Travel trailer water tank is where fresh water is stored on an RV or trailer for use while camping. It holds potable water for activities like washing, cooking, drinking, and more.
Running water is essential for any camping trip but did you ever wonder how RV owners keep their tanks full on the road? Proper filling of the travel trailer water tank is key to enjoying adventures away from home. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to filling your tank and ensuring plenty of fresh water.
Filling your RV’s water tank is an important part of preparing for any camping trip. Whether you’re using park spigots, an outdoor faucet, or filling up from storage containers, there are a few things you’ll need to do it properly. First, check your tank size so you know how much water it can hold. Then gather your hose and other supplies based on the filling method. It’s also a good idea to have a tank monitoring system so you don’t overflow.
The Essential Guide to Filling Your Travel Trailer Water Tank
As RVers, having access to fresh water while traveling is essential. But did you know there’s more to filling your travel trailer water tank than just turning on the tap? This definitive guide covers everything you need to know to keep your freshwater storage full for all of your adventures.
Determining Your Tank Size and Capacity
The first step is finding out how big your travel trailer water tank actually is. Tank sizes can vary significantly between models, so it’s important to know the storage capacity of your specific RV. To determine the gallons held, check your owner’s manual or manufacturer specifications. You can also measure the tank yourself for an accurate number.
Knowing the storage capacity up front helps with planning water needs. For example, a standard tank holds around 30-50 gallons. With an average daily usage of 3 gallons per person for bathing, washing, and drinking, you’d want to fill up every 5-7 days for a family of 4. Larger tanks give more flexibility between fill-ups.
Choosing the Right Filling Equipment
There are a few popular options for filling your travel trailer water tank:
Park Hydrants: Most RV campgrounds provide hydrants or spigots spaced throughout the park. These are very convenient but flow rates can vary. Make sure to bring enough hose to reach.
Outdoor Spigots: If boondocking or dry camping without hookups, outdoor spigots at homes, gas stations or businesses work too. Always ask permission first.
Water Buffaloes: Refillable water containers mounted in your vehicle or on an equipment rack allow filling from any source. However, they require lifting full weight.
The best method depends on your location and needs. For consistent flow, either park hydrants or a water buffaloe work well. Outdoor spigots are great backup sources when needed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Use this checklist each time for safe and easy filling of your travel trailer water tank:
- Connect your hose – Make sure the hose is rated for potable water and attachments are hand-tightened securely to prevent leaks.
- Turn on water supply – Open the spigot or valve at your water source slowly to avoid pressure surges.
- Inspect for leaks – Check connections and fittings along the hose and at the RV city water inlet while filling for any drips or spraying water. Tighten fittings if needed.
- Monitor tank level – Use your on-board tank level monitor or dipstick to avoid overfilling your tank, which could put excess strain on holding tanks.
- Disconnect hose – When finished filling, gently turn off the water supply and detach the hose from both ends, coiling it neatly for storage.
- Sanitize your tank (optional) – Add 1/2 cup bleach to help kill any bacteria growth that could occur in your fresh water storage between uses. Refill with potable water before using.
Tips for maximizing your fresh water supply:
- Rotate tank use if you have multiple fresh water tanks.
- Consider a water pressure regulator/filter if tapping municipal water sources.
- Calculate needs based on number of people, daily usage rates, and length of trips.
- Store extra containers of drinking water as backup if dry camping long-term.
Let’s look at some usage estimates per activity:
| Activity | Average Water Usage |
| Showering | 10-25 gallons |
| Washing dishes | 5 gallons |
| Washing clothes | 30-40 gallons |
| Brushing teeth | 0.5 gallons |
| Cooking and drinking | 2-3 gallons per person daily |
As you can see, activities like showering or washing clothes use significantly more water than others. Proper planning is key to keeping your fresh water tank full while enjoying all that RV life has to offer.
Case study: dry camping event
The Smith family was attending a weekend-long dry camping music festival in the desert. Knowing showers would be limited, they took the following precautions:
- Filled both fresh water tanks holding 60 gallons total
- Stored 10 extra gallons in containers as backup
- Took “bird baths” using wet wipes instead of showering
- Used disposable plates and utensils to reduce dishwashing
- Did full laundry load before leaving and air-dried clothes
By conserving water where possible, they had just enough supply to last comfortably through the 3 days without needing to find an off-site filling source. Proper planning and conservation tactics go a long way when dry camping.
Conclusion
Taking time to understand your water storage capacities and needs is important for stress-free travel. Following best practices for filling and maintenance will keep your fresh water supply replenished for all of your RV adventures.
