We are about to head off for 12months tripping around. Hope to stay in free camp spots most of the time. Our van/4wd is set up with solar panels, batteries etc but we were wondering how most travellers top up their water tanks when on the road and not venturing into caravan parks.
We haven't actually had to do this ourselves Dipstick but while we were down in Portland at the Visitor Centre back in February there was a couple that came into the carpark with those inflatable bladders and filled up from the tap there. They said they had been free camping at a spot about 10ks out of town with no amenities. I would assume that they had their own shower and toilet, maybe.
Ma
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
By the way, welcome to the Forum. You need to know what it is, where it is, how it works, you've come to the right place. Plenty of information, advice and all with the most friendly people you could wish to meet.
Hope you enjoy the site as much as I do.
Ma
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
when you grab a bit of fuel just say to the attendant "hoy, where's your drinking water tap" it's normally where you put air in your tyres, most places dont mind you topping up your tank if you have bought some fuel
if you go into any size town head for the information centre and ask for the tap "undoer thingy" because you want some water, they will point you in the right direction
national parks and wildlife will have drinking water taps for your use, just ask at one of their offices or use the interweb to make some enquirys
if all else fails then most parks and playgrounds have a tap that you could "discreetly" place your van in front of and just whack a hose on it and bobs your uncle
local councils will point you in the right direction as well
buy one of those "anti vandal" tap handles off ebay before you go and grab yourself some various size hose fittings (tap end) they are different in each state
if all else fails (and it wont) then pull into a c/park for the night and top up everything there, (I've seen unpowered sites for ten dollars)
we have travelled all over this great land and have yet to find an area that we could not top up our tanks apart from the deserts
dont fret it, just enjoy the trip, good luck and great travel's
I'm very cautious about filling the tank. I carry 4x 20L jerrys of water and tend to fill these, rather than the tank where the water might be a bit suss. Just as well, after one such fill-up, the bottom of the jerrys were bright green!. Had to buy a bottle of bleach at the next town to clean them out - shudder to think what would have happened if I had filled the tank there - it would have been a bugger to clean.
I agree with Dave we have filled our tank at servos just had to ask also have filled up at parks did ask locals about the water first. We have 20 litre container for drinking and the water tank is for washing and showers. We also have a small two stroke pump which we can pump from rivers if needed
g'day John and welcome to the forum, good advice and it is exactly as I have found it
just be wary of pumping directly from a creek or stream, first it must be running clear and clean and smelling fresh as well as tasting "sweet" and if any doubt at all chuck a chlorine tablet in to your tank and leave for about an hour before you use the water
always ask the locals if the water is okay to drink,
buy one of those "anti vandal" tap handles off ebay before you go and grab yourself some various size hose fittings (tap end) they are different in each state
Easily purchased at places like Bunnings also. Cheap and no postage to pay.
