Anyone using roofrack mounted water storage?

[PsychoBurb]

I am in the design phase of my custom roofrack. I am seriously considering integrating some PVC tubing into it for H2O storage. It's on a suburban, so if I used 8" PVC, I should be able to get about 26 gallons of water with two tube at 7' long each. That's about 230lbs on the roof.

I realize that weight will make the rig a bit more top heavy, but am willing to take that trade off for the room it would free up lower (more usable) on the lower portion of the rig. 230lbs on the roof of a suburban, in my alleged brain, is a rather small amount of weight in the grand scheme of things.

This solution/idea also has the benefit of being able to warm the water via solar heating, for showering and wash water. I could put a spigot on the end of the tubes, and install an air tap for pressurization.

What are y'alls thoughts on this? Anyone else doing this? Any ideas, from those who are, on my plans?

 

[stewwalker]

When my dad was a kid (1960's), he remembers this style of water storage being used on top of defenders in Africa. One side white(cold), the other side black(hot). Simple cheap and easy. If it was worked back then it will probably work now days.

He also remembers throwing dirty clothes in a big water jug with some soap and sticking it on the roof rack. The sloshing around would wash the clothes.

 

[bobDog]

I've spent a few years working in large green house ranges w/ miles if white PVC pipe large to small.
after about a year if you cut into it for any reason you would find it lined in a green algae. wonder if that would be a problem.

 

[PsychoBurb]

My plan is to use some bleach to prevent the growth of algae when not in use. Then flushed well and refilled for use. It will not be drinking water. Just wash water storage.

 

[Haf-E]

I think its a viable idea - but don't pressurize PVC as it gets brittle over time in the sun and will shatter and possibly send shrapnel all over - don't ask how I know...

You wont really need to pressurize them since they are up on the roof already.

You might even consider using silver aluminum tape on the "cold" tube to block the sunlight and keep it cooler.

Some aluminum tubes would be really slick.

The 5 gallon bucket washer really works well - just still have to rinse them and get the water out.... so its good but not quite "automagic"

 

[PsychoBurb]

Good point about them getting brittle. I guess making them removable, and storing them out of the UV rays when not in use would go a long way to extending there life. And yeah, I guess gravity would work just fine, aside from saving the reserve air I'd have with me. I guess a bleed valve for a vent would be the thing to use instead of an air tap.

 

[corax]

Depending on your intended use of the vehicle, you also might want to keep the individual tube length shorter (but still link them together) - think of the effect the water might have sloshing from one side to the other on vehicle stability if you're in a tipsy situation

 

[kai38]

I saw this at the EXPO this year.
The PVC was painted black and went all around the roof rack.

 

[PsychoBurb]

Actually, I hadn't even considerded linking them together. The concept drawing I created is below.

 

[FellowTraveler]

Consider

Perhaps, using area under the rocker panels between rocker and chassis and under quarter panels to chassis on the Burb would be a better idea unless you are running much more weight down below already.

Two problems come to mind this way 1) may need pump depending on your application, 2) protecting water storage down there w/skid plates.

 

[TreeTopFlyer]

Perhaps, using area under the rocker panels between rocker and chassis and under quarter panels to chassis on the Burb would be a better idea unless you are running much more weight down below already.

Two problems come to mind this way 1) may need pump depending on your application, 2) protecting water storage down there w/skid plates.

I had a system designed around this. But it was going to be several pieces of 4". I could get about 10gal stuffed under there. But the problem is building a header to plumb it all and making sure is has the right slope. I am switching to a jerrycan style until I get a custom tank built to sit in the 3rd seat footwell.

 

[Ozarker]

Great ideas! Has anyone used a bladder system? A system of bags like a fuel bladder to hold water? :ylsmoke:

 

[TomH]

PVC gets brittle because UV rays break the polymers into smaller molecules. I would paint the PVC with several coats of UV neutralizing protector, then make the final coats a dark color. The darker you make it, the hotter it will get. Make sure to have good relief valves: if you paint it pitch black and take it to Death Valley in August, :sunny: you may as well have a pair of bombs strapped to your vehicle. :yikes:

 

[mac66]

Why not just buy some solar shower thingies like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hunters-Campers...817?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c6d0cfa9

 

[Deleted member 9101]

He also remembers throwing dirty clothes in a big water jug with some soap and sticking it on the roof rack. The sloshing around would wash the clothes.

That is nothing short of genius!!!!! I am thinking 5 gallon bucket with a gasket in the lid....