There are plenty of RV accessories you might think you need — items like an air conditioner, heat pump or mounted television — but let’s talk instead about something you actually need.
Water and an RV water pump. The pump keeps that water flowing when you’re not connected to city water.
If you’re looking for a water pump to replace an old one, first make sure that you’ve exhausted your options for repairing the old one. RV-Roadtrips.com has at least one helpful article about diagnosing water pump problems. Whether you simply forgot to close the drain before turning on your shower, or if you’re lacking the necessary electricity flow to start the pump, you might be able to diagnose the problem.
If all else fails and you’re sure it’s time to buy a new water pump, try getting acquainted with one of the best options in the current market. The Shurflo RV fresh water pump has been around in some iteration since the 1970s, updating their models every few years to keep up with current demand and recent technological advances.
Shurflo RV water pumps aren’t the only ones on the market, but they have the years on their side and customer testimonies are almost universally positive. Their current model, the 40o8 Revolution Water Pump, has an output of 55 psi with the ability to expel about three gallons per minute.
While their previous models all boasted a three-chambered configuration, the latest instead has four chambers. Essentially, this is what allows for the more powerful 55 psi output. One of its other notable features is its internal bypass function for low-cycling, which which prevents the pump from loudly turning on and off repeatedly during periods of low waterflow like when you’re running the kitchen sink or taking a low-pressure shower. The Shurflo RV water pump is also a self-priming device, meaning that the pump “will prime itself even though the water tank may be six feet below the level of the pump,” according to AdventureRV.net.
Perhaps most excitingly for the layman who doesn’t know much about self-priming and internal bypass systems, the pump is quiet — oh, so very quiet. YouTube product reviewer the RV Doctor called it the quietest pump he’d ever heard (or rather, not heard), so you can rest assured that it won’t disrupt your RV’s peace and quiet even upon startup, as it turns on without any struggle even after months of being idle.
Several of the other features of the Shurflo RV water pump are aimed more toward improving its own longevity, so you can go for longer without having to purchase another. This includes both thermal protection tech to guard against overheating and a built-in check valve that protects against dangerously high pressures that might cause a problem when the pump is connected to city waterlines. If the need arises when you must run the pump without sufficient waterflow, it can also run dry for an extended period of time without malfunctioning. AdventureRV further explains another advantage of its design:
The pump’s unique design has no moving parts traveling more than 1/8″; this greatly reduces friction and wear and tear, which means greater dependability and longer life.
Upon ordering one of these pumps, it comes with all the Shurflo RV water pump parts you need to easily assemble and maintain it unless something critical goes wrong. Luckily, Shurflo’s aforementioned features should keep that from happening for a considerably long time. If you ever need reassurance that you’ve made the right purchase or to reacquaint with some of these features, you can obviously consult the Shurflo RV water pump manual.
Shurflo’s pumps currently cost around $60 or so for a new model through various retailers, including Amazon, where the purchase includes a two-year warranty. It isn’t the cheapest pump on the market — that distinction belongs to less powerful but still well-rated models like the 35 psi Seaflow, currently retailing for just over $20 — but the Shurflo RV water pump is a tried-and-true fixture for almost any RV owner who uses, providing a quality product alongside a warranty and features that give you the peace of mind we all want from our purchases.
