I live part-time in a 26-foot travel trailer with my husband, two kids, and one sassy dog. We camp in the desert a lot. We also park at state parks with water hookups. So a water pump matters. A lot.
I’ve used a few pumps now. My old stock pump got loud and weak after one summer. I swapped it for a Shurflo 4008 Revolution (3.0 GPM, 55 PSI). I’ve also tested a Seaflo 42 series in my friend’s rig. And I used a Flojet 3.3 GPM in my last trailer. So yeah, I’ve cleaned many little strainers and I’ve heard the clack-clack sound at 2 a.m. more than I care to admit.
You know what? A pump can make your rig feel like home. Or it can make you want to throw a wrench.
You can read the unfiltered play-by-play of every pump swap and roadside fix in my detailed RV water pump saga.
What I Bought and Why
I went with the Shurflo 4008. It’s common, not pricey, and easy to find at RV stores. If you’d like a deeper dive into how the Shurflo line performs in real-world conditions, check out this hands-on Shurflo water pump breakdown.
I also added:
- A clear Shurflo strainer on the inlet
- An Oxygenics shower head (low flow, good pressure)
- A small accumulator tank later (Shurflo 182-200), to smooth out pulses
I mounted the pump on a rubber mat and used soft hoses. That helped with noise.
Install Day: A Small Mess and a Win
It took me about 40 minutes. I turned off the 12-volt power, drained the lines, and put towels under the old pump. I used two 1/2-inch quick-connect fittings and Teflon tape on the threads. I checked the little arrow on the pump head so the water flowed the right way. First time, I forgot one clamp. Water sprayed. I laughed, then fixed it.
I primed the pump by opening the kitchen faucet. It pulled water in after about 10 seconds. Not bad.
Tip: snug, not gorilla tight. These fittings crack if you crank them.
Real Life, Real Water
Boondocking near Moab, we washed dishes for five. I ran the sink steady for 15 minutes. The flow stayed even. It wasn’t fire-hose strong, but it did not surge. That’s the win.
Shower time matters with kids. With the Oxygenics head, I got a warm shower that felt steady. Not hotel-level, but not a sad drip, either. Hair rinse? Fine. During a hookup stay at the peaceful Riverhouse Acres campground, the same pump pushed city pressure through our lines so smoothly it felt like a real sticks-and-bricks bathroom. On cold nights in Colorado, the pump still held steady. We wrapped the lines with foam sleeves, so that helps too.
Does it wake the kids? It used to. Not now. The rubber mat, soft hoses, and that small accumulator cut the noise. It sounds more like a hum than a knock. If the bathroom door’s closed, it’s a hush.
The Quiet Thing… and the Not-So-Quiet Thing
I said it’s quiet. And it is. But also, in the dead of night, when someone flushes, you still hear a low thrum through the floor. The pump sits under our kitchen cabinet. Wood carries sound. I can live with it, but I notice it.
Also, at a slow trickle, the pump did quick short bursts. Cha-cha-cha. The accumulator helped a lot. Now it stays on smoother at low flow, then shuts off clean.
Power Draw and Battery Life
On our pair of 6-volt batteries, the pump’s draw for normal use hasn’t been a problem. I did see my battery monitor dip when I ran it long, like when we filled jugs. My cheap 10-amp fuse blew once when the kids ran sink and shower at the same time. I keep spare fuses now. Easy fix.
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Small Stuff That Matters
- The strainer is like a lint trap. I twist it off and rinse it each month. Sand and grit collect fast if you fill from ranch pumps or old spigots.
- I keep a spare pump head seal kit in the tool bin. One time, a little check valve inside stuck and let city water backflow a bit. That was not fun. The kit fixed it.
- I put foam tape between the pump and the wood wall. Less rattle.
- Thinking about upgrading the tank itself? I recently documented exactly what happened when I replaced our RV water tank.
Winterizing and Weird Weather
We winterized in November with RV antifreeze. I set the pump to suck from the jug. It pulled pink stuff through the lines without a fuss. It did cough for a second on start. No big deal. In a late cold snap, the pump still started fine. I do crack the cabinet door open to let warm air in. Little habits like that keep parts happy.
Some Things I Didn’t Love
- The fittings feel a bit cheap. The plastic threads can cross-thread if you rush.
- At very low flow, the pulsing happens without an accumulator.
- You can still hear it at night, even with padding.
- If you hate maintenance, the strainer will annoy you. It needs love every few weeks, especially if you boondock.
Quick Compare: Shurflo vs Seaflo vs Flojet
- Shurflo 4008 (my current): Good price, easy to find, decent pressure, simple install. Quieter with an accumulator. Great for weekend to mid-level full-time use.
- Seaflo 42 series (friend’s trailer): Cheaper, a bit louder in my ears. The flow was fine, but the pulses were stronger at slow trickle. It’s a “get the job done” pump.
- Flojet 3.3 GPM (my last rig): Smoother out of the box, slightly quieter than my Shurflo on wood, but parts were harder for me to find on a road trip in Utah.
If you’d like another perspective on selecting the right Shurflo for your setup, this concise primer on RV pump sizing and installation is worth a look: picking the best Shurflo RV water pump.
If you want very quiet, my buddy swears by a Jabsco pump. It’s pricier. It sounded whisper-soft in his van build. I almost went that way, but my wallet said no.
Real Moments When It Helped
- Early morning oatmeal in Zion: I filled pots fast without waking my daughter. Sweet peace.
- Sandy feet at Lake Powell: The outside sprayer stayed strong enough to rinse off the mess. No more grit in the bed.
- Late night tooth brushing: The pump didn’t chatter with the accumulator on. I actually noticed the silence. Funny how that feels like luxury.
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Setup Tips That Worked For Me
- Use a rubber mat under the pump. Old yoga mat works.
- Soft braided hoses reduce chatter. Hard PEX can drum.
- Add that small accumulator. It smooths pulses and sound.
- Keep spare fuses and tape in a small bin labeled “water.”
- Check the arrow on the pump head. Ask me how I know.
- Not sure which hose to trust? I field-tested three different RV water hoses, and you can see which one actually worked in this comparison.
Who This Pump Fits
- Weekend campers: Yes. Easy, cheap, plenty of flow for showers and dishes.
- Full-time families: Also yes, but add the accumulator and noise pads. Keep a seal kit with you.
- Van builds: Maybe. Space is tight, and a quieter pump might be worth the cost.
The Bottom Line
Do I trust my Shurflo 4008? Yes. It’s not perfect, but it’s steady. It’s easy to fix on the road. With a mat, soft hoses, and a small tank, it feels smooth and mostly quiet.
Would I buy