Filling Water tanks. Any quicker ways /

If you don't have an outside tap, fit hoses, taps and click fittings to the tank drain ports and pressure fill from there, either from mains water or pressure pump.

Forgot to mention, I did have a mud wasp build his/her nest in the outlet hole once that blocked the air from exiting.

Those bloody wasps...lol. Set everything in the CP we are in now, connected the sullage hose to the drain pipe. Hmmm...sink, wash basin won't drain properly. Pulled the hose off the van connection and out came the remnants of a paper nest wasp's nest.
Grrrrr...spent a few minutes with a screw driver hauling the rest of the nest out.
Gotta check everything like that if the van hasn't moved for a while.

Cheers
Pop

Heather,

The tanks on our Supreme fill from a hose or container to maybe 1/2 or more then have the same problem as Julie. I thought of the "tap on" idea but because the pump is between the tank and the taps didn't bother trying. Obviously works for you so next time I will give it a go.
Thanks mate.

Cheers
Pop

Hang on...just had a thought, doesn't happen that often, lol, the line to the pump is below the water level in the tank, while the problem is the air trapped above.
Hmmmm....now my head is starting to hurt..(:=((.

Excellent suggestion Peter, I'll give that a go as well.

Many thanks, Bruce.

Yes Bruce, in most cases this solves the problem.

I have a 400mm hose fitted with click-on connector, I join that to my hose, push the end into the tank then crank the hose up.

I also have a 100L bladder that we use when free camping, fill it when required and gravity feed it into the tank.

I have seen some people make up a pump using similar to a van pump for around $20 online, plumb it up to the bladder (or 20L drum) and pump the water into the tank.

I made this up in case I get near a suitable body of water I can fill the tanks virtually anywhere. I have tried it out and it works puurrfectly.



Note that there are 3 filters all up.
I have several lengths of 3/4 poly pipe stored in the hollow sections of the chassis so that I can join several together to get right out into the water with the pickup.

Cheers, Bruce.

Bruce,

3 filters?

I am assuming there is a pre filter then the 1st blue filter is a sediment filter followed by a charcoal filter?

I am looking to setting something similar up so would like some more details if possible :)


Cheers Kev

Hi Kev,
Here is the other photo of the complete setup in the case.



You are correct there are in fact 4 filters Kev.
The first is the larger particulate strainer which is fitted directly to the pump and stops any debri getting into the pump, then after the pump there are the 2 big blue filters, one of which has a charcoal canister the other has fine particulate canister or whatever it is and the last filter is the taste and odour removal filter, the long white plastic one.

This last filter is fitted at the end of the hose just as it goes into the tank filler. This is probably belt and braces but you cannot be too careful when it comes to drinking water.

I have run dam water out of Wuruma dam in QLD into a bucket and the taste was like tank water after all 4 filters. I was very pleased to say the least. As you are aware, water is the biggest issue when camping especially if you have a shower on board. That is what prompted me to think about it and come up with this.

Thanks Bruce,

I think I will be doing a very similar set up to yours, as having it portable is very handy :)


Cheers Kev

Kev I use rural poly pipe on the suction side of the setup and merely add as many lengths as I need to to get out to the water away from the bank (deeper water) and use a strainer on the pickup and as the pipe wants to float I put a weight on it to keep the pickup just below the surface.

These pumps are very good at self priming and need virtually no help in picking up the water.

The suit case is fitted with 3/4" Philmac Fittings on the inlet and a 3/4" BSP thread on the outlet. I connect my "Flat Out" lay flat hose to the 3/4" brass fitting (1/2" hose cock size) and the other end of the hose to the final filter by means of brass fittings.



The final filter posed the biggest problem as the tapped threads either end are much smaller than is usual. Not sure what size they are but look a bit like 1/8" gas or something. However I was able to get some suitable fittings to bring it up to 3/4 on the inlet to connect the lay flat hose and at the outlet end is fitted with a 1/2" fitting so that the bent copper tube can be fitted to the filter. The tube is bent so that it goes well into the filler pipe and I just set it going and walk away and come back when the water is overflowing.
"Game set and match" as I usually say.

Kev the beauty of it being portable is that if you are camping with several others, everybody gets a go, where as if you have it as a permanent fixture then you are limited with the possibilities.

You will note that I have used an anderson plug on the outside of the case. I also have a long lead of 6mm cable acquired from Dereck Bester with an anderson plug on each end. This gives me an anderson extension lead which I can use for many jobs.

I have even converted a 12 volt Makita battery drill. You may recall from one of my earlier posts that I converted a dead makita battery pack by fitting an anderson plug into the dead case and I use it when on the road that way. Never run out of battery power that way and I can plug it into the back of the car as well.

The possibilities are endless and we are only limited by our imagination.

Cheers, Bruce.

Hi all. I never ceased to be impressed with the sheer ingenuity of many on this Forum. You should give yourselves a pat on the back!

Have been experimenting with ways to convert turgid water to potable water for longer camps in the outback. Although not really addressing Julie M's topic, some of the responses have given me meaningful ideas. I thought I'd add my fundamentalist (survival) attempts to convert often turgid water into potable water to supplement the limited tank supplied with the Jayco Penguin.

1. Collect water from available source (river, billabong, dam, bore, etc.) in canvas shower bucket.

2. Set up home made "filter" - e.g. 1.25L soft drink bottle with base cut out. Upend bottle (cap removed but saved); into bottle, insert a couple of pieces of chux cloth squares approx. 40mm x 40mm; pack in (i.e. slightly compress) to 1/3 with ground 100% natural charcoal (from camping stores, etc.); add a couple more bigger squares of chux cloth; add a layer of fine (Simpson Desert) sand (to remove bigger particles); and add a couple more bigger squares of chuk. (CHUK WILL STOP WATER WHEN ADDED FROM DISTURBING SAND AND CHARCOAL LAYERS WHEN ADDED).

3. Finally, I use a "Taste & Odour Removal" Filter (with normal hose fillings).

4. Suspend shower bucket above the "filter" bottle; turn shower on slowly to drip into bottle. Can be adjusted as required once water seeps through. First use will result in minute pieces of charcoal dust. I discard or recycle these. May need to filter the captured water more than once for clear water.

5. Place a clean container (e.g. bucket) below the "filter" to catch the filtered water. Use anything to raise the "filter" out of the captured water.

6. Always advisable to boil the filtered water (10mins) before use. As Bruce C said above, you cannot be too careful when it comes to drinking water.

7. Discard sand, and remove and dry the charcoal for the next batch.

I'm impressed with the solutions I've read above, and if Bruce C hasn't patented his improvisation ;-))), together with inline pump suggested by Phil 23, I may just extend my budget! This should give me more time on the tracks, and more regular showers!

Sorry for taking over from your query Julie M. My solution (me with a 59L water tank in the Penguin) and two 20L water containers, is to use as I do, a "jiggler" syphon from the container/s to the water tank. Just need to sit the container high enough. I've found them more reliable, durable, and with greater flow than the cheap pump syphons available. I have two: the second one of for diesel if I'm ever running dangerously low. Just don't mix them up!

Going back to my special place now, to plan my next trip.

Cheers all.

Hi Ossiejs,

Thanks for the compliment mate but I reckon there is nothing new under the sun, someone somewhere has done this before so I am not taking credit for it. It is just a solution to a problem I saw, for me. Happy to share it though.

I think we have probably covered Julie M's problem and a few others besides. Nothing succeeds like success. LOL.
Ive even picked up a pointer or two myself off this topic.

That is what it is about isn't it, sharing.

Cheers mate,
Bruce.

Bruce,

You have got me going now LOL

Just found this set up on ebay- 5 stage filter system

Looks like it needs a few additional parts but may end up similar to your system :)


Cheers Kev

Now common Kev, that looks like something off the space shuttle, besides it is not in a nice suit casy thingy. LOL

I can't work out what the rocket boosters on top are for though, any suggestions???? LOL

Cheers, Bruce.

But Bruce,

Once I find a box big enough to house the filters plus the pump, I will only need another trailer to carry it hehehe


Cheers Kev

Sound like a very sound plan there Flashcher, get out and try it, too bloomin right mate.

Cheers, Bruce.