Hand or foot water pumps and containers

[LookinUp]

I currently have one of the 7 gal blue cube containers, from Reliance I think. I'm wondering if anyone has used a manual hand or foot pump with it. I've just removed the front passenger seat from my Chevy Express and am reconfiguring some storage options, and I may look at the slimmer 6 gal Jerry can style, so if anyone's used a pump with either of these I'd love to know what kind. I've done a search and all I've seen are the ones that fit the 5 gal clear plastic Primo bottles like Walmart sells. TIA

 

[skyl4rk]

You can use a squeeze bulb of the type used on fuel lines, and step on it to pump water.

 

[highdesertranger]

when i get a water system on my trailer I will probably get some type of pump. for now i use a "Shaker Siphon". i have 2 of them, a dedicated potable water siphon and a dedicated fuel siphon. makes it real easy if your container is above your target. here's a link for those who don't know what I am trying to explain,

https://www.etrailer.com/Tools/FloT...s&utm_term=4577679225316451&utm_content=Tools

highdesertranger

 

[maki2]

This is the foot pump a lot of van dwellers swear by. Whale GP4618 Babyfoot Manual Freshwater Galley Pump

Here is the link to one on Amazon, but they are also on Ebay and they are available from some marine supply stores.
https://www.amazon.com/Whale-Marine-BABYFOOT-OPERATED-GP4618/dp/B003ELUZHK

You might have to drill a hole in the cap to insert the hose. Remember that a tank has to be vented to be able to pump water out of it. But your blue tank may have a vent on it. That vent needs to be left open when pumping.

 

[wayne49]

The Reliance blue cubes do have a vent with threaded cap.
The main cap has existing threads for the included spigot.
Should be able to utilize that opening for the suction tube.

 

[nature lover]

I haven't finished my planning for water in my rig yet. I have been thinking about how much space empty water jugs take up. I had a collapsible clear 5 gallon years ago in the old wan and for tent camping. the quality of them is not great. I saw this one on the net - has anyone tried it? Reliance Aqua Sak Nylon Collapsible Water Container 5 Gallon Walmart has them for $13.00 but not in store to inspect before buying.

I got a Coleman gas powered coffee pot on sale for $50. - about 1/2 retail. I will not just make coffee with in but when I need hot water for almost anything it will come in handy. When I did art shows and had electric hook up I heated water in an electric coffee pot and added a little cold water to take a basin bath.

 

[maki2]

I just heat water on the stove, it does not take very long to warm it up a little to take the chill off. No need for any special pot, just use what you have but if you are going to pour it into a small necked container then a tea kettle is perfect for that task.

I travel with a couple of stainless steel dog bowls for my wash basin and they work as mixing bowls too. Light weight, strong and best of all cheap. Often found for very little money at thrift stores. You can even heat water on the stove in them.

 

[LoupGarou]

I’ve been use a Dolphin hand pump mounted to a water cooler bottle.
https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Wate...p&qid=1584186581&sprefix=dolphin+hand+&sr=8-4

 

[maki2]

it is easier to transport a ridged bottle than a collapsible one. They are also more puncture resistant.

For my drinking water needs I don't want a 5 gallon container, because of a bad back it is much too heavy to lift. I have my drinking water in 1 gallon containers that line up in a narrow area. I put 1 gallon at a time out on the counter. No need for a pump. Another advantage of 1 gallon containers is they are easy to fill at the filtered drinking water dispensers that are at many of the grocery stores. Just use a grocery cart to move them back to the van. Easier to fill up in all kinds of locations.

 

[B and C]

In our old '77 Dodge van, I put a hand pump in for the sink. Kinda hard to rinse your hands when one of them has to be pumping. I now use an electric water pump and a faucet with lever handles. Bump it off with the back of my wet hand. A foot pump sounds a lot better to me than a hand pump.

 

[VanFan]

I have a crazy water dispenser/sink set up, but like it very much.  The main water supply is a 5-6 gallon plastic beer brewing carboy with a pump in it.  The pump is sort of like this one https://www.lowes.com/pd/Primo-Fountain-Cool/3172675, but runs on D cells and cost about $13.  I did NOT want one of the rechargeable ones made by Primo because they are reputed to fail early.

The power pump has the advantage of being hands free, but the switch is a little hard to turn off.  If I had it to do over, I might opt for the hand-operated version.

The carboy is heavy, so I refill it from a pitcher or jug.  The carboy is in a plastic tote with a cut out in the lid to accommodate it, so any spillage is contained.  I also carry a sealed gallon or two separately so all my "eggs" aren't in one basket.

The lid of the tote has a stainless bowl mounted on top below the pump spout, which can be swiveled to the side to fill water bottles.  The bowl has a bar sink drain with strainer/plug, attached to an RV drain with hose underneath.  The hose runs to a cat litter jug (inside the tote, beside the carboy) to catch gray water.

The tote lid can be lifted to remove the cat litter jug for emptying.  I stuff a rag in the drain hose to catch any drips while it's out.

The whole rig sits at the foot of the bed, behind the driver's seat, on top of a rubber mat.  There's just room on top of the tote lid for a plastic shoe box with washcloths and a few basic toiletries.

 

[barleyguy]

I haven't finished my planning for water in my rig yet.  I have been thinking about how much space empty water jugs take up.  I had a collapsible clear 5 gallon years ago in the old wan and for tent camping.  the quality of them is not great.  I saw this one on the net - has anyone tried it?    Reliance Aqua Sak Nylon Collapsible Water Container 5 Gallon  Walmart has them for $13.00 but not in store to inspect before buying. 

I got a Coleman gas powered coffee pot on sale for $50. - about 1/2 retail.  I will not just make coffee with in but when I need hot water for almost anything it will come in handy.  When I did art shows and had electric hook up I heated water in an electric coffee pot and added a little cold water to take a basin bath.

I'm probably going to go with military surplus Jerry Cans, from a military surplus store. Truck stops also pretty consistently have water containers, including the blue Reliance ones. I've already got a water tank, but want some extra jugs for a reserve and for going to get water if I'm low and don't want to break camp.

I also filter anything out of my tanks through a Sawyer water filter, and put it in 1 gallon Gatorade containers or a 2.5 gallon rectancubular container that you'll see often. I especially like the 1 gallon Gatorade containers. They are very strong plastic and easy to pour from. And I enjoy drinking the Gatorade before I repurpose them for water.