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How much water to carry? How much water to carry?
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 12 Nov 2007
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How much water to carry?
I've just done the maths on the all in vehicle weight for my next trip, and I need to go on a diet!
We're crossing one of the Libyan sand seas in December, and will be away from water sources for five days. We've been planning to take 80 litres of water or two of us, on top of 120 litres of fuel (in a LR90) - but doing some quick sums, I think we could probably get away with less water, especially if we re-use cooking water and don't wash

Was thinking about 3 litres a day for drinking water and to cook with per person, as we'll be taking some cans of pop and juice as well - is this a ridiculous amount??
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eightpot View Post
I've just done the maths on the all in vehicle weight for my next trip, and I need to go on a diet!
We're crossing one of the Libyan sand seas in December, and will be away from water sources for five days. We've been planning to take 80 litres of water or two of us, on top of 120 litres of fuel (in a LR90) - but doing some quick sums, I think we could probably get away with less water, especially if we re-use cooking water and don't wash

Was thinking about 3 litres a day for drinking water and to cook with per person, as we'll be taking some cans of pop and juice as well - is this a ridiculous amount??
So 3ltr x 2 people times 5 days = 30 litres. If you are a day away from water and can get to it, it will probably be enough. What if you are 3 days away from water and you are broken down with the radiator leaking water...will it be enough?

If it was me and I had the option to carry 80 instead of 30, I would carry 80. It might cost me an extra $10 in fuel or it could cost me my life...
When we've travelled in the outback, we always had enough water for an extra 4 days or so. Working on 4ltr per person.

It might seem excessive to some, but I would rather be safe than sorry...
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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80
Take more and if there is left overs have a jolly good shower!!!!
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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Ta chaps - hadn't thought about breakdowns - this is a probability rather than a possibility!
I'm more worried about weight than cost of carrying extra water - I want to be able to dance nimbly over the dunes and spend as little time as possible digging a channel through them.
Was thinking of recycing cooking water into a waste container and re-using that for cooking again - anyone tried this, and is it more faff than just carrying extra water??
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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Water
Just use the water. We took 150 liters for 4 people. We also all took 6 bottles each too. 1.5l bottles. i think we had 40 liters left after 4 days. But we did not bath/shower just patted down. but its all worth it!!!! Rather too much, it could leak, break turn, anything can happen...

recycle water after cooking. Try a different menu for this leg. Something that uses all the water.
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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Not one of my brightest sparks of inspiration by the looks, no-one else on the trip wants to go to the Sahara with the bare minimum and drink thier dish water either.

Just a thought.
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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take as much as you can
Take as much as you can. 4 litrs a day sounds pretty mean to me and if you do have to dig, repair, walk or whatever your consumption will go up.

As long as you keep the weight in the centre of the vehicle you won't notice the extra too much
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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dont risk it
You wont die if you don't wash or eat, but you wont last long without water. as others have said 4 litres is not enough, if you are digging in 40 degrees you could drink 6ltrs no problem. you must drink enough or you will dehydrate fast causing illness. 80 litres is 80Kg so not so much really.

Take care Graeme
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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it may also pay to carry wet foods such as canned fruit etc. If you do drink lots of water, you may need to replace the salt you have lost. Most canned 'ready meals' are well endowed with salts.
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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Don't forget it's next month I'll be going, not in the really hot months - I did some driving in the south of Morocco once in the height of summer - the temp guage I took to record the internal temperature went up to 60 degrees once! We drank like fishes through that and I wouldn't want to go with less than 10 litres a day.
Won't be so bad in 18-20 degrees though, but I think I'll look elsewhere for my weight savings anyhow (sanding paint down, filling tyres with helium, getting hair cut, taking diet coke...)
Thanks for all the comments!
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Old 12 Nov 2007
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water
you could always take some of that new fangled 'dehydrated water' with you, that doesn't weigh much!.........
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Old 13 Nov 2007
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Buy it here
I presume you have seen you can buy it here -
Dehydrated Water : Buy Dehydrated Water!, The Best Tasting Water on Earth
Or is this old news?
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  #13  
Old 13 Nov 2007
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Hang on a minute ..

hmmm....


nah, there must be a catch
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  #14  
Old 13 Nov 2007
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might I recommend eating cuscus; it uses a minute amount of water and cooks so quickley that you hardly use any gas/wood.
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  #15  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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Are you traveling solo ? It does make a difference. Vehicles can brake (even a LR) you can get seriously stock (or brake your jack), miss your way a bit, find somebody who needs water... Anyway, if you travel solo, it make take you more than the 5 days you originally expected. At least take with you some extra single malt !
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