you go camping in the city or to a campsite with water supply facilities.

Carry the right type of hose is very important, not every hose is made for transferring drinking water. You need to look for the drinking water hose.

These are made for the function of transferring drinkable water. It does change the taste of water no matter what is the conditions of water or what is the condition outside.

• Connect the hose to the tap/faucet from the rubber end side and enter the other end to inside the “portable water only†sign or the refill spot.
  
• Make sure to fix the hose to the tap properly and don’t wastewater.
  
• Then start the water supply and keep a check on the pressure of the water.
  
• Make sure to maintain the right pressure of the water. Otherwise, too much pressure will damage your RV pipes inside the camp.
  
• Various hoses come with a pressure regulator on them. That will tell you if the pressure is too high.
  
• Keep monitoring the level of water in your tank to avoid overflow and wastage.

2. Use A Pump

This method comes in handy when you are boondocking when there is no water or basic supplies. If you want to know more about boondocking, then you can check out our complete guide on our website.

You will require water jugs to carry extra water with you. Fill these jugs with fresh water and carry them along with you for extra water resources to refill later.

• Set up the pump with the drinking water hose linking it to the refill spot.
  
• The pump requires 12 volts to function, which can be fulfilled by connecting it to the car’s battery.
  
• You will also require alligator clips to accomplish this.

You can power up the water pump if a refill is required again.

3. Do It Manually

This method can never go wrong as it does not require a pump, as pumps can be damaged sometimes.

• You are required to have a mobile water jug that could hold up to six or more gallons of water in it, and a big funnel from any hardware store.
  
• Insert the Funnel in the refill spot and hold the water jug above it and tilt. Gravity will do its work.
  
• If the refill spot is too high you can climb up the ladder and follow the same steps.
  
• If the mouth of the water jug is too big you can use a host as well.
  
• Take extra precautions while transferring water since it’s a manual method and the chances of contamination are relatively higher.

4. Use A Drill Pump

This technique is both easy and effective at is uses mechanisms like drills and pumps. The equipment required in this is also small in size and occupies less storage space.

The drill is powered by attaching the main pumping mechanism to an electric or not electric drill. Investing in a good drill pump will save you from the pain of refilling your freshwater tank manually.

5. Use Water Vent (If Available)

This technique is a bit conditional. Many trailers come with an advanced refilling system.

It contains a small vent called a water vent, it is used to signify to us that the water tank is full and it starts sprinkling out water from the vent. The vent looks like a small hole with a mesh lid on it.

If the water can come out of the vent the water can enter too. Just remove the mesh lead from the vent; attach a plastic funnel and empty the water jug into the tank.

Things To Take Care Of While Refilling

Bonus: How to Refill RV Tank Without A Pump

Using the manual trick or gravity is always easy but holding a very heavy water jug for even a minute is very painful.

Who doesn’t like a good hack when the hack uses no electricity and minimum efforts?

These are the steps to follow on how to refill your RV tank without a pump.

• You will require a water jug with a tiny hole drilled on the opposite side of the water dispensing end. The hole should be of course on the top otherwise it will be leaking.
  
• Secure the hole temporarily with a screw.
  
• Fill the jug with water and bring it to your RV.
  
• Now you need a drinking hose that perfectly fits with the water spout on the jug and to the refill point. If not then you might need some attachments for both ends.
  
• Attach the hose with the water jug and enter it into the tank refill spot.
  
• Make sure to keep your jug on a level higher than the spot.
  
• Maybe on the top of your car or you can hold it while you are on a ladder.
  
• Tilt the jug and remove the screw.
  
• This will create pressure in the jug which will push out all the water from it to the hose and the tank. Because the hole started to suck in air and air pushed the water out.

This technique is perfect pressure wise and convenience wise. As it does not take a long time to empty the jug due to the pressure generated in it. You don’t have to worry about carrying an extra pump for the refill process.

FAQs

Conclusion

All these methods are easy and also tried and tested. Now that you know these methods, you don’t want to worry about the mammoth task of refilling the tank anymore.

Although it is crucial to conserve and use water wisely while camping, lets also not forget about the two finishing the water in the tank before two weeks.

Let us know in the comment section about your experiences of water refilling and if you have any more suggestions. We would love to hear those.

Check out our other articles on dry camping, hammock camping, yurt camping and much more.

Until then happy camping!