Are you tired of the "lifting, funneling, and pouring" method? Are you tired of filling up with a hose right as you arrive at the campground? Do you dislike towing with a full freshwater tank? I was, and I may have the answer for you.
After a little research, I decided I needed an easy way to fill my freshwater tank when I arrived at the campsite. Even if filling with a hose is easy upon arrival, if we go through the whole tank prior to departure, I was tired of the "lifting and pouring" method. It splashed all over the place, and using a big funnel required my wife to help, to her displeasure. So here is what I did:
First I bought the standard 7-gallon Wal-Mart aqua container. Then I bought a Scotty hand bilge pump, marketed for kayaking use. Then I went to the hardware store and bought some clear, flexible, plastic tubing.
Again, here are the three pieces of equipment you need:
- One 7-gallon Wal-Mart Aqua container ($6.00)
- Hand operated bilge pump (price varies, mine was $25, but I know you can get them cheaper).
- 4 feet of 1" plastic flexible tubing (you will want to cut yours to the appropriate length. Mine cost about $5.00 total)
Total cost for my system was ~$35, but I'm sure it can be done much cheaper.
BTW, this hand pump is too wide for a collapsible plastic jug. The opening on the 7-gallon jug is wider. Here is what it the pieces look like.
