Family Water Storage Solutions

[nwoodworth1390]

Wasnt sure if i should post this here or in, "Family Adventure Planning."

I have a family of four plus a 100lb dog, and the good ole 7 gallon blue Aqua-Tainer is no longer cutting it. We need to double our water capacity in order to go remote for longer amounts of time. Has anyone tried Ironman4x4 water tanks and mounted it to a Decked drawer system? Im specifically looking at this one:

50L Tapered Water Tank - 13 Gal

Ironman 4x4 America offers off-road parts, accessories, and equipment for the off-roading enthusiast. Check out our website for more information.

ironman4x4america.com

Thought i would mount it to the Deck drawers up against the cab so the significant water weight is as far forward as possible? Thoughts?

What water system works for you and your family?

 

[astroflashjones]

I have the 60L (15gal) one in my truck. Its was purchased through Front Runner but I'm fairly certain they are the same product as what Ironman4x4 carries. I have it mounted in a cabinet at the head of the bed. I have it hooked up to a pump with a pressure switch. I absolutely love it. We camped on the beach and cleaning the kiddo and all our stuff off was so much easier. Having that much water on demand means I only need to worry about keeping the gas tank full. Last winter my water lines froze one night. This year I've added a heating pad to the tank and I'm looking for one for the hose.

 

[NatersXJ6]

While putting the weight in the right place seems (and is) important, so is access for filling, cleaning, rinsing, disinfection, etc…. I personally like the standard scepter/LCI water jugs because the are small and light enough to move around for load balancing, fit in standard Jerry can holders, and can be easily expanded (add or remove containers) to match the length and complexity of the trip.

A fixed mount tank has much less flexibility. Have to fill with a hose/ can’t haul to water source. Must occasionally drain and clean. If contaminated might be more hassle, etc…

I still have a 20 gal fixed tank on my trailer tongue, and use it, but I prefer the Jerry cans for most uses.

 

[WanderingBison]

While putting the weight in the right place seems (and is) important, so is access for filling, cleaning, rinsing, disinfection, etc…. I personally like the standard scepter/LCI water jugs because the are small and light enough to move around for load balancing, fit in standard Jerry can holders, and can be easily expanded (add or remove containers) to match the length and complexity of the trip.

A fixed mount tank has much less flexibility. Have to fill with a hose/ can’t haul to water source. Must occasionally drain and clean. If contaminated might be more hassle, etc…

I still have a 20 gal fixed tank on my trailer tongue, and use it, but I prefer the Jerry cans for most uses.

150% agree!

In our van build, I use 4 Scepter 5 gallon/20 litre Jerry cans, instead of one large tank. And I’ve manifold two of the Jerry cans at once to the water pump and system.

Here’s why:

Easy to fill by simply pulling out one, two or all Jerry cans to fill at a campground, in a grocery store, in an Aqua Purification business or even at a creek or river (with the correct water treatment plan) … really anywhere I can reach by walking with the Jerry can,

Allows me to isolate water sources from a trusted source from a questionable source (in a pinch),

If a “tank” springs a leak, I still have a significant amount of water, and

Allows me to store some water inside the heated habitat while keeping other water outside, really useful in cold/freezing weather conditions.

Every now and then I question if I would use this approach for the next build, until my next fill when I am reminded why this is my chosen strategy.

I works flawlessly!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[alia176]

Wasnt sure if i should post this here or in, "Family Adventure Planning."

I have a family of four plus a 100lb dog, and the good ole 7 gallon blue Aqua-Tainer is no longer cutting it. We need to double our water capacity in order to go remote for longer amounts of time. Has anyone tried Ironman4x4 water tanks and mounted it to a Decked drawer system? Im specifically looking at this one:

50L Tapered Water Tank - 13 Gal

Ironman 4x4 America offers off-road parts, accessories, and equipment for the off-roading enthusiast. Check out our website for more information.

ironman4x4america.com

Thought i would mount it to the Deck drawers up against the cab so the significant water weight is as far forward as possible? Thoughts?

What water system works for you and your family?

What vehicle is this for, might help with answering your question! Heck, just update your signature line with your vehicle info and mods and that will take care of it.

In my landcruiser, I don't have the back seat so this isn't applicable to you but the info might help. I have a 15g water bladder for non-potable water that lives on the floor of the 2nd row (where you'd put your feet). I have a platform built in the second row with a fridge on top and the water lives under the platform. a 5g jerry can lives in the cargo area with a coffee spout mounted at the bottom for easily filling up water bottles w/o removal of can. I take the jerry can into those water filling machine that lives in grocery stores for filtered water.

A water bladder is easy to remove and it implodes on itself as the water level drops. This translates to less water swooshing noise as you drive. It sounds trivial but I get annoyed with hearing water move from one side of a rigid tank to the other while driving and four wheeling. These plastic water tanks that most folks are buying aren't baffled, hence they're noisy, IMHO. If the tank will live in the back of a pickup truck, then the noise doesn't matter.

Again, this isn't applicable but might help with coming up with ideas.

 

[Errant]

Which 15g bladder are you using, Ali? I was looking at the AquaTank2, as it seems like it might fit the spot that would be left if I remove my third row seats.

 

[nwoodworth1390]

What vehicle is this for, might help with answering your question! Heck, just update your signature line with your vehicle info and mods and that will take care of it.

In my landcruiser, I don't have the back seat so this isn't applicable to you but the info might help. I have a 15g water bladder for non-potable water that lives on the floor of the 2nd row (where you'd put your feet). I have a platform built in the second row with a fridge on top and the water lives under the platform. a 5g jerry can lives in the cargo area with a coffee spout mounted at the bottom for easily filling up water bottles w/o removal of can. I take the jerry can into those water filling machine that lives in grocery stores for filtered water.

A water bladder is easy to remove and it implodes on itself as the water level drops. This translates to less water swooshing noise as you drive. It sounds trivial but I get annoyed with hearing water move from one side of a rigid tank to the other while driving and four wheeling. These plastic water tanks that most folks are buying aren't baffled, hence they're noisy, IMHO. If the tank will live in the back of a pickup truck, then the noise doesn't matter.

Again, this isn't applicable but might help with coming up with ideas.

Vehicle is a 2014 Ford Raptor. Never thought of using a bladder. Not sure where i would put it though. Currently running a Decked storage system in the bed and am picking up a GofastCamper in Feb.

 

[TwinStick]

I agree that small-ish containers are the way to go, unless you have a 1 ton. They are so much easier to sanitize. We had a toyhauler that had a 100 gallon tank. I wasted a LOT of water sanitizing it. And I did it for every trip. Probably wasted 1000 gallons every camping season.

Waterborne diseases are no joke. We had an entire platoon in the Army that got so sick from drinking water from a water buffalo that was not treated & they had to repeat basic training because they were sick for over 2 weeks.

They actually gave us a class on safe water for drinking & to ALWAYS make sure it is safe for drinking before filling our canteens. If you can't verify it, then don't drink it. If you can't pick up the container to shake it, then it needs to be filled up completely with water & bleach. Just plain bleach - no perfume - no scents, no concentrated. I would let it sit for at least 24 hrs. Then drain & refill 2x with just plain water. You also have to open up any faucets or hoses to make sure that the bleach solution has gotten through the entire system.

We use the blue 7 gallon jugs for drinking water but I still sanitize the camper tank & lines. I use the rv anti freeze in the winter. It poses its own problems. It is prone to a type of bacteria that makes the lines smell like sewer. We never drink from camper tank because of that, even though I sanitize it for each trip. Just not worth the risk.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

I use the 4-gal Aquatainers for non-drinking water...easier to carry/move around. I use 1-gal bottled water easily purchased in the USA at almost any store for drinking. Yes, takes up space but hassle-free and "trusted". I've taken a look at the Front Runner tanks and like them a lot except for the potential leak and total loss of water issue. If kept inside the truck and properly secured I would think there's little chance of that happening.

 

[4x4tripping]

Here I am collecting links to water storage solutions:

https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2021/04/flexible-watertank-or-water-bladder.html

trippin