Help for a novice!

I don't have a motorhome, but from what I've seen, they seem to have a filler cap not dissimilar from a fuel filler cap, (Same as I had on my previous carava've & some caps have a Hozelok connector for direct connection to a hose (food grade if you like ). My caravan came with a pump something like this that you dropped into an Aquaroll but you obviously need the 2 pin 12 volt socket near by.

Hello Sr J and welcome to the forum. There are a number of ways of topping up the fresh water tank in your Motorhome but much will depend upon what sort of sites you use and how often you move around. Most motorhomers carry a hose with a variety of connectors and usually a water carrier for manual top up (although we don’t bother with a carrier). Most large sites will have a Motorhome service point and the tap will have a hose that you can use to fill up your tank. That’s what we do but some people are fussy about using a hose which has been lying around and prefer to take their own food grade one.

Should you decide to buy a hose you can get one that rolls flat and saves space. They are widely available from accessory shops.

Firstly, you're definitely NOT an idiot, we all have to learn...

some good advice from Hitch above....to tell you you're full, your tank will either overflow from a breather in the twnk under the van, or will overflow back up the filler pipe....

youll also need to be able to manage your waste water from the 'grey' tank....three ways to do this (or combinations thereof....)

on a serviced pitch, you can make use of the waste hole on the pitch by connecting a length of pipe to your waste tap and running into the hole on the pitch...

on other pitches, you can choose to empty at the motorhome service point on the way off site, or during your stay if the tank fills...

or you can use some sort of waste carrier (available in various sizes) and transport your waste to the emptying point  in the same way as caravanners do..

good luck, keep asking the questions, there will be many for sure...

There are several different ways to fill and empty water tanks depending on the type of connectors fitted to your van. I would suggest taking your van to a reputable dealer and asking their advice on hoses and fittings. I’m afraid it’s difficult to be any more specific without knowing your set up.

I would also suggest that you join your local centre where people will help you with any advice that you need. You may also fancy joining a caravanning/motorhoming singles group - several exist. They too, would help you get sorted.

 
By the way, I would warn against using the hoses supplied at service points for anything other than rinsing the grating or ground. You wouldn’t believe what some people do with them!

I have seen what some people do with on site hoses like handling them just after emptying the chemical toilet without washing their hands and letting their dog drink from the hose.

So I have always made do with a watering can that I bought new and ONLY use for topping up fresh water. It is a bit more work but worth it in my opinion.

Water increases your van's weight [allow 1kg per litre] and thus decreases the available payload. If I filled my tank to the brim, I'd be over the 3500kg limit. Make sure you don't overload.

Some manufacturers recommend no water in the tank, some 20l of water when driving. There is rightful scepticism by motorhomers over these recommendations. How much you fill before you start the journey depends on how much you will use on the way and when you will find more water; with care 20l will last you a couple of days.

As stated already, you will have an external filler point - you may be able to fill from within the vehicle depending on make/model. Avoid putting water in the fuel tank or vice versa unless you have deep pockets to clear out the tanks and water/fuel lines. If your points are not clearly marked, get some stickers from an accessory shop or online.

Most people use a hose. There is a debate whether a garden hose is OK. Traditionally garden hoses have plasticisers in them which is not good for you long term [not aware anyone has been seriously ill as a result] but the more modern ones do not. Others, like me, use a food grade hose [usually blue]. I bought mine from CAK tanks online but many places sell them. I split mine into a one third length and a two thirds length so I don't have to use the full hose when parked close to the tap. Hozelock sell a range of different connectors - make sure you get at least a screw on tap one and one to join up the hose if you split it like I did.

One end on the tap, one dangled through the external filler into the tank. Take care with water pressure just like you would with any tap. Your van will have an indicator of how much water you have in the tank - none are reliable! Your tank should have some way of siphoning off excess water if you overfill. 

Top up from a container. Some people use food grade containers, some use watering cans. 

Watch others, practise, and you'll be fine. Motorhomers love sharing their experience.There are motorhome courses and also books that will help you with the basics. There are several motorhome specific websites/forums that can help you and your motorhome may entitle you to join a Owners Group.

Oh, and better to wear dark clothes at the fresh water/waste water/ cassette emptying points as they don't show the splashes which you might get!

Happy days.

We fill up with 110 litres of water before going on holiday and when we fill again on our travels I use a 5 metres clear hose pipe for 99% of fill ups (25 metre pipe as back up), a HEOSolution filler cap and the connectors shown in the picture.

You will probably leave at least one of 'B' still on the tap each holiday (I know I do) and may need other connecting pieces if the pipe gets damaged.

Filler cap 'E' lets you fill and wander around at the same time – when it overflows is the time to spring into action and turn the tap off.

Use only your own hose (you know it's clean) and not the pipes provided at taps and Bornes which have probably been 'ill treated' and may be dirty, not necessarily to the naked eye, but treat them as if they are.

We've never needed anything other than the filling equipment and connectors we take with us in many years of Motorhome travelling in the UK and abroad.

A Motorhome owner should not need to fetch and carry water when the vast majority of vehicles are designed to be filled easily and quickly.

I go on holiday to relax – not hump water across the sites on a regular basis.

I visit the fresh water tap every three or four days, dump grey water at the same time and have a relaxing holiday.

Keep things simple.

Sr Julian,

Best advice would be the very next time on site, ask a friendly Motorhomer (they all are ) who I am sure would walk you through the steps needed. Far better a one to one where you can question the advice or ask for it to be repeated.

110 litres of water for travel sounds like a considerable weight to carry but I suppose it is dependent upon your payload allowance.

many MHs adopt a view of 'empty waste and cassette and fill fresh' at every opportunity...you never know, the next Aire may not have a working supply for whatever reason....and for those who shower in the van, it makes sense..

carrying 100 ltr of water is fine in most properly designed tanks....ours is not the typical large underslung box but an interesting shape designed to fit neatly between the double floors together (a bit Ying and Yang) with the waste tank which sits just below it....

result, no apparent 'sloshing' about...