Carrying additional fresh water

[sidney dreyfus]

We want to do some beach camping next year which will require bringing additional fresh water. What is the best way to carry an additional 90 gallons of water? I have seen some tow vehicles with a large blue water drum and water pump assembly. Anyone have any web sites to go to? Where in the bed of the truck is it best to place the tank? In front or behind the rear axle? Any comments?

 

[jbeletti]

Hi Sidney,

You'll likely get some replies to your inquiry from those in the know.

To "carry" over 700# of water in the truck will take some significant space. You'd need 2 of the drums of one large water bladder.

Is there any chance you can gain access to potable water nearby the beach? Reason I ask is that once you have the rig setup, you could remove the hitch and place a water bladder in the bed, then travel wherever to fill the bladder. There are bladders and barrels as well as truck mounted water tanks (think landscapers and ranchers) out there as well as 12 volt DC water pumps that are suitable. Hope you get some great answers to those who have done this.

Jim

 

[SmokeyBare]

One item that you might consider... is a AquaTank water bag.

Here is a link:

http://http://www.bayteccontainers.com/waterbags.html?gclid=CKb0gbbvu5UCFQQCagodgnCAQA

There are lots of sources for these... popular in the boating world as well... storage is simple when they are not in use. Boaters have storage problems as well.

Link:

http://http://www.turtlepac.com/collapsibledetails.htm

Remember that each gallon of water is more than 8 Pounds. So I'd stay on the smaller size. Full timers who camp in the desert often have a 45 gallon size. If you filled that size full... it would come close to 375 pounds of weight to haul. Camping world also used to carry these.

Problem with hauling a blue barrel... is the size... if it was higher than the bed of the truck... making a turn... the Fifth Wheel might hit the barrel.

Good Luck !

 

[sidney dreyfus]

additional water

Thanks Jim,
From what we have seen, potable water is available most of the time but ferrying back and forth is necessary. We look forward to hearing how other Heartland owners have added water drums or bladders to their truck.

 

[sidney dreyfus]

additional water

Thankyou SmokeyBare,
Your making a lot of sense. A collapseable bladder can be folded up when not being used and two small bladders are easier to handle than one big drum.

 

[boatdoc]

Out here in Oregon we hunters use 15 gallon barrels and line 4 of them up against the back wall of the cab or toolbox of the truck. We then have a small transfer pump much like the water pump in the trailer that works on 12 VDC, mine pumps almost 4 GPM, that clips to the truck battery via 20' of wire and a couple of hoses to transfer. A few minutes later we are full of water again. We normally don't travel with the drums full but fill them at the last fuel stop or last town before we go into the back country. Where we have hunted the last 10 years there is a spring 4miles back down the road and we fill there also, just reverse the process, sucking out of the spring and filling the barrels.

 

[Uncle Rog]

I have a transfer pump from harbor freight and a 15 gal blue barrel. jpmorgan, I think, had a great idea, just use the water pump to suck the water out of the barrel similar to winterizing. I have not worked the valves yet but am considering it..........

 

[ChopperBill]

I carry one of these with the Harbor Freight pump. It holds a little over 50 gallons. It will fit in the storage bay as well as the pickup pretty easily.

 

[snuffy]

JC Whitney has several sizes and configurations that will fit in the bed of the truck.