Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I posted this elsewhere, but wanted greater input.

Has anybody considered using a standard cooler for a water tank. I found a 28qt. (7 gal) cooler that is rectangular and fits the area I want it to. It has a handle for portablility, which I prefer since we don't usually camp with hookups at the site and I can refill at any time from the camp faucet. It would require drilling a hole in the top, which would be easy enough.

THOUGHTS????

How much water you gonna need?

I got a 5-gallon collapsible Coleman container that's like 8 bucks and can probably fit in my wife's bra. Granted, it's a big bra, but I think it still fits in there.

Seriously--just to hold water? Why would you think a cooler is a solution for this?

Have you checked out the inexpensive water tanks that Northern Tool carries, in a gazillion configurations to fit almost any space?

Are the openings as big as his idea? you could put in a big ol chunk of ice. One downside though is that I have left all my coolers in the rain from time to time and find them full of rain water. This means anything spilled will wind up in the cooler.

Ira,

The problem with those tanks is that they are all round and not portable. The roundness makes them very inefficient to build-in. We camp where water is available only through a single hose bib in the center of the campground and I need to walk to the water source - not drive. I like having the sink option as we actually do use it a lot. The NT tanks are still at least $35.

The standard water tanks look like big gas cans and stand upright, which is also difficult to accomodate in the galley. That's what I have now and it works ok.

We do use our water a lot and 5-gallon is probably a minimum.

I like the idea of putting chunks of ice and frozen foods (in Ziploc bags) in this "freezer" cooler and using the water as it melts down.

NightCap wrote:Are the openings as big as his idea? you could put in a big ol chunk of ice. One downside though is that I have left all my coolers in the rain from time to time and find them full of rain water. This means anything spilled will wind up in the cooler.

How does rain get into the closed cooler? Were the lids closed?

fornesto wrote:

NightCap wrote:Are the openings as big as his idea? you could put in a big ol chunk of ice. One downside though is that I have left all my coolers in the rain from time to time and find them full of rain water. This means anything spilled will wind up in the cooler.

How does rain get into the closed cooler? Were the lids closed?

coolers arent totally water tight and i also commonly get water in mine that i leave on the porch
so much that i leave them upside down now because it was getting really annoying

dovaka wrote:

fornesto wrote:

NightCap wrote:Are the openings as big as his idea? you could put in a big ol chunk of ice. One downside though is that I have left all my coolers in the rain from time to time and find them full of rain water. This means anything spilled will wind up in the cooler.

How does rain get into the closed cooler? Were the lids closed?

coolers arent totally water tight and i also commonly get water in mine that i leave on the porch
so much that i leave them upside down now because it was getting really annoying

Not to beleager this, but do your plastic coolers have cracks in the lids, allowing water to penetrate the inner foam core and get in the cooler? I should also clarify that we drink bottled water while camping and just wash dishes and kids with the tank water.

The trouble with most 'coolers/ice chests' is that they aren't water tight. The one that you show, even tho it has 'locking' tabs on the handle, has no water seal & will leak if you tip it over & will probably 'slosh' some water out if you transport it with water in it. If you're just going to put water in it while you're parked/camping, it'll probably work as well as any. I use one of the 6gal, square blue plastic Aqua-Tainer jugs from Wal Mart (as well as other sources). The spigot stores inside the lid for storage/transport & you can turn it on its side to use the spigot/faucet. It's approx 11X11X15" & will probably fit most places the cooler will. Granted you can't put large chunks of ice in it but that's of small moment most times. Follow your own judgment in this case

If you are going to have to move water from a distance you might try finding a water container or cooler with wheels too. I like your new design.

the coolers i have dont have cracks in them it will happen to even brand new ones it just gets in threw the side or rolls around the lip of it but i know its not getting in threw the top

we plan on putting in a 8 gallon poly tank that will be plenty for us as we never stay in one spot for more then a day or 2 so it wont be that hard to fill it when we need to

I'll check into those blue Wal Mart containers. I was losing precious space with the cooler idea anyway. Thanks for all the input.

the wife and i were real big on using containers like this when we went tent/car camping they seem to fit better then the cubes do they hold 6 gallons and you can get them at walmart for under $10

dovaka wrote:the wife and i were real big on using containers like this when we went tent/car camping they seem to fit better then the cubes do they hold 6 gallons and you can get them at walmart for under $10

That's just what I've got. The only problem with it is its hard to design around them. I'm rebuilding my galley and the tallness of these containers makes them a little tricky. We'll see.

yea that is part of the reason were switching over to a water tank in tear

I go along with "Nobody"....



Have used one of these for years.... It has gone may places besides camping... To road races and autocross events... To work parties at friends undeveloped properties... Sits on edge of table or bench, tailgate of truck, side of car carrier trailer... Only thing is after time the valve body does not really seal good where it threads into cap. A simple 25 cent "O" ring fixed that...

Dale