Water storage for camping, Reliance Aqua-Tainer

[Corey]

I had an old Reliance 4 gallon Aqua-Tainer laying around for years that we use to use out on a table when I had the tent trailer.
I use to also carry it on the roof of the 4Runner long ago when wheelin'.
I still have it, but 4 gallons is not really enough for drinking water and cooking for an extended weekend or longer, so I ordered a new 7 gallon one Monday morning via Amazon.
Should be here tomorrow.

The main cap comes off and a spigot which stores inside you insert and then you can have water anytime when the jug is on its side by using the spigot.
I may see if my battery pump will fit, but I doubt it.
I tired it on the current one I have, and the pump will not screw onto the bottle, maybe the new one is designed different, but not big deal, the spigot works fine on these.
Search the reviews on these at Cabelas, REI, and Amazon, and most feel this container is a great deal and stands up to abuse well.

This looks a lot better too than using the water cooler bottle I have been using since 2008 along with the battery pump.
I thought it looked a little fruity also using it, plus with the bottle being clear, it lets in sunlight which is not good for the water.

The extra capacity of this new bottle will be better too.
I tend to drink way over the daily minimum allowance of 8 8 oz glasses per day.
Closer to a gallon a day.

Anyone else use this container too, and if so, do you like it?

I also have 3 jerry cans for water I bought long ago for use with the trailer too if we ran through the two 5 gallon containers that were in the water closet that were hooked up to the trailer fresh water line.

I prefer this Aqua-Tainer over them though on account of the spigot.

Reliances site

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1288044425&sr=8-1"]Amazon[/ame]

 

[brained]

With the spout stored inside dirt and junk fill up the backside of it. A cork is nice to keep it clean.

 

[Herbie]

I have one of these, and it serves its purpose well. As brained mentioned, if you store the spigot "inside", you have to keep an eye on the backside for crud if it is in a dirty environment.

Of course, filled with 7 gallons, its heavy, but the difference between 4, 5, and 7 gallons isn't a deal breaker and I would rather make fewer trips to the spigot if I'm doing long-term in a camp with plumbing, and of course the extra capacity is welcome when dry camping.

 

[Project510]

I purchased this as well, it lasted 2 trips. Plastic in the corners is thin and was punctured, and the spout stripped after being removed and covered only a few times. You get what you pay for I guess.. it was like 12 bux

 

[obscurotron]

I've been using 2 of these for the past 7 or 8 years with no problems. They sit in the back of the Tacoma and haven't (yet) punctured or leaked (except when I forget to tighten down the vent caps!). And mind you, that's the SAME 2 for the past 7 or 8 years. And they get used quite a bit, slide around sometimes in the back, get tossed on the ground, and generally heavily used/handled.

To keep the gunk out of the backside of the cap/spigot, I put a piece of Gorilla Tape over the opening. I remove it and stick it on the container when in use and then replace it when I'm done. Gorilla Tape seems to stick well (or better than duct tape), even when dirty or damp/wet, so it makes an idea cover for the spigot/cap hole.

I'm all for them, given the price. Some MWC's would be nice, but I can get 3 of these for the price of an MWC. :/

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I purchased this as well, it lasted 2 trips. Plastic in the corners is thin and was punctured,..........

Seems to depend on the run. I've had a few of them, and had a couple that were weak in the bottom corners.

I also have two 4 gal ones that have held up well for the last 2 years. I use them just about every weekend, when I head to the cabin.

I prefer having the two 4 gal ones, as opposed to one 7 gal. Easier to store/pack, and easier for me to lift and move. (since my back is shot, I can't lift 7 gallons, or 56 pounds, of water very easily anymore)

 

[Ruined Adventures]

I've had several of these over the years. I've always put teflon tape on all the threads to keep everything leak free. Be careful when tightening the spigot on the cap...my last trip to Big Bend, I sheared the tap piece from the threads. When I went in to Terlingua to get fuel, I picked up some hardware and made a shower kit to fix it. When wrapped in a black trash bag, if you leave it in the sun all day it can give you a fairly warm washing...don't expect high pressures :drool:

I stopped carrying the bigger ones because they don't fit under my sleeping platform. Now I carry two 2.5 gallon versions that fit nicely underneath, but the only problem is the vent is plugged by those little "golf tee" lookin plugs instead of the old threaded caps. The threaded caps were much better, but if you hammer the plug in a little it shouldn't leak. Just in case, I keep the jugs in a tub that doubles as a wash basin along with some soap, a scrubber and some Absorber towels. This works out pretty good, especially since I like the water split into smaller containers instead of one big one...I don't like the idea of a ton of water sloshing around un-baffled.

 

[Chazz Layne]

I've run two of these for the last couple years as a cheap alternative until I'm ready to buy steel. They did squeeze and flex a little too much for comfort when strapped down tight enough to keep them from moving. Still, they worked well and I never had any problems... and I wasn't exactly gentle with them.

I even tossed a full one out of the truck in frustration once. It just bounced off the rocks and landed on it's side, no leaks or cracks. I've since dramatically simplified my packing technique.

 

[dport]

I've had the 7 gallon for about 3 years now, with no complaints. I did have a buddy who stripped out the spigot after 2/3 uses. He was able to thread a standard water spigot into it. I have had mine sitting on top of firewood on the trail with no punctures. Good buy, even it you happen to get a faulty one.

 

[Wyowanderer]

I have two. They're heavy when full, but they seal well and have been pretty durable, especially for the price.
I bought a spare cap and tap and screwed a barb fitting into it. I attached a hose to the barb fitting, and a sunshower shower head to the hose-instant shower. I put it on the top of the camper after filling it with a couple pots of hot-ish water, and have a shower if I want one.
I bought a Reliance "wheeled" version a couple years ago, but I could never get the top to seal well enough to trust it inside.

 

[Errant]

I really like the Jumbo-Tainer. Being a girl, the two handles make it easier for me to carry and pour, plus make great strap points. Just like with the other one, a piece of tape on the reversed spigot keeps out the dirt, a screw on vent cap would be nice, larger fill opening to drop in a pump like the Zodi would be cool.

 

[mudbutt]

Also by Reliance, The Rhino Pak:



33% Thicker Walls Than The Standard Water Container Increases Puncture Resistance And Durability. 50% More Drop Strength Than A Standard Water Container. The Heavy Duty Spigot And Vent Cap Allow It To Be Stored On Its Side. Tested To Stack 4 High.

http://www.campmor.com/reliance-rhi...CI&srccode=cii_23393768&cpncode=21-83389566-2

 

[Corey]

I was wrong, my old Aqua-Tainer was a 7 gallon model.
It is in the middle, and the design looks like it has not changed one bit over the last twenty years.
New one on the left of course, and they both have screw on vents, not the golf tee like some have.

The Rubbermaid jerrycan on the right I have three of them, spout stores inside.
They are 3 gallons each, and they are very tough.
I would guesstimate I have had them since '92 or so, as they were used for backup if I ran dry when we dry camped with the tent trailer.

I will probably just take the Aqua-Tainer one of the jerrycans when I camp for a total of 10 gallons.
The old Aqua-Tainer will be used for drinking water during the winter in case something goes wrong during the winter here.
La Niña is suppose to kick up a wild winter here this year.

 

[Errant]

I've got an old one of those, too, but don't think it's got the screw on vent cap. I'm going to have to double check it now.

 

[Project510]

Also by Reliance, The Rhino Pak:



33% Thicker Walls Than The Standard Water Container Increases Puncture Resistance And Durability. 50% More Drop Strength Than A Standard Water Container. The Heavy Duty Spigot And Vent Cap Allow It To Be Stored On Its Side. Tested To Stack 4 High.

http://www.campmor.com/reliance-rhi...CI&srccode=cii_23393768&cpncode=21-83389566-2

I think I just found my replacement! Thanks!