[Millennial Mountaineer]

Hey everyone!!
My wife and I are currently in the Yukon, loving the adventure up north. However, today we ran into a snag…. The taps have literally been shut off on all RV related water sources. This is because we are already experiencing below 0C temperatures!!

So my question: how does everyone manage to fill their onboard water tanks during the wintertime?

Id love to hear everyone’s ingenuity on solving this problem!
Cheers,

Brian

 

[Michael Ophus]

Not a question that comes up very often, indygreg did it at home with heated tanks.

LWB Extended tall Day Van/Tailgater

after a year of looking I took the plunge and bought a 350, DRW 10K lb GVWR with EB. the plan is: - Not for camping. want to travel/tailgate in comfort - not interested in solar/efficiency, etc. will carry 250AH of batteries and a 3K inverter. when home will plugin - want to be able to...

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

 

[Kabouter]

This is a tricky one. I put in a 30g fresh tank in an attempt to avoid this problem. I had to refill one time last winter toward the end of a trip and bought a 5g drinking water jug from Walmart and dumped it in the fresh water tank. That would be kind of a pain for full time though. Otherwise, try to find a friends house. I can't remember if you two are going at it full time or on an adventure basis.

EDIT: I see that you are full time in the van. Buying all your fresh water is probably not a good option. My first thought would be to ask at a car wash if you can use their hose.

 

[Millennial Mountaineer]

This is a tricky one. I put in a 30g fresh tank in an attempt to avoid this problem. I had to refill one time last winter toward the end of a trip and bought a 5g drinking water jug from Walmart and dumped it in the fresh water tank. That would be kind of a pain for full time though. Otherwise, try to find a friends house. I can't remember if you two are going at it full time or on an adventure basis.

EDIT: I see that you are full time in the van. Buying all your fresh water is probably not a good option. My first thought would be to ask at a car wash if you can use their hose.

Thanks for the reply!!! Car washes are a great idea!

Yeah, right now the grocery store water is our best bet. We built the water fill to be internally accessible, so we should be able to accomplish this even in really cold temperatures. Just a little awkward 🤣

 

[njvagabond]

Perhaps a small 12v transfer pump if you end up using 5gal bottles often.

 

[Millennial Mountaineer]

Perhaps a small 12v transfer pump if you end up using 5gal bottles often.

Love the idea! I was picturing an awkward pour, trying to raise the water jugs high enough to gravity feed the system! A pump seems like a much improved solution

 

[njvagabond]

Love the idea! I was picturing an awkward pour, trying to raise the water jugs high enough to gravity feed the system! A pump seems like a much improved solution

Another way would be to use a siphon. Free energy ... well other than you having to place the jug higher that the tank and get the siphon started.

 

[rf17830]

I think a truck stop might have water available year round.

 

[brío]

I think a truck stop might have water available year round.

Yes. You often have to drive back to the big-boy diesel pump stations, where there are usually hoses.

Many regular gas stations have hydrants available, as well.

 

[njvagabond]

Yes. You often have to drive back to the big-boy diesel pump stations, where there are usually hoses.

Many regular gas stations have hydrants available, as well.

Potable water?

 

[Michael Ophus]

The hose might have a little antifreeze on it but it is fresh water. Truckstop

 

[brío]

Potable water?

Yes. Most tractor trailer cabs are essentially tiny motorhomes. They need potable water just as much as we do.

 

[Michael Ophus]

No, It is more like one out of every hundred semi tractors have a full bathroom, The vast majority have no water at all other then what goes in the radiator.
You only get those 15 foot long walk in truck sleepers after you become a owner/operator. (Own your own truck) Most drivers will never have one.
I have friends who have been driving for fifty years and they are still driving company trucks.

 

[brío]

No, It is more like one out of every hundred semi tractors have a full bathroom, The vast majority have no water at all other then what goes in the radiator.
You only get those 15 foot long walk in truck sleepers after you become a owner/operator. (Own your own truck) Most drivers will never have one.
I have friends who have been driving for fifty years and they are still driving company trucks.

I am not going to argue about what percentage of cabs have on-board potable water.
But, it is manifestly true that large truck stops are set up to provide for the ones that do. As I said, it is often back by the fuel bays.

Even if it were "one out of every hundred", there are over two million tractors on the road, so...

 

[Millennial Mountaineer]

This is all great news!! I hadn't ever thought of checking out truck stops, but certainly they need round the year access to all the main supplies, including water!! Ok, I'll update you on our success rate of finding winter potable water!! Thanks everyone!!!

Does anyone have a truckers app that includes possible fill-up locations?