Figured if anyone knew where to get one, DIYers would.
I need a 12v pump that can pump water in both directions. I want to use it to fill my water tank from a stream or lake and then by reversing rotation, send water to my shower, sprayer, etc.
I know I can accomplish this with a bunch of ball valves, but hoping something exists to be much easier.
thanks
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Hi Roy - first thing comes to my mind for being easiest and simplest would be to have an inexpensive
transfer pump like the
12v Bayite (just over 20 bucks) for filling the tank, and a regular 12v
delivery pump like the
12v Shurflo (65 bucks) for pressurizing the delivery lines to shower and faucet.
I'd put an in-line strainer in with the transfer pump. An inexpensive transfer pump like this will fill a 20 gal tank in around 15 mins.
I have a 22 gal tank on my trailer and regularly fill it with either a
Drinking Water Hose (BPA and lead free and has none of the garden hose taste) or my 5 gal jerry cans. To be honest, with over 600 nights out with my trailer, I have never felt the need to fill the tank via pump. I keep a
FRO 5gal jerry with tap with me in the van for filling up whenever I'm around a potable water source, then pour it in my tank when back in camp. I've never run out of water yet, though I usually camp solo and am conservative in my water usage.
** If planning on using your water for cooking, coffee, drinking, or brushing your teeth, I wouldn't put stream or lake water in your tank, but only water from known potable sources. Any water I might get from a stream or lake, and even rainwater, goes through a
Lifesaver jerry can with filter, but not into my water tank on the trailer. I've kept it bacteria free from day one and at least once a year drain and sanitize the entire tank and delivery lines.
If your tank water is
only going to be used for showering and camp chores, but not consumption, then it is not as important, of course. Though, personally, I would still only put known potable water in my tank. Someone sooner or later--you or someone in your family or circle of friends--will either drink it or use it in some other way like brushing their teeth. If you have, or have had, lake or stream water in your tank, they could possibly end up with
Giardia or other problems in their system. No fun to be out camping or backcountry and have intestinal trouble.
An interesting side point is that lake and stream water is usually fine for washing dishes, as long as they dry before use, as Giardia dies as the dish dries.
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Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
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