Carrying Water

[jasonmcc]

Hi guys

Going up to Cape York in a few weeks. Just wondering what you guys use to carry water in a wagon. Is there a tank for the underneath of a GQ patrol.

What about those bladder type containers? Where do I get them from?


Cheers

JAson

[Tiny]

the best I have found are 89ltrs and have a flande with 8 pre moulded holed for mounting, are baffled, done need a bach plate, are food grade poly and are set up for attaching a pump. they are a little more expensive than conventional caravan tanks, but are much tougher. tang would set you back $250.00 and pump would be $200.00 and you will need a few fitting from the local irrigation supply shop and some hose and your done, very easy, PM me if your interested, the other option is talk to CAMEC caravan supplies, they have tanks and straps and you will need to get a bash plate made up as well, they also are able to supply the pumps

[-Scott-]

I bought a 35l bladder from ARB, sits on the floor behind the front seats. I then made a wooden frame/false floor to sit above it, the hose curls up in a gap, water is accessible from the driver's door. Despite following their cleaning procedure a few times, the water becomes tainted after a few days. Still fine for cooking, but not the best for drinking. I carry 3x10l containers behind the cargo barrier for drinking.

The wooden floor provides a nice flat load surface between the cargo barrier and front seats. Grog, toolbox and snatch strap bag goes on the bottom, sleeping bags, clothes and pillows on top.

Cheers,

Scott

[suzy]

sorry havn't got the link but there is a guy on ebay selling 3 water bladers with a total of about 200l

[christover1]

I went to Cape York in a Moke in 1986
I used a few smaller containers, made packing easier, and if by some disaster you get a leak, then you haven't lost the lot.
christover

[MAVRK-4]

I use the good ol' 15L cube water containers, these sit very well inside milk crates or hobby boxes.

Opposite Lock do sell a 70-80L stainless steel water tank for underneath the GQ guts, but your looking at $1000 just for the tank, but for water quality, security and low centre of gravity for a huge water capacity depends what you need.

[benhl]

i think i have seen bladder type ones that go inside the panels toward the rear of the cargo area (where the jack etc usually goes in some wagons) who knows i have a lux - but it could be an options for extra storage if space is limited.

[murcod]

I've got one of the ARB 35l bladders - cost around $120 on special IIRC. Plus there's a length of 100mm diameter pvc pipe underneath next to the chassis rails running to a tap under the passenger side door (holds around 6 litres, good for washing hands etc.) And finally, I've some other 15l containers that can be stored inside or in a trailer.

[Cossie]

ARB do an 85L flexi tank for a GQ which goes on the rear floor, costs $299 though.
Plastic water jerry cans would be a good idea if you have the room in the back for them.

[GUJohnno]

I can get tanks custom made if you want one.

Some points to think of.
Tanks under the vehicle can get hot. The weight is down low (good).

Tank behind cargo barrier. Keeps weight even across the back. Weight still low but not as low (obviously) for an under vehicle unit. You can hear them slosh around at times.

[murcod]

Some points to think of.
Tanks under the vehicle can get hot.

Free hot water to wash your hands with- mine's always a nice temp after a decent drive!

[GUJohnno]

Some points to think of.
Tanks under the vehicle can get hot.

Free hot water to wash your hands with- mine's always a nice temp after a decent drive!

Not good for drinking tho...

[murcod]

I don't use it for drinking. Keep your drinking water inside somewhere- less chance of it getting contaminated.

[Chucky]

i think i have seen bladder type ones that go inside the panels toward the rear of the cargo area (where the jack etc usually goes in some wagons) who knows i have a lux - but it could be an options for extra storage if space is limited.

I have one of these in my 80 cruiser. Its great. out of the way and holds forty liters. It's inside the drivers side rear panel so I still have the little space the jack goes. Not that the hi-lift can fit in there. I will be getting another one for the other side before I cross the simpson next year.

[crusher]

I made a timber box that holds 3, 25L plastic jerry cans. One of them has a tap and hose on it with gun type nosel. these sit in the back of my 80 series on top of the draws and are held firmly against the cargo barrier with a ratchet strap. when one is empty i transfer water from one to the other using s simple 12 volt pump from my shower. By not having them connected im insured against loosing all my drinking water should one get a leak.I carpeted the box with marine carpet,same as my draws so it all matches and looks good and by wrapping the carpet over the top edge and down the inside of the box it ensures a snug fit for the containers and they dont rub or make noise. This set up works for me, family of 6, and dosnt move around even on extreme 4x4 tracks on the weekends.

[MAVRK-4]

....Tank behind cargo barrier. Keeps weight even across the back. Weight still low but not as low (obviously) for an under vehicle unit. You can hear them slosh around at times.

This is what I'm currently sizing up for my mav, my tank should sit at the rear of my black widow drawers but will actually be on the other side of my half height cargo barrier in the wedge behind the rear seats.

Estimate a tank say W 900 x H 300 x D 140(top) D 200(base)
Calculates to around 40+ Litres.

Should allow me to load up the cargo area fully and maintain the rear seats in position

[T_Diesel]

I just picked up a fitting in a sale bin at the Caulfield Caravan show that screws into the bottom outlet plug of a jerry can (where the tap normally goes) and the other end is a snap on male type garden hose fitting.

I want to use it to gravity feed water from a jerry can.

Just tested it with the trigger nozzle from the garden and flow rate was shit house with the trigger nozzle on, however with no nozzle on the hose, the flow rate is quite good.

Does anyone know of any free flowing trigger nozzles or suggest any other types of shut off valve I can use with a standard size hose pipe and standard sized click fittings?

[BundyRumandCoke]

The one thing a lot of people have mentioned is, you dont need to carry heaps up the cape. There is water everywhere. Depending on how many people are travelling, say a family of 4 could get away with 40 litres of drinking water. If you want water for showering, washing clothes, ect, there is heaps of excellent quality water in any of the rivers up there. Heck, most of it would be better than what comes out of your tap at home. Drinking water is available at all partially civilised locations up there,

Whatever you do, dont have one large container, because if it gets holed, you lose the lot. Have a couple of few smaller ones.

[toaddog]

Go to coles or woolies and buy the 10 lt spring water containers. You can refill them when you need to and being smaller you can pack them in around stuff. Dont drink the water out of the rivers without boiling or sterilizing it. Dont know how many times you walk around a bend in the river and there is a dead cow or pig etc.

[-Scott-]

I just picked up a fitting in a sale bin at the Caulfield Caravan show that screws into the bottom outlet plug of a jerry can (where the tap normally goes) and the other end is a snap on male type garden hose fitting.

I want to use it to gravity feed water from a jerry can.

Just tested it with the trigger nozzle from the garden and flow rate was shit house with the trigger nozzle on, however with no nozzle on the hose, the flow rate is quite good.

Does anyone know of any free flowing trigger nozzles or suggest any other types of shut off valve I can use with a standard size hose pipe and standard sized click fittings?

What are you trying to achieve?

Garden fittings are designed to work with mains pressure - which is much more than you'll achieve from a Jerry can feeding under gravity. Mains pressure is normally equivalent to 20 metres of head pressure or more.

Personally, I just have a simple turn type tap in a 12mm PVC hose.

[T_Diesel]

I just picked up a fitting in a sale bin at the Caulfield Caravan show that screws into the bottom outlet plug of a jerry can (where the tap normally goes) and the other end is a snap on male type garden hose fitting.

I want to use it to gravity feed water from a jerry can.

Just tested it with the trigger nozzle from the garden and flow rate was shit house with the trigger nozzle on, however with no nozzle on the hose, the flow rate is quite good.

Does anyone know of any free flowing trigger nozzles or suggest any other types of shut off valve I can use with a standard size hose pipe and standard sized click fittings?

What are you trying to achieve?

Garden fittings are designed to work with mains pressure - which is much more than you'll achieve from a Jerry can feeding under gravity. Mains pressure is normally equivalent to 20 metres of head pressure or more.

Personally, I just have a simple turn type tap in a 12mm PVC hose.

The garden fittings are just to connect it to the jerry can.

All I want is a mechanism to turn the flow on / off from the end of the hose which is 12mm PVC. Where do you get them from?

[-Scott-]

All I want is a mechanism to turn the flow on / off from the end of the hose which is 12mm PVC. Where do you get them from?

The tap I'm using is designed for 13mm irrigation pipe, available in just about any hardware/gardening supply place. The PVC hose went on without much trouble (may have used a cup of boiling water to soften the hose - I can't remember.)

I don't know how well the tap holds pressure. I wedge mine in above the level of the tank, so if it leaks air will come in rather than water out.

[Dooley]

How about the length of conduit with end caps and a tap tank... ?

[Patroler]

http://www.tjmgeebung.com.au/polyrv.htm

ive got the 80L slimline in the back of the gq, just fits between the wheel arches, the outlet faces the small back door, ive just got a ball valve and barbed fitting and when i want water i just push a short length of garden hose on the barb.
Its built pretty strong, all bolts in and everything sits on it, theres a gap underneath so nothing rubs the tank.
Basically it just means the floor is 150mm higher.

[bigbluemav]

Go to coles or woolies and buy the 10 lt spring water containers. You can refill them when you need to and being smaller you can pack them in around stuff. Dont drink the water out of the rivers without boiling or sterilizing it. Dont know how many times you walk around a bend in the river and there is a dead cow or pig etc.

I've got 2 of these and they are a great idea!!

One other option (not sure which 4wd accessory sho sells them), is a thin profile plastic tank that sits behind the cargo barrier. It has cut outs for the wheel arches. Looks like a good idea!!

[Canyonero 4x4]

http://www.offroadsystems.com.au/water_tanks.html

[PBBIZ2]

I have a fitted stainless steel tank similiar to GU Johnno, but its 130L capacity. The thing does have baffles but still sloshes around, more so as it gets empty. It has a single 50mm screwed fill point, 4mm vent and two 12mm outlets that exit either side of the rear doors, but the hoses stay inside. The food grade hoses are terminated with ball valves. The advantages are no residual smell/taste like some of the plastic, plus water is in a fixed location and accessible either side of teh vehicle. The negatives are - it does not have an external level indicator, so without a torch poked into the fill point, you can't see how much you have - have run out on occassions!
Its fillable only by hose due to the location of the fill point, plus if you have it half full and need to top it up, you can run the risl of putting less quality of water into the good stuff - such as soapy water from Dalhousie Thermal Springs is fine for cooking and washing up but crap to drink.

If I do it again, I will split the tank and seperate the chambers so it is more versatile - bit late now. Its been in since 1997 without issue - totally trouble free - but a big investment - think it was $1200 back then.

[T_Diesel]

All I want is a mechanism to turn the flow on / off from the end of the hose which is 12mm PVC. Where do you get them from?

The tap I'm using is designed for 13mm irrigation pipe, available in just about any hardware/gardening supply place. The PVC hose went on without much trouble (may have used a cup of boiling water to soften the hose - I can't remember.)

I don't know how well the tap holds pressure. I wedge mine in above the level of the tank, so if it leaks air will come in rather than water out.

Went for a trip to bunnings today and picked up some hose fittings and an irrigation tap that does the job nicely. Pics below.









I've got a twin floor in the back of the 4wd, and the jerries just sit in a jerry can holder in front of the cargo barrier and are strapped in with a ratchet strap. In the car, i'll just attach the hose to the cargo barrier as you say above the water source when in the car.

Flow rate through the tap is great with just the gravity feed.

All up cost for fittings and hose was about $35 and i've got about 8 metres of drinking water hose left which was the most expensive part at $20 for 10 metres.

Next task will be to tap both jerry cans into a splitter and then have the one water outlet so water is drawn from both at the same time.

[Canyonero 4x4]

Next task will be to tap both jerry cans into a splitter and then have the one water outlet so water is drawn from both at the same time.

Do you really want that?
Would it not be better to keep them separate should one leak?
One for drinking water, one for notsogoodfordrinking water?
Personally I'd keep em separate. After all, you have a shitload of hose left over
Food for thought...

[-Scott-]

All I want is a mechanism to turn the flow on / off from the end of the hose which is 12mm PVC. Where do you get them from?

The tap I'm using is designed for 13mm irrigation pipe, available in just about any hardware/gardening supply place.

Went for a trip to bunnings today and picked up some hose fittings and an irrigation tap that does the job nicely. Pics below.

That looks like my tap - except mine has a barb on both sides.

And keep the jerries separate. That way, you can have drinking/cooking water & other water - if you need to. Once you've emptied the first container, re-fill it with whatever you can find - and keep it for non-drinking applications.