Water pumps Electric or Manual

Smith · Veteran Member

Water pumps Electric or Manual

travelyounger · Guru

Smith wrote:
My caravan has a 12v electric pump installed , on a recent trip I found I used the water tank alarmingly quickly ( 60l tank). I blame the electric pump (and myself of course) it's convenience tricked me into thinking I was at home. I dislike the use of power to perform tasks which can be done manually , I also dislike dishwashers for the same reason and I think it is a myth that they use less water as usually the pots need a separate scrub, however I digress.
I am thinking I will install a hand pump instead, any thoughts or ideas? Two types seem to be available the up and down pump action and the lever operated type does anyone use one ? I have looked at The Boat Warehouse and Caravans Plus web sites , there seems to be a wide range of prices , does this reflect quality or fashion ?
As always any help would be much appreciated.
Smith

Sorry cant help would never go back to manual pump

cheers

Mike Harding · Guru

If 60L is your total water storage I'd say you're pushing your luck for any more than a two or three day trip for one person.

Before some leap up and inform us how they spent six months crossing the Sahara on foot with only three egg cups of water it all can be done but it's not a lot of fun for a longer period.

When swag camping I carried about 50L of drinking water but ensured I camped by water 90% of the time and used the river/creek/dam water for showering, hand washing, dishes, laundry etc.

Although I do agree it's very easy to waste water with an electric pump.

Nowadays with 2 x 95L tanks of potable on the caravan an camped by a dam I can stay there for weeks without needing to restock the potable.

Dick0 · Guru

Smith wrote:
My caravan has a 12v electric pump installed , on a recent trip I found I used the water tank alarmingly quickly ( 60l tank). I blame the electric pump (and myself of course) it's convenience tricked me into thinking I was at home. I dislike the use of power to perform tasks which can be done manually , I also dislike dishwashers for the same reason and I think it is a myth that they use less water as usually the pots need a separate scrub, however I digress.
I am thinking I will install a hand pump instead, any thoughts or ideas? Two types seem to be available the up and down pump action and the lever operated type does anyone use one ? I have looked at The Boat Warehouse and Caravans Plus web sites , there seems to be a wide range of prices , does this reflect quality or fashion ?
As always any help would be much appreciated.
Smith

Cannot see how that is possible?

Electric or manual you flow the amount of water that you require.

How will you use less water with a manual pump?

Bobdown · Guru

I agree with Mike, 60lt is not a lot of water.

Either replace with bigger tank or add another 60lt underneath, or carry another 40lt or so in jerry cans.

cheers Bob

KJB · Guru

Put a restrictor in the line so that it flows at a slower rate - give you more time to comprehend what is happening......so you can then control it .

After all ,it is up to the person using the water to control how much is used - something you learn with experience when camping. KB

Phlipper · Senior Member

If you prefer to use a manual pump, which I do, then I have found the up and down pump easier. The lever handle type tends to be more painfull on arthritic hands

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Drop the pumps pressure ? Mind you 60l is not much . We all have to learn to consume less !!

SoloMC · Senior Member

i would never go back to the manual pump but im sure one of the van supply places will be happy to sell you one
its easy to learn how to conserve water. my first van had 60l tank and i could get 12 days out of it.
use a cut down bucket in the sink (ie so you arent filling the sink) and you will save water
(you never miss your water til your well runs dry)

re the dishwasher, its a fact that they use less water than ordinary washing up methods. if your dw doesn't clean your pots then you have the wrong dishwasher :)
the only thing that my dw didnt clean completely was avocado

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

SoloMC wrote:
i would never go back to the manual pump but im sure one of the van supply places will be happy to sell you one
its easy to learn how to conserve water. my first van had 60l tank and i could get 12 days out of it.
use a cut down bucket in the sink (ie so you arent filling the sink) and you will save water
(you never miss your water til your well runs dry)

re the dishwasher, its a fact that they use less water than ordinary washing up methods. if your dw doesn't clean your pots then you have the wrong dishwasher :)
the only thing that my dw didnt clean completely was avocado

I dont trust the harsh dishwasher chemicals with my precious coated saucepans, so I always do them separately. I am also concerned with putting all those harsh chemicals down the sink so I only put the dishwasher on every few days when I have built up a full load.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I wipe dishes etc with a hand cleaner type paper . Wash dishes at night in about 1 litre of boiled jug water ! I highly doubt a dishwasher can beat me when it comes to saving water !! I use tuff plastic plates that seem
To repel water, easy to clean . Same with shower . We wet turn
Of shower tap on showers head . Soap up then rinse off . Done it with plug in . To find about 12mm in showers base . Often washing smalls clothing at the same time .

Whenarewethere · Guru

We each use 2.5L per 24 hour. During high temperatures in summer up to 3.0L a day each. We use compressed air for moving water when needed. Just need to think outside the box not to waste water.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes I check the grey water ? The old in
- out . Amassing how much you use when at home !! Or hooked up to water . Even then I try to water lawns from
Washing etc in summer .

Mike Harding · Guru

As I said... you can do it... but it's not a lot of fun.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
As I said... you can do it... but it's not a lot of fun.

That's right.

We can spend a month in the desert without any resupply. We currently carry 280L of water in 4 tanks, so we can reserve a decent quantity for survival and still have hot showers on a regular basis.

The new build will be able to carry up to 450L although most of the time half of that is plenty.

Water can determine how long you can be self sufficient for and how comfortable you can be.

Cheers,

Peter

oldbloke · Guru

KJB wrote:
Put a restrictor in the line so that it flows at a slower rate - give you more time to comprehend what is happening......so you can then control it .
After all ,it is up to the person using the water to control how much is used - something you learn with experience when camping. KB

KB beat me to it. An easy fix. And carry additional water in the car/Ute.

Be careful adding water tanks as may put you over your ATM.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Smith,
Is your van an older unit or something like our past Jayco Eagle (had a 55L tank)? We nearly ran out in a remote Qld National Park but managed to catch some rainwater by tilting the awning. After that I fitted another similar sized tank above the axle but only filled it when going to areas where we knew we couldn't get water. And YES when both tanks were full, I was OVER MY ATM but I'd prefer to live, not die!

The Eagle & our current Discovery have both a hand operated & electric pumps - I know which one I'd prefer to use!!