Bottle to Tank Water Transfer

Ramblinman

Ramblinman

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
506
Location
Alberta, Canada
I am going to Baja again in January. During my last visit I transferred water via big water bottle manually to the camper. I did this by pouring half the big bottle in to a 5 gallon water can and then physically lifted the can an poured in to the tank of my Hawk while my G/F held a funnel. This works but is messy and time consuming.

I am wondering if anyone has any better solutions?

Thanks
 
I learned long ago not to lift heavy jugs of water. I found a 12V pump at Harbor Freight that does the job quite well. I use it with two 10 ft purified water hoses (the white ones). I also use a small folding hand truck to haul the jugs of water around.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-marine-utility-water-pump-94639.html

I would run it off the truck battery with some jumper cables rather than draw down house battery.

I keep the hoses coiled and screwed to themselves to keep them clean inside and I bought a couple of hose end caps to keep the pump clean.
 
Sweet idea. Would like to wire that pump so it could be used with a 2000 watt gen.
Any pre-made wiring kits out there for that?
 
Buy a access port for your water tank. Get them from a marine boat supply. Cut this into the top of your tank. Then you just pour the water in. Spend the money and get a good one since most of us fill the water tank to the top and sloshing causes spillage if its a cheap one.
 
bike4mee said:
Buy a access port for your water tank. Get them from a marine boat supply. Cut this into the top of your tank. Then you just pour the water in. Spend the money and get a good one since most of us fill the water tank to the top and sloshing causes spillage if its a cheap one.
Click to expand...

Alternate idea for certain...but damn, that much to avoid filling the tank from the outside? My personal approach to our '16 Hawk is to not put any more holes in the camper than it came with....nor cut into any part of the camper...we got all the options we needed and wanted...hopefully, I can maintain the integrity of the Hawk without an "invasive procedure" .. :D

Each of us has a different set of ideas and sensibilities for sure...so to each their own...

Phil

Ps...Pump listed above is an easy "off grid" fix and it delivers about 4.3 gallons per min so at most [26 gal] that is only 6 mins of pumping time...plus changing jugs!

PPs...Another person suggested a jug on the roof and a siphon hose into the filler opening....no pump..but of course getting the jug on the roof would be a grunt...
 
The Harbor Freight pump I linked is 12 volt only so it wouldn't work with a generator. It only takes 2 minutes to empty a 5 gal jug. and, the specs say it will lift up to 35 feet. It only needs to lift 4 or 5 feet for a FWC. The fittings on the pump match right up to your garden hose fitting.
 
I carry a 5-gallon bucket and a pump like that for filling the water tank from sources other than faucets. For example, Forest Service campgrounds often have hand-operated well pumps. A folding bucket would take up less space.
 
I use a "water bandit", that I screw on the top of a military (Scepter) 5 gal water can. I screw a home made adapter (short length of RV water hose with a female hose fitting) on to the "water bandit", then stand on something to gain some height before pouring into the camper.

If I had to do this more often, I would rig up a 12v pump and hose, like Camper Rich does. But most of my trips are short so it's very rare I have to refill the camper.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-22484-Water-Bandit-Lead/dp/B000EDOSKG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479574892&sr=8-1&keywords=water+bandit
 
I assume your camper has a manual hand pump, therefore, rather than buying a special transfer pump, I suggest you look at buying and converting your camper water system to an electric pump. I am also assuming that you also have a separate camper battery. A Sureflo pump available at Camping World or other sources can be plumbed to also draw water out of any container. Also your generator, if it has a battery charger feature, will in fact run the pump. I have a class C camper that has this setup which in my case also works great to draw anti-freeze into the water system to winterize the camper.
 
Durango1 said:
I've only used this a few times but it has worked well. I spliced a cigarette lighter adapter on to it.
Click to expand...

Thanks...

Combined with our folding 5 gallon bucket and this submersible pump could be a winner....lifts about 9 feet..

Only concern is the contamination of our drinking water by passing through this pump...

Phil
 
You might consider a bilge pump such as those made by Rule, Attwood or Whale. One difference in pumps to consider is that bilge pumps pump a lot of water but not into a pressure tank while the pumps like the Sureflo pump less volume but against pressure. Another item to consider is whether the manufacturer considers the pump suitable for potable water.

Paul
 
Here's my Baja solution. I faced the same dilemma last spring knowing that water would be the limiting factor to length of remote beach stays.

I carry three 7 gal water jugs on the floor of the back seat of the truck. IMG_0267.JPG

You can buy them here: https://www.rei.com/product/618168/reliance-aqua-tainer-7-gal

I pump the water from the jug using these:IMG_0265.JPG
IMG_0266.JPG

You can get those items here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006JLSNI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. And here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O892Q6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I store it all in one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BLACK-DECKER-SOFT-SIDED-16x10x10-TOOL-AND-ACCESSORY-BAG/192038021686?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3De4a4aff2dfad4364b67cf2b987abb5aa%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D262190882600

Total time to unload, pump, and put it all back in the truck less than 20 minutes. Cerveza time. Refill at an aqua purificada station when you finally work your way through 47 gals of water. Return to beach for more of same!
 
I use a small, 12v food grade, liquid transfer pump to transfer water from my 5G Sceptre water cans to the camper's water tank.

I would be very leary of using any pump not certified "food grade". Contamination/illness from petroleum is a real possibility if not "food grade" quality.
 
Advmoto18 said:
I use a small, 12v food grade, liquid transfer pump to transfer water from my 5G Sceptre water cans to the camper's water tank.

I would be very leary of using any pump not certified "food grade". Contamination/illness from petroleum is a real possibility if not "food grade" quality.
Click to expand...
I think it is important to use a food grade storage container for your water storage prior to transfer. Avoid those pesky phthalates and BPA compounds. Personally I am not concerned with water flowing through a pump at a rate of 3 gallons/minute. But, if we have a food safety specialist on the forums I would love to stand corrected.
 
Are the FWC water tank and hoses "food grade"? I've seen nothing to indicate that they are BPH free but I would hope they are.
 
camper rich said:
Are the FWC water tank and hoses "food grade"? I've seen nothing to indicate that they are BPH free but I would hope they are.
Click to expand...
That's a good question. I always assumed they were since we are dealing with potable water containers and plumbing.

Surely there are at least state, if not federal regs governing such for the industry. Otherwise, it would not be potable.
 
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