Last Updated on April 17, 2023
Traveling by RV is an enjoyable experience, but one thing that can be a hassle is filling up the water tank. Imagine you’re on the road, and you need water for your RV. But there is no hose to fill it. What do you do? Therefore, it will be essential to know how to fill RV water tank without a hose.
We all know that filling up a tank is one of the most arduous jobs we have to do as RVers. Filling a tank without a hose can be difficult and time-consuming.
It is not always possible to fill the tank in an RV without a hose. Luckily, there are some simple ways to make the process more manageable when you’re on the road, camping, or in an emergency.
This article will teach you how to do it with various items around your house.
How to Fill RV Water Tank without a Hose: Fundamentals Methods
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of not having a fresh-water hose to fill your RV reservoir, don’t worry; there are still ways to make it happen. You’re going to need a few supplies, but they will be accessible once you have them.
The following are some fundamental methods to fill your RV tank without any hose:
Method 1: Use a Watering Can or Bucket
The first way to fill your RV’s fresh-water tank without a hose is to use a watering can or bucket. This method is best for smaller tanks, as it can take a while to fill a larger tank using this method.
Here’s how to do it:
- Pour water from your faucet into a bucket or watering can.
- Carry the water to your RV and pour it from there into the tank with a funnel.
- Repeat as necessary until the tank is full.
Method 2: Use a Pitcher or Other Container
Another way that you can fill a small camping site’s tank without a hose is by using a pitcher or other container. A larger container can transport the water from the water source. Here’s how to do it:
- Place a container under the faucet of the water outlet and allow water to pour into the container.
- Carry the filled container to your tank and pour water through a funnel with the pitcher. Repeat as necessary until the tank is full.
Method 3: Camp-ground Freshwater Hookups
If you’re staying at a campground, check if they have fresh water hookups and ask for permission. These hookups are intended for your use, and the water pressure is often strong enough to fill your tank in minimal time.
Filling the tank during camping with tap water is the most commonly used method. If you are staying at a campground, you should be able to get access to their freshwater hookups.
Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the pump valve counterclockwise until you hear a click.
- Open a faucet on the water pipe to drain any residual water from the lines.
- Turn on the pump valve clockwise until you feel pressure building up inside the pipe.
- Keep your eye on the backflow preventer as there may be some leakage before it begins to push out water.
- If this happens, turn the pump valve off and on until it begins to push out water instead of air.
- Turn your water pump onto the potable refill fresh-water tank.
Method 4: Fill the Tank with a Collapsible Jug
This method may be more difficult if you don’t have the correct type of collapsible jug. But it’s worth a shot if you know what you’re looking for. You’ll need to look for a jug with an intake hose and one that is designed to hold potable water.
This jug style typically has a large opening and can collapse down into itself, making it easy to transport.
Using a collapsible water jug to refill a tank is probably the easiest method of those listed here, as it requires no special equipment and can be done quickly.
Here’s how to do it:
- Place the collapsible water jug in your drinking water source with the intake hose submerged in fresh, potable water.
- Fill the jug until complete based on weight.
- Remove the water jug when it is full by lifting it upwards, away from your drinking water source.
- Carry it to your RV and pour the water through a funnel in your tank’s fill port. Repeat as necessary until the tank is full.
- If you are filling a tank with tap water, you should use a collapsible jug to refill the tank.
- Using an intake water hose will prevent the water from becoming contaminated.
- The jug’s weight determines how much water can be held inside.
- Remove the jug using upward force not to create suction on your drinking water source.
- Pour the water from your jug into your RV’s tank through a funnel.
- Repeat as necessary until the tank is full.
Method 5: Fill the Tank with Gravity Fill
You can also fill your tank with the aid of gravity. Many jugs and other containers can be used as a water source for this method, such as made for camping or designed to carry gasoline.
This method does not require any special equipment and is easy to do. Here’s how:
- Place the jug underneath the fill port until it’s full.
- Remove the container and carry it to your RV.
- Place the container higher level from your RV’s fresh-water tank.
- Then, open your RV’s fill port to allow the water to flow into your tank.
- Close the fill port when the water begins spilling out of it, then repeat as necessary until the tank is full.
Using gravity to refill an RV’s tank with tap water is easy and does not require special equipment.
While filling a recreational vehicle’s water tank without a hose, there are a few things that you should take into account.
Things to Consider When Filling Fresh-Water Tank
When filling your RV’s tank with tap water, there are a few things you need to consider, such as:
01. Measure the Amount of Water Needed:
Before beginning the process of filling the tank, you have to measure the amount of water needed in your RV. Since this will determine your full time, you mustn’t rush the process.
02. Turn Off All Faucets:
As soon as you begin refilling a storage tank, turn off all faucets inside and outside your RV. This is important to do to avoid draining the freshwater system.
03. Find a Potable Water Supply:
You need to find a potable water source for refilling your tank. Look for roadside fountains or taps on gas stations’ premises if you’re driving.
04. Start the Process at a Low Level:
Always start the process of filling your tank with water at a low level. And gradually, fill it more to avoid overflow caused by excess pressure inside the container. That’s why you might need a water pressure regulator to maintain it.
05. Refill the Tank Slowly:
It is crucial not to rush refilling your tank because it can contaminate your tap water source. Always remember to fill the tank slowly to avoid overflow.
07. Use the Right Equipment:
Before beginning, you need to ensure that everything is set up correctly to prevent accidents and injuries while refilling the RV water system. So it is recommended to use different equipment for this purpose.
08. Refill the Tank with New Water:
When refilling the water system with new potable water, there is a chance that your tank may be contaminated. So, it is recommended to use fresh water instead of recycled one for this purpose.
10. Turn Off Faucets After Filling Is Complete:
After you have finished refilling the tank, make sure to turn off all faucets to prevent your freshwater system from getting contaminated.
11. Clean the Water System Regularly:
Refilling the water system often can lead to a buildup of harmful chemicals inside it, so make sure you clean it regularly to avoid this issue. Now that you are aware of the necessary things to consider while refilling an RV fresh-water tank, you can quickly proceed with the process.
So, that’s all about considering when refilling a tank with tap water.
The importance of water in our daily lives cannot be overstated. Drinking fresh water is always recommended, but how can you locate your RV’s water supplies or sources?
Let’s talk about the RV freshwater sources.
Freshwater Sources for Your RV
There are many freshwater sources for your RV, such as:
Town Water Supply
The most accessible source of fresh water for your RV is the town water system. All you have to do is connect your RV to the local water line and turn on the faucet.
Campground Water Supplies
Many campgrounds have water provided that you can use to fill up your RV’s tank. This is an excellent option if you’re traveling and don’t want to hassle finding a town with a working water connection.
Portable Fresh-Water Tank
If there’s no town water or campground water available, you can always use a portable tank to refill your RV’s tank. These tanks can be filled up at a gas station, which is a great backup plan.
RV Dump Station
Many RV dump stations are available, so you can easily find one if you know where to look. This is the easiest way to fill up your tank because there’s no need to waste time refilling it.
Highway Travel Centers
These are very common on highways, so if you see one while traveling on the road, all you have to do is stop and use their freshwater source.
National Forests
There are many national forests located throughout the country. Thus, if you see one nearby, please stop to refill the fresh-water tank.
Public Faucet
Lastly, you can always find a public faucet to refill your tank from if no other options are available. This won’t be as easy as refilling from the town or campground water system, but it is something to consider in an emergency.
So, that’s all about the freshwater sources for your RV.
FAQs
These are frequently asked questions that people are interested in learning more about:
01. How Do I Pump Water into My RV Tank?
First, you have to attach the hose to the city water supply near your RV. Now, turn on the faucet and connect it to your tank.
Slowly open the other end of the hose connected to the city water line until water starts flowing inside your tank.
02. Can I Use a Garden Hose to Fill My RV Water Tank?
No, don’t use a garden hose for this purpose because, first of all, it can be too long and won’t fit inside your tank.
Second, it’s not heavy enough to carry the water from one place to another; so if you want fresh water, you’ll have to drive until you reach a town or campground.
03. Can You Fill RV Water at Gas Stations?
Yes, you can refill your tank from a gas station because most have a relatively freshwater line.
However, the only problem is that if your RV’s tank is complete and you want to fill it up again, there will be no place to park your vehicle at the RV water pump.
04. How Do You Gravity Fill an RV Fresh Water Tank?
You have to park your RV at a lower location than the water pump. Then, connect a pipe from the city’s water line onto the freshwater fill valve on top of your RV.
Turn on the spigot and open it up slowly so that gravity does its job and fills up your tank with freshwater.
05. How to Refill Fresh Water Tank During Camping?
It’s pretty simple to do. You’ll need a hose that is long enough to reach the campground water system. Once you’ve found it, connect your hose to it and open up the faucet until freshwater starts flowing into your tank.
06. How Do I Use a Public Faucet?
First, you need to bring your hose down to the public faucet. Now, connect it onto it and turn on the spigot until freshwater starts coming out of the other end of the hose.
Now, slowly open up that end until water starts flowing into your fresh-water tank.
07. Is It Safe To Refill My RV’s Fresh-water Tank from The Town Water Supply?
Yes, it’s 100% safe because RV water tanks are designed to take in treated city water. So, if you go ahead and refill your tank from the town or campground supply water, you won’t have any problems.
Last Words
RVing is an excellent way of exploring a new place. It’s a good idea to invest in one of these vehicles if you want to enjoy your trips. We’ve neglected so far to refill your water tank when camping or traveling with RVs.
You might find it challenging to carry a hose to refill the water tank, but after reading our article on how to fill RV water tank without a hose, you can still accomplish the task. So keep RVing and enjoy your life to the fullest.
