Best 12 Volt RV Water Pump in 2022

There are hundreds of thousands of these motorhome and travel trailer water pumps in service today.

This brand of 12-volt RV pump has been around since 1968.

They set the standard.

This model costs well under $100 and offers the performance most standard recreational vehicles require.

As long as you don't need to have multiple water spigots running simultaneously, the 3.0 gallons of water per minute output of this pump does just fine.

If you need higher output, consider the Shurflo 4048.

With a maximum amperage draw of 7.5 amps, this RV fresh water pump needs a power circuit with a 10-amp fuse for proper protection.

This minimal power requirement means this pump can be used as a direct replacement for many existing motorhome and water pumps for trailers without modifying the power source.

These water pumps for RV campers are a 4-chamber diaphragm design that can self-prime.

They can do this from a distance up to 6 feet from the freshwater tank.

This one has an integrated check valve that keeps water pressure from back flowing through the freshwater pump for RV and filling the fresh water tank (which would result in overflowing the holding tank).

Constant Speed Design

The 4008 fresh water RV pump is a constant-speed design.

This means that the pump is either on or it's off.

This results in the rapid cycling of the electric RV water pump when you have a faucet or shower at a low water flow setting, causing a higher noise level.

Though Pentair uses a bypass valve that is supposed to minimize this cycling, in reality, this RV pump cycles on and off frequently at lower water flow rates.

You can install an accumulator to reduce this if the noise and vibration bother you.

Because this is a constant-speed pump, it uses a pressure switch to turn the pump on and off as it reaches a set water pressure.

In turn, it keeps your RV pipes from bursting or the fittings from leaking.

This motorhome water pump is factory set to shut off at 55 pounds per square inch and come back on at 40 PSI.

The pressure difference between on and off causes the pulsing water pressure you experience when you have any outlets at a low water volume setting.

Installing an accumulator downstream in the water hose from your 12-volt camper water pump will help reduce this pulsing.

Bypass Valve

These camper van water pumps use a bypass valve to help reduce the pulsing and cycling.

Even so, you will still experience both, which results in noise and vibrations.

The bypass valve starts opening at approximately 40 PSI, allowing water to flow from the outlet side of this pump back to the inlet side.

This allows the pump to continue to run while maintaining water pressure without needing to cycle frequently.

The bypass valve is factory set to be fully open at 62 pounds per square inch.

The pressure switch and the bypass valve can be field adjusted even though they come from the factory set 'properly.'

See the Shurflo RV water pump pressure adjustment section below for more information on performing a field adjustment of the pressure setting.

4008 Features and Specs:

• Model: 4008-101-E65
• Voltage: 12v DC
• Electricity usage: 7.5 amps (max), ~2.2 amps @ 3.0 GPM, ~6.8 amps @ 0.5 GPM
• Power circuit: 10-amp fuse
• Flow Rate: 3 GPM 
• Operating pressures: 55 PSI shut-off, 40 PSI restart. The bypass valve starts to open at about 40 and is fully opened at about 62.
• Pump type: 4-chamber diaphragm
• Inlet & outlet ports: 1/2"-14 NPSM male threads
• Integrated check valve (keeps water pressure from going through the water pump and filling up (overflowing) the fresh water tank
• These camper trailer water pumps are self-priming - they can 'lift' water up to 6 feet from the source
• Able to run dry without damaging the unit
• Thermal overload protection with automatic restart (once it cools off sufficiently)
• Dimensions: 8.1" Long x 4.9" Wide x 4.4 High"
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Warranty: 2 years

Pentair currently makes pumps and has since 1968.

They allow RVers to have a reliable and durable source of fresh water when they aren't connected to a city water supply.

The Shurflo 4048 high volume RV fresh water pump operates almost identical to the lower flow Shurflo 4008 water pump.

The main difference is that this model has a larger electric motor which allows for a higher water flow rate, which requires more battery power.

Most everything else is the same between these two pumps.

Therefore, the below review will be very similar to the 4008's review.

This pump does cost about twice what the lower water flow model, the Shurflo 4008, does.

If you need the capability to pump more water in a given time, this model is worth the extra cost.

This water pump for RV use has a maximum output of 4.0 gallons per minute. 

This allows you to use multiple water fixtures simultaneously without seeing a noticeable drop in water pressure.

Drawing a maximum of 10 amps of battery power, these camper fresh water pumps require a power circuit with a 15-amp fuse.

If your existing fresh water pump requires less amperage, ensure that your power wires are properly sized to handle the larger load (see the Shurflo 4048 manual for additional wiring size information).

With its 4-chamber diaphragm pump design, this unit is self-priming up to a distance of 6 feet from the freshwater tank.

An integrated check valve prevents water from flowing backward through the unit when hooked up to an external water source.

This prevents the backfilling of the fresh water tank, which can cause overflowing.

This RV fresh water pump is of constant speed design, either on or off.

The on/off cycling is controlled by a pressure switch that is factory set to turn off the pump at 55 (to protect the RV water lines from too high of water pressure).

The pressure switch is factory set to turn the pump back on at around 40 PSI.

The difference in the on and off pressure settings causes the water pressure to pulsate when you set a water fixture at a low flow setting.

You can install an accumulator in the water hose after the pump to help reduce water pressure fluctuation.

This model of 12v water pump for campers also has a bypass valve. It moves water from the outlet side of the pump to the inlet side.

This helps reduce pulsating and cycling (causing vibrations and noise) of the pump but doesn't eliminate it.

The bypass valve starts to open at around 30 PSI of water pressure and is factory set to be fully open at about 62 PSI.

You can field adjust both the pressure switch and the bypass valve settings to increase or decrease the pressure at which they 'activate.'

While they both come from the factory set correctly, you might find that a small amount of fine-tuning is required after you install your new pump.

See the Shurflo RV water pump pressure adjustment section below for more information on performing a field adjustment of the pressure setting.

4048 Pump Features and Specs:

• Model: 4048-153-E75
• Includes wire mesh inlet strainer
• Voltage: 12v DC
• Energy consumption: 10 amps (max), ~2.8 amps @ 4.0 GPM, ~10 amps @ 0.18 GPM
• Power circuit: 15 amp fuse
• Flow Rate: 4.0 Gallons per minute
• Operating pressures: 55 PSI shut-off, 40 PSI restart. Bypass valves start to open at about 30 and are fully open at about 65.
• Pump type: 4-chamber diaphragm
• Inlet & outlet ports: 1/2"-14 NPSM male threads
• Integrated check valve (keeps water pressure from going through the pressure pump and filling up (overflowing) the freshwater tank
• Self-priming water pumps - can 'lift' water up to 6 feet from the source
• Able to run dry without damaging the unit
• Thermal overload protection with automatic restart (once it cools off sufficiently)
• Dimensions: 10.3" Long x 4.9" Wide x 4.8 High"
• Weight: 7.9 pounds
• Warranty: 2 years

Made in the USA, the Remco Aquajet is the top choice 12v water pump for an RV and is also compatible with travel trailers.

The Remco Aquajet is a great choice for camper owners wanting the smoothest, most residential-like water flow in their rig.

It is also the closest thing to being a quiet RV water pump that you will find.

With its variable-speed motor, it virtually eliminates the cycling on/off that a conventional constant-speed pump experiences (causes vibrations and an increased noise level).

It also eliminates the pulsating water pressure. 

Why This Pump Is So Quiet

Since this 12-volt water pump for RV use has an electric motor capable of variable speeds, it doesn't use a pressure switch like a constant speed pump (such as the other two pumps reviewed above).

Instead, it uses a sophisticated pressure sensor to detect drops in water pressure.

Its soft start feature eliminates rapid cycling.

It immediately adjusts the motor speed to deliver a constant water flow/pressure.

Because of the variable speed design, this is a very quiet RV water pump. The water pump isn't spinning very fast and is silent at low water flow rates (a faucet opened just a tiny bit).

The pump motor speeds up as water demand increases.

It also has rubber feet to help with noise.

However, because it isn't cycling on and off like a constant-speed water pump, it is much quieter than the two Pentair water pumps reviewed above and is the most silent RV water pump on the list.

Electrical Requirements

The Remco Aquajet uses a maximum of 10 amps of 12-volt electricity and with a high flow rate of up to 5.3 gallons per minute.

This makes it considerably more powerful than a 'normal' 3 GPM, 12-volt RV water pump.

Because of this higher amperage draw, you must ensure that the power supply wiring is properly sized for the Aquajet pump.

See the Remco Aquajet manual (PDF) for wire size information.

Other Water Pump Benefits

The Aquajet can self-prime at a distance of up to 13 feet from the freshwater tank. (More than twice what the above reviewed Shurflow water pumps can do.)

This means you have more mounting options as the pump doesn't have to be all that close to the RV's water tank.

Therefore, it's easy to install.

This RV 12-volt water pump can also be run dry and then self-prime once you put more fresh water in the tank.

An integrated check valve keeps water from flowing backward through the pump into the freshwater tank when your rig is connected to an external water supply.

This keeps the fresh water tank from filling and overflowing when connected to an external water source.

The Remco Aquajet is a powerful, durable, high-volume RV water pump.

It has a 5-chamber design coupled with a variable speed motor.

This makes it perfect for situations where multiple faucets are used at one time.

Example: Someone has bathroom sink water on, and another person is using the kitchen sink.

Remco Aquajet Pump Features and Specs:

• Model: 55AQUAJET-ARV
• Voltage: 12v DC
• Energy consumption: 10 amps (max), ~3.6 amps @ 5.0 GPM, ~10 amps @ 0.7 GPM
• Power circuit: 15 amp fuse
• Flow Rate: 5.3 Gallons per minute (GPM)
• Operating pressure: 60-75 PSI
• Pump type: 5-chamber diaphragm
• Inlet & outlet ports: Remco Quick Attach ports that accept a variety of hose fittings (1/2" male thread fittings included)
• Integrated check valve (keeps external water pressure from going through the water pump and filling up (overflowing) the freshwater tank
• Self-priming pump: It can 'pull' water up to 13 feet from the source
• Able to run dry without causing damage
• Thermal overload protection with automatic restart (once it cools off sufficiently)
• Dimensions: 8.9" Long x 4.8" Wide x 4.6 High"
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Made in the United States
• Warranty: 2 year