Why We Carry Extra Water When RV Camping Without Hookups
When boondocking in our RV, we’re camping completely off-grid, no water hookups, electricity, or sewer connections. A reliable RV water storage system becomes essential for survival out there.
Fresh water keeps everything running: drinking, cooking, dishwashing, showers, even laundry. Nothing ends a camping adventure faster than empty tanks.
Our travel trailer’s 45-gallon fresh water capacity seems generous until you’re actually living off it for days. Water disappears surprisingly quickly when you’re RV camping without hookups.
That’s why we’ve developed our boondocking water solutions: five Reliance 7 gallon water jugs that add 35 gallons to our supply.
These portable water tanks for RV use sit perfectly in the truck bed. We fill them at filtered stations or grocery store dispensers before heading out. This off-grid RV water setup extends our dry camping to 10 full days. Enough time to really disconnect and explore.
The beauty of this system? Simplicity. No complicated plumbing or expensive equipment needed. Just reliable water storage ideas for dry camping that actually work.
It’s become our go-to method for how to bring extra water when boondocking, turning what could be a constant worry into a solved problem. With 80 gallons total, we camp comfortably for much longer than before.
- Water Jugs: Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer | #Our_Extra_RV_Water_Storage_Setup | We use these jugs because they’re durable, easy to carry, and fit perfectly in our truck bed for storing extra potable water while boondocking. | View on Amazon
- Water Pump: Amarine Made AC Pump | #How_We_Transfer_Water_to_the_RV_Fresh_Tank | We chose this pump because it plugs into a regular outlet and quickly transfers water from our jugs to the RV’s fresh tank with little effort. | View on Amazon
- Power Station: EF ECOFLOW RIVER 2 MAX | #How_We_Transfer_Water_to_the_RV_Fresh_Tank | We use the EcoFlow to power our water pump off-grid, giving us the flexibility to fill our tank anywhere without needing shore power or a generator. | View on Amazon
- Water Hose: Apex Zero-G Hose | #The_Hose_Setup | This hose is lightweight, kink-free, and safe for drinking water, making it perfect for transferring water from the pump to our RV. | View on Amazon
How Much Water You Need When Boondocking
Here’s something we learned after years of boondocking with extra water, figuring out your actual water needs changes everything. When you’re RV camping without hookups, there’s no magic faucet that never runs dry. What you bring is what you’ve got.
We’ve tracked our usage pretty carefully, it’s roughly 3 to 5 gallons per person daily. That covers drinking, cooking, dishwashing, handwashing, and super-quick RV showers.
Add hair washing or, heaven forbid, laundry? You’re looking at more. For two people, our 45-gallon fresh tank realistically gives us 5–6 days before we start to feel like it’s time for a real shower.
After struggling with water issues our first few months of full-time RV living, we decided it was time to find a solution. Now our off-grid RV water setup includes backup jugs for freshwater. It’s the difference between being able to camp for at least 10-14 days versus only 7.
These days, we roll into camp knowing we’ve got 10 solid days of water between our main tank and portable water tank for RV backup system.
No rationing showers (don’t get me wrong they still need to be ultra fast), no paper plates to save dishwater, no anxiety. Just the freedom to enjoy the wilderness without counting every drop.
Trust me, having extra fresh water when camping lets you get the most of the 14 day camping limit most boondocking areas have.
Our Extra RV Water Storage Setup
After too many close calls with empty tanks, we developed our go-to RV water storage system: 35 gallons spread across five Reliance 7-gallon water jugs. They ride perfectly in our truck bed under the cover where they are secure, accessible, and ready when we need them.
Why jugs instead of those collapsible bladders everyone talks about? Simple, bladders can puncture. Individual jugs? If one fails (hasn’t happened yet), we lose 7 gallons, not 35.
Plus, hauling a 7-gallon jug to a water station beats wrestling a floppy bladder any day. It’s also possible to refill Reliance jugs in grocery stores if necessary. We can also see exactly how to store extra water for RV trips without the guesswork, three full jugs means 21 gallons left.
This setup has saved us more times than I can count. Arizona boondocking spots rarely have accessible water, but grocery stores always do.
Those water vending machines outside Safeway? Lifesavers. Gas station spigots? They work too (so long as it’s potable water). Our boondocking water solution mean we’re never more than a town away from refilling.
Now when we find that perfect camping spot miles from anywhere, we stay as long as we want. No rationing, no stress, just the best way to refill the RV water tank while camping whenever we need to.
How We Transfer Water to the RV Fresh Tank
Every RVer who carries extra water faces the same challenge: how to get water into RV tank without throwing out your back or creating a muddy mess.
We tried lifting 60-pound jugs, using funnels, even gravity-feeding with mixed results. Then we discovered the game-changer, an RV water pump with a 120 volt house plug.
Our Amarine Made AC RV water pump (click to view on Amazon) makes transferring water almost effortless. It plugs into any standard outlet, so there’s no messing with battery terminals or special wiring.
If you prefer a 12V model (click to view on Amazon), they’re solid too. It can be especially nice to have an extra on hand if the one in your RV ever gives out. To power a 12 volt pump simply connect one to a 12 volt battery (the car or RV battery will work) using alligator clamps (click to view on Amazon) and you’re good to go!
For power, we run it through our Jackery 500 or Bluetti power station.They both have AC outlets that handle the pump easily.
To every RVer I meet, I recommend getting at portable power station that’s at least 500 watt hours. There are a lot of great options out there, I’ve linked to 3 in this article alone. We like having them on hand because even deep in the desert, we can pump water into RV from a jug and keep all our devices powered without hunting for electricity.
Low on stored power? Our inverter generator also works as an excellent backup. If I have time to plan, I usually make sure we have a power station charged up with a portable solar panel, so I don’t need to get the generator out.
This easy RV water pump setup eliminated our biggest boondocking headache. Just connect the hose, flip the switch, and transfer 35 gallons in about 15 minutes. After a year of regular use, this system keeps delivering.
It’s turned the dreaded water transfer into a quick pit stop, exactly what you want when you’re boondocking with extra water.
The Hose Setup
Getting the pump was step one, figuring out hoses and connections took some creativity.
We started with six feet of ½-inch clear braided PVC tubing, cut into two pieces for the pump’s hose barbs.
The intake side (goes in the jug) needed an additional part to stop the hose from vacuuming to the bottom of the jug. We used a ¾-inch PVC end cap with drilled holes. Simple fix, huge difference.
The outflow side stays flexible. Sometimes we’ll drop the PVC hose directly into our fresh water inlet when the jugs are close. But the truck is usually parked at the front of the camper, and the freshwater inlet is on the side of the RV.
To reach, we connect our 50-foot Zero-G hose (click to view on Amazon) and pump straight from the truck bed. Even pushing water through 50 feet, the RV pump keeps steady pressure, perfect for our off-grid RV water setup.
The pump included both push-on tubing adapters and ¼-inch threaded adapters. Since we needed garden hose connections, we MacGyvered an adapter: ½-inch to ¼-inch reducer + ½-inch coupling + ¾-inch male garden hose adapter.
Not winning any beauty contests (PVC meets brass in questionable ways), but wrapped in plumber’s tape, it’s been leak-free for over a year.
How Long It Takes + Efficiency Tips
Setting up our RV water transfer pump and moving 35 gallons takes about 30 minutes total. That’s from grabbing the gear to having everything packed away again. The actual pumping? Maybe 20 minutes. Not bad for extending our boondocking another week.
Our extra RV water setup surprises everyone who sees it work. It’s amazing watching a small RV water pump push water through our entire 50-foot hose.
Here’s a trick we learned: mount the pump on a small plywood board with rubber matting underneath. Keeps it stable, cuts the noise way down, and stops it from wandering across the ground while running. Just set it down and let it work, no babysitting required.
Ok there is a little babysitting since the intake hose needs to be transferred from jug to jug. But it’s a calm activity nonetheless. Because RV water pumps use a diaphragm, they can handle pumping just air for a decent amount of time. I don’t even turn it off when moving it from jug to jug.
Organization makes this whole easy RV water pump setup even smoother. We toss everything into a dollar store plastic tub with drilled ventilation holes in the lid so things dry properly between uses.
Now our best way to refill RV water tank while camping lives in one grab-and-go container. No searching through storage bins, no forgotten fittings.
We’ve gotten so efficient that refilling water feels less like a chore and more like a quick pit stop. That’s exactly what you want when you’re focused on enjoying your boondocking water solutions instead of fussing with them.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Water Storage and Transfer
How much extra water should I bring when boondocking?
Depends who’s camping and for how long. Our setup, 35 gallons extra plus our 45-gallon fresh tank, keeps two people comfortable for 10 days. We’re not rationing every drop either. Just normal usage with quick showers and minimalist style dishwashing.
Can you put water from a jug into an RV fresh tank?
Absolutely! Forget lifting and pouring, an RV water pump with a drinking-safe hose makes it simple. Flip a switch, walk away, come back to a full tank.
No spills or bad moods from lifting heavy jugs in the hot sun when you should be enjoying RV camping.
Where can I refill portable water jugs for RV camping?
Anywhere you can find potable water! We always have to dump our RV after 2 weeks of camping, so we usually fill up our RV freshwater tank and jugs at the dump station if there’s drinking water.
If there’s no freshwater at the RV dump there are other good places to check. We’ve filled at rest stops, visitor centers, and campgrounds.
If you can’t find water anywhere, most grocery stores have filtered water machines inside and sometimes even outside. We prefer the outdoor ones to the indoor.
Pro tip: Arizona often has freshwater fill stations in every town.
What’s the best pump for moving water into an RV tank?
Our Amarine Made AC RV water pump plugs into any outlet, which makes it simple to use with a portable power station. The 12V versions that clip to batteries work great too, especially with solar generators. Both beat lifting jugs any day.
Is it better to use water jugs or a water bladder when camping?
Jugs win for us. Easier to haul, stack, and refill. If one Reliance 7 gallon water jug somehow fails, we lose 7 gallons, not everything.
Bladders hold more but they’re awkward when full and prone to punctures. You also can’t fill them from grocery store water dispensers, sometimes they’re the only freshwater source available.
What kind of hose is best for transferring potable water?
The best hose for transferring potable water is one that’s labeled as drinking water safe or FDA-approved for potable use. We use a Zero-G hose, which is lightweight, durable, and safe for fresh water.
Avoid regular garden hoses, as they can contain harmful chemicals and give the water a plastic taste.
These instructions were super helpful. I followed most but replaced the jugs with 5gallon buckets. My Ford truck has an onboard generator that we hook up to the trailer for power. This helped replace the need for the portable power bank so I just plug the pump directly in the side of the trailer by the water tank fill hole.