RV Water-Saving Tips: Living on 30 Gallons in an R-Pod 192

How We Actually Conserve Water in Our Small Travel Trailer

We spent last week at a state park in an electric-only site. No water hookup or sewer. Just a shared spigot a few campsites away. It was $27 a night (awesome), and we knew exactly how to make it work. But even with solid habits, 30 gallons goes quickly with two adults and a baby. (Thank goodness for a few rainstorms!)

Our R-Pod 192 has a 30-gallon fresh tank, and we’ve had five years of practice learning how to stretch that in different situations. Campground with a bathhouse? Different strategy. Boondocking off-grid? Adjust again. Moochdocking for ten days in someone’s yard? Totally different approach.

This post walks through the habits and systems that have actually worked for us—whether you’re trying to make it five days without a refill or just want to avoid common mistakes in your small travel trailer.

How Far Does 30 Gallons Really Get You?

Even with experience, water adds up faster than you think. Showering, dishes, hand washing. If you’re not paying attention, the tank dips lower than expected.

That’s why we plan ahead. Is there a bathhouse? Can we refill easily? Are we staying three nights or ten? The answers shape how we use our water.

If There’s a Bathhouse, Use It

We usually shower at the bathhouse (when we’re not on full-hook ups). That choice frees up our 30-gallon freshwater supply for other uses like washing dishes, quick cleaning, and rinsing off Frankie’s muddy paws.

We also use campground restrooms during the day and keep our meals simple—one-pot dinners, fewer dishes. When we’re trying to stretch our tanks, we use compostable plates and skip washing altogether.

If our site has water and electric, we still try to be intentional. We’ll often use the outdoor shower to rinse off Frankie, clean dishes, or rinse out the coffee pot. It keeps extra mess out of the trailer and slows down how fast we fill the grey tank.

This setup usually gives us four or five days before needing to refill. Even when we’re not being especially strict, we collect AC runoff for toilet flushing and avoid unnecessary faucet use.

Boondocking in an R-Pod Requires a Different Strategy

Off-grid camping in a small trailer takes a bit more prep. We shower less often. Dry shampoo, wipes, and quick sponge baths do the job when water is limited.

Our R-Pod’s shower has a low-flow head and miser valve, which helps. We can pause the water while lathering, then rinse quickly. It’s not glamorous, but it works.

We do dishes in a collapsible sink and reuse that water for flushing the toilet. We collect AC condensation and rainwater when we can. And we keep a five-gallon jug of non-potable water on hand specifically for toilet use.

Yes, we use our RV toilet while boondocking. It’s manageable with a bit of planning. Here’s how we handle it and why we think it’s worth it—even in tighter water situations.

Moochdocking? Similar Rules, Different Challenges

This week we’re moochdocking in my cousin’s yard for ten days. We actually have access to water, but no sewer. It’s a comfortable setup, but with the dump station far away, we treat water conservation the same way we do when boondocking.

We rinse dishes and coffee pots in the outdoor shower (or take them in the house for bigger jobs). We only use the toilet in the RV at night, we shower (in the sauna!). And we keep all water-safe cleaning (like hand washing or rinsing muddy paws) outside whenever possible.

Everyday Habits That Actually Make a Difference

This is what we’ve built into our routine, whether we’re camping at a state park, moochdocking, or parked off-grid:

• We collect AC runoff and rainwater
• We pause water with the miser valve while showering
• We reuse dishwater for flushing
• We clean with a vinegar and water spray bottle
• We rinse and wash outdoors when it’s appropriate
• We plan a full-hookup night every few days for tank resets

We also don’t drink from our freshwater tank—even with a filter. We carry jugs or gallon bottles of drinking water and always keep a few extras on hand just in case.

What to Do When You Run Out of Water

Even when you’re careful, it happens. You go to wash a dish… and nothing comes out.

We keep emergency drinking water in jugs. That gives us time to either stretch things a bit further or change plans.

If you’re staying longer at an electric-only site or dry camping in your R-Pod, these are a few options that can help:

• Use a portable waste tank. Pull these, or hook up to your hitch, and easily empty your grey or black tank without moving your trailer.
  
• Ask about pump-out service. Some campgrounds offer this as an optional service, especially if you’re staying a week or more. (We also could have hired a pump out at my cousin’s house, but we didn’t need it.)
  
• Use a 5–7 gallon container. If there’s a water spigot nearby but no hookup, you can fill the jug and refill your freshwater tank using a funnel or pump.

Staying Efficient Without Overthinking It

Water management in a small travel trailer doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about paying attention. The more aware you are of what uses the most water — and how fast it goes — the easier it becomes to adjust.

With just 30 gallons, we’ve camped comfortably for five days or more by using what we have wisely. These aren’t upgrades or gear hacks. They’re habits. And they’ve made all the difference.

The Gear We Actually Use

Heads up: this post includes a few affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission. Enough for a gas station coffee. It won’t cost you anything extra, and I only link to what we actually use.

New to RV life and not sure what’s worth buying? Check out my RV shopping lists. I’ve included the essentials, a few small upgrades, and the gear that’s earned its place in our R-Pod’s limited storage space.