Learned a lesson about full hook up and power outages. Fill your tank!

[Muddy Tires]

We stayed at a conservation area that lost their well pump. We had a bit of water on board but not much. They ordered a truck of water to fill their cistern. I debated filling my tank but figured that if everybody did it would run out again quickly.

If the problem was power for the pump, couldn’t somebody with a generator have hooked up to make it work? That’s what I would have done had I been there with a generator.

 

[trailrydr]

We stayed at a conservation area that lost their well pump. We had a bit of water on board but not much. They ordered a truck of water to fill their cistern. I debated filling my tank but figured that if everybody did it would run out again quickly.

If the problem was power for the pump, couldn’t somebody with a generator have hooked up to make it work? That’s what I would have done had I been there with a generator.

Depending on the CG, it could be a very large pump.Might even require secondary helper pumps to get the pressure to 40lbs for X amount campsites in a CG park..... not sure a genny used for an RV would be enough.

I remember a friend of mine who grew up on a crop farm in KS tell me one time they used to use multiple Chry HEMI and Wedge motors for their irrigation pumps on their fields.

 

[kb0zke]

And sometimes it isn't even storms that take out power. We hosted at a campground that lost electricity on a nice, sunny day. Not too hot, not windy. It seems that the road curves near there, and on the outside of the curve there is an electric power pole. For some reason, some drivers have difficulty in taking that curve and end up hitting the power pole. Yup, no electricity in the campground. Happens about once a month, we were told. Why not install two poles, each closer to the next pole, so that there wouldn't need to be one there? Too easy a solution, I guess. Power company would rather plant one new pole each month in the same location than plant two poles that they could ignore for 20 years.

 

[deerislandbrew]

There was no water available with the power out? That is weird, I don't think I've seen that before. Usually water pressure is unaffected by a power outage.

Depends on the water system. Our membership campground on the Colorado river has a limited capacity pressure tank that is filled by a large electric pump. The water pressure drops pretty fast after losing power with so many people on the system.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

I've preached this so many times it makes my head spin. Even since my very first pop-up camper 25+ years ago we've traveled with water on board and our Honda 2000 generator. In our current RV I carry a minimum of 15 gallons of fresh water in the tank and always fill my tank at the campground... even with full hookups. It's part of my outside setup procedure as soon as the water and filter are in place. Along with the small generator I carry a 6 gallon auxiliary fuel tank and can run the generator for several days without refueling it. It's saved us on several occasions by having water and power when campgrounds lose power..... because when they lose power 99% of the ones we go to lose their electric well water pumps too. I've told this to friends and family for years. Even my own daughter didn't fill up when setting up at their own site until about 3 years ago when the campground lost power for 1½ days and she learned her lesson the hard way. I usually keep the fresh water on board until I'm back home and dump it there... unless we're going back out again soon.

Boondocking for 10 nights at the Daytona 500...the Honda & aux fuel tank works like a charm!

 

[lineman1234]

My last pickup was a 2500 diesel, and i had a 100 gallon transfer tank in the bed, it didnt do anything for the gas generator if needed, so i had to get or have gas cans around for emergency's. My new pickup is a 3500 gasser and has a 45 gallon transfer tank in the bed, that is for gas, so when or if the power goes out, it wont be a problem running out of gas for the generator if the transfer tank is full.

I wish i could post pics, but cant figure it out. But.

I have had a Sure Trax water bladder $150, have had it for 15 years. Holds 50 gallons, i have never measured water content, but seems right. Folds flat and fits nice to store in place of choice. I have never had a problem with what is left inside going bad, as it is kept out of the sun when stored, i drink out of my fresh tank when i dont have city water hookup. So getting water as needed is easy, and my water transport is easy to store.

 

[lorend]

And sometimes it isn't even storms that take out power. We hosted at a campground that lost electricity on a nice, sunny day. Not too hot, not windy. It seems that the road curves near there, and on the outside of the curve there is an electric power pole. For some reason, some drivers have difficulty in taking that curve and end up hitting the power pole. Yup, no electricity in the campground. Happens about once a month, we were told. Why not install two poles, each closer to the next pole, so that there wouldn't need to be one there? Too easy a solution, I guess. Power company would rather plant one new pole each month in the same location than plant two poles that they could ignore for 20 years.

As crazy as it sounds, when the power company puts up a second pole to protect the one with the lines, they are admitting that the pole is in a bad spot and then they end up with a liability problem. If they just have the one pole, then it is just bad drivers. Had that situation near our home years ago. That pole is still there.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

As crazy as it sounds, when the power company puts up a second pole to protect the one with the lines, they are admitting that the pole is in a bad spot and then they end up with a liability problem. If they just have the one pole, then it is just bad drivers. Had that situation near our home years ago. That pole is still there.

I think you missed his point.... reread what he said. He's not talking about putting 2 poles side by side, with one protecting the other.... he's taking about spreading two poles out, each closer to the next furthest pole. And zero poles in the spot where it keeps getting hit.

 

[Riverbug]

Yep, good lesson learned. We always make sure we have 1/3 water in the tank if we're in a campground. Had a number of situations over the years where that got us through a power outage. I can't think of a time where we had water from the campground when the power went out, but we tend to camp in rural areas so maybe that's the difference, or we've just been unlucky.

Also, we had storms years ago at home where we lost our roof and no power for 7 days. We happened to have a full tank of water as we were planning to leave for a trip. The motorhome wasn't damaged so we stayed in it and had enough water to get through the week (and it had an onboard generator). Since then, we've always tried to keep our RV ready for a situation like that and keep some 7 gallon blue water jugs in the shed in case we need them (rotating every so often).

 

[MccNeo]

We have a 3000 watt Honda generator we carry everywhere. We also have a 100 gallon fresh water tank we sanitize every year and always try to maintain 30% or so in our fresh water tank.

Having some fresh water in the tank allows us to use our bathroom at a rest area or other remote location that may not otherwise have facilities.

The generator is obviously helpful if you stop in a location that has no other power or if the power in your location goes out.

We were boon-docking in Southeast Utah (Goosenecks State Park) in 2021 for two nights. Temperature was wonderful - about 74 degrees. On the edge of the canyon with beautiful views - that is until the sandstorm blew up. My generator ran continuously for 45 hours. You couldn't open a window lest your RV fill up with orange Utah dirt.

Good times.

 

[MccNeo]

We travel with 1/3 tank of water and always carry a generator. If we think our next stop is dry we will fill the water tank more, but I figure no sense in dragging water around when it's usually pretty plentiful.

We have friends that always put water in their tank when they arrive, even at a full hook up campground and then just run off the tank. Not sure remember theologic in that other than it would likely give consistent water pressure.

We have been to a few campground that didn't have much water pressure. Taking a shower didn't provide much water flow in some cases. In these cases, we simply us the on-board tank and pump.

It also helps us in very cold weather. If temperatures are expected to remain freezing for several days or more, I typically fill the tank, use the on board pump and disconnect from the water spigot. Our tanks (fresh and waste) have heaters.

I find it easier than dealing with a freeze protected hose.

 

[RV2600RB]

We have done just that on several occasions all the years we have been RVing in different parks, public and private and not once has anyoone said anything

Same here. Nobody’s complained.
Rich

 

[RV2600RB]

Depending on the CG, it could be a very large pump.Might even require secondary helper pumps to get the pressure to 40lbs for X amount campsites in a CG park..... not sure a genny used for an RV would be enough.

I remember a friend of mine who grew up on a crop farm in KS tell me one time they used to use multiple Chry HEMI and Wedge motors for their irrigation pumps on their fields.

Yeah. My dad uses a Ford 300ci 6cyl for his pecan orchard.
Rich

 

[RV2600RB]

My last pickup was a 2500 diesel, and i had a 100 gallon transfer tank in the bed, it didnt do anything for the gas generator if needed, so i had to get or have gas cans around for emergency's. My new pickup is a 3500 gasser and has a 45 gallon transfer tank in the bed, that is for gas, so when or if the power goes out, it wont be a problem running out of gas for the generator if the transfer tank is full.

I wish i could post pics, but cant figure it out. But.

I have had a Sure Trax water bladder $150, have had it for 15 years. Holds 50 gallons, i have never measured water content, but seems right. Folds flat and fits nice to store in place of choice. I have never had a problem with what is left inside going bad, as it is kept out of the sun when stored, i drink out of my fresh tank when i dont have city water hookup. So getting water as needed is easy, and my water transport is easy to store.

To my knowledge, truck transfer tanks are not rated to carry gasoline, only diesel fuel.
Sounds like a sketchy situation to me.
Rich

 

[lineman1234]

To my knowledge, truck transfer tanks are not rated to carry gasoline, only diesel fuel.
Sounds like a sketchy situation to me.
Rich[/QUOTE

The information is at your fingertips on your computer. Just look it up. Then please post back so others that may want to look into one for there own personal reasons dont get the wrong impression.


My ( gasoline ) in bed transfer tank is ( 100% legal ) ............. For gasoline, aviation fuel and of course diesel. As well as the pump is ( gasoline/aviation/diesel rated )

Most people would find standing between covered 34,500 volts AC 45 or more feet in the air, sketchy, but it was a normal part of my day. When working.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

To my knowledge, truck transfer tanks are not rated to carry gasoline, only diesel fuel.
Sounds like a sketchy situation to me.
Rich

There are companies that manufacture gasoline auxiliary tanks. The main thing is they can't be plumbed into the gas tank like a diesel tank. I believe Transfer Flow makes some.

 

[BoredWeasel]

Do the campgrounds complain about dumping the fresh water tanks on the ground?

Yes, it is incredibly rude to those who follow you in the campsite to dump 40 or more gallons of water in the campsite as most will turn to mud

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yes, it is incredibly rude to those who follow you in the campsite to dumb 40 or more gallons of water in the campsite as most i will turn to mud

When we dump our fresh water tanks, we stop after we leave the park, and open the tanks and let it drain while traveling down the highway. Usually it's empty by the time we hit a highly traveled route. We don't normally fill them, so it's kind of a rare occurrence.

 

[WhittleBurner]

When we dump our fresh water tanks, we stop after we leave the park, and open the tanks and let it drain while traveling down the highway. Usually it's empty by the time we hit a highly traveled route. We don't normally fill them, so it's kind of a rare occurrence.

We do the same thing.

 

[Riverbug]

We have been to a few campground that didn't have much water pressure. Taking a shower didn't provide much water flow in some cases. In these cases, we simply us the on-board tank and pump.

It also helps us in very cold weather. If temperatures are expected to remain freezing for several days or more, I typically fill the tank, use the on board pump and disconnect from the water spigot. Our tanks (fresh and waste) have heaters.

I find it easier than dealing with a freeze protected hose.

x2 on using the fresh tank instead of spigot when temps threaten to freeze. Just so much easier in my mind than dealing with frozen hoses.