how do you fill a water tank?
 

Hi, I am thinking about the pros and cons of a fixed water supply in a 110 as appose to Jerry cans.

My main question is how do you fill a fixed water tank when in Africa? I guess a hose pipe is involved but what's on the other end? A tap clamp for when there is a tap (are there taps available?)? a funnel for when there is only a well? or what?

Do you think a fixed row of say 4x30lt Jerry cans would do the same job as a big tank?-you just switch the pump to each can one by one as they empty and then fill again via a hose. Its the same as a fixed tank but with removable options and a quarter of the price. ??

Thanks

Pete

Hi Pete,
I can't speak specifically for a 110 but last year we finished a little 7 month jaunt around WA in a 4x4 motorhome. It carried enough water for two showers a day and all washing up etc. for around 7days.

Virtually every big name fuel station in WA has a tap, and you negociate to fill up with water if you buy your fuel there. Only once did a guy get stroppy about how much we took.
I always ran it through a carbon filter and a UV steriliser, boosted by a Shurflo shower pump to keep the inside of the tank clean. (the Brownchurch rig is way too slow and soo expensive for what it does)
A Gardena connector set and 10m of hose from a DIY or garden shop enabled us to connect to everything except the bowser filler next to a water tower.

Because of the range of our vehicle (1500km on a fill up) sometimes we needed water without fuel; wells are abundant, and the people often very happy to have you come over (if you have bought bottled water in the cities, keep the bottles, they are VERY welcome gifts at the rural wells)
I took along a little 12v submersible pump
to drop into wells, only used it once, it was quicker to bring up a bucket and sticking the hose in that and letting the self-priming shower pump do the work.

Happy trails
Luke

I guess the main advantage of a fixed water tank is that you can put it underneath the car or a put a big flat tank in the back --> saves space and is especially great for the lower point of gravity (big plus).

On the other hand you only have 1 tank. If you have to fill up at a dodgy spot you risk of contaminating your entire water supply. Also in a big tank the chances are bigger you leave the same water in for longer periods: risk of growing all sorts of bacteria.
It can also be handy to just take a jerry can out of the car (wash up, ...) instead of plumbing an entire hose-network to where you want the water.

And then there is the price...

As for all pieces of equipment it has its pro's and con's...

I'm going for the jerrycan approach for water. For fuel I installed an extra fuel tank underneath though.

If you go for the jerry cans, put them on the floor right behind the seats..

Hi 2cvfred,

I agree. I use to have a fixed water tank in the LR. Kitting out the LC I decided it isn't as useful as it looks. The requirement for water varies depending on the geographic location - allocating part of the cargo space for one purpose only is a bit wasteful while jerry cans can be added or removed as need be.

------------------
Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.info

Pete, my four pennies worth... been using a 66 litre water tank in my 90 which fits between wheelboxes against bulkhead out of the way, (got a plastics company to make it)spares parts, oils etc and tools are then put in and a sheet of 2mm alloy chequer plate over the top of it - bolted to wheelboxes - fridge/cooker/cooking/food boxes and chairs/table etc above this.
feed to tank is from a pipe inside the back door (which runs along the side of the vehicle and into the top of the tank - a vent pipe also runs alongside) - which I can fillby hose pipe or put a funnel into and fill by bucket - so it is filled by gravity. I was going to put a marine alloy water filler on the side of the vehicle, but this works well and can be removed easily -and is secure when the door is closed.
the feed from tank pipe runs straight out the left lower side to the back door with a 90 degree plumbing 'tap' valve, on the rear x member is a small alloy loop which the tap sits in so you can open the rear door put the tap in to the loop and turn it with one hand - handy after doing a service and you are oily - again gravity fed. use blue water pipe -clear pipe will get algae growing in it.
bad water ? - just dont put bad water into the tank ! - a smell then if it smells ok, a taste and spit (and rinse mouth with fresh) to see if it is drinkable before filling
then use katadyn micropur powder- keeps the water fresh for up to 6 months.
If you are unsure of water quality then use the correct number of drops of iodine/litre
as a back up.
the 90 is quite limited for space and this works better for me than carrying 3/4x jerrycans - it also keeps the weight down low and central on the vehicle.
I do carry a 20 litre water bag too, for showers and longer trip legs.
youve got plenty of space in the 110 so jerries are cheaper (and easier) - the in jerrcan pump would work well.
If you want a photo of the tank let me know.
the gravity fed tanks and micropur work - I used them on overland trucks with 350 litre tanks and paying passengers all around the world.

Cheers
Grif


[This message has been edited by Gipper (edited 25 August 2005).]

Hi all,
Thanks for the replies. Im going for the jerry cans(30l) but with a gravity feed as per Grif. I will just have to have a passenger yell stop when each can is full and then change the tube over to the next. There will be a small jerry can pump attached to a movable hose that can be clipped into various locations. Its a tiny 8l/min pump but it does the job if the tap isnt too high above the water. The pump will then be moved from can to can as and when.