Community Forums

beemerchef · 08-08-2007, 10:51 AM

I yet have to figure this one out... and maybe I am not too smart...
We boondock 99% of the time and of course the first thing we run out is water. Since I trailer a motorcycle with a sidecar for my buddy Spirit we also have extra water cans, about 20 gallons... that 20 gallons makes a difference sometimes added to the 36 gallons the TIOGA 23B has... but I yet have to figure a way to get it in the tank! I cannot hold the cans up high enough to siphe it!!! Little motor maybe?...
Thanks... and be well...

Ara & Spirit

beemerchef · 08-08-2007, 10:51 AM

I yet have to figure this one out... and maybe I am not too smart...
We boondock 99% of the time and of course the first thing we run out is water. Since I trailer a motorcycle with a sidecar for my buddy Spirit we also have extra water cans, about 20 gallons... that 20 gallons makes a difference sometimes added to the 36 gallons the TIOGA 23B has... but I yet have to figure a way to get it in the tank! I cannot hold the cans up high enough to siphe it!!! Little motor maybe?...
Thanks... and be well...

Ara & Spirit

RustyJC · 08-08-2007, 11:00 AM

Ara,

I'm sure someone will come along with a better idea, but a spare 12VDC water pump (as used in your RV's fresh water system) would certainly fill the bill. Just drop a hose from the suction into the can and run a hose from the discharge into the tank's fresh water fill inlet.

This approach would also give you a spare should the main pump fail while you're boondocking.

Rusty

Hitchhiker · 08-08-2007, 11:06 AM

20 gallons of water is heavy to lift, can you use several smaller containers?

If your rig is built with a winterizing valve plumbed in such a manner as to allow you to draw antifreeze into the system from the bottles you might try using it to draw the water in. Otherwise, you'll need another pump like Rusty described to pump it in.

Modifications to the plumbing with a tee on the suction side might work too. Can you place the 20 gallon containers on your truck/car roof before filling, fill them up, and then let them gravity flow into the trailer?

Frankie · 08-08-2007, 11:06 AM

I use a drill pump,around $10.00 at hardware store.Plastic tubing is pretty cheap too!.I had to be a little more creative as I only have a fill valve at the main city hookup.I figured out that my overflow tubes were the same diameter as drill pump outlet,I know I shoulda been a brain surgeon

GaryKD · 08-08-2007, 11:07 AM

Ara,
Where is the water tank located on your rig? I'm asking where dies the tank sit? Same as the main floor? Lower than the main floor?

beemerchef · 08-08-2007, 11:27 AM

Yes, it is on the floor under the sofa bed... actually this makes me think about a little pump that I had for my dinghy to bail out the water... with batteries...
Actually I just went outside after the question as to where the tank is, and I think that if I pull my sidecar near the outlet and put the 5G can on it, I should be able to use one of my siphon hoses, the one with the ball you now... as the can gets lighter of course then I can lfit a bit!
I also want to say that I have just joined this site, and everyone is just... well, very nice! I miss my tent!... but this is great...

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

Paul Heuvelhorst · 08-08-2007, 11:32 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by beemerchef:
We boondock 99% of the time and of course the first thing we run out is water... we also have extra water cans, about 20 gallons... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
When we boondocked, I carried 1 extra 5 gallon bottle. I filled that at the campground water source, typically no more than 2 or 3 sites from where we parked. I can carry 41.5#. Additionally, I carried a large funnel, typically sold at auto parts stores as automatic transmission fluid funnels, and put that in our water fill tube in the trailer (about waist high, 3') and poured the 5-gallon bottle of water into it. 4 trips gave me 20 gallons, the total capacity of that trailer, and would take about 15-20 minutes.

Sparky1 · 08-08-2007, 12:16 PM

Harbor freight tools. sell a 12 volt pump-with garden hose hookups---use a washing maching hose--"new" it will work just fine I used to use mine---
rich in Va.

Ron & Dee · 08-08-2007, 01:16 PM

Beemerchef,

I don't know the layout of your rig, but mine was very simple and handy for adding water to the tank.

I have a 5 gal container that I fill and set on the kitchen sink, run a hose from the container through the kitchen window and down to the tanks fill port which sets directly under the kitchen window, and siphon the water to the tank.

Ron

GaryKD · 08-08-2007, 02:26 PM

Ara,
Since your tank is on the main floor, the siphon solution posted by Ron & Dee should work for you. This is why I asked where the water tank was.

RV Wizard · 08-08-2007, 11:46 PM

You could always retrofit your on board pump to pick up the water and pump it into the fresh water tank. A couple valves and some water line will do it.

V10 man · 08-09-2007, 01:27 AM

I use these jugs found at Walmart. The spout fits into the filler neck just fine.

Joe-K · 08-09-2007, 03:27 AM

I use the exact process Hitchhiker described.

I carry 2 five gallon jugs when we dry camp. I put those jugs beside the rig, set my water valves to the winterize position and tank fill postion then use the rigs water pump to pump the water in the freshwater tank.

The winterizing hose draws the water out of the 5 gallon jugs in about 2 minutes each. I've found adding water is very easy this way and there is no need to lift the jugs to dump in the water.