Camper Water Hookup Instructions

As long as you have the right equipment, hooking up your camper's water supply is relatively simple.

A camper, recreational vehicle (RV) or motor home allows you travel with many of the amenities of home. However, in order to do so, you must periodically stop at campsites or RV parks with sewer and water hookups. A water hookup in particular can both supply you with running water during your stay at the campsite and refill your camper's fresh water holding tank for the road. Hooking up your camper to the water supply at a campsite or RV park is a relatively simple and straightforward process.

Things You'll Need

• Drinking water hose
• RV water pressure regulator
• RV water filter
• Campsite/RV park with water hookups
• Disinfectant spray (optional)

Instructions

1. Pull the camper up next to the water hookup at a campsite or RV park. Park the camper and make sure it is leveled.

2. Spray the water hookup spigot with disinfectant spray for extra sanitation. Allow the spray to dry.

3. Attach your water pressure regular to the water hookup spigot. It screws on just like a hose connector. This will protect your camper's plumbing system from any pressure fluctuations in the campsite's water supply.

4. Attach the water filter input nozzle to the pressure regulator, via the small hose that comes with the filter. This will keep any debris and contaminants out of the water, making it safe for drinking.

5. Screw one end of the drinking water hose onto the filter output nozzle.

6. Turn on the spigot and run a little water through the hose to clear it of any accumulated dust or dirt.

7. Screw the open end of the hose onto your camper's direct water supply input nozzle. If your camper has a combined direct supply/water tank nozzle, switch the valve to the "direct use" position. Your camper's sinks and shower will now run directly off the external water hookup.

8. Before leaving the campground or RV park, refill your camper's internal fresh water tank by switching the hose from the direct supply nozzle to the water tank nozzle. If you have a combined, single nozzle, you can simply turn its valve into the "fresh water tank" position.

Tips & Warnings

• To reduce the camper's overall weight and thereby save gas, you may not want to always fill your fresh water tank completely full.

• If the water hookup provides too little pressure for showers, you can leave your water pump on. It will pump water from your fresh water tank to supplement the pressure, up to your preset preference.

• Over time, bacteria can build up in your fresh water tank if not occasionally disinfected. This typically involves running a cycle of bleach water and several cycles of fresh water through the tank. See your owner's manual for proper disinfection methods.

• Hooking up the camper's electric supply, prior to hooking up the water supply, will ensure wet hands don't get you electrocuted.

References

• RV Know How: Hookup Routine
• RV Basics: RV Water Pump Basics for Motorhomes, Fifth Wheels & Travel Trailers
• Camping.com: Tips for a Maintaining Trouble-Free RV Holding Tanks

Resources

• RVers Online: Fresh Water Systems
• Mark's Fulltime RV Resource: Water, Water, Everywhere: A Comprehensive Look at RV Plumbing
• DisneyCampers.com: RV Water Systems