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Old 07-07-2013, 08:54 PM   #1
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My solution to extra water storage!

We have been camping for over 20 years and have had several different trailers. I was always tired of running out of fresh water and having to take my blue jug up to the water station and refilling my trailer. I know I am going to get flamed here on how to conserve water, but I always seem to run out especially on those longer trips. Well I decided this weekend to buy 2 more blue jugs and build a storage box that goes in the back of my truck. I bought a pump and mounted it on the side. Now I can run the truck up, fill up the water and pump it right into the trailer. Going to paint it black and then install a switch in the truck bed to control my pump. Let me know what you guys think. Will post some more pics of the finished product and switch when it is completed. I have just under $40 in this including the pump.

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Old 07-07-2013, 09:03 PM   #2
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"I know I am going to get flamed here on how to conserve water, but I always seem to run out especially on those longer trips."

Not by me! I don't try to conserve water while camping. If I'm feelin funky I'ma take a shower. If'n the dishes are dirty I'ma wash 'em.

Of course I live in "the land of lakes, rivers, creeks and bayous"......

Don't mean to be dissin' those who conserve water, that just isn't something I've come across in the campin' world, and yep, I'm admittedly new to this world.
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Old 07-07-2013, 09:05 PM   #3
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I hear ya HERmit. I like being able to use my own shower and bathroom, especially in my new trailer. The bathroom is huge! This just makes it a lot easier to refill the trailer.
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Old 07-07-2013, 09:25 PM   #4
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Very cool!
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Old 07-07-2013, 09:47 PM   #5
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Years ago I had a Cardinal fifth wheel and pulled it with empty water tank to the top of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Planned on filling up at the top but when we got there the only water they had was a spigot for filling jugs. At the time my wife and I had two children and she had stashed eight empty one gallon milk jugs in the camper. Five trips from the camper to the water spigot later we were able to shower, cook and live in comfort for a couple of days before we moved on. Since then I have never complained about her wasting storage space by carrying empty water jugs.
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Old 07-08-2013, 04:43 AM   #6
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something else to think about here... not only do you have extra water, but a spare pump too.
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Old 07-08-2013, 05:44 AM   #7
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We boondock most of the time. I have a 50 gallon container that sits in front of the 5th wheel and a collapsible 45 gallon container that lays on the bed floor behind the 5th wheel. The 45 gallon one comes out once we are set up and have to go for water. A 12 volt pump is used to get water into the 50 gallon fresh water tank of the 5er. Works for us.
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Old 07-10-2013, 02:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keller9431 View Post
We have been camping for over 20 years and have had several different trailers. I was always tired of running out of fresh water and having to take my blue jug up to the water station and refilling my trailer. I know I am going to get flamed here on how to conserve water, but I always seem to run out especially on those longer trips. Well I decided this weekend to buy 2 more blue jugs and build a storage box that goes in the back of my truck. I bought a pump and mounted it on the side. Now I can run the truck up, fill up the water and pump it right into the trailer. Going to paint it black and then install a switch in the truck bed to control my pump. Let me know what you guys think. Will post some more pics of the finished product and switch when it is completed. I have just under $40 in this including the pump.
I did about the same thing for my MH. In fact it looks like the same pump from HF and the jugs from Wally World. I carry six and they fit tightly in the basement. A couple of bungee cords and they are secure. This opens a lot of GC's to us that we wouldn't before because of no water.
That pump is fast for what it cost. I added some wire to reach the battery bay and still have it sitting at the water bay. I found that a light weight hose will collapse under the pressure so ii bought two ten foot hoses the blue heavy duty oned from Wally World and more problems.
Thank for sharing nice project.
One more thing if you carry a 5gal pail you can pump from that and just keep the water coming from the blue jugs. Much faster and easer on the pump.



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Old 07-10-2013, 11:20 PM   #9
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I did something similar as well... to a point. I bought a 30 gallon tank I found on Craigslist just by luck. Someone who thought they'd take an enclosed utility trailer and turn it into a camper and gave up. Had several parts and one thing was a brand new 30 gallon fresh water RV tank. I think I gave 35 bucks for it. I bough the same pump the OP has from HF and set the tank in the bed of my pickup up front by the cab. I usually travel with it empty as I can fill it at most parks, and it's just peace of mind. When we camp for more then 4 days, I usually need to take that extra water. I did buy a 7pin plug at Wally World and wired the pump into the 7 pin. This works so much better I set the pump right in the bed of the truck and plug it in where the trailer connects. It uses the trucks 12V charge line to the camper and I don't have to fart around with the batter cables. Works great! We conserve water but with a 2 yr old and a 6 month old, and two adults, baby bottles galore and a toddler playing hard, it's hard to get more then 4 days out of 55 gallons. With our extra 30 gallon tank, we seem to do just fine.
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Old 07-11-2013, 11:48 AM   #10
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This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas. I bet I spent more on a hand cart to lug jugs around than I would have spent on the pump!

Then there's the half gallon I lose out of every 5 trying to pour it in the goofy opening. (While doing this I try to control the *&# words, but they do slip out)

Duh!

Added to the to-do list. Keller9431 - Thanks for posting the idea.
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Old 07-11-2013, 12:35 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmptrkd View Post
I did something similar as well... to a point. I bought a 30 gallon tank I found on Craigslist just by luck. Someone who thought they'd take an enclosed utility trailer and turn it into a camper and gave up. Had several parts and one thing was a brand new 30 gallon fresh water RV tank. I think I gave 35 bucks for it. I bough the same pump the OP has from HF and set the tank in the bed of my pickup up front by the cab. I usually travel with it empty as I can fill it at most parks, and it's just peace of mind. When we camp for more then 4 days, I usually need to take that extra water. I did buy a 7pin plug at Wally World and wired the pump into the 7 pin. This works so much better I set the pump right in the bed of the truck and plug it in where the trailer connects. It uses the trucks 12V charge line to the camper and I don't have to fart around with the batter cables. Works great! We conserve water but with a 2 yr old and a 6 month old, and two adults, baby bottles galore and a toddler playing hard, it's hard to get more then 4 days out of 55 gallons. With our extra 30 gallon tank, we seem to do just fine.
What an awesome frickin idea...I am on it ( the 7 pin plug, that is)
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Old 07-11-2013, 10:55 PM   #12
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Great idea I would be interested in the how to instructions
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Old 07-11-2013, 11:53 PM   #13
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How many gallons are those blue jugs?
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Old 07-12-2013, 01:18 AM   #14
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6 gal. From WallMart.



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Old 07-12-2013, 05:58 AM   #15
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I could do a write up with the dimensions. I will see what I can do this weekend and.post it up.
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Old 07-12-2013, 07:43 AM   #16
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I just use a funnel. Nice idea though.
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Old 07-12-2013, 09:13 AM   #17
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We, similarly, use the CW 45 gallon collapsible tank in the bed of the pick-up, with a 3gpm pump from Northern Tool. Wired a 7 pin adapter to a 12v plug (two prong) which I use to power the pump, my macerator pump, or any other 12v appliance....
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Old 07-12-2013, 12:12 PM   #18
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Excellent post! Clever idea; I may try and do that too. Thanks......
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Old 07-12-2013, 12:29 PM   #19
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Here's one I worked on in 2007, only holds 210,000 gallons and is 75' x 75' when flat.
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Old 07-12-2013, 01:39 PM   #20
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That ought to keep mine full for a few days!
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