We have a Bailey Olympus. We are long term campers, but new to caravans. Our caravan has an onboard water tank, but from what I can gather most people don't use them as standard. We change the water daily and don't shower in the caravan so would like to use the onboard all the time to save carrying/ buying an extra water carrier. Is there any reason why this would not work. One thing I have noticed is the lack of filter, will water filters fit an onboard container. Sorry for my novice questions and thanks for your help.
Hi Nikki
We have an onboard water tank, it's great for winter use as it doesnt freeze.
We use it for everything except drinking. We take a large 5 litre bottled water container for that, we just refill it and keep it on the floor in the van.
Thanks for the replies it's in for a service so I might ask them about the filter under the sink. We are away this month so it's great that it's onboard. On our last trip we just drank the water because as tenters we weren't aware of filters etc.
WE had a filter in the cold water line and it froze and cracked for the last 2 winters. I did drain down and blew through the taps, but it still cracked. Replaced it with some pipe as we don't drink, clean teeth or fill kettle from that supply. We have a gallon container that we use for that. So no more having to fork out for a new one or check for leakage at start of new season.
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Caravan/MH water system filters can be more a problem than an asset, health wise.
The reason is that it is almost certainly left wet or filled during periods when you are actually not camping; this can lead to bacterial and fungal development plus if any light can get to it algal growth, whilst stagnant.
If the filter is treated with 'silver' this natural biocide should control this, but far from all filter elements are so treated. If not, or does not contain some other active biocide then it is wise to drain the filler and keep it so it can air dry, as when dry the 'life' goes into shut down.
I am a believer in not having filters in leisure vehicle water system and also in avoiding drinking unboiled system water; but then potable water storage and systems is a field I have work in.
We have an inboard tank.Our filter is on the end of the hose that goes from the van to the aqua roll. We also do not drink from the van but have a 5 litre container purely for drinking/tea/coffee
------------- Live every day as if it's your last but not at risk to others :-)
We drink from the tap if the local supply is drinking water and tastes good, its never done any of us any harm.
We clean our water system therefore every time we go away especially in the summer when the warmer weather can cause bacterial growth in the pipes with residue water left behind etc. Internal water systems are for the best part kept warm all of the time, so you'd need to clean it regularly, but for the bonuses it brings, probably worth it.
if you flush the system using purifying tablets at the start of the season and any other time you may wish to do so during the season then all should be well filters are on the way out we have an abbey and it was taken out and bypassed because it was impossible to remove all the water from it so every winter if froze and broke even though the system was drained properly my 3 previous vans never had any filters either boiling the water will remove any baddies in anycase so if you are worried just do the bottle stuff as mentioned above and all will be well you don't have to drain the tank every day just wait until it is empty and fill it but empty it prior to any journey it can help to unbalance the van and affect stability
Quote: Originally posted by Just do it on 05/2/2012
Surely if you boil the water from the inboard tank it's ok in tea/coffee wouldn't you say?
Yes with the slight proviso that the first 1 or 2 litres drawn off at the start of the stay is best avoided. Bugs, their toxins and possible plasticisers.
Most of us will be fine drinking from the system even taking no precautions, as some others are prepared to put to the test. The older, within limits, and more travelled the partaker the better their chances of getting away with it.
But without wishing to be at all alarmist lets just leave it as being from an informed viewpoint, not the wisest of things to do to yourself and family, when so easily avoided.
Our experience of on-board water is mixed. They don't freeze if caravanning in winter. However, they need refilling more frequently because it has a small capacity, it's heavy to lift back into the locker and whilst you can leave it filled it you're touring, water movement can have an effect on the handling of your van (so I'm told, but we've never done it so I don't know if it does). What we did in the end was use a 40L aquaroll to fetch water, then use a second pump to draw water from this to fill the on-board water. It is easier this way, but I think the option to just use the water straight from an aqua roll is preferable. There's nothing to stop you bringing an aquaroll inside the van if freezing is likely (and it isn't too heavy!). An the on-board water tank also takes up space inside the locker/underbed storage area. I personally wouldn't chose to have one in future.
Drinking water - we don't drink from the caravan water, we do what others have mentioned and have a separate container filled with water direct from the tap.
re drinking what do motorhome users do when they don't use the campsite facilities? having drunk the water from the barrel for 30 odd years I have never had any side effects whoops must go feel a bit queasy
seriously if the problem were considered major then HandS advice would be more than forthcoming
There isn't actually any likely physical problem with drinking from a caravan supply, especially if it's cleaned every season & flushed through thoroughly at the beginning of each trip.
The problem is a psychological one, pure & simple. That's not a bad thing at all. Us humans have developed these psychological fixations over millennia to protect ourselves from harm.
The fact is modern tap water is quite safe to store & drink for quite long periods.
I bought my 'van after it had stood for over 2 years. It is over 20 years old, probably with the original pipework installed.
I didn't even clean out the water system, just flushed it through with clean water & rinsed the aquaroll (which also came with the 'van). I've drank from the tap, cleaned my teeth & made countless cups of tea & coffee. I never even suffered so much as a mild stomach ache. Although I do carry a small water bottle with me at all times, which I prefer to fill from a mains tap, I have still filled it from the caravan tap on occasions.
My dad, however, cleans out the water system on his 'van every season & changes the filter. My mum still refuses to drink from the taps. She will drink coffee from the system, but only because the water has boiled.
I don't use a filter. I have an empty cartridge in my filter holder. I don't like the way they slow the flow down so much. Although I do have an in-line one, ready to fit to the kitchen supply (when I can be bothered).
It's entirely a personal preference thing. Neither way is wrong or right, it's just what you feel happy with.
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Topic: Onboard Water
