Filling fresh water tank without city connection?

[sidney]

Is there a way to utilize the on board 12v water pump to fill the fresh water holding tank from a portable 5 gallon water jug?

I'm thinking about getting a separate water pump to fill the holding tank when a city connection is not available. But if there is a simple way to utilize the existing pump that would be really handy.

[JCamper]

Originally Posted by sidney

Is there a way to utilize the on board 12v water pump to fill the fresh water holding tank from a portable 5 gallon water jug?

I'm thinking about getting a separate water pump to fill the holding tank when a city connection is not available. But if there is a simple way to utilize the existing pump that would be really handy.

Not on my rig. The pump in house only works in one direction, pulling from the fresh tank.
I purchased a second pump that I use hooked from the batteries up front to pull water from jugs to replenish the fresh.

[jeeplj8]

If you search some people have built 12v pumps that they plug into the trailer hitch power on their truck and pump water from tank/jugs in their truck to the camper.

[38FLCamper]

Disclaimer: I have not tried this on our rig but thought about trying it once the weather is nice enough.... We have a sprayer hose in our docking station/wet station.

1. Switch over to Antifreeze fill
2. Hook the sprayer hose into the fresh water inlet
3. Turn on the pump...

I think it will work based on looking at the plumbing... The water should be pulled into the pump through the anti-freeze fill line, and through the sprayer head directly into the tank. What I don't know is if it will have enough pull to reach the bottom of the 55 gal tank we have.

I have a 12 volt pump setup on top of a 55 gallon drum that we use currently when dry camping at the track.

[travyp]

I was going to suggest something similar to 38FLCamper. Most (Not all) already have antifreeze bypasses so your suction is already set up for you. Only thing you would need is to add another bypass on the outlet of the pump hose and divert that to another valve on the inlet side of the hose that could direct it back into the tank. Sounds confusing but really should be fairly easy I'd think. Now I too have never attempted this and it sounds plausible in my head but I would have to actually try it to guarantee it will work.

[arpipeliner]

Might try to turn the valve to the gravity side and suck thru the antifreeze line. Don't know if that was the way I put four gallons of antifreeze in the holding tank. Took several flushes to get it all out.

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by 38FLCamper

Disclaimer: I have not tried this on our rig but thought about trying it once the weather is nice enough.... We have a sprayer hose in our docking station/wet station.

1. Switch over to Antifreeze fill
2. Hook the sprayer hose into the fresh water inlet
3. Turn on the pump...
...

This works just fine. I have used it twice.
I also have a drill pump that works off my cordless.
You don't need high tech, high cost equipment to git-r-done.

[sidney]

Thanks for the replies... looks like I don't need to buy a pump!