where to fill up water?

[prof_fate]

Always camped at a campground (well, with a TT).
We want to go the Allegheny Nat Forest this summer for 3 or 4 days and figure to be boondocking.
First time for that.

How/where to fill the freshwater tank is my question. I'd really rather not fill it at home and drag all that weight 150 miles if I have any other option.

I figure I can find a dump station before coming home (never really looked for them either), but am lost on the freshwater issue.

[Ford Idaho]

Ranger station?

Just a heads up, do not use the water at a dump site to fill the fresh water tank.
Most of the time they are posted "Non potable".

Only other suggestion would be to ask at the last place you fill up with fuel.

[hammick]

Around the Pagosa Springs and Buena Vista areas we have found the campground with hookups will let us fill up for about $5.

[08flagvlite]

Some private campgrounds will let you fill your water, or your propane tanks, or allow you to use their dump station for a small fee.

[Still Kickin]

When you say, ANF, are you familiar with that area. Do you know if you will be anywhere near the reservoir, or will you be in more remote area of the ANF.

[prof_fate]

Not familiar with ANF.

[Deaver]

We have stayed at Red Bridge Recreation Area Campground in the ANF. It offered Water and Elec Hookups in their sites.

Coords: N41.77678 W78.88525

You can read more HERE at this Link

[Boruma]

I'm familiar with the area and its developed campgrounds, especially those near Kinzua Reservoir. I'll be boondocking there for the first time the last weekend of June, probably along Browns Run or Jakes Run Rd. (just south of Warren; will be scouting locations this weekend because, if you're as committed a geek as I, overly detailed planning is half the entertainment). Part of the scout will be to ask around about places to tank up before climbing up onto the plateau. I'll post back here, or you can PM me a week from today or later, if you think that information would be useful.

[SKnight]

A full load of water sounds bad, but it's only a few hundred pounds more, less if you already carry some in the fresh tank. I've tried it both ways and the difference towing is negligible.

Otherwise like others have mentioned, fuel stations, ranger station would be your best bets.

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Not familiar with ANF.

Here ya go, this will get you started since its a pretty big area.

Allegheny National Forest Campgrounds

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by Boruma

....will be scouting locations this weekend because, if you're as committed a geek as I, overly detailed planning is half the entertainment...

I agree wholeheartedly! Even after staying at one cg 3 years ago, we went back 2 months ago on a recon and found some camp sites had been renumbered!

[prof_fate]

I'm not interested in being in a campground. I know with a tent you don't have to be. Is that possible with an RV? Cooks forest or any of them?

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

I'm not interested in being in a campground. I know with a tent you don't have to be. Is that possible with an RV? Cooks forest or any of them?

Oh, you wern't clear on what you were specifically asking information on. Im confused, Cooks forest is State, ANF is federal gov't. Your picture shows a pretty big trailer. Can't really haul that rig easily down most of the secondary roads in the ANF.

[JSolomon]

We do about 50/50 camping with hook ups and what we call "off the grid" camping. I usually carry the tank half full of water, in case we stop to use the bathroom or fix lunch along the way. Most gas stations have water available. And even if you are planning to camp away from campgrounds, you should be able to find water to fill up before you land at your site. I also have a 5 gal. plastic "jerry" can just for water too, that I can top off my tank, if the campground has the old hand pumps.

[prof_fate]

Just got back from a CG where we couldn't get the water to not leak..so we filled the tank ~ 1/2 way and got Fri eve, sat, sun no problem - ran out of water filling my coffee pot this morning. 3 kids 2 adults.

[prof_fate]

@still kicken- to me a forest is a forest..ANF Cooks or whatever. Would like to camp in the woods, not in a tent on the ground and not in a campground with others around.

We've all seen the pictures of such places - they're in every RV and brochure.

I know they'd never post pics of the place we camped over the weekend...LOL. Nobody would take up camping if they did.

[dcheatwood]

Watch for country fire stations. Famous for being helpful and usually have room to manuever around them.

[campnqueen]

Some truck stops also have water, sewer dump and propane. Look for Pilot and Flying J's.

[Roving Ron]

Originally Posted by SKnight

A full load of water sounds bad, but it's only a few hundred pounds more, less if you already carry some in the fresh tank. I've tried it both ways and the difference towing is negligible.

Otherwise like others have mentioned, fuel stations, ranger station would be your best bets.

My issue is that I am very near max weight and 300 lbs of water is not an option. I have a device called a "Water Bandit" that allows you to use non-threaded faucets commonly found in campgrounds to fill freshwater tank on site.