On-Board fresh water system

[articulate]

Through a conversation with DesertDude and getting the run down on his fresh water system, I've decided this is the next addition to my Frontier.


Poly tank
electric pump
hoses
faucet


Say good bye to loose jugs.

My questions:
I've found a nice space under the bed of the truck that will easily house a 10-12 gallon tank. What adverse effects could I encounter by mounting it under the truck? Obviously, a skid plate is in order. I want to avoid installing it in the bed, but I'll do that if necessary.

Your ideas on mounting hardware for the tank?

Other thoughts or advice?

Cheers,
M

[offroad_nomad]

These are Aussie sites, but they may give you some ideas:

Opposite Lock (http://www.oppositelock.com.au/redesign/department/productList.aspx?deptID=6&catID=49)
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/WTP50F-1.jpg
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/thumbnails/WTP50V-3.jpghttp://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/thumbnails/WTP50V-2.jpg

Long Range Plastic Water Tanks (http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl.html)
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl/100_6426.jpg
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl/100_6396.jpg

[david despain]

<What adverse effects could I encounter by mounting it under the truck?>

couple of potential things i could think of but none of them would be deal breakers. maybe kinda difficult to access for maintenance of pump or cleaning. might be hard to gravity feed or drain. in case of pump failure. need to fab or source straps or brackets to hold it up. vulnerable to road debris. must solve the filling problem, gotta have a filler neck and/or hose to be convient. might be harder to check the quantity level

[Scott Brady]

Ian,

Nice find. As low as possible is ideal, and saves storage space for sure.

Mark,

If you have not seen the details of my installation, start here: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6&page=24

[articulate]

Good stuff fellas. Thanks! I read through the Exped. West threads on your set up...thanks for the link.

As I re-measured this afternoon, I realized I have to move alot of OEM hardware out of the way to get the tank in place. Additionally, the space that I thought would be perfect is just not quite as large as I want.

So, I'm considering a cross-bed tool box in which to place a tank; I probably could utilize it regardless.

We'll see what comes about.

Anyway, I'm still open to comments. Thanks,
Mark

[flyingwil]

I am still debating a custom tool box, to hold both water and fuel. I found KSH out in Lake Havasu (http://kshmarine.com/truck_tanks.htm) that can fab up pretty much anything you can draw out.

It's an option...

[articulate]

These are Aussie sites, but they may give you some ideas
On that note, that option for the tank that sits in a double jerry can holder (http://www.oppositelock.com.au/redesign/department/productDetails.aspx?deptID=6&catID=49&itemID=WTP40J) is cool:
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/thumbnails/WTP40J-1.jpg
That's a worthy consideration...

[articulate]

I am still debating a custom tool box, to hold both water and fuel. I found KSH out in Lake Havasu (http://kshmarine.com/truck_tanks.htm) that can fab up pretty much anything you can draw out.

It's an option...
Woah! Good find, mate. I'll check it out.

Thanks,
Mark

[elcoyote]

You can also check out http://watertanks.com (too obvious huh?). They make poly tanks in hundreds of sizes with fittings wherever you want.

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Mark,

I guess this is the one time we can safely say......

What a positive thing for you to get "tanked up"......!:D

Just be fluid with your imagination.....and you should have no problem!;)
.
.
.

[HongerVenture]

Mark,

I guess this is the one time we can safely say......

What a positive thing for you to get "tanked up"......!:D

Just be fluid with your imagination.....and you should have no problem!;)


Bwahhahaha!! That is hilarious. I'm sorry, but I love all things "punny." My wife would tell you I have a "special" sense of humor... what do you expect, I'm an engineer!

I'm replying to this so I'm subscribed as well, as I'm looking into solutions for freshwater storage. I'm liking the Austrailian units, but discouraged by the availability issues.

I'm considering using large diameter PVC to make some custom "tanks" to fit in void spaces under the bed. I'm also considering something from http://www.watertanks.com to fit in under the bed.

Great discussion so far.

Joel

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Thanks Joel,

At least now I know somebody "understands me" here (insert huggie~buggie smily here)......whew!.....hehe

Ya.....I kept it short, guess I didn't want to "ruin it" like my son tells me.

I have considered the making my own out of PVC thing also. But I've been so busy just trying to get my engine running right that I have not had much time for more thought on water. I looked at running them along my frame rails on each side of the truck for balance. But then saw that I would have to get Wil over here with his saws~all (actually I have one and sometimes I scare myself!) and cut off some frame support brackets! .....yikes!....maybe not a good idea. Anyway....it's either cut the supports off or use smaller diameter PVC pipe.....then I gave up because if it's too small, might as well just stick with bottles the way I am now.

Anyway......this is a very FLUID discussion so I'm sure we will all come up with something!.....Just put on yer 10 Gallon Hat and think Real Hard!:rolleyes: ;) :elkgrin:

[Brian McVickers]

When I was at the welding shop the other day I saw plastic welding rods for welding Polyethylene. Has anyone ever done this before or know how? I will have to go back and ask some questions!

When I lived in Florida there was a industrial junkyard, the type of place that the mythbusters get their supplies, it was really cool and they had a huge pile of Poly and other plastic sheets, cubes and random shapes! There must be a way to get the raw materials and then custom fab your own tank to fit perfectly to your application.

Anyone know of an industrial junkyard in the PHX area? With all the Aerospace companies around I bet it would be a blast to explore!!

I'll figure this out and then make custom tanks for you all !:ar15:

[Desertdude]

Mark - Glad you are working on the number two need for expedition travel- ( first one being fuel for the vehicle... gotta keep moving right? )

here (http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-pumps-water-filters-fixtures-1.htm) is where I bought my junk Since this was a test I did not want to spend the farm on it - in case it leaked/fell apart/or tasted bad - Baja wash-board road tested months later all is good

One other idea is to make a complete system in a removable platform/crate - lock it down in the truck bed easy on easy off - with the right size it could be loaded onto any vehicle...

I went with the 21 gal poly tank - 2.8 gpm shurflo - (overkill for sure on the gpm but it was cheap)

I am setting up something similar in the 80 series landcruiser where the second row seats were :)

[Jonathan Hanson]

One thing makes me nervous about that very nice underbody poly tank, and that is the offchance of it getting holed and losing all your main water supply on the trail without realizing it. On the other hand the center of gravity issue obviously favors chassis mounting. I really like Pasquale and Kristina's setup (in the front of the bed, under the toolbox), which is reasonably low, very well protected, useful size, and totally accessible with their pressure pump and spigot.

I'm thinking of having my nephew weld me a stainless steel tank that would fit on the passenger's side rear wheel well of the FJ40, behind the CO2 tank. My measurements indicate I could get upwards of 15 gallons there easily. Probably just a gravity feed spout.

[articulate]

Mark - Glad you are working on the number two need for expedition travel- ( first one being fuel for the vehicle... gotta keep moving right? )

here (http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-pumps-water-filters-fixtures-1.htm) is where I bought my junk Since this was a test I did not want to spend the farm on it - in case it leaked/fell apart/or tasted bad - Baja wash-board road tested months later all is good

One other idea is to make a complete system in a removable platform/crate - lock it down in the truck bed easy on easy off - with the right size it could be loaded onto any vehicle...

I went with the 21 gal poly tank - 2.8 gpm shurflo - (overkill for sure on the gpm but it was cheap)

I am setting up something similar in the 80 series landcruiser where the second row seats were :)
Excellent! I understand your concerns about the taste, but the other day I realized we drink water from plastic bottles all the time. Moot point now since you've installed, tested, and used your set up already.

YES! I've seen that shurflo, and that seems to be a good ticket.


One thing makes me nervous about that very nice underbody poly tank, and that is the offchance of it getting holed and losing all your main water supply on the trail without realizing it. On the other hand the center of gravity issue obviously favors chassis mounting.100% agreed. That's why I figured a nice steel plate would be sufficient to protect the tank. With having to remove my exhaust pipe and the drive shaft to put the tank where I thought it would fit best, I'm now saying screw that. Know what I mean?

I'm just going to do a truck bed tool box and put the tank in there. The box is useful anyway. I see this solution as a win-win. :)

Pasquale: Where is your tank drain line? Did you poke a hole in the bed of your truck? And do you have an accumulator as well or just the tank->line->pump->line->spigot set up?

mcvick: You serious about tank fabbing? It might not be necessary, nor worth it (to purchase all the equipment to do it). 10-20 gallon tanks are running between $50 and $100 with the fittings installed; tanks might be cleaned in some "special" way to make them IAPMO approved and taste-free. Unless you're interested in poly welding as a hobby :).

Cheers,
Mark

[Brian McVickers]

Purely interested as hobby. If it's not that difficult and does not require any serious equipment then you could probably make something that fits your vehicle just the way you want. Just an idea though since I know nothing of poly welding. I just like to make stuff!!!

[Desertdude]

Pasquale: Where is your tank drain line? Did you poke a hole in the bed of your truck? And do you have an accumulator as well or just the tank->line->pump->line->spigot set up?


I have a line with a garden valve that has about 24" of line on it - I keep it coiled up next to the tank and use it as a vent line when filling and a drain if I need - I used a west marine filler on the side of the truck ( I love drilling holes in the truck body;)

yes - just the tank->line->pump->line->spigot set up

the spigot I got from Home Depot -its a bar sink faucet :)

[saburai]

You wouldn't happen to have pictures of your set up that you would share, would you?

Many Thanks...


I have a line with a garden valve that has about 24" of line on it - I keep it coiled up next to the tank and use it as a vent line when filling and a drain if I need - I used a west marine filler on the side of the truck ( I love drilling holes in the truck body;)

yes - just the tank->line->pump->line->spigot set up

the spigot I got from Home Depot -its a bar sink faucet :)

[Mickldo]

These are Aussie sites, but they may give you some ideas:

Opposite Lock (http://www.oppositelock.com.au/redesign/department/productList.aspx?deptID=6&catID=49)
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/WTP50F-1.jpg
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/thumbnails/WTP50V-3.jpghttp://www.oppositelock.com.au/images/products/thumbnails/WTP50V-2.jpg

Long Range Plastic Water Tanks (http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl.html)
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl/100_6426.jpg
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/tw09pl/100_6396.jpg

I mounted the vertical mount slimline Opposite Lock 40L tank in my 80 between the cargo barrier and the sliding drawers. To fill it I slide open the side window and stick a garden hose in the top. When I don't have access to a garden hose I have a short length of plastic hose and a funnel for filling with a bucket or jerry can. There is an outlet to which I have attached about a metre of clear plastic hose. This has a small inline plastic tap on the end. During normal travel this lies along the sill of the rear door opening. There is enough length that it can be brought out away from the car (and the mud) and let gravity do its thing.

I originally had plans of hooking it up to the under bonnet heat exchanger and pressure pump and maybe work out some sort of filtration system but it works beautifully how it is and is so simple. The pressure pump I have is a 17Lpm pump and the tank is only 40L so it would empty the tank in just over 2mins. So the shower is kept for times when I have access to plenty of water (creek, etc) and the water tank is for drinking water only.

[LXRACR]

Would it be easier to fab a spare tire carrier and utilize the factory spare location to mount a tank and skid plate? Thats what I did, no loss in ground clearance and I was able to fit a 17 gallon tank. Just an idea that I'am sure has already been suggested.

[articulate]

Would it be easier to fab a spare tire carrier and utilize the factory spare location to mount a tank and skid plate? Thats what I did, no loss in ground clearance and I was able to fit a 17 gallon tank. Just an idea that I'am sure has already been suggested.
Wow! What an old thread! Since starting this thing nearly three years ago, I did exactly what you suggest.

Page with details. (http://www.markdstephens.com/frontier/on-board_water_shower.html)

http://www.markdstephens.com/frontier/evaluation_images/shower/up_skirt_lg.jpg

[Squall Line]

This question may be rather uniformed, but I have always wondered: do you have to take a lot of care to ensure the tank remains 'safe' for drinking? During periods of it being empty for instance, is mold a great concern? How about concerns with the water source, and even the supply hose used to fill the tank? I am a ways off from even considering a move (though I really like the idea), but have thought about it none the less.

Eric

[LXRACR]

It hasn't been a problem for me, what I do is keep it filled with a bleach concentration in the water. I filter the water going in and going out. When I get ready to use, I simply drain, flush several times, and re-fill with filtered potable water. Never an issue. If you live in feezing climates might have to use a different approach though... The way I look at is, if there is ever a SHTF situation, I have 17 gallons of h2o ready to go (on top of other supply) for cleaning, etc. (not for drinking all year round because of a small amount of bleach).

[articulate]

To help prevent algae growth, it's important to keep the opaque tank out of direct sunlight as well. But, yes, you do need to take precautions to keep the water safe.