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Filling Fresh Water Tank While Boondocking

Trailpixie
Trailpixie Member Posts: 191
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
How do I fill my water tank from a water jug going through the Nautilus 3 panel? Can I put it in winterize mode and use the pump as a siphon to pull water from my water jug like I would anti-freeze? Do I need to carry a utility pump to push it into the regular hose location like I would with a city water refill?

thanks
marc

T@B 360 and 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee V6
T@B 360 Black Canyon, 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee V6, Maryland
(previous 2018, T@B 320 Outback)
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Comments

  • cottonmouth
    cottonmouth Member Posts: 109
    On my recent trip we got to a campsite where we were expecting a water hookup, so I didn't fill the freshwater tank to save a little weight. There were no hookups, only a central water spigot. I filled my clean 5 gal bucket and brought it back to the trailer. I put the Nautilus in sanitize mode and siphoned the water directly into the freshwater tank. I then switched to Dry Camp mode, and we had water. The Blue lever has to be down to go to the tank. When it's sideways, like for winterize, it only goes to the fixtures.
    2021 T@B 400 BDL aka Little Joe
    2019 Tundra Crewmax aka Hoss
    SE Louisiana
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  • elbolillo
    elbolillo Member Posts: 549


    Here is an image of the Nautilus system. To fill your tank from a bucket or jerry can you would connect a small hose to the city water connection and place in your can or bucket. Then turn the knobs as shown where it says SANITIZE and then turn on the pump and it will siphon the water from your can into the tank.
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (31,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
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  • Trailpixie
    Trailpixie Member Posts: 191
    That worked.

    What I DID discover when I sat down to learn this procedure was that I had a swarm of wasps that had taken residence in the Aldi vent pipe.  They shot out of that pipe like little rockets, fiercely pelting my face repeatedly. When I figured out what was happening, I stood up and ran. I tried to resist the temptation to swat at them--figuring that would only anger them more. I ran around the house and ended up with one sting in my ear. It hurt in such a sensitive spot, but I'm not allergic, so I just spent the rest of the afternoon with some ice on my ear.

    Two  days later I got back to it and was able to slurp up a water jug. 
    T@B 360 Black Canyon, 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee V6, Maryland
    (previous 2018, T@B 320 Outback)
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  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 862
    edited August 2025
    RV vent screens are your friend in this regard. 


    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
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  • Maxcamp
    Maxcamp Member Posts: 352
    edited August 2025
    We ordered four-gallon square lidded containers from US Plastic.  Fit in front boxes to store hoses, and just right to haul water to rv for pumped suction filling.  Easier to carry than round bucket as well.
    You could also transport a whole lot of olives, as they are more often used for.


    2021 T@B 320S Boondock/ 2012 Tacoma 4 cylinder truck / 2023 Tacoma 6 cyl. truck

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