Water Bladder tansfer setup
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,676
Likes: 4,780
From: Itinerant
Water Bladder tansfer setup
For any new campers out there.
We boondock more now than stay at rv parks so getting water into the fresh tank was becoming a pain. I was just using 3 - 6 gallon water containers but at roughly 48# lifting and wresting with the funnel/ containers I finally broke down and put this together. Variation from others that I have seen on the internet. I was pumping from the containers but ordered the bladder to save on space.
I used a Seaflo 33 series 12v pump , 3.3 gpm
I wired a trailer plug onto it and plug it under the tailgate .
I chose this pump for the time the one in the 5th wheel fails and I'll just use this one for it's replacement.
AquaTank II 30 gallon Bladder. That gives a 100 gallons for the 2 weeks and usually it's time to move on to the next location anyways.
2_5/8" OD x 1/2" ID Vinyl hoses, #4 clamps 1/4"-5/8" diameter, 1_3/4"female hose end x 1/2" ID hose barb
The bladder sits in front of the hitch and doesn't hit the tailgate, so a perfect fit.
This is full @ 30 gallons
Just about empty
When completed with the water transfer the bladder can be folded up and the pump broken down taking hardly any space.
We boondock more now than stay at rv parks so getting water into the fresh tank was becoming a pain. I was just using 3 - 6 gallon water containers but at roughly 48# lifting and wresting with the funnel/ containers I finally broke down and put this together. Variation from others that I have seen on the internet. I was pumping from the containers but ordered the bladder to save on space.
I used a Seaflo 33 series 12v pump , 3.3 gpm
I wired a trailer plug onto it and plug it under the tailgate .
I chose this pump for the time the one in the 5th wheel fails and I'll just use this one for it's replacement.
AquaTank II 30 gallon Bladder. That gives a 100 gallons for the 2 weeks and usually it's time to move on to the next location anyways.
2_5/8" OD x 1/2" ID Vinyl hoses, #4 clamps 1/4"-5/8" diameter, 1_3/4"female hose end x 1/2" ID hose barb
The bladder sits in front of the hitch and doesn't hit the tailgate, so a perfect fit.
This is full @ 30 gallons
Just about empty
When completed with the water transfer the bladder can be folded up and the pump broken down taking hardly any space.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
The product description on Amazon lists the dimensions for 30 gallons as:
36"W x 36"L x 14"H in one place and in another it's: 15.1 x 10.3 x 3.2 inches. The smaller dimensions would fit under the rear bench seat on my boat quite well, the larger not so much.
So which is correct?
36"W x 36"L x 14"H in one place and in another it's: 15.1 x 10.3 x 3.2 inches. The smaller dimensions would fit under the rear bench seat on my boat quite well, the larger not so much.
So which is correct?
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
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Likes: 4,780
From: Itinerant
36x36x14 is the correct one.
When I added water to bladder I did have a water meter gauge on the hose so a semi accurate amount of water could be guaged as not to over/ under fill the bag. If you look at the full bag pic and notice the height compared to the hitch which is 9" from the bed to top portion of the B&W base.
When I added water to bladder I did have a water meter gauge on the hose so a semi accurate amount of water could be guaged as not to over/ under fill the bag. If you look at the full bag pic and notice the height compared to the hitch which is 9" from the bed to top portion of the B&W base.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 698
Likes: 4
From: Rural Northern California
Nice set up. 95% of our camping is dry camping and I am a bit tired of the jug routine also.
Thanks for posting the info.
Thanks for posting the info.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Itinerant
I just got tired of wrestling with the jugs and looking like I peed my pants after the match.
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From: Chico,CA.
I did something very similar except I use a 55 gal. plastic (food grade) barrel secured against the front wall of the bed with ratchet straps. I also chose the same model water pump as equipped in the trailer for the reason you stated. In my case I used a 7-way plug since I have one in the bed wall, and pulled from the (+) pin for power.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 360
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
I did something very similar except I use a 55 gal. plastic (food grade) barrel secured against the front wall of the bed with ratchet straps. I also chose the same model water pump as equipped in the trailer for the reason you stated. In my case I used a 7-way plug since I have one in the bed wall, and pulled from the (+) pin for power.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,710
Likes: 12,849
From: Wyoming
I'm considering getting one of these water bladders. I wanted to say thank you for the writeup and links. The AquaTank II is the one I was looking at and your recommendation confirms that.
I would send some reps your way but I've thanked you so many times it won't let me.
I would send some reps your way but I've thanked you so many times it won't let me.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Itinerant
I added a shutoff connection to the bottom hose connection of the bladder and makes it easier connecting the hose without losing water.
I found it wally world on the garden section.
I found it wally world on the garden section.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Itinerant
Good catch , I was testing the system at the time.
I don't use that filter when filling the bladder I'll use one of the at the faucet.
I should note that when filling the bladder I use one of these attached to the bottom of the filter then hose. It's plastic so won't take the weight of the filter/ hose hanging off of it. I have seen reviews for the meter saying it doesn't give accurate flow amount but after using it on different faucets with high/ low flow pressure it fills a six gallon jug pretty accurately everytime. There has been 1,300+ gallons put through this setup so far.
, I was testing the system at the time.I don't use that filter when filling the bladder I'll use one of the at the faucet.
I should note that when filling the bladder I use one of these attached to the bottom of the filter then hose. It's plastic so won't take the weight of the filter/ hose hanging off of it. I have seen reviews for the meter saying it doesn't give accurate flow amount but after using it on different faucets with high/ low flow pressure it fills a six gallon jug pretty accurately everytime. There has been 1,300+ gallons put through this setup so far.