Water is a necessity on camps, or whenever you are out on the road in your RV. Keeping your RV water tank filled with ready to use water can be problematic if you don’t have a hose long enough to source out the water. Water pumps attached on a hose are typically used to maintain RV water tanks full. Seasoned RV owners and campers even use an RV heated water hose to keep water from freezing out, especially during winter. But even without a pump nor a hose, your water tanks can be manually filled. Here’s how you can fill an RV water tank without the standard water hose:
Step 1: Get a water container that can hold a good amount of water for your tank.
An Aqua-Tainer, usually found in your nearby Walmart stores is a good water container for transferring. This container holds 7 gallons of water. When filled, it can weigh approximately 110 pounds. What makes this great is that it has 2 valves, a larger one and a smaller one. One of the valves can act as where the water can pass through and the other one can be kept open to facilitate water flow when transferring water to the tank.
Step 2: (Optional) Get a foldable luggage trolley that can accommodate your water container.
Carrying 110 pounds of water in one go can be burdensome, especially if the campsite is far from the water source. This luggage trolley can carry the water container so it will be easier for transfer.
Step 3: Make an adjustable stand.
A makeshift adjustable stand can be constructed to support the water container while it fills up your RV water tank. Prepare 2 PVC pipes where one can fit inside the other. Estimate the length of each PVC pipe such that both can reach the height of your RV’s ledge usually above the water tank’s opening. A 1” PVC pipe and a ½” to ¾” one can be used. Drill 5 to 6 holes on the smaller pipe, evenly spaced, for the adjustments. Drill a single hole at the bottom area of the larger pipe, such that the hole of the smaller one can be in line with this pipe. Place the smaller pipe inside the larger one, and secure the height of the stand with a bolt. The bolt can be kept in place with a tie.
Attach another nut and bolt at the top end of the larger PVC pipe. This will serve as an attachment to the wooden platform for later.
Step 4: Assemble a wooden platform and attach it to the stand.
Prepare a wooden platform that can support the water container. Make sure it is wide enough for the container to rest on. Drill a hole at the center edge of the platform and attach it through the bolt of the previously made stand.
Step 5: Assemble the stand and the wooden platform nearby the water opening of the tank.
Put together the wooden platform on the ledge, and the stand on the ground. Make sure that you place these 2 nearby or directly above the water opening of the tank. This setup will facilitate gravitational passage of water to the tank.
Step 6: Get a short hose with a funnel at the other end.
Procure a hose that can fit in the opening of the water tank. The length of the hose is usually estimated based on the length of the water opening to the ledge. You can add a few inches to this measurement for allowance. On the other end of the hose, secure a funnel. This funnel will receive the water from the container and pass it down to the hose, and then towards the water tank.
Some funnels have a hole on one of its sides. You can place the funnel through the bolt from the stand to keep it secure while transferring water.
Step 7: Place the water container on top of the wooden platform.
The water container can be safely placed on top of the wooden platform. Make sure the water valve directly spurts water out through the funnel. Position the container properly.
Step 8: Open the container’s valve to fill up your RV water tank.
You can now open the valve of the water container so water can pass through. If you have a water container with 2 valves, you can also open the opposite one to facilitate water flow while transferring. A full container usually takes a few minutes to empty itself down to your tank.
Alternative Steps:
When your RV does not have a ledge, or you want to skip the hassle of making the platform and the stand, here are alternative steps you can take:
Step 1: Prepare a funnel that will be attached directly on the tank’s opening.
Prepare a funnel that will catch the water from your container. You can place a tubing that will fit the funnel at one end and the tank’s opening at the other end. Secure this funnel with a tie.
Step 2: Fill up a water container and directly pour over to the tank.
Fill up a container that can hold a good amount of water for your tank. It is best for this container to have a spout to avoid spilling the water out. Directly pour it over through the funnel, then towards the water tank.
If you have a reliable water container and a good funnel, you can simply fill up your RV’s water tank in no time. The additional steps given are to facilitate better water transferring. A hose can still best fill it up with ease, but in cases where in there none around, you can always have this alternative for backup.
