On Board Water systems and Storage

[JimboT]

I am building my first custom rig and planning on a 10 year life cycle. My rig is a RAM 3500 Cummins HO, with a Carli/King Pin Top system. I have a travel trailer that will be home base for our travels hence the big rig. Our plan is then to go out 3-7 days at a time with the truck into the back-country to tour, fish and hunt. For the next few years our travels will be western North America, but who knows after that. I just did a three week trek through Patagonia with my son, and got the international bug as well. I am an avid backpacker, but once I introduce a stock animal or vehicle my minimalism makes a hasty retreat. As part of one of the luxuries, I am going to put pressurized potable water on board. I am using a marine grade shurflo pump. The question is storage. I have a plan with my builder to use water bladders and place those in custom boxes. My other thought is a custom made tank. The Front Runners do not fit the way I want. My main concerns, are proper baffling to contain displacement issues and lateral acceleration during technical and faster off-roading and also a good fit so as not to waste space. What have others done? Does anyone know of a fabricator that can make a baffled potable tank?

 

[Victory_Overland]

This where I plan to get my tank from; they will build you a custom tank with baffles if you want and that is the route I may go with but they have so many options I think an off the shelf option design will fit my needs. My plan is to go flat as possible or tall and narrow to alleviate sloshing. You can have your access ports and in/out lines wherever you want on the build page and price is pretty good.

Make sure you are clear on fresh, potable water needs. They do black and gray tanks too!


Plastic-Mart


Another option:
US Plastic Tanks

 

[JimboT]

This where I plan to get my tank from; they will build you a custom tank with baffles if you want and that is the route I may go with but they have so many options I think an off the shelf option design will fit my needs. My plan is to go flat as possible or tall and narrow to alleviate sloshing. You can have your access ports and in/out lines wherever you want on the build page and price is pretty good.

Make sure you are clear on fresh, potable water needs. They do black and gray tanks too!


Plastic-Mart


Another option:
US Plastic Tanks

Thank you I will look into it

 

[rayra]

A fixed tank or a storage space for a bladder is a lot of dedicated volume. And a lot of shifting weight, baffles or no. And with a powered pump / pressure system it would be easy to use something like 20L jugs and carry more or less of them as needed, distributed, switching them as needed. Depends how profligate your water use is, or how strong your back. Or how wed you are to a larger tank.

 

[Alloy]

These people do nice work.

Total Composites full introduction!

Wouldn't be too hard to cut (hot wire) a shape to fill the void. It comes down to how extreme the (60 degree North in winter) temperatures are. I've seen sprayed/blown/expanded foam absorb water but I've not seen extruded foam ( buried outside a concrete foundation) absorb water. Sealing the...

expeditionportal.com

One of the screw ups I see done is not having a drain out of the bottom so there is no water left in the tank when not in use and sediment can be flushed out.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

If you are "handy" and can weld and get 2mm cold rolled steel cut and bent nearby, then make a mould and have the tank rotomoulded.
I have done a couple in the past and have one for water under construction at the moment and 2 more in the planning stage.
Rotomoulding is a great low volume production method for seamless plastic tanks for water or for fuel. I have a mould that I will use for diesel on one side of the truck and water on the other. The process allows wall thickness to be anything you choose and the mould shape can be as simple or as complex as you wish depending on the time you invest.
Threaded connections are easily added after moulding by spin welding, something I also do at home.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Hoooogan]

I was looking into these. Similar to the offerings that Front Runner has, but more options and cheaper.

Water Containers | Overland Water Storage Tanks

With these off-road water storage tanks, you’ll always have plenty of H20 for whatever you need. Check out our overland water storage options online today.

ironman4x4america.com

 

[Kevinm]

Why not just run a RV style poly tank mounted under the bed? Thats what im doing on my tacoma build. I should have 50 litres ish. There should be plenty of space under a fullsize for that

 

[WVI]

21 Gallon RV Water Tank 39" x 16" x 8" NSF Certified and BPA Free

Ensure a steady supply of potable water with RecPro's durable and 21-gallon RV Fresh Water Tank. This tank is corrosion resistant, making it perfect for use in your towable or RV.

www.recpro.com

This what I plan on putting in my van along with the couple of Milarary water cans.

 

[JimboT]

A fixed tank or a storage space for a bladder is a lot of dedicated volume. And a lot of shifting weight, baffles or no. And with a powered pump / pressure system it would be easy to use something like 20L jugs and carry more or less of them as needed, distributed, switching them as needed. Depends how profligate your water use is, or how strong your back. Or how wed you are to a larger tank.

I have the space and GRVW to handle a lot of water. The larger water capacity allows for showers.

 

[JimboT]

If you are "handy" and can weld and get 2mm cold rolled steel cut and bent nearby, then make a mould and have the tank rotomoulded.
I have done a couple in the past and have one for water under construction at the moment and 2 more in the planning stage.
Rotomoulding is a great low volume production method for seamless plastic tanks for water or for fuel. I have a mould that I will use for diesel on one side of the truck and water on the other. The process allows wall thickness to be anything you choose and the mould shape can be as simple or as complex as you wish depending on the time you invest.
Threaded connections are easily added after moulding by spin welding, something I also do at home.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I am not "handy" at all

 

[JimboT]

21 Gallon RV Water Tank 39" x 16" x 8" NSF Certified and BPA Free

Ensure a steady supply of potable water with RecPro's durable and 21-gallon RV Fresh Water Tank. This tank is corrosion resistant, making it perfect for use in your towable or RV.

www.recpro.com

This what I plan on putting in my van along with the couple of Milarary water cans.

I just ordered a boat tank for Ronco Plastics

 

[JimboT]

Why not just run a RV style poly tank mounted under the bed? Thats what im doing on my tacoma build. I should have 50 litres ish. There should be plenty of space under a fullsize for that

I am going against the Bed wall next to the cab with a boat tank. Thanks

 

[JimboT]

I was looking into these. Similar to the offerings that Front Runner has, but more options and cheaper.

Water Containers | Overland Water Storage Tanks

With these off-road water storage tanks, you’ll always have plenty of H20 for whatever you need. Check out our overland water storage options online today.

ironman4x4america.com

Thank you

 

[CascadesTacoma]

Follow up question: does anyone have experience with bladders like the aquatank2 or Ivy Bags? I’m interested in the aquatank2 26gallon bag because I have a great spot for it.