The Complete Caravanners’ Guide To Carrying Water

Water is the most critical resource for any extended caravan journey. Unlike fuel stations that dot most highways, clean water taps become increasingly scarce once you head into remote areas. Your water carrying capacity directly determines how long you can stay off-grid and which destinations become accessible.

Most caravans come with basic water systems, but the factory setup rarely matches the demands of serious big lap travel. You’ll need to understand your options for tanks, pumps, filtration, and monitoring to build a system that keeps you hydrated and comfortable for weeks at a time.

How Much Water Capacity Do You Actually Need?

The standard advice of “100 litres per person per week” falls apart quickly in real-world caravan travel. Your actual water consumption depends on climate, lifestyle, and how often you can access reliable refill points.

For two people travelling Australia’s interior during summer, expect to use 40-60 litres per day when running air conditioning and taking regular showers. Winter consumption typically drops to 25-35 litres daily. Solo travellers can halve these figures, while families with children should add 15-20 litres per child.

Most caravans ship with 95-140 litre fresh water tanks. This provides 2-4 days of comfortable living, depending on your consumption patterns. For serious remote travel, you’ll want at least 200 litres total capacity, achieved through additional tanks or larger replacements.

Weight becomes critical with larger water loads. Each 100 litres adds 100kg to your van, affecting payload, handling, and fuel economy. Balance capacity against your tow vehicle’s capabilities and typical travel patterns.

Fresh Water Tank Types and Materials

Your choice of tank material affects taste, durability, weight, and cost. Each option suits different travel styles and budgets.

Polyethylene Tanks

Polyethylene dominates the caravan water tank market due to its balance of cost, weight, and durability. Food-grade polyethylene won’t affect water taste and resists UV damage when properly formulated.

These tanks mould into complex shapes, fitting around chassis rails and other obstacles. Expect 15-20 year lifespans with proper care. The main drawback is susceptibility to impact damage from road debris.

Stainless Steel Tanks

Stainless steel offers maximum durability and the purest water taste. These tanks resist all forms of damage and maintain structural integrity for decades. The 316 grade provides excellent corrosion resistance in coastal environments.

The main disadvantages are weight (roughly double polyethylene) and cost (3-4 times more expensive). Custom fabrication requirements often push total costs above $1,500 for larger tanks.

Flexible Bladder Tanks

Flexible bladders utilise unused spaces under caravans or inside storage compartments. They expand when full and collapse when empty, maximising space efficiency.

Quality bladders from manufacturers like Evapolar ~$350 last 8-12 years. However, they’re more prone to puncture damage and can develop taste issues if not properly maintained.

Additional Tank Considerations

Tank placement affects weight distribution and accessibility. Centralised mounting keeps weight over the axles, while forward placement improves stability when towing. However, front-mounted tanks become harder to drain completely.

Multiple smaller tanks offer redundancy if one fails, plus easier weight distribution. Single large tanks simplify plumbing but concentrate weight in one area.

Water Pump Systems Explained

Your water pump determines system pressure, flow rate, and power consumption. Most caravans use 12V diaphragm pumps that self-prime and handle dry running without damage.

Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm pumps use rubber membranes and one-way valves to create pressure. They’re self-priming, can run dry safely, and provide consistent pressure across varying demand.

Flow rates range from 8-20 litres per minute, with higher flows requiring more power. The Shurflo 4008 series ~$190 dominates caravan applications due to reliability and spare parts availability.

Gear Pumps

Gear pumps provide higher flow rates and pressures than diaphragm units. They’re preferred for larger caravans or where you want city-water pressure throughout the system.

However, gear pumps require constant priming, can’t run dry, and consume more power. They also create more vibration and noise during operation.

Accumulator Tanks

Accumulator tanks store pressurised water, reducing pump cycling and providing steadier flow. They’re particularly beneficial with low-flow taps that would otherwise cause constant pump starting.

A 2-4 litre accumulator suits most caravan systems. The Jabsco 3.8L Accumulator ~$120 is sized appropriately for typical caravan water systems.

Water Level Monitoring Options

Knowing your remaining water supply prevents inconvenient dry tanks and helps plan refill stops. Basic sight tubes work but become unreadable in bright sunlight or when dirty.

Electronic Level Sensors

Electronic sensors provide accurate readings regardless of lighting conditions. Ultrasonic sensors mount externally and measure water depth through the tank wall. They’re accurate but can be affected by tank shape and mounting position.

Probe-style sensors extend into the tank and measure conductivity between electrodes. They’re very accurate but require tank modifications for installation.

Smartphone Integration

Modern monitoring systems integrate with smartphone apps for remote checking. The Bluetooth Tank Monitor ~$180 sends level data to your phone, letting you check tanks without going outside.

These systems prove particularly useful when deciding whether to refill at marginal water sources or continue to better facilities.

Filtration and Purification Systems

Australia’s water quality varies dramatically between sources. Town supplies generally meet drinking standards, but bore water, creek water, and even some town supplies benefit from filtration.

Inline Water Filters

Inline filters install between your tank and taps, cleaning all water as it flows through your system. Carbon filters remove chlorine taste and odours, while multi-stage units tackle sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants.

The Puretec Inline Filter System ~$195 combines sediment and carbon filtration in a compact package suitable for caravan installation.

Point-of-Use Filters

Point-of-use filters attach to individual taps, filtering only drinking water. This approach saves filter life by not processing shower and washing water unnecessarily.

UV Sterilisation

UV sterilisers kill bacteria and viruses without adding chemicals. They’re particularly valuable when filling from untested sources like creek water or dubious town supplies.

Portable UV units let you sterilise water before adding it to your tanks. The SteriPEN Ultra ~$135 treats one litre in 90 seconds using LED UV-C technology.

Hot Water Systems for Caravans

Hot water dramatically improves comfort during extended travel. Your choices include instantaneous gas units, small electric storage systems, or combination gas/electric units.

Instantaneous Gas Hot Water

Instantaneous gas systems provide unlimited hot water without storage tanks. They heat water on demand, making them ideal for longer showers and multiple users.

The Suburban Nautilus Instantaneous ~$890 delivers 12L/min flow rates using standard caravan LPG bottles. Installation requires external mounting and appropriate ventilation.

Storage Hot Water Systems

Storage systems heat and hold 10-25 litres of hot water. Gas/electric combinations let you use whichever energy source is most convenient. Electric elements work well when connected to powered sites, while gas provides independence.

Grey Water Tanks and Management

Grey water management becomes critical in national parks and some free camps where dumping restrictions apply. Your grey water system needs sufficient capacity and convenient emptying methods.

Fixed Grey Water Tanks

Fixed tanks mount under the caravan chassis and connect directly to sink and shower drains. Capacities typically match fresh water tanks, providing balanced storage.

Quality tanks include clean-out ports for maintenance and angled bottoms for complete drainage. The Dometic GTS100 Grey Tank ~$320 offers 100L capacity with integrated drain valve and level indicator.

Portable Grey Water Solutions

Portable grey water containers suit caravans without built-in tanks or where additional capacity is needed. They wheel to dump points and store inside lockers when empty.

Our Water System Recommendations

Your ideal water system depends on travel style, destinations, and budget. Here’s how to match components to your needs.

Weekend Warriors (2-4 days off-grid)

Standard factory water systems suit short trips with regular town stops. Focus on reliability rather than capacity. Upgrade to a quality pump like the Shurflo 4008 and add basic level monitoring.

Budget: $300-500 for pump and monitoring upgrades.

Serious Remote Travellers (1-2 weeks off-grid)

You need 200+ litres fresh water capacity, robust pumping, and comprehensive filtration. Consider adding a second tank or replacing the factory unit with a larger version.

Essential components: High-capacity tanks, quality pump with accumulator, multi-stage filtration, electronic monitoring, and grey water storage matching fresh capacity.

Budget: $1,200-2,000 for complete system upgrade.

Long-term Nomads (indefinite travel)

Maximum water independence requires redundant systems and premium components. Dual pumps, multiple filtration stages, large storage capacity, and smartphone monitoring provide the reliability needed for extended remote travel.

Consider portable backup systems for emergencies and questionable water source treatment capability.

Budget: $2,500-4,000 for comprehensive setup.