Hose for water tank filling.

[Bouydog]

Can anyone recommend a good compact hosepipe, I have tried a cheap flat one that self destructed after very little use. Looking at the stretchy ones but very mixed reviews. What do you use ?

 

[Snapster]

We’ve got through 4 flat hoses and a ( Hoselock) stretchy one. All of them leaked after a few months use. Now, we just use a couple of lengths of good quality Gardena hosepipe. We’ve used them for two years and they don’t taint the water in the tank ( like some of the alleged food grade flat hoses did) and are easy to coil up and store away
We use the water in the tank for everything and we are still alive and kicking....

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Getting hold of a decent, non-kink bit of hosepipe is always a problem.

Even the best non-kink stuff - which can be very expensive - only has a shelf life of a few short years before deteriorating.

I speak as a gardener who has previously worked in professional nurseries using the best kit.

These new-fangled 'stretchy' jobbies are a complete waste of time and money, imho.
@Snapster is spot on, a bit of cut off decent Gardena, or similar traditional-type good quality hose, is a much better bet.

 

[harrow]

My hosepipe just lays in the garden, but that's because I only wear boxer shorts.

No seriously my hose pipe has been in the garden for about 30 years (maybe longer) and its still fine

If you buy food grade pipe buy some by the metre or just buy an ordanary cheap garden hose in wilko or wickes or Robert Dyas

 

[number14]

Timely thread this as I'm looking for a new filler hose.

Bought one of these 5 yrs ago: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brunner-...998651&hash=item33e1b2a8b1:g:O9IAAOSwZ3BafFAa.
It's 3 small tubes moulded together to make a flattish hose. Trouble is the pressure drop is so great that water only trickles out so takes ages to fill the tank. Now that the end fittings are leaking it's time for a replacement.

Just a thought. Hose can be quite a bulky and heavy item to carry. What's the minimum length you get away with?

 

[witzend]

Strechy ones useless ordinary garden hose every time for me

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Timely thread this as I'm looking for a new filler hose.

Just a thought. Hose can be quite a bulky and heavy item to carry. What's the minimum length you get away with?

Can't answer that, I'm afraid. We use a pathetic 5 litre watering can when we're away, but we have never done any serious long-period sessions away in the van, the longest has been 7 days. Also we don't use the on board tank water for drinking, we take a stack of sterilised plastic milk bottles filed up with filtered water from our tap at home before we leave (we never buy bottled water if it can be helped).

There'll be others who know what the best length would be.
I'm assuming it all depends on how close you're able to get your van to the source of the tap water in any given location?

 

[jagmanx]

You can take a hose to water but you can't make it drink !

Oops HORSE not hose.

I could also mention the Camel and 2 bricks !

 

[Tim120]

I have one that has some sort of blue cloth type of material as a covering and I guess a plastic type inner lining also has pushfit female connectors on either end to accept tap adaptors. About 20ft in length. Very flexible and easy to use. Only downside if the cloth gets wet it needs drying before storage. Can't find a link anywhere or I would put it up.
Different size tap adaptors are also useful if abroad.

 

[Snapster]

......................,,,,
Just a thought. Hose can be quite a bulky and heavy item to carry. What's the minimum length you get away with?

We have two lengths of Gardena 13mm hose around 10 m each. We join them together if needed. They both coil up together and fit in the bag our flat hose cassette came in.
In 2 years, we haven’t needed anything longer.
We also carry two spare water containers in the winter ( 20L and 30L) and a 15L watering can for topping up if we can’t get the van near to a tap.

 

[Bouydog]

Thanks all for your replies, I think I will go the Snapster route two lengths of 10m ordinary hose with join if needed, we carry a watering can as well but 175 litre tank takes forever.
I am really trying to stop buying rubbish but it can be difficult at times..........

 

[trevskoda]

My 100ltr tank water goes of very fast and tastes like vinegar, so now carry cans with drinking/cooking water.

 

[Nabsim]

I just have a cheapo 25mtr garden hose, don’t use it a lot but must be a couple years old now. Usually just keep topped up with me green garden watering can
We drink the water in the tank also

 

[edina]

We carry a 10mtr hose, but can't remember the last time we used it. 5ltr watering can suits our needs.

 

[izwozral]

Hoselock Pico Reel, small bore hose, total length about 25' (I think)

 

[izwozral]

Edit. 10 metres

 

[Glass man]

I use food quality polythene pipe. 18 or 19mm will take all the standard Hoselock fittings. Get the thick wall, it won't kink.
With a clear pipe you can see if anything is trying to grow inside, black bits and then you know to clean with bleach or replace. Any garden hose can have all sorts of horrors inside!
I have one 2M section for when I am close to the tap and a 10M if needed plus the rest of a 25M roll which is sometimes very useful.
Also buy the cheapest screw connection for joining two pipes ( NOT Hoselock but cheap from a market ) it is a perfect tight fit for most water inlets on the side of your van, then the hose won't come out when you are filling up.
I have used different flat and stretchy hoses to fill a boat, 200 litres took 25 minutes, a hosepipe or polythene one the same length and from the same tap 7 minutes, it has a larger bore.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

@Glass man do you mean something like this?

Clear braided PVC hose

I have never thought about using a clear hose for filling up the water tank etc. Seems a good idea.

 

[st3v3]

I've used an expanding one for a while now and it works fine.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I've used an expanding one for a while now and it works fine.

Which type? Be interesting to know as I've only ever heard bad press.