Where to refill fresh water on the road?

[mxman132]

Does anyone have suggestions on how to refill fresh water on the road? I do not stay in campgrounds, stay in Walmarts when traveling, and boondock on the weekends. Thanks.

[Corvette Man]

Most Flying J's have fresh water for Free.

[Lukeaa]

Every home and commercial building in the U.S. has fresh water available. I have found that all I have to do is ask. Carry plenty of water hose to get to the faucet.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Places where you dump your tanks often have potable water available. If necessary, you can go to a campground or state/local park to dump and/or fill the fresh tank. There will be a fee, of course.

Cabella's stores, Canadian Tire, Fred Meyer's stores, FLying J's and such are RV friendly and have fresh water and dump stations. In some states the Rest Areas will have them too.

And small businesses are often amenable to a simple request to use an outside water tap. Especially if you just bought something there.

[MMouser]

With almost forty years of looking for water on the road, it's still the same idea.
You have to take every opurtunity available too top off the tanks. This also involves emptying whatever tanks you can. The way I see it even if only a few hundred miles have passed and I only need a few gallons to top off or elliminate 1/3 or a 1/4 tank, I am always at 100%.
In todays world the fuel center is my best place to service the coaches water needs. I am doing buiseness at thier location and utilizing the ammenities they have offerd me.
By staying on top of conditions you normaly will not need to scoung around for fills or dump location.
With the vast numbers of RVers out thier in need of these services some locations and individuals can and are pushed to thier limits for requested freebies.
It has to be taken into consideration also the type and size of your unit when requesting water.
It is nothing to fill a class B or slide-in next to a 7-11. It is a entire different matter when a 40/45 foot bus in need of 150/200 gallons makes this request.
Those who never before considerd the cost to them for water, today think about the bills
Once again if you stay on top of levels your demand is usualy smaller thus easier to find.
Be prepared to aquire your request for water by having assorted fitting, spliters and hoses. If you fill water tanks while doing something else like fueling no one even takes notice. You have not delayed the people behind you one bit. In most cases places that where or could be available for water are not. The reason being rude, dirty, inconsiderate RVer types took advantage of what was offerd and made available and caused the bottom line to be a negative proposition on the provider.
What was availble to all just 5 years ago is a thing of the past because so many have been inconsiderate. Individuals, municipalities and even states no longer offer or maintain easy access sites for travel trailers and RVers.
You ask where to get clean water which one day will be like gold.
If RVers have left such a good impression why are there more signs for NO PARKING, NO DUMPING, NO STOPPING, NO CAMPING, NO NO NO.
Are those causing the problems even RVers?
Let us be realistic and define just who is out on our highways and biways.
From 2008 on, things are not the same, are they?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

[steelheadbluesman]

You are right on, MMouser, so it is now more important than ever for those of us on the road to start making the effort, and to not simply take advantage. An attitude of fairness and gratitude is all it takes. Back to the original post, we have found that private RV parks, and especially State Parks, will usually let you have water, if you just ask. And if you have a "water weasel" you can hook to the spigots in Forest Service campgrounds to fill up.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

I've even purchased bottled water or water from those dispensing machines to replenish my tanks. The dispensing machines are cheaper then bottled water, but hey, if you need water you need water.

Obviously I don't fill my tanks that would be too expensive, but we only travel with about a 1/4 tank anyway.

[blacktie.shooter]

If you NEVER use campgrounds, and ALWAYS boondock, I can see you have a little different situation than most, or at least, many of us.

Like Bob, I never travel with never more 80 lbs. of fresh water, 0 lbs. in black and grey, and now looking at fuel stops more carefully - do I always need nearly a half ton of fuel? See where I am going? When I compare the difference in my coach fully loaded and towing, vs. empty and nearly dry, at today's fuel prices, I pay a lot more attention to what I do or don't need on board.

I guess this is off the original subject; "Sorry 'bout that."

[full-timer]

I've filled up with water at FlyingJ,rest areas and Murphy gas stations. There is water sometimes you have to look a while to find it.

Joe