Home built water tanks

[droid_ca]

Sine my trailer is going to be more Vardo shaped I wont have many curves to deal with I was thinking of using PVC pipe within the top sections of the wall and on flat spots on the ceiling so I could have my water tank as stealthy as possible and to help take up very little space.....Would this work?? I'd only fill it when I got to my destination so while traveling it would be mostly empty. I like the idea of gravity fed system so that it would be quiet in the middle of the night if you had to turn it on you wouldn't be walking anyone with a pump kicking on and off...and I thought that possibly the PVC pipe would add some extra structure to my build.....Looking forward to hearing your input Thanks

[bobhenry]

I too had been concidered suspending my two 16 gallon carboys over the tub area in the rear of the caboose. Not so much for noise but as for the electrical savings. Gravity always works !

( It's not exactly a new idea )



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You have turned on a little light in my brain I can get two 18 foot runs of 4" pvc in the plywood trusses on the caboose with little if any structural weakening of the roof system. Thats 24 gallon of water. 24 gallon that is stealthfully placed and will not be subjected to freezing temps with the caboose warmed for the inhabitants.

Damn it ! There I go thinking again !

[angib]

You would want to include a dump valve to empty out the tank easily. Towing a trailer with a water tank in its roof does not sound like a good idea for its centre of gravity.

[droid_ca]

You have turned on a little light in my brain I can get two 18 foot runs of 4" pvc in the plywood trusses on the caboose with little if any structural weakening of the roof system. Thats 24 gallon of water. 24 gallon that is stealthfully placed and will not be subjected to freezing temps with the caboose warmed for the inhabitants.

Damn it ! There I go thinking again !

That's what I was hopping for that it would be a good idea as for the thinking my mind doesn't want to quit these days

You would want to include a dump valve to empty out the tank easily. Towing a trailer with a water tank in its roof does not sound like a good idea for its centre of gravity.

That is why I mentioned it here

I'd only fill it when I got to my destination so while traveling it would be mostly empty.

I'd hate to see what would happen with a top heavy trailer especially some of the places that I plan to go So the PVC pipe wouldn't leach out poisons into the water?

There is water pretty much everywhere and my thought was to get a 70 foot hose with a pump, deploy that into the water and wait till the tanks are full...that way I can save on hauling water should be good for a couple of days ...I just need to find a 12 volt water purifier and some filters to remove the gunk out

[eamarquardt]

I think a better alternative would be to make your own fiberglass tank and put it under your floor between frame members. Wouldn't be that hard to line and top a wooden box with fiberglass. Custom shape and low for your center of gravity.

Cheers,

Gus

[droid_ca]

I think a better alternative would be to make your own fiberglass tank and put it under your floor between frame members. Wouldn't be that hard to line and top a wooden box with fiberglass. Custom shape and low for your center of gravity.

Cheers,

Gus

I just don't have the floor space with 3 dogs myself and whomever I decide to take with me that's why I was thinking of gravity fed and up high

[eamarquardt]

I think a better alternative would be to make your own fiberglass tank and put it under your floor between frame members. Wouldn't be that hard to line and top a wooden box with fiberglass. Custom shape and low for your center of gravity.

Cheers,

Gus

I just don't have the floor space with 3 dogs myself and whomever I decide to take with me that's why I was thinking of gravity fed and up high

It it were under your floor it wouldn't take up any space that you're using for anything else.

Cheers,

Gus

[asianflava]

I was originally going to install a sink, but when I got to building I didn't have the room and ditched the idea. I'm so glad I did because it would have added a lot of unnecessary complexity to the build. Honestly I haven't missed it, even in areas that don't have much at least have a spigot. If you are going to fill your tank at the destination, you'll still need a water source. If there isn't water, the blue water jugs are fine.

[48Rob]

If there isn't water, the blue water jugs are fine.

On this same note;
For a trailer I recently worked on for my kids that had no water or sink, I added a small sink and provided them a 5 gallon water jug with spigot that sits on the counter.
Gravity feed, remove when not needed.

Rob

[capy235]

Is PVC safe for drinking? Or are we talking about other uses?

[droid_ca]

Is PVC safe for drinking? Or are we talking about other uses?

That was a question I wanted to know as well

in regards to the blue jugs I'm thinking I might need more water then what they hold but I have considered getting a few of them as well

[48Rob]

The Blue jugs are safe for drinking water.

Something you might consider, that I have learned over the past few years with my trailer that has the shower;
Filling up the water storage tank when you arrive at the campground works very well.
However, if we're there more than a couple days, the water runs out.
I then lug my 7 gallon Aquatainer to the pump and back to replenish the tank.
7 gallons is heavy! I found the smaller 5 gallon bottle much easier to carry and a much better fit on the counter of the other trailer.
Having two or three you can switch out might be an option.
Using small containers as opposed to a deicated storage tank means less maintenance too. Far easier to sanitize and rinse a container than a tank.

Rob

[S. Heisley]

Is PVC safe for drinking? Or are we talking about other uses?

That was a question I wanted to know as well

in regards to the blue jugs I'm thinking I might need more water then what they hold but I have considered getting a few of them as well

No, Don't use PVC for your potable water. PVC is not considered safe for drinking water; but, there is a product called CPVC that is used in modular homes for that purpose and I have seen CPVC pipe and connections at many hardware stores. You could read up a bit more by Googling it to see if you want to use CPVC.

Alternatively, you can buy the clear plastic(?) hose tubing that is made for drinking water and found at most hardware stores. It is very flexible. While you can buy small packaged amounts (8 to 10 feet or so), it can also be found, on a spool, to be purchased by the foot. They have a reinforced one, which I prefer for an RV because it holds up better and makes reasonably sharp turns without collapsing. The advantage to the reinforced flexible tubing for an RV is that you need less connections; and, therefore, have less places to work loose and spring a leak on a bumpy road. Also, since it is clear or translucent, it is less obtrusive. Tip: Always buy more than you think you need; or else, use a regular garden hose to mock up what you think you need and then measure that and add a foot or two to that measurement, to be on the safe side.

[Wobbly Wheels]

droid, when you to buy the pipe, it'll be marked 'potable' - most of the white stuff is, except for central vac tubing. When it's light tomorrow, I'll get you a photo of the markings: I've got a bunch for underbody conduits.
I've also got about 12' of 4" socked away for my own water tank (though it'll be underslung rather than a gravity tank...

[droid_ca]

droid, when you to buy the pipe, it'll be marked 'potable' - most of the white stuff is, except for central vac tubing. When it's light tomorrow, I'll get you a photo of the markings: I've got a bunch for underbody conduits.
I've also got about 12' of 4" socked away for my own water tank (though it'll be underslung rather than a gravity tank...

Thanks Wobbly Wheels that will help a bunch, So I take it you think it will be a good idea to try then as I was thinking of running it round my perimeter and as well on the cross beams If I could get enough to be able to have 2 showers and and to make coffe then I'm laughing I just don't want to go through the hassle of running a bunch of pipe to find out that I don't get very much water ...Is ther a way to find out how much it would hold other then taking a foot filling it up and times it by your total length of pipe ...must search google now