How To Refill Fresh Water Tank During Camping – 10 Best Sources

When you go camping, it might seem the best part of your life. But it comes with challenges, and among all the greatest challenges is How to refill fresh water tank during camping.

Camping in your RV is all fun until you realize your freshwater tank is about to finish. Of course, you bring enough water supply for other uses apart from the fresh water tank, whatever you do you will still need fresh water.

The Size of Your Water Tank:

The water capacity of your RV tank depends upon its size because the freshwater tank’s size is associated with the tank sizes. If RV size is bigger, it can hold more water comparative to the smaller RVs.

But if it is otherwise, your RV will store a lesser number of water gallons.

Of course, you must have bought your RV according to your needs and it must have been fulfilling them.

However, even then you should know how to use it efficiently so that its water capacity becomes sufficient for you and do not run out of fresh water.

There are several ways through which you can increase the water capacity of your RV, you can refill your fresh water tank during camping and learn to utilize water efficiently to save it till the last day of camping.

What To Do If You Want To Prolong Your Camping?

Imagine a scenario where you are camping at a site and it enchants you so much that decide to extend your stay there. You have packed extra food as well, have enough stuff that is required for extra days on camping.

But how are you going to fill your water tanks?  A big question that might haunt you and force you to let go of your decision.

Since all the problems come with solutions, so if you want to extend your camping days and spend more time on a site that relaxes you, you must know the ways to cope with the deficiency of water.

There are a dozen of ways that can help you save your water till the last day and get you extra water when you completely run out of your water.

But it’s not that easy there might be some bumps down on the road, so be prepared to embrace.

This article has complete guidelines on how to purchase the right containers and gear for refilling RV’s tank with fresh water, so you can find out where to and how to refill your water tank when you are camping.

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Some useful /gadgets to pack before you embark on your camping journey:

1) Water Bandit and Water Tank Filler

2) Marine Water Filter (with a Flexible Hose Protector)

Marine water filter comes with a flexible hose protector, that cleans your drinking water and filters the dust, particles, and germs from it. You can implant it in your RV, or can take it separately to use only when it is needed.

3) Water Sanitization:

You should ensure that the freshwater tank is sanitized before you begin your camping journey. There are several ways you can do sanitization of your freshwater tanks at home as well.

You can get it done with the help of your RV facilitator. It is important because it inhibits the chances of bacterial growth in the tank.

Because sometimes you manage to get clean water during camping but still it harms you, the reason is the unhygienic condition of your RV’s freshwater tank. Therefore, regular cleanliness of the tank is equally necessary.

4) Cordless Drill Pumps To Pump Water:

5) Tank Vent: 

That is why the vent system is important as it acts like a vacuum relief for low air pressure tanks.

Some Useful Hacks To Refill your Water Tanks While Camping

When you plan prolonged boondocking you might have options for freshwater, but researching all the possible options before your trip can save you from troubles and ruining your trip.

Six reliable places to fill your freshwater tank from:

1) Freshwater Tank Filling Through Campground Hook-Ups:

Many camping sites offer fresh-water hookups to the campers. These underground water systems like hand pumps or boreholes, provide clean water and freshwater.

Since such services are established by the community, therefore you will have to pay for the water as well, though not separately but inclusive in the payment of the camping site.

Several national parks and forests also provide the facility of freshwater hook-ups but it’s always necessary to check beforehand whether water hookup is in working or have dried up.

In order to connect your water tank to the freshwater faucet, you need to connect its one end to the water source available at the campground.

Make sure you have the abovementioned equipment; bandit and hose with you, then fit the hose to the tap with the help of the bandit tightly. Fit the other end firmly into the portable water connection on your RV.

Tight and proper fitting is necessary to prevent the loss of water.

If your hose has a water valve that can control the flow of water that is great because you can control water flow and fill the tank smoothly.

2) Water Filing Facility at Sewage Sites:

Throughout your camping journey, you will find many dump stations to empty your wastage tanks.

Where you can sometimes also find freshwater hookups to refill your water. So while you’re dumping your sewage, you can refill your freshwater tanks as well.

You’ll might have to pay for freshwater refilling at such locations, but you may sometimes get lucky enough to have free freshwater supply at these sites.

Besides it, you might get highway service centers that offer water hookups, dump stations, along with the facility to fill up your gas.

Very few of them do offer a shower facility, as they have proper shower rooms in case campers need it.

Each facility will charge you up to $5 to 20$ respectively. But having all of such facilities in one place is a relief. Plus, do proper research of your route and get to know what is coming in your way so you can get facilitated.

3) Ask a Neighboring Camper:

Of course, its not only you alone boondocking at a site. There must be some other people having the fun. Socialize, introduce yourself to them, take your neighbor’s introduction.

Offer what you have with you out of some food supplies and other necessities, and in return, you can ask them for freshwater.

If you are lucky enough you will definitely get it.

One thing to be careful of, if you get the opportunity of neighbors don’t invade their privacy and be respectful towards them.

People at camping usually considerate enough to help others.

If they are ready to share extra water with you, you can directly fill your freshwater tank by building a connection from their tank to your tank and pump it with the help of a siphon.

Or you can take the extra water in your empty water containers that you can externally connect to your RV later.

This will help fulfill your need for extra water and you can boondock longer without any issue.

4) Use Bottled Water To Refill Your Tank:

If nothing works for you then this tip can work. This isn’t as efficient as other tips but it’s a good hack.

Fill your water tank with bottled water. Yes, bottles of water can fill your freshwater tank.

The reason is that you can easily access water bottles from a nearby store, a shop, or public water source on your way to the campground.

Water bottles are helpful in several ways like if you forget to carry a water bandit and pump with you, you can refill your bottles, and then refill your RV tank with the help of bottled water.

This method is also used by many campers, it allows you to easily refill your water tank anytime, anywhere without worrying about gadgets.

5) Extra Smart Water Containers:

The wisest of all wise is to take along some spare water containers with you during boondocking.

Some containers don’t take up much space. Therefore, it is preferable to take along foldable water tanks instead of plastic containers, they will not occupy a lot of areas when empty.

There are multiple options, collapsible water containers and aqua tank water bladders are few to name.

You can fill up some water containers in your RV when you’re planning to set out. Of course, they will take some space when they are filled even if they are smart foldable containers.

But the important point to note here is that extra water will make your RV heavier and it will consume more fuel to carry heavy loads.

If you are not taking water-filled tanks, you can just take them empty with you.

They will be useful to bring water from water sources to your RV and put water back into your water tanks by siphon or pump or simply by gravity pull.

Last words on How To Refill Fresh Water Tank During Camping

You should always be conscious of the fact that it’s not enough for you to just focus on refilling clean water, managing your freshwater supplies is equally important.

First of all, try to adopt all those tricks through which you can save your freshwater and other water supply.

This might prevent the need to refill your water tanks again and again.

It is obvious that you’re going camping to enjoy and take a break from the world, and in such cases, you do not want to meet any trouble in our way.

But there’s a huge chance that you will run out of water if you are not conserving water and generously using water in showers.

You should know about the closeby city water supplies or campsite water supplies.

If you are camping in the winter season, here's a detailed step by step guide on How to Keep RV Pipes From Freezing While Camping 

Following the aforementioned hacks and guidelines on how to refill RV’s fresh water tank will help you deal with an insufficient supply of water.

All these tips are used and experimented with by regular campers. These tips will be your life saver while you get to enjoy your camping.