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Old 05-10-2006, 11:41 PM   #1
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My wife and I like to boondock. We use a lot of campgrounds that do not have hookups. Most of the campgrounds that we do use have potable water, and so we travel with an empty water tank.

Generally, I go to the nearest water spigot with a 7-gallon water container and fill it and take it back to the trailer and use a large funnel to fill the tank. This takes at least four trips, and I'm sure you know how heavy 7 gallons of water are.

What I would like is some kind of pump to transfer the water from the container to the tank. Any suggestions?

Someone at work told me that they have seen a plastic hand pump selling at various places for $1.99. I've also been told that there are some battery-powered pumps.

Whatever will work the best and keep me from having to lift 7-gallon containers of water.
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Old 05-11-2006, 05:40 AM   #2
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We threaded a faucet with a garden hose connector into the cap and connected our water hose to that. As the tailgate of the pickup is higher then the water tank it drained into the tank. Because the gravity method was too slow, we bought a bilge pump in the boat department at Wal-Mart and screwed it into the cap of the seven gallon jug. We used an adapter to adapt the 3/4" pipe threads to garden hose threads. we attached our water hose to the pump, lay the jug on it's side, because the pump is not self priming and turn on the pump.
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Old 05-11-2006, 06:41 AM   #3
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Quote:
We threaded a faucet with a garden hose connector into the cap and connected our water hose to that. As the tailgate of the pickup is higher then the water tank it drained into the tank. Because the gravity method was too slow, we bought a bilge pump in the boat department at Wal-Mart and screwed it into the cap of the seven gallon jug. We used an adapter to adapt the 3/4" pipe threads to garden hose threads. we attached our water hose to the pump, lay the jug on it's side, because the pump is not self priming and turn on the pump.
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Old 05-11-2006, 06:47 AM   #4
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That looks like the ticket!

I'll start shopping! Thanks!
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Old 05-11-2006, 06:51 AM   #5
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What a great set up, George. The pump is closer to the trailer then the container??

Bob, you need a cart so you don't have to carry it either.
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Old 05-11-2006, 04:40 PM   #6
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Quote:
The pump is closer to the trailer then the container??
The pump is attached to the container. The white hose attaches to the pump.
Great Idea! I too, am going shopping!
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Old 05-14-2006, 10:38 AM   #7
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Quote:
We threaded a faucet with a garden hose connector into the cap and connected our water hose to that. As the tailgate of the pickup is higher then the water tank it drained into the tank. Because the gravity method was too slow, we bought a bilge pump in the boat department at Wal-Mart and screwed it into the cap of the seven gallon jug. We used an adapter to adapt the 3/4" pipe threads to garden hose threads. we attached our water hose to the pump, lay the jug on it's side, because the pump is not self priming and turn on the pump.
A few questions before I hit the store.

Which size bilge pump did you buy? Does the pump just screw directly into the water container (I have the same contrainer)? If not, what kind of adpater do you purchase (part numbers would be a big help, if you have them handy)? How do you power the bilge pump? Battery?

All part numbers or detailed descriptions would be a huge help.

Thanks!
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Old 05-14-2006, 02:22 PM   #8
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With a pump to handle the transfer from portable tank to trailer, the remaining area of improvement is getting from the water source to the trailer with less effort. I noticed at WalMart the other day that in addition to the usual cylindrical and more square water jugs, they now have a version with wheels and a folding handle, which looks to me like a perfect match for this requirement.

No lifting because of the pump; no carrying because of the wheels.
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Old 05-15-2006, 05:38 AM   #9
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Great topic!
We've encountered the same problem. A bilge pump is a great solution. Tall thick grass makes a cart useless, but a way 2 people can carry together would make a big difference.
Thanks for reminding us about seeking a solution to a problem which will occur in less than a month.
Kurt & Ann K.
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Old 05-15-2006, 07:23 AM   #10
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Quote:
A few questions before I hit the store.

Which size bilge pump did you buy? Does the pump just screw directly into the water container (I have the same contrainer)? If not, what kind of adpater do you purchase (part numbers would be a big help, if you have them handy)? How do you power the bilge pump? Battery?

All part numbers or detailed descriptions would be a huge help.

Thanks!
The pump I used is a Model A4240 Attwood A500 Aerator Pump, which screwed into the 3/4" pipe threads in the cap of the blue seven gallon tank. I carry a group 29 extra battery in the back of the pickup and powered the pump with that. I used a toggle switch to turn the pump off and on. The adapter I used is to convert the outlet pipe threads to garden hose threads.
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Old 05-15-2006, 07:35 AM   #11
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The pump I used is a Model A4240 Attwood A500 Aerator Pump, which screwed into the 3/4" pipe threads in the cap of the blue seven gallon tank. I carry a group 29 extra battery in the back of the pickup and powered the pump with that. I used a toggle switch to turn the pump off and on. The adapter I used is to convert the outlet pipe threads to garden hose threads.
Another use for the same blue seven gallon tank is to transport the grey water to the dump station. Click on my "Twin Bed" link and check out the seven gallon tote link Be sure to read the "how we did it" instructions on the right
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Old 05-15-2006, 09:50 AM   #12
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somebody asked how 2 people could carry weight. how about a log firewood canvas sling? i carry lots of stuff in mine, hardly ever firewood.
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Old 05-15-2006, 05:02 PM   #13
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I use a slightly less high tech method.

I have 1 gallon jugs. They are easier for me to carry. I pour a couple gallons in my "shower" hot water heater (A giant 5 gallon spaghetti pot) and pump the water in from there with my Coleman Battery powered shower. I simply remove the shower head and stick the tube in the water fill opening.

2 gallons pump in while I am headed back to the water source. It takes a couple trips, but no more time.. and my back is much better off for it.
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Old 05-15-2006, 10:14 PM   #14
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Hi George, don`t you have a problem disconnecting your drain hose, since your inlet to the tote is at the bottom, when you have the gray water level about equal in the tote and the hose up to the level of the dump valve? Doesn`t seem too simple, without spilling gray water......suppose you have to stand up your tote before you can do that and possibly still have some gray water in the hose.....Benny
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Old 05-15-2006, 10:36 PM   #15
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Gina,
Since we already have a 5 gallon blue tote like many use for gray water, that is what we've used. It can appear to be quite heavy if carried 300+ feet, particularly if 2 or 3 trips must be made. We wrote "drinking water" in large letters on all sides and have used it for 15 or 20 years.

Potteralice,
A log tote might be just the ticket! It just occurred to me that a 24" 1X3 with a slot across each end might fit through the blue tote's handle and allow 2 of us to carry it.


Thanks one and all for your helpful suggestions!
Kurt & Ann K.
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Old 05-16-2006, 02:59 AM   #16
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Hi George, don`t you have a problem disconnecting your drain hose, since your inlet to the tote is at the bottom, when you have the gray water level about equal in the tote and the hose up to the level of the dump valve? Doesn`t seem too simple, without spilling gray water......suppose you have to stand up your tote before you can do that and possibly still have some gray water in the hose.....Benny
Benny,
Your right it is a tight fit. It works best to rotate the drain to the up position, before disconnecting the hose, which gives more clearance.
I should of mentioned, to only fill the tote about half full, so you can disconnect the hose withouot spilling. Four gallons is about all I want to lift into the back of the pickup.
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Old 05-16-2006, 08:34 AM   #17
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Figured about 1/2- 3/4 full would about be the limit to tilt it up and drain the excess from the hose...thanks...Benny
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Old 06-20-2006, 09:11 PM   #18
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I too have grown tired of filling the water tank in our 1984 Casita with a hose and funnel. So after reading about the clever techniques described by the FGRVers in this thread, I also developed an improved method to fill the water tank. First, I fill a 7 gallon portable Reliance tank with about 4 gallons of water (not too heavy to carry from the spigot). Then I use a brand new Jabsco electric drill-pump to transfer the water from the portable tank into the trailer tank. The electric drill-pump is operated by my cordless 18 V drill (which is always handy for repairs and fix-it jobs), and the system works well to transfer all of the water into the trailer tank in a few minutes. I added a 12" section of new flexible 3/8" ID non-toxic Nalgene tubing for the output hose - this allows me to snake it through the curves inside the trailer to minimize spillage due to backflow. I just used the new green tubing that came with the pump as the input hose, but will change it to new Nalgene in the future. The electric drill pump costs about $23 and is available at marine supply stores or at www.outdoorsuperstore.com. I also tried a hand-operated drill (The Hole Thing) as the source of power for the pump, and it worked OK. But cranking the hand drill was tedious so I'm sticking with the cordless drill. Power tools are fantastic!

Steve


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Old 06-21-2006, 03:44 AM   #19
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Amazing!
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Old 06-21-2006, 07:09 AM   #20
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Steve, I'm liking that. I'm liking that a lot.

I wonder if that would work with my little Skil iXO Cordless Palm Size Screwdriver. We have all types of drills around here, but if that small one would work, that would really be a terrific set up.

It should work if the hand drill does. I also carry an old vintage hand drill that I've used in emergencies to drill out rivets.
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