Fresh Water Solutions
We are brand new newbies and looking forward to our first ever motorhome trip in March.
We'd like to pick experienced brains about fresh water carriers please. We started out looking at a 40 litre Aquaroll but think it might be too bulky as we have nowhere really on board to store it. The Fiamma 23 litre looks more compact but might be too small. And to get water from the carrier into the onboard tank we seem to need some kind of submersible pump but can't see if the smaller carriers are compatible with this, or what additional pipes, connectors or kits might be needed to go with it.
Any advice gratefully received. Hope these aren't stupid questions but you've got to start somewhere!
Comments
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depending on the size of your tank and your length of stay and your usage rate, you might only need to fill once (with a hosepipe) for the duration of the stay..
our 110ltr tank lasts us 5/6 days if we are showering in the van and around 10 days if using site showers.
so, the need to top up is dependant on the above factors.
often, folk who need to top up use smaller items like a watering can or (say) 10ltr container, which can be easily lifted and poured into the water filler point.
this negates the requirement to carry extra 'water containers' like Aquarolls which have to be stored somewhere....
there are many variations on this theme and no right or wrong way, i just prefer to carry as little water porting kit as i can get away with.
of course, a smaller fresh tank, increased usage etc will require more regular fillings which might influence the kit needed....
good luck...
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Not sure how " Brand New" you are BSB, but filling the water tanks from dry, as I assume you will be, You can use a length of plastic food grade pipe & a tap connector as BoleroB said. This will allow you to use one of the "Service Points" on Club & most other sites.
After pitching on your chosen area of the site, only then will you need the use of a mobile water carrier. Mine is a bright red watering can of 2.5 gallon, which is enough for my needs both in the 'topping up' department & in the 'physical exercise' bit as well. the use of the watering can would allow you to top the empty tank with a few gallons to give you 'Services as Required' on your first journey.
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We always fill the on board tank directly from the tap and the only water container we carry is a 5 litre one for drinking water.
MHs lend themselves to being moved and it's no effort to fill at a service point as you pass.
Tip - club sites (not necessarily CLs) have dedicated MH service points where you can fill and empty. Please use these points if they exist rather than blocking the ordinary service points which prevents others from using them. Thanks.
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Or as noted today a queue of three arriving motor caravans at a normal service point,completely blocking the one way system,as another motor caravan had blocked the MV service point,on the way out as he decided to have a shower while his waste tank dribbled away
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It’s all about consideration for others, JV.
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I seem to remember the FM M/H point on the west side was in an awkward spot, it will be good when the club makes things easier.
We take a 20L container to fill with top up water and a lightweight fold up trolley in case it's a long walk to a water point. You can get fold up/collapsible containers too. I think there is a fold up silicone watering can, might be useful for some.
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The problem with the Fiamma and using it with a submersible pump is that the hose of the pump might not be long enough. The Fiamma 23 lt water tank is really designed to be used in a caravan as dedicated inboard water tank. Many European caravans have a special hatch where it fits. Might be useful to mention the make and model of motorhome you have. Our Bailey uses the Whale system and we still use our Aquaroll to replenish our onboard tank especially if we are staying on site for three or more days.BTW we keep it in the shower during transit.
David
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About to start our third year with the Motorhome after 30 odd years of Caravan and I just ditched the 10 litre water carrier because we have never used it and I wanted to save space. For drinking we use mineral water bottles which we refill direct from the tap or if on the continent we often drink mineral water.
With 100 litre fresh water tank I fill up upon arrival at site using the service point and hose and this is good enough for several days. If we stay for a long period then the chances are we will need a big supermarket shop so have to go off site which is when we would refill if needed.
For waste, if we are near to a convenient disposal point we use a bucket under the outlet hose and empty when full. We have found it better to empty the waste frequently to prevent build up of smells. On a CL you can often dispose of waste water in the hedgerows provided it is not contaminated with food, cooking oil etc. Take the advice of the proprietor if in doubt.
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As i may have posted before it is not the MV service points on sites that are main problem, it is the extremely poor design and position of the outlets ,on both our motor caravans it cost about £10 to modify the outlets into user friendly discharge, that could and should have been as built,rather than expecting the leisure industry to spend thousands of pounds to cater for poor design of LVs
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All we have in MH is a hosepipe, a bucket (multi purpose) and a small collapsible water carrier. Fill up at home, top up on sites as we go out and about, empty similar, or bucket/ pipe waste Grey waste ( nearly all shower/ handwash) into hedgerow with owner permission. So easy.......
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The original design of motorhome waste points employed on Club sites is awful. Fortunately they are actually changing them to full width open grills which makes it easy for all motorhomes to dump waste water whether the water drains for offside, nearside or central. I am not suggesting that motorhome waste taps are perfect, far from it but at the end of the day it is the design of the site facility that makes the biggest difference.
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BSB Tourers, I don't think I have ever seen any motorhomers in Europe with an aquaroll for fresh water. They fill their on board tank from a hosepipe or from whatever watering can or portable water carrier they have with them - as we do with our small caravan. I don't want to cart an aquaroll around for fresh water. Do you?
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Agree DK. Our MH drain isn't bad anyway, at the rear, our MH is possibly a tad higher than more modern ones. The MH waste point at Warwick Site is a shocker, even we, with our little 5.5 metre job had to shuffle, and there was a lot of damage visible to adjacent posts and fencing, so I am guessing others have had worse problems than us.
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We were at Chatsworth in early December and in order to position the waste point over the drain I had to park across the adjacent pitch. I did note that in both the review I wrote and the survey that the CMC sent after the visit. I accept at 7.5 mts long we have a slightly larger motorhome than many but you do get the impression that motorhome waste points were an afterthought. I know the Club are addressing this but it seems a very slow process.
David
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JV, I have to disagree. While I don't doubt that the outlet design on MHs could be improved, the design and layout of club (both clubs) MHSPs is truly appalling.
Who's bright idea was it to install manhole covers that weigh a ton and bend when they're driven over so they jam? And who thought that only having a couple of choices of where to be able to drain into said square holes rather than a long grid was clever? Whoever thought it was a great idea to angle the ends of the service bays so there's insufficient room to manoeuvre even a modest sized MH? I'll tell you who - someone who's never used a MH in a true life situation.
Believe me, if I could overcome these problems for the sake of spending a mere £10 I'd be very happy. It beats me how you cannot see the problems lie with the design of the MHSPs.
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We visited one of the newest sites on the network a couple of years ago, Barnard Castle. I can't recall what the actual drain was like, but guessing one of the lift the lid types. I do recall we had to drive out of the site, and then back in through the barrier to just get to the waste point from our pitch. (We were actually leaving, after our one night stay) I honestly don't think that the Club saw the MH phenomenon arriving, it was like the Magic Roundabout with MHs circling the site!
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So perhaps the caravan Club should try to get ahead of the game and install fully fully fully serviced pitches that each consist of a 8m long grid so that all caravans ( trailer, motor, battery, solar, unicorn fatr powered ) can dump out waste wherever the maker put the outlet.
Or perhaps they could exert influence on the manufacturers to position the outlets in a standard location, and to make them fit for purpose in terms of size and accessibility.
Now, which idea above do you think is the more fanciefull?
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Site facilities are having to be altered because of poor design of motor caravan waste outlets, it should be the motor caravan makers that pick up the bills,I have never seen an American RV having a problem dumping,or a fuel tanker or the hunny wagons because they have properly designed outlets on the vehicles
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Motorhomes vary so much due their layouts etc, they're never going to be the same just as caravans have always varied a bit. But poorly designed and positioned Motorhome Service Points on sites often cause problems due to being difficult to use or park up in. TDA mentioned Warwick, which is really awkward, often leaving waste water running all over the roadway, in icy conditions it's awful.
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One of our favourite CL sites has a vast concrete apron which slopes towards the centre where there is a drainage grill. I congratulated the owner on the design and he told me that the Club had insisted on it and given hm exact specifications for the task. I find that puzzling as I have never seen a similar arrangement on any other CL.
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I think some of the Club's inspectors are fond of giving "advice" to CL owners, although in this case it seems to be a positive step. Won't have been cheap though.
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Sorry JVB66 that is complete nonsense. Next you will be telling me that the makers of Waste Masters, used by most caravanners, should pay for the removal of all the brick lips previously used around waste water disposal points which have been replaced by the current level system? Many American RV's have a combined grey and black waste system so requires a large diameter dump point, for obvious reasons, be that by hose or direct evacuation from under the vehicle.
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That’s a good one, JV. You crease me up.
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You're almost right in your first paragraph, Nav, except one drain per site would suffice.
Get your girlfriend to try lifting one of the manhole covers and you'll gain an insight into one of the issues.
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The removal of the brick surround has made the area a very unsafe place in cold weather as water goes every where,and all because "some"were "incapable" of useing the original design ,and RV owners seem to manage, but then they maybe have the right equipment on their vehicles,
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