We're designing a full-time (or maybe 6 months at a time) flatbed camper rig. I'm working on the design of the freshwater system and trying to decide between a built-in freshwater tank and using jerry cans as tankage. I think the difference is going to come down to how you source freshwater on the road. When we're out on longer trips right now, we usually find a grocery store that has a filtered water vending machine. We pay ~$.50 / gallon but we're more confident in the quality of the water. If we go with a built-in freshwater tank, we can't really use that option unless we also carry jerry cans. If we're gonna do that, why not just use jerries as the water tank?
So full-timers, are you able to find enough trusted freshwater sources from hose bibs to use built-in tanks? Do you use jerry cans? Does anyone out there run a filter system they trust to pull water out of lakes, rivers and streams?
(I've seen a few threads on this but none of them seem to have a complete answer or are more targeted to those who are on shorter trips and can fill at home.)
Howdy.
We have a 40 gal tank in our Patriot Camper. Before the Patriot, we had a 10gal tank that rested in the footwell of the rear seats and a Jerry can. We’ve been full time now for 3yrs.
We love to source our water from rivers or lakes when we can. If not, we used to look for places that would let us use thier hose bib for free but so many places in the US have water meters now that we generally offer to pay $5 to $10 as that is what most RV parks will charge if you just pull in for water and aren’t staying. We will also sometimes stay at a state or federal campground with water hook ups when we are getting low.
When we first started out, we got a Guzzle H2O Stream portable filter. With that we have filled our Jerry Cans and then our tank from all the above systems. Still use it and recently pulled water from a very interesting source in southern Mexico. Have never had a waterborne illness. It comes with a long hose but we also added a Water Bandit and some other adapters/collapsible bucket for various source connection puzzles. Awhile back, we installed a Guzzle H2O Stealth filter system in the trailer. This filters the water coming out of the tank. Did this for 2 reasons. #1 we really don’t clean the tank as often as recommended because it’s hard to find someplace to dump 40 gal of bleach water and #2 sometimes we need to fill fast because there are others waiting and the Stream or any good filter system for that matter, is not fast. So we have the added back up of filtered water coming out of the tank. The portable Guzzle also doubles as a water pump to move water from a container we have purchased and/or filled from a distant source into our tank.
A friend of ours designed his system to only use the Guzzle Stealth to filter his outgoing water and always considers his tank water dirty. Works well for him as he is not full time and is able to clean his tank regularly. He uses a small water pump for water transfer.
Another full timer we know, uses his onboard tank only for dishes and showers. He has a separate container for his drinking water and ether buys pure water or filters it from wherever into his drinking container. He has a little battery powered pump that screws into the top of the container so it’s an easy button press faucet thing.
Our system has served us well throughout all of Northern and Central America. We have not had any experience on the other continents.
Have fun with your build. Full time/long trip travel is a wonderful way of life. Enjoy your adventure
PS don’t worry about water in Baja, there are Aqua Purificada station everywhere.
