Water from rivers and lakes

Originally posted by Inge Just saw your message, furpod. Didn't expect there to be a second page already :-) Would you pour in the water and then just wait till it's filtered, no electricity needed? hogone: don't worry, no problem at all!

Yes, no electricity needed. Berkey's are pure gravity filters. I would take a
"Big Berkey" and a spare set of filters. The black filters are what you need for your use. I won't say what I have seen them filter in the middle east, I will just say, they will work for everything you need. They will make potable water from whatever source you have. No fuel, no electricity needed. The filters are also cleanable.

How long are you planning to stay down there? I would take some bleach tablets to sanitize the tank evry now and then, just in case. It's not really a giant issue to get a few nasties in the system, but it's bad if they have time to multiply and gang up on you.

inge:  not sure when the excursion starts but long thread going on about loose/losing wheels............have a torque wrench (100 lbs) to tightened wheels(lugs).  hogone

sorry I may have seemed a little rude earlier I just had to warm up to the idea of what you're doing.I almost forgot that there is a small strainer on the pump already installed in the camper you'll want some spares for that too.

Well you just need a basic whole house sediment filter adapted with garden hose fittings and plenty of spare cartridges. Should budget $50 from any big box store. Stainless steel mesh filter would be cleanable instead of paper filters. I would go with a shurflo 3gpm pump 12 volt for transfer (it's the same pump you already have in the camper). Those are only $70. You will want to read up on maximum suction hose length and head pressure height and stay under those limits when filling. A pump is rated by gpm at certain height and suction length. In other words the pump might not work at all if you are 100 feet from the source uphill 20 feet. You could consider a 120 volt pump and an inverter ran from the tow vehicle.
That won't help with bacteria though so I would add bleach to your holding tank so you can safely shower and wash cookware. Then I would have something completely separate for drinking and cooking with. The backpacking filter bottles should work.
Argentina - invest in lots of locks and chains for your equipment.