Hi everyone. Janine here. Partners name is Mike. We have purchased a 2004 16' Compass Caravan and we have just done a little 4 day trip to MENINGIE SA to test out the van. We are very impressed with the van. It tows beautifully and is immaculate throughout. Can't wait to travel further in the years to come. We want to try out free camping too and we have bought all the gear we need to do it. Im pleased l can ask questions on this forum. Just wondering after taking lots of water with us for drinking showering and being well prepared does anyone know where you can refill your caravan water tank up on the road if it runs low whilst free camping. Some sites don't have water available a nd some do of course but if there isn't where can you take your van to refill it whilst travelling? Thanks so much for any advice
Tony Bev said
12:25 AM Apr 16, 2019
May I be one of the first, to welcome you both to the forum, JaninesWorld
Glad to see that you enjoyed your first road trip
If you download the Wikicamps for your computer/laptop/phone, (from memory less than $10, for a lifetime subscription)
It shows most of the free/donation/low cost sites, and says which ones, has water available
If you obtain the Camps Australia Wide Book, (newest is Book 10), around less than $60, it also shows many camps, and says if water is available
The worst scenario, is that you may have to go into a caravan park, periodically to fill up with water
Because I live on the west coast, and usually travel across states, I carry bottled drinking water, for drinking, as insurance that I do not get any tummy upsets
Hope that this info is useful to you
Dougwe said
07:22 AM Apr 16, 2019
Welcome to the gang Janine and Mike, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I live in my aluminium tent and travel full time and further to what Tony has said above, you can pop into info centres and ask them about water, many allow you to get some while there or direct you somewhere local. clean creaks, rivers, dams, lakes etc can be a good source as well. I have a twin filter system that I cane use if needed and a B.E.S.T. in-line filter I use when filling tanks or hooked up to mains water but don't drink tank water. I filter water from reliable sources into a 10lt container or buy from supermarkets etc for drinking and keep that on a bench in my ensuite.
You will find some or most full timers pop into a CVP once a week at least to do washing and get water. That's a personal choice though. If you go to smaller towns and CVP's you will find they can be cheaper.
As with most things in life, common sense prevails.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Possum3 said
08:48 AM Apr 16, 2019
Welcome to the forum Janine and Mike, We have found that most service stations will allow you to fill a 20 litre container, if you are refuelling your car - there are exceptions in some drought stricken towns there you need to ration carefully and buy drinking water at shops.
JaninesWorld said
04:24 PM Apr 16, 2019
Thank you all so much for your valuable advice. We will certainly heed the warnings. See you down the road somewhere and happy travels to everyone. Regards Janine and Mike x
Glad to see that you enjoyed your first road trip
If you download the Wikicamps for your computer/laptop/phone, (from memory less than $10, for a lifetime subscription)
It shows most of the free/donation/low cost sites, and says which ones, has water available
If you obtain the Camps Australia Wide Book, (newest is Book 10), around less than $60, it also shows many camps, and says if water is available
The worst scenario, is that you may have to go into a caravan park, periodically to fill up with water
Because I live on the west coast, and usually travel across states, I carry bottled drinking water, for drinking, as insurance that I do not get any tummy upsets
Hope that this info is useful to you
I live in my aluminium tent and travel full time and further to what Tony has said above, you can pop into info centres and ask them about water, many allow you to get some while there or direct you somewhere local. clean creaks, rivers, dams, lakes etc can be a good source as well. I have a twin filter system that I cane use if needed and a B.E.S.T. in-line filter I use when filling tanks or hooked up to mains water but don't drink tank water. I filter water from reliable sources into a 10lt container or buy from supermarkets etc for drinking and keep that on a bench in my ensuite.
You will find some or most full timers pop into a CVP once a week at least to do washing and get water. That's a personal choice though. If you go to smaller towns and CVP's you will find they can be cheaper.
As with most things in life, common sense prevails.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.