OBW

[Saxis]

I just had an idea for water storage, but not sure how practical it would be. Basically, find a tank roughly the same dimensions as the spare tire location and use the tire crank to hoist it in and out of place before/after trips. Maybe too great of a chance to break it while wheeling, but you can find some fairly thin marine tanks. I was looking at a 10gal, 32" x 19 1/2" x 4 3/4". That should tuck up there nicely. The other concern is that it'd get filthy with mud and grime. Might be good for emergency water at least...

Thoughts?

[NC_IslandRunner]

I thought about turning the well in the cargo area into a sink, just install drain; install faucet that will unscrew and plug so you can just collapse it in put the cover back on and it looks stock unless you lift cover. well almost stock I made a wood cover for the rear cargo area a few months ago cause I throw so much junk in there it messed up the original one.

[Trail X]

That's a really cool idea. But you'd have to unpack everything in order to use it.

[NC_IslandRunner]

That's a really cool idea. But you'd have to unpack everything in order to use it.

Yeah, kind of a camp sink only.

[The Roadie]

I just had an idea for water storage, but not sure how practical it would be. Basically, find a tank roughly the same dimensions as the spare tire location and use the tire crank to hoist it in and out of place before/after trips. Maybe too great of a chance to break it while wheeling, but you can find some fairly thin marine tanks. I was looking at a 10gal, 32" x 19 1/2" x 4 3/4". That should tuck up there nicely. The other concern is that it'd get filthy with mud and grime. Might be good for emergency water at least...

Thoughts?

Had that idea and posted on the OS years ago. A custom polyethylene tank can be made for $150 or so, and would never need to come down if protected with a skid plate. I calculated about 25-30 gallons could go down there if I sliced off the diagonal bracing formerly used for the tire winch. Advantage is lower CG as well. I might get to that now. Pump coming from Amazon and I just bought the Eccotemp heater. Don't want to hijack JD's thread, but as they say: "it's on."

[SomeOffPave]

A custom polyethylene tank can be made for $150 or so, and would never need to come down if protected with a skid plate.

Not everybody lives in sunny California. If you plan to sell these "up north" do not forget to include a drain and a means to purge the pump and all lines for when the temp drops below freezing.
You do know what sub-freezing temperature is don't you? Or is it only something you have see in the movie White Christmas?

[The Roadie]

You do know what sub-freezing temperature is don't you?

I've TENTED in freezing rain and snow at 25 degrees with Teebes in the Sierra Nevadas at 9000 feet. And wintertime in the desert is also in the 20's, although dry. And I grew up camping in New England, year round.

These tanks are typically made for RVs, and you get to choose where to have them weld in the drain, vent, and fill fittings. You need a good drain anyway to purge it at the end of a trip so it won't grow moldy. I have a trailer that needs winterizing if I take it freezing places so I'm not a total wuss. Just a partial one.

[navigator]

that is why I love NC. The cold isn't really that cold and the hot really isn't that hot. We have the beach and the mountains and a lot in between.

We do have bugs, snakes and humidity though but that is ok with me!

[The Roadie]

...bugs... humidity ...

Deal breakers. I paid my dues with mosquitoes and green heads in New England. Never again.

[NC_IslandRunner]

the hot really isn't that hot.

Say what! it's been hot as hell this year.

[navigator]

the hot really isn't that hot.

Say what! it's been hot as hell this year.

I wouldn't go that far. It has been pretty hot but not like in AZ and some of those states in that area.
I do have a desk job though

[NC_IslandRunner]

AZ heat is dry, humidity is where it gets bad and that's what we got. not as bad as Louisiana but far worse than dry heat.
step away from the desk!!

[navigator]

yeah, part of the year I wish I worked outside (like this week is awesome) and the other part I am glad I work inside.

[Saxis]

I just had an idea for water storage, but not sure how practical it would be. Basically, find a tank roughly the same dimensions as the spare tire location and use the tire crank to hoist it in and out of place before/after trips. Maybe too great of a chance to break it while wheeling, but you can find some fairly thin marine tanks. I was looking at a 10gal, 32" x 19 1/2" x 4 3/4". That should tuck up there nicely. The other concern is that it'd get filthy with mud and grime. Might be good for emergency water at least...

Thoughts?

Had that idea and posted on the OS years ago. A custom polyethylene tank can be made for $150 or so, and would never need to come down if protected with a skid plate. I calculated about 25-30 gallons could go down there if I sliced off the diagonal bracing formerly used for the tire winch. Advantage is lower CG as well. I might get to that now. Pump coming from Amazon and I just bought the Eccotemp heater. Don't want to hijack JD's thread, but as they say: "it's on."

Bill, did you ever get to building your OBW? With summer fast approaching and me looking to do some extended camping, I started ordering parts for mine (pump, hoses, fittings)...

[The Roadie]

Nope. Got an instant-on propane shower unit as well with no time to install, no time to take an expedition at the moment let alone a long weekend let alone a ONE DAY trip to my beloved desert. And no time on the horizon either. FML.

[Karo]

James I really like the idea of having a OBW System on longer trips. I´m planing a trip to sweden this year so i need OBW too. Your first picture shows that you have removed the rear seats. Did you have more pictures of the rear platform and how did you have fixed this? As i have no RTT i´ll probably would sleep in the car for the trip to sweden and therefore I´m researching rear platforms without the rear seats. Did you have some more ideas where to look? I wan´t to wait to buy a RTT until the Abenteuer Allrad this year which is after my trip to sweden
Karsten