Where do you get your water? (If filling a freshwater tank.)

[TMG51]

I grabbed my van this weekend - picture thread forthcoming - and couldn't help take an impromptu trip down to the beach.

Along the way I repaired the water system and began looking for a place to fill. I stopped in a campground, and when I asked if I could pay to fill my water tank but not to stay, the people looked at me like that was the craziest thing they ever heard of and told me no.

I also bought some things along the way, at hardware stores, gas stations, etc, and each time asked the merchant if I could also use their hose to fill my water tank (16 gallons). Each was visibly uncomfortable and said no.

I understand city water costs money, but how much is 16 gallons' worth? A couple bucks? And I was offering to pay for it. I don't understand.

Finally I stopped at a car wash and since water is part of their services I hooked on to their spigot while I was there. *shrug*

Where do you get your water?

 

[rvwandering]

 We fill at Flying J gas stations because they have potable water at the dump station. There's a fee to dump but water is free. If we can't find a Flying J we'll try other truck stops. Usually we'll have to pull up to the big rig pumps because that's the only place with water faucets.

 
Other good places are rest areas with dump stations and public parks. Sometimes you can fill at the picnic area or if the park has a campground and charges a day fee you're allowed to go to the campground to fill and dump even if you're not camping there.

 I'm surprised that everyone refused to let you fill your water especially since you offered to pay. Try this dump station site - http://www.sanidumps.com/sanidumps_usamerica.php  Many of the links indicate if there's potable water at the dump station.

 

[GotSmart]

Tony And karen have real world experience.   I would check their ideas first.

Here are some ideas I found on line, The sales based sites are for ideas.  

http://vagabonders-supreme.net/Water.htm

http://www.sanidumps.com/sanitizervfreshwatersystem.php

http://rvingwithmarkpolk.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-filter-your-rv-drinking-water.html

http://www.doulton.ca/rv_dilem.html

Since I use a limited amount of water, I find drinking water at machines in large stores.  Safeway, WallyWorld, WINCO. (My favorite!) In southern Arizona there were stations that sold 5 gallons of deep well water for $1.  

 

[highdesertranger]

hum what area are you in? out west here I have no problem getting water. in small towns a lot of them have a community spigot. if not I ask the businesses I am patronizing never had a problem with that. or go to the local water company and pay their rates which I often find comical. once I paid .0028 cents per gallon, had to break out the calculator for that one. highdesertranger

 

[compassrose]

While living on Flour Bluff in Corpus Christi, a lot of the nomadic RVers (those living on the beaches all winter) would pull up to the fire station on Flour Bluff to get water.

Personally, we have refilled at the rest area dump stations and most any place with a spigot. We use our own water hose and I filter EVERYTHING. I also sanitize the hose bibb before I connect. Yes, I a bit paranoid. But better to filter than get hit with a nasty bug a few states away.

Heading back east, I have things set up to where we will be in a campground every three nights. This will allow me to dump waste tanks and refill the fresh tanks as well as do any laundry needed when on full hookups.

 

[highdesertranger]

oh yeah I forgot to add that, compassrose. glad you brought that up. always bring your own hose that is an approved potable water hose. I carry 50ft I will add some more because that wasn't enough once. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

I have 2 x 7 gallon jerry can style water jugs, and I usually refill at city parks that have a spigot on the water fountain base.

 

[offroad]

I have 2 x 7 gallon jerry can style water jugs, and I usually refill at city parks that have a spigot on the water fountain base.

There is a nice YouTube video about someone doing that. Very smart. You do need the spigot handle that is usually missing to open these valves.

It's smart to just contact the public water company and ask where there is a potable water filling station for small amounts. (5 gallons). They should have suggestions.

 

[ccbreder]

If the spigot has a secured type valve, you are not allowed to use it. That used to be called tampering. If you are noticed it could lead to police curiosity. Often not a good thing.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

ccbreeder, always include an orange vest in your gear....amazing what ya can get away with just by wearing it.
Which makes me think .....a "24/7 SECURITY !!" banner hung from your roof rack (and maybe an orange traffic cone) might allow you to park at/near most construction sites for a night of un-molested "stealth" sleeping (?)
KinA

 

[mockturtle]

In national parks and some NFS campgrounds you can dump and take on fresh water for a $5 fee. Some state & county campgrounds offer it for free. One time I had to pay $10 at Flying J to fill my freshwater tank and dump my holding tanks. Some service stations also offer fresh water if you are buying fuel. Make sure you have a 'water thief' adapter for instances where the spigot isn't threaded.

 

[blars]

Flying J will only charge $5 if you have their RV card, just ask at the register. (It's free.) It also gives you a discount on gas. Good Sam members can get an rvplus pilot/flyingj credit card that gives a deeper discount on gas and one on propane. (You can use my number as a reference to give me at little -- pm me.)

 

[SoulRaven]

There is a nice YouTube video about someone doing that. Very smart. You do need the spigot handle that is usually missing to open these valves.

It's smart to just contact the public water company and ask where there is a potable water filling station for small amounts. (5 gallons). They should have suggestions.

Generally the ones I use have the handle on them.  I do have a universal handle buried somewhere, but usually the ones on the water fountains seem to have their handles intact.

The ones on the walls of buildings usually don't have the handles, but the free standing ones usually do.


88

 

[SoulRaven]

In national parks and some NFS campgrounds you can dump and take on fresh water for a $5 fee.  Some state & county campgrounds offer it for free.  One time I had to pay $10 at Flying J to fill my freshwater tank and dump my holding tanks.  Some service stations also offer fresh water if you are buying fuel.  Make sure you have a 'water thief' adapter for instances where the spigot isn't threaded.

x2 on the water thief!


90

 

[compassrose]

...  One time I had to pay $10 at Flying J to fill my freshwater tank and dump my holding tanks... Make sure you have a 'water thief' adapter for instances where the spigot isn't threaded.

I have only dumped/filled at a Flying J once since they started charging and I wasn't charged. But we did fill up multiple vehicles too. And spent the night. Had supper & breakfast there as well.

I got in trouble on Escapees when I suggested a water thief to someone who couldn't get their cement mind set around an unthreaded water pipe. Several people jumped all over me because I was advocating "stealing water" even after I explained what one is AND linked to a page that told how to build one.

 

[mockturtle]

I got in trouble on Escapees when I suggested a water thief to someone who couldn't get their cement mind set around an unthreaded water pipe. Several people jumped all over me because I was advocating "stealing water" even after I explained what one is AND linked to a page that told how to build one.

That doesn't surprise me at all.  While I am an Escapees member, I quit the forum some time ago because of the vicious pack mentality of many of the regulars.

For those of you who wonder, this is a 'water thief' [called a water 'bandit' here]:

water thief

 

[compassrose]

... I quit the forum some time ago because of the vicious pack mentality of many of the regulars...

If I recall correctly, you were attacked at least once for something I never understood. Except you disagreed with one of the primadonnas and could back it up with fact.

 

[offroad]

Camco 22484 Water Bandit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDOSKG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_4SKyvb0GH78GB

 

[compassrose]

Homemade water thief a good thing to know if you generously leave yours behind at another location of if you are surprised with a shiny new unthreaded water pipe stand where the previous one was threaded.