How to save water while boondocking?

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by J Mac

Wow, a portable 50 gallon holding tank must be big! Where would an Escape camper store it? How and where would you dump it? When full it must be close to 400 pounds.

They normally are pulled behind since they have wheels to the dump location.

[blhvet]

Do you have an outside shower, Laura? I would use that to wash my hair every few days. If not, I have a solar bag shower I use to wash my hair - takes forever to heat up in the sun, but if you put in some room temp water and a kettle of very hot water, it works well. Then it doesn't take much water to sponge bath in the trailer. A full shower once a week might do it. I find if my hair is clean, I feel clean!

And definitely take a few 5 gallon water jjugs - always somewhere to fill them, even if it's a bit of a drive!

[J Mac]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

They normally are pulled behind since they have wheels to the dump location.

That can be a mighty long way in/at some camp sights! If it's not far, I suggest bringing the trailer to the dump station

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by J Mac

Wow, a portable 50 gallon holding tank must be big! Where would an Escape camper store it? How and where would you dump it? When full it must be close to 400 pounds.

Originally Posted by J Mac

That can be a mighty long way in/at some camp sights! If it's not far, I suggest bringing the trailer to the dump station

Usually the monster portable tanks belong to monster size bus type RV's with toads that are larger than my tug.

I've seen them pull the portable tank over to the dump with all sorts of vehicles ranging from a golf cart to their tug. They just put the handle on a trailer ball or whatever.

I was given one large type. I looked at it for a while and decided that it wasn't worth carrying with us. I made one from a 5 gal. square plastic container. From time to time it comes in handy.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I made one from a 5 gal. square plastic container. From time to time it comes in handy.

Ron

Clearly labeled I hope.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Clearly labeled I hope.

Well it's yellow so that's a bit of a reminder.

Ron

[Dave Walter]

We have camped with two adults and two teens in our 19' with no services for three to five days, showers every second day, and did not run out of water. With some conservation measures, you should have no difficulties boon docking in a 21' for five days by yourself, without running short of fresh water or having to dump tanks. If you do fill the black tank yourself in five days, you may want to rethink your diet or consider getting yourself checked over by your doctor.

[NW Cat Owner]

Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions.

We do have a small dump tote that we bought second hand. It wouldn't completely empty the tanks(s), but it would do if I was getting full. However, not at the swap meet as there isn't anywhere to dump a tote. We're parking in fields and such. The RV park is quite a ways away and I'm not going to get the truck out of my spot during the week.

Hey, after getting on this low FODMAP diet I don't have to worry about overflowing the black tank like I would have a few years ago. (same diet will work for anyone with IBS.)

Hair is too short to braid. Don't have an outdoor shower. I'll try out some waterless shampoo stuff ahead of time. I used some years ago and it was pretty worthless, but maybe they've improved over the 25+ years since I last tried 'em.

I'll look into the solar bag shower idea, thanks.

I know I've seen mention of the pumps for transferring water to your tanks before. Can someone please provide some names/links to what you're talking about? Thanks

[J Mac]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Usually the monster portable tanks belong to monster size bus type RV's with toads that are larger than my tug.

I've seen them pull the portable tank over to the dump with all sorts of vehicles ranging from a golf cart to their tug. They just put the handle on a trailer ball or whatever.

I was given one large type. I looked at it for a while and decided that it wasn't worth carrying with us. I made one from a 5 gal. square plastic container. From time to time it comes in handy.

Ron

At Okanagan North Provincial Camp Ground the closest dump site is down the highway and into the next town 1/2 an hour or so! I doubt the ZrCMP would think kindly to this style tow service!!

[blhvet]

I've tried the waterless shampoo - better than nothing but not as good as a wash.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

I know I've seen mention of the pumps for transferring water to your tanks before. Can someone please provide some names/links to what you're talking about? Thanks

I don't use one but this is a 12v transfer pump. Obviously you need to be able to get to 12 volts.

12 Volt DC Transfer Pump

[Loren & Cathy]

That is what I use and the brand I have is Wayne. Probably have transferred over a 1000 gal. of water with it by now. Connects to the battery on the truck. Loren

[Teresa M]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

Hair is too short to braid. Don't have an outdoor shower. I'll try out some waterless shampoo stuff ahead of time. I used some years ago and it was pretty worthless, but maybe they've improved over the 25+ years since I last tried 'em.

Is waterless shampoo the same thing as dry shampoo? Most of my female friends and co-workers only wash their hair 1-2 times a week and use dry shampoo the rest of the days. And I'm talking about IRL, not when camping. Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is the best, but $$$!

[Ian and Sue]

When we decided to travel in our 19' Scamp, i looked at the 12 Gal water tank and realized I needed to carry more water. I bought a 30 gal polyethylene tank with a screw lid and hooked up the same model rv water pump that is in the trailer in the truck. I strapped the tank in the front of the bed in the truck. I used compression fittings and a hose fitting on the outlet. I have it wired to an old deep cell for power(it does not use much) now i have running water in my truck and can go get water as needed to refill the rv tank or wash off dirty grandkids. As an added bonus when we arrived at a music festival and were looking for our friends and campsite my wife asked why there was water pouring out the back of the camper The pump head was broken and so much for a full tank....a little jury rigging and I was able to hook the truck tank to the city water fitting ...problem solved!

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by Teresa M

Is waterless shampoo the same thing as dry shampoo? Most of my female friends and co-workers only wash their hair 1-2 times a week and use dry shampoo the rest of the days. And I'm talking about IRL, not when camping. Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is the best, but $$$!

I don't know Teresa. I haven't started doing any research - yet.

Holy crud! Almost 50 bucks for an 8.5 oz bottle!!!!

Yeah, need to do some research here. Holy cow!

[Iowa Dave]

Millennials, Jeez I love them. They know how to spend money, have fun and look good doing it. The Ohio State University turns out a great product. Go Bucks
Dave

[Teresa M]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

I don't know Teresa. I haven't started doing any research - yet.

Holy crud! Almost 50 bucks for an 8.5 oz bottle!!!!

Yeah, need to do some research here. Holy cow!

Don't worry... lots of less expensive options out there that also work great... any drugstore, Target, Wal-Mart, etc has a whole wide range of options! $50 is pricey, but it does last a long time, especially for someone with short hair. Good luck!

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Teresa M

Don't worry... lots of less expensive options out there that also work great... any drugstore, Target, Wal-Mart, etc has a whole wide range of options! $50 is pricey, but it does last a long time, especially for someone with short hair. Good luck!

Hi: Teresa M... I'm with you!!! I think "Dry cleaning" and Wash&wear hair is so convenient!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Millennials, Jeez I love them. They know how to spend money, have fun and look good doing it. The Ohio State University turns out a great product. Go Bucks
Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... Watch out... your bias is showing. LoL Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[bonnieh]

Dry shampoo


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