We use Reliance Aqua-Tainers in our water system in the van and it has served us very well over the last 2 years in the van. It gives us a lot of flexibility when we are camping off grid and fill up water wherever we can. Each jug can hold 7 gallons of water and with 3 of them, we can carry 21 gallons of fresh water which allow us to stay off grid for about a week in between refills.

One of the inconveniences however is the need to swap jugs when one runs dry. Sometimes we are staying at a place with readily accessible water for refill. Instead of just simply topping it off, we need to remove the jug and swap the empty one for a full one. It isn’t that big of a deal but I have often wished there was an easy way to just top off the attached jug without the juggling act.

So this is why I decided to make this modification. I found an ABS bulkhead fitting that allowed me to install a second opening that wouldn’t leak. By using a rubber seal and a brass pipe cap, I was able to add an easy way to fill the water jug while it is connected to the water system.

Here are the parts I used to make this mod with my 7-gallon Reliance Aqua-Tainer. This would potentially work with just about any water jug as long as it has a flat surface near the top.


Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Jug


ABS Bulkhead Tank Fitting


Brass Pipe Cap


3/4 inch O-Ring

Here is a video that shows you how we installed these parts into the Reliance Aqua-Tainer jugs. You can also see the two use cases of how we utilize this mod in our every day lives.

I hope this helps someone out there also using jugs in their water system. I am very happy to have done this mod. Every little conveniences help improve our quality of lives on the road.

Dan


Dan Lin

I am a modern nomad traveling full time around the world with my family since 2008. Currently in Europe living in our DIY Sprinter 4x4 Camper Van. You can find me sharing more about this lifestyle on Instagram or YouTube. For our travel content, check out malimish.com.

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