ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE BEST RV WATERPUMP?

You are in the right place because the 5 best RV water pumps are all featured here. How do we know they are the best? We have done the research and testing to bring you the 5 best RV water pump options, and they all have excellent reviews. We have also traveled and lived in our camper since 2010.

If your RV water pump is acting up, you have an old water pump or your RV water pump is broken you will want to use one if the 5 water pumps listed below. These pumps are quality water pumps that will last. Each pump is slightly different so make sure to check out these 5 name brand and very popular pumps for your RV.

We’ve outlined the top 5 options to replace the RV water pump. We’ve also compiled a handy buying guide to help with the selection.

Quick Guide: Best RV Water Pump

Best RV Water Pump Options

1. SEAFLO Water Diaphragm Self Priming Pump

Shutter Pressure: 45 PSI
Flow Rate: 3.0 GPM
Size: 7.98 x 5.11 x 4.84 Inches

Our top pick, the SEAFLO Water Diaphragm Self Priming Pump, is the same kind of pump that many RVs use for their on-demand water system. It pressurizes to 45 PSI and fits the bill of a direct replacement for your OEM RV pump.

I recommend the Seaflo because it’s marine grade; it hardly fails. The housing is solid, and the wires are of excellent quality, so you don’t have to worry about durability.

While durability is a plus, the main selling point of the Seaflo 12V RV water pump is its performance. It beats the competition by far. The 12-volt product is self-priming, so it can create more than enough suction and makes it less of a hassle to get the water flowing.

The 45 PSI rating and 3.0 GPM capacity flow also provide users will much better flow and plenty of water. Meanwhile, the heavy-duty motor and the three-chamber high-volume design work great and supply all the camper faucets with great water. It makes showering more enjoyable and energy-efficient than the original pumps.

Also, the fact that we don’t have to worry about the pump running dry is a relief. It can keep your water supply consistent even if the source is running low and can run dry without damage.

Seaflo comes with industry-standard fitting, wiring, and a mounting surface base, so it’s much easier to directly replace similar camper water pumps.

➡ SHOP SEAFLO Water Diaphragm Self Priming Pump

2. RV Water Pump Shurflo 4008-101-A65 3.0 GPM

Shutter Pressure: 55 PSI
Flow Rate: 3.0 GPM
Size: 10 x 5 x 10 inches

We chose this Shurflo RV Water Pump because of its self-priming function. It’s a big plus for us since trying to suck-start a siphon is hard enough, and we need a water pump for a camper that we can mount above the board or water tank.

The performance of the Shurflo RV pump is fantastic. It has a great design that delivers smooth and consistent water. We really like to shower with our Shurflo water pump because it provides great pressure and it works exactly as advertised.

It can deliver 3.0 GPM and 55 PSI of a water stream when in use. The water pressure is fantastic, you will notice when you take a shower.

A sturdy design complements the powerful performance, and we love that it’s built to last. It’s even sealed and electro-coated to prevent incidental moisture and dust. This allows you even to use it in a wet environment.

Finally, we love the noiseless operation. Of course, it’s a diaphragm 12-volt RV water pump, making low noise, especially with increased load. However, the presence of soft rubber mounting tabs helps to reduce vibrations and drone noise.

➡ SHOP RV Water Pump Shurflo 4008-101-A65 3.0 GPM

3. Flojet Triplex Diaphragm Automatic Water System Pump

Shutter Pressure: 50 PSI
Flow Rate: 2.9 GPM
Size: 9 x 4 x 4 Inches

The Flojet 12-volt RV water pump is a good quality option and ideal for your camper, provided you don’t mind a little noise.

Out of the box, you’ll love the sturdy plastic design. It has similar physical characteristics to some of the premium options and has a long life. It even has snap-in port fittings, and a built-in bypass for less pulsation, for enhanced lifespan.

It doesn’t skimp on performance. It’s a diaphragm and self-priming pump. And so it increases the low water pressure to allow a steady water flow for the perfect RV living. It provides a steady stream of water once you open the camper faucets. It also doesn’t require you to pump the water to get it going.

The motor is equally powerful, pushing 2.9 GPM at 50 PSI, which is more than enough for most RVs. It also has up to 9 feet of suction lift, which is enough to easily take water from your onboard freshwater tank to your shower.

I also love that this model is immune to dry runs. It’ll remain healthy even if you accidentally run it in the absence of water. However, I recommend you avoid such situations. On top of that, it has some absorbing mounts, which inhibit the vibration and noise output. It keeps the water pump from generating irritating sounds.

Even with all this performance, the Flojet camper water pump is based on a 12-V model, so you don’t have to worry about it draining your battery.

Overall, the Flojet 12V RV water pump is among the reliable options in the market. It self-primes, can run dry, and is pretty much indestructible. Care for it, and it’ll last forever.

➡ SHOP Flojet 12-Volt RV Water Pump

4. Pentair SHURFLO 4048

Shutter Pressure: 55 PSI
Flow Rate: 4 GPM
Size: 6.25 x 6.25 x 12.5 Inches

I recommend you pick the Pentair SHURFLO 4048 if you need a freshwater pump with a higher water flow rate. The Pentair SHURFLO pump is a high-volume single-speed water tank pump. It can deliver a maximum output of 4.0 GPM, and this is nice if you need to use multiple water faucets simultaneously without seeing a drop in the water pressure.

But there’s a catch.

With such as huge water flow, expect to use more battery power. The Pentair SHURFLO water pump has a larger and more powerful electric motor, which draws ten amps of battery power. So, if you have a standard RV platform with less amperage, you must restructure your wiring to handle a larger and bigger load.

Volume aside, the Pentair SHURFLO 4048 delivers a fantastic performance. It’s a 4-chamber diaphragm RV 12-volt water pump with a self-priming feature of a distance of 6 feet. On top of that, it can prevent backfilling of the freshwater tank to avoid overflowing water issues.

My only concern is that it operates at a constant speed. You either switch it on or off. The problem is the constant speed isn’t optimized for energy efficiency and often tends to cause pulsation.

Otherwise, this freshwater RV water pump ticks all other boxes and is particularly a great choice for those with more water demand needs in their camper.

Remember, you may need a heated hose to properly feed water to tanks if you are RVing in the colder months.

➡ SHOP Pentair SHURFLO 4048

5. Lippert Component Flow Max Water Pump

Shutter Pressure: 50 PSI
Flow Rate: 3.0 GPM
Size: 10.63 x 5.87 x 5.08 Inches

The Lippert Components 12V RV water pump is a great replacement for your original water tank pump and far superior to the standard options.

It’s a good 12-volt RV water pump, works like a charm, and maintains pressure when pumping your filtered water. It has a max of 50 PSI and over 3.0 GPM, which to me, is fantastic. It’s enough for you to perform your laundry, do dishes and washcloths, and perform general RV household tasks effortlessly. As with most 5th-wheel water pumps on this list, the Lippert Flow Max Water pump can run dry without causing any damage.

Performance aside, the Lippert Components pump for the water tank is durable. It’s designed from heavy-duty plastic and a corrosion-resistant motor and will stand the rigors of RV living.

I also love that the Lippert RV water pumps are quieter than most RV water pumps. You barely hear it when running, and it won’t wake anyone up when you use it. It also has a screen that prevents debris from entering the RV 12-volt water pump, which helps keep the water clean and maintain its integrity.

Finally, I love how effortlessly the pump installs. It’s a universal fitting, which makes a lot of sense to me. Installing on requires basic plumbing and wiring, and you’re good to go.

➡ SHOP Lippert Components Flow Max Water Pump

What’s an RV Water Pump?

An RV water pump is a critical component of your RV water system. Its primary role is to take water from your tanks into the RV pipes.

The importance of an RV water pump is magnified, especially if you’re boondocking or traveling in locations without camp water hookups or municipal/city water connections. You must rely on the RV water pump to pull the water from the tanks to your RV pipes.

What is the Water Pump Flow Rate? 

An RV water pump flow rate is the volume of water that a pump can pull to your RV faucet. The volume of water per minute available on your RV faucet is usually measured by gallons of water per minute (GPM). Generally, a higher low rate means more water flowing into your RV faucet per minute.

The water pump’s pressure determines the flow rate. Water pumps with a higher water pressure provide you with more water flow.

A decent flow rate for most RVs would be from 2.5 GPM to 5.5 GPM. The former is for the small class B campers and vans, while the latter is for the bigger and larger diesel pushers.

Categories of RV Water Pumps

RV water pumps can be categorized based on their speed and function. The three common categories are:

Single-Speed Water Pumps

The single-speed water pumps are also known as constant-speed water pumps. The single-speed RV water pump is an older “pulsing” water pump style. It’s non-adjustable, so you can’t play with the water flow rate or speed, but you can switch them on or off.

A single-speed water pump is speedy and inexpensive but generally has a shorter lifespan. The shorter longevity is because the constant speed means they unnecessarily run longer than other pumps.

Variable Speed Water Pumps

A variable speed pump is generally more modern, and as its name suggests, it can automatically adjust the water flow with the on-demand water pump. They optimize the water flow depending on your usage. But understand it can only adjust the flow rate and not the pressure.

The variable-speed water pumps are generally quieter and are more energy efficient. They also generate a smoother flow, similar to your home’s water system. On the flip side, they’re more expensive.

Types of RV Water Pumps

The three common types of RV water pumps are:

• Manual RV water pump
• 12-V Electric RV Water Pump
• 24-V Electric RV Water Pump

Manual RV Water Pump

An RV manual water pump is an affordable and easy-to-install RV water pump. As its name suggests, a manual RV water pump requires that you physically use your energy to pump water.

12-V RV Water Pump

The 12-V electric RV water pump is probably what you need to replace your RV water pump. These are the most popular water pumps and the most common version in standard RVs.

An RV water pump that is 12V isn’t as powerful as a 24-v RV electric water pump but a rung higher than the manual RV water pump. Their flow rate is sometimes choppy, but not as much as the manual pumps.

24-V RV Water Pumps

The 24-v electric RV water pumps are much bigger and more powerful than the two models I’ve mentioned above. These are suitable for campers with a higher demand for increased water pressure. I recommend you get the 24-v water pumps if you think your water pumping requirements are high.

These RV water pumps allow a higher flow of water and more outlets. The biggest cons of these water pumps are their cost and complex installation. They’re also a bit more expensive to run and maintain.

Things to Look For in an RV Water Pump

Here are the important aspects to consider when selecting an RV water pump:

Gallons Per Minute (GPM)

One of the critical aspects to consider is how many gallons your pump can deliver in a minute (GPM). The GPM refers to the discharge flow and is the volume of water a pump can deliver to the faucet.

Generally, a water pump with a higher GPM delivers more volume of water than a pump with a lower GPM. A pump with a higher GPM also delivers a consistent water flow to more faucets in a single go. However, there’s a downside to using a pump with a higher GPM; it requires more power to operate the pump, and when used over a long time, it may drain your RV batteries.

On the other hand, a pump with a lower GPM will cause problems with running multiple faucets simultaneously. It delivers small volumes of water.

The consensus among RVers is that the ideal water pump should supply 3 to 4 gallons per minute. Anything higher may drain your RV batteries; anything lower isn’t reasonable.

Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI)

PSI measures the pressure factor and is a huge determinant of the strength of a water pump. Water pumps with a higher PSI are generally more powerful. But there’s a catch; the ideal RV water pump isn’t necessarily one with a higher-pressure rating. Instead, the maximum PSI is between 65 to 70 PSI. The ideal pressure rating for most RV water pumps is between 40 to 55 PSI.

Size

The physical dimensions are critical for two main reasons. Space is usually premium in an RV, so you need something ultra-light and compact. But more importantly, the ideal RV water pump replacement should be able to fit in the designated spot.

Therefore, it makes sense to measure the original water pump spot and then find a replacement with the exact or smaller dimensions.

But what I like most about RV water pumps is they’re flexible and can fit in different RV spots, starting from the basement area, under the sink, under the bed, or near the water heater. Plus, the standard options are usually compact enough to fit in most spaces.

Thermal Insulation

An ideal product should have thermal protection with an internal thermal breaker. It should be able to shut down automatically if it overheats to avoid starting a fire or causing damage to the electric pumps. 

Noise Level

Traditionally, RV water pumps were noisy, and you could hear them running in the background. The modern options, however, are quieter and designed to reduce as much noise as possible.

I suggest you pick the RV water pumps with noise dampening and a low-vibration mount to keep the noise to the bare minimum.

Installing a New RV Water Pump

Installing a new product isn’t challenging. The main difficulty is physically placing the water pump; sometimes, you must be flexible to get it right.

With that said, here are some pointers to follow when installing a new water pump:

✔ Cut the power from the camper battery, and ensure the water pump is off

✔ Depressurize the water lines by opening the RV faucets

✔ Detach the old camper water pump. It’s always a good idea to have a towel to stop the water leaks

✔ Refer to the new pump manual for installation instructions

FAQ: RV Water Pump

What Size Water Pump Do I Need For My RV?

The ideal size of your camping water pump will depend on your RV’s water pump console. It’s always a good idea to measure the physical dimensions of the water pump console to determine whether your new replacement will fit.

Can You Leave an RV Water Pump On All the Time?

Yes, there’s nothing wrong with leaving it on. It won’t affect or harm the pump or other components, especially if it’s pressure-activated. But the problem with leaving it on is that it allows the possibility of other problems like leaks, drained batteries, and floods.

How Do I Know if My RV Water Pump is Bad?

Several tell-tale signs signify a broken camping water pump. They include noisy operation, leaks, floods, irregular pressure, failure to start, and the water pump in the RV not working.

What Kind of Water Pump is In an RV?

Typical RV pumps in an RV are the diaphragm pump. It’s also common in marine systems, and its huge draw is that it increases the low water pressure to allow for a steady water flow when camping.

Conclusion: Best Water Pump For an RV

RV water pumps are essential to any camper setup. Make sure you have a good RV water pump so you are not left without water. The great thing about RV water pumps is that they are not hard to install. Almost all of them are easy to access and can be replaced on your own.

These water pumps are plug-and-play, and you will be able to quickly replace the pump that is on your current plumbing system.