I usually camp in forest for a few weeks or months at a time. My drinking water needs are met by the 200L caravan tanks which last for two weeks or more by which time I need food/booze anyway so drive into town and fill 110L of plastic containers with potable water and pump that into the caravan tanks.

Non potable use (dishes, laundry, shower etc) is met from a local dam or creek which, of course, means I have to camp within bucket carrying distance of a water source, generally that's OK but sometimes it would be nice to not be so dependent upon such a local source.

To this end I'm wondering about buying a 150L water bladder for non potable water. This could be filled from a water source within near driving distance with a pump and hose and live in the 4WD to refill buckets as required. When I move camp the bladder would be emptied and folded.

I've no experience of water bladders but I'll bet someone does; how tough are they and will they stand regular folding and any other issue you know of?

Also if anyone has a different idea for this problem I'd love to hear it.

There are no guarantees in life.

Hi Mike. Whilst I have no experience with water bladders etc, I do have one of these poly tanks mounted on my canopy roof. With appropriate fittings it supplies warm to super-hot water for a bush shower or to wash dishes etc, all heated from sunlight, and is easily filled with a small pump. If you don't want it on the roof of your Trailblazer you might consider putting it in the back of the car, as far forward as possible, perhaps with a sturdy cover so you can stack "stuff" on top. You could possibly install two in the back of the car, lying on their sides so as to occupy less floor space? But then the water won't be hot! Cheers

With 150 litres in a bag you would need to contain it some how or it will just roll around while driving.

Mike Harding wrote:

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There are no guarantees in life.

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There is one I am looking at buying that fits in the rear seat foot well and fits across the hump when full and folds when empty. I saw another one the other day that is flat and concertina like. When it is full it extends upwards and when empty it lies flat for easy storage. This second one the people purchased it from a local caravan shop. They told me they were sick of carting jerry cans about that took up too much room.

When they were leaving they waved to me. I waved back too Mike. 

Mike Harding wrote:

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There are no guarantees in life.

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 Death and Taxes, Mike. I am a bit slow today already been said.

Those water bladders are pretty dear,hate to puncture one when in the vehicle.

Yobarr: Thanks, I hadn't thought about the roof rack but that is a possibility given I'll only be driving a few kilometres with it.

Whenarewethere: Excellent point and one which had not occurred to me, thank you.

dogbox & PT: So far I'm ahead on both :)

Dmaxer "When they were leaving they waved to me. I waved back too Mike" : Let it go Dmaxer, let it go.

PT: Yes! 150L of water wandering around the vehicle does not sound good.

Hi Mike.

I was influenced by a long time caravaner into adding a third water under our caravan, to me it is almost as useless as tits on bull.

For 1, it overlaods our set up when full of water, so most of the time it is empty.

2, when you need water, the tank is still connected to the caravan.

The other year, we were camped near a caravaner and he showed me his water bladder which he had stored in a small plastic box, about $120 worth. Brilliant. 

The best part when he is low on water, off he drives to a fill point without the caravan, he had about 2 years up and had used the bladder only about 10 times. Excellent flexibility. 

Just last month we caught up with friends using a water bladder now for just on 12 months, who are using a similar system, once again very flexible, Excellent.

Well us, before we go away next year, the 3 tank is coming out and we will have a bladder. I am sure for our style of touring travel the bladder is the way, just last month I did not fill the 3rd tank as I thought we were going to a paid camp and then decided to stay at a beach camp with no water access, when we ran out of water we regretfully needed to move on.

So I believe a bladder to be of great value when chasing remote water.

Installed water tank, can pump out of the tank or into. Will also supply the van with water when the onboard caravan pump is u/s, cause the pump has a pressure switch, can be left connected.

Water storage very large option.

But you will need a sunroof.

yobarr wrote:

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Hi Mike. Whilst I have no experience with water bladders etc, I do have one of these poly tanks mounted on my canopy roof. With appropriate fittings it supplies warm to super-hot water for a bush shower or to wash dishes etc, all heated from sunlight, and is easily filled with a small pump. If you don't want it on the roof of your Trailblazer you might consider putting it in the back of the car, as far forward as possible, perhaps with a sturdy cover so you can stack "stuff" on top. You could possibly install two in the back of the car, lying on their sides so as to occupy less floor space? But then the water won't be hot! Cheers

 

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A photo of yours on your car would be good to see.

 A photo of yours on your car would be good to see.

The tank sits in a plywood box which I quickly built up to contain it a bit. Rubber packing between tank and box, which is bolted to grating on roof, with a little tie-down strap over the top. Black fitting on tank used to be filler line, but was too slow so I fitted the white screw-on fitting, which lets air easily escape as water is put in. Because the tank is 2400mm above ground level I put two wires on to the tap to easily turn it on and off from either side of car. The green hose has a hose fitting on the end that a shower-head clips into when needed, and there is a simple tap there so no water is wasted. Works brilliantly but water sometimes gets a bit hot so sometimes need to run a bit of hot out into a 20 litre drum and add a bit of cold to the tank before showering! And the ladder is chained at the other end, before someone notes the simple tie-down I've used. Cheers

P.S Panels photo removed to prevent any more unnecessarily negative comments. Jealousy is a disease. (Just saying.)

Dougwe wrote:

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Looks like ya upset him Kebbin. Yet another edit/deletion.

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 Not upset Doug. Just couldn't be bothered explaining that panels were professionally installed and have so far survived 40,000km on a variety of roads, including the Dawson Development Road, Sutor Development Road and the Western end of Bowen Development Road that is generally regarded as being so severely corrugated that Roadtrains can travel at only 20kmh maximum. Also did Boreline Road and the road from Gascoyne Junction to Meekatharra, via Mt Augustus, in one day because of rains approaching. No problems. And could I thank you for your kind acknowledgement of the effort I made to supply your requested photo. Interesting? Cheers

yobarr wrote:

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 A photo of yours on your car would be good to see.

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The tank sits in a plywood box which I quickly built up to contain it a bit. Rubber packing between tank and box, which is bolted to grating on roof, with a little tie-down strap over the top. Black fitting on tank used to be filler line, but was too slow so I fitted the white screw-on fitting, which lets air easily escape as water is put in. Because the tank is 2400mm above ground level I put two wires on to the tap to easily turn it on and off from either side of car. The green hose has a hose fitting on the end that a shower-head clips into when needed, and there is a simple tap there so no water is wasted. Works brilliantly but water sometimes gets a bit hot so sometimes need to run a bit of hot out into a 20 litre drum and add a bit of cold to the tank before showering! And the ladder is chained at the other end, before someone notes the simple tie-down I've used. Cheers

P.S Panels photo removed to prevent any more unnecessarily negative comments. Jealousy is a disease. (Just saying.)

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 29th of August 2022 03:59:05 PM

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This is a modification I would never consider. It's a well known fact that 4x4s have a high centre of gravity and are therefore far more likely to be involved in roll-overs. In fact some years ago this was the focus of a stufy in NZ.

The addition of 70 or 80 kg to the roof may not seem much but would certainly amplify the problem reducing any safety margins. It's modifying the vehicle to do something for which it was not designed IMO. 

Much safer to fit the tank, bladder or containers at the front of the tub or on the floor behind the front seat. Personally I use a couple of 25ltr drums up the front of the ute tub. A safer option IMO.

Since the tub is a little higher than the van intake they simply drain nicely just using a hose.

I agree they look as if they were installed by some back yarder. Having said that if they hang on all good I guess.

Hey, why all the black surrounding your pics? Never seen it in 40 years till your posts. Very unusual.

We have our water on the floor behind the front seats & auxiliary batteries under the seats. Mass as central & as low as one can get it.

A slightly different angle..........find "an appropriate" filter (and 12v pump) from a filter shop/online and draught from a river/dam..cheers Bilbo

oldbloke wrote:

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I agree they look as if they were installed by some back yarder. Having said that if they hang on all good I guess.

Hey, why all the black surrounding your pics? Never seen it in 40 years till your posts. Very unusual.

 

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This is why the panels haven't flown off.

Whenarewethere wrote:

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oldbloke wrote:

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I agree they look as if they were installed by some back yarder. Having said that if they hang on all good I guess.

Hey, why all the black surrounding your pics? Never seen it in 40 years till your posts. Very unusual.

 

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This is why the panels haven't flown off.

 

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That's interesting post/pic. I didn't notice those brackets. Looks solid.

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This is a modification I would never consider. It's a well known fact that 4x4s have a high centre of gravity and are therefore far more likely to be involved in roll-overs. In fact some years ago this was the focus of a stufy in NZ.

The addition of 70 or 80 kg to the roof may not seem much but would certainly amplify the problem reducing any safety margins. It's modifying the vehicle to do something for which it was not designed IMO. 

Much safer to fit the tank, bladder or containers at the front of the tub or on the floor behind the front seat. Personally I use a couple of 25ltr drums up the front of the ute tub. A safer option IMO.

Since the tub is a little higher than the van intake they simply drain nicely just using a hose.

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 Thankyou for your concern about my safety, but I am well aware of the physics involved when there is a high centre of gravity. However, you no doubt would understand that 70kg on the well-built canopy roof of a 3600kg car would be of little concern? All other added weight is stored safely on or under the false-floor tray while there is 120 litres of water in tanks directly behind the cab  and under the false floor that sits above the 6 slide-out toolboxes. There also are another 3x20 litre drums on their sides at the rear under the false floor if needed, but they are yet to be filled. Because the van has hot water supplied by the  diesel heater, this poly tank is used only when the van is not with me, so that when I need hot water I simply pump water from the two tanks behind the cab up into the poly tank. Tanks, bladders or other containers on the tray no doubt suit some, but very hard to heat water there, and useless for showers without extra pumps etc. Keep it simple. You might be interested in these overloaded roofracks? The Pajero's load would be 150+kg while the I'd hate to think what was the load on the Patrol? Whatever it was, the Patrol seems to have bucked it off? They certainly would make the cars stupidly top-heavy, but my setup is of little concern. Cheers

P.S The first picture is of my canopy partly built. Very strong! The water tanks fit nicely between the front set of drawers and the headboard, under the floor, with the filler tubes and outlet hoses all inside the canopy to prevent loss or outside contamination.

oldbloke wrote:

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yobarr wrote:

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 A photo of yours on your car would be good to see.

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The tank sits in a plywood box which I quickly built up to contain it a bit. Rubber packing between tank and box, which is bolted to grating on roof, with a little tie-down strap over the top. Black fitting on tank used to be filler line, but was too slow so I fitted the white screw-on fitting, which lets air easily escape as water is put in. Because the tank is 2400mm above ground level I put two wires on to the tap to easily turn it on and off from either side of car. The green hose has a hose fitting on the end that a shower-head clips into when needed, and there is a simple tap there so no water is wasted. Works brilliantly but water sometimes gets a bit hot so sometimes need to run a bit of hot out into a 20 litre drum and add a bit of cold to the tank before showering! And the ladder is chained at the other end, before someone notes the simple tie-down I've used. Cheers

P.S Panels photo removed to prevent any more unnecessarily negative comments. Jealousy is a disease. (Just saying.)

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 29th of August 2022 03:59:05 PM

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This is a modification I would never consider. It's a well known fact that 4x4s have a high centre of gravity and are therefore far more likely to be involved in roll-overs. In fact some years ago this was the focus of a stufy in NZ.

The addition of 70 or 80 kg to the roof may not seem much but would certainly amplify the problem reducing any safety margins. It's modifying the vehicle to do something for which it was not designed IMO. 

 

Much safer to fit the tank, bladder or containers at the front of the tub or on the floor behind the front seat. Personally I use a couple of 25ltr drums up the front of the ute tub. A safer option IMO.

 

Since the tub is a little higher than the van intake they simply drain nicely just using a hose.

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oldbloke wrote:

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Frankly, I have never considered that "common practice" is automatically converted to "best practice".
I till don't think it's smart.

And when on this forum we see rants about a petty additional 3" of TBO not to mention how important to load vans low and over the axle. Not high. I'm very surprised people here think adding 70 or 80 kg to the roof of a 4x4 is smart.

But like arsols everyone has an opinion I guess.