We boondock exclusively. I have a 30 gallon on-board tank and a long haired red-headed she devil that seems to feel that a hair wash every 4 days is critical to my survival. I mean...really?So, anyway..we have struggled along the past 10? years but she is tired of the water nazi and I am tired of the whining....so, how to accommodate.I thought maybe an underneath tank..and I could, but it would be 16 gallons. Not enough for the effort. I think I have found an answer..but I am looking for holes in the plan...A 100 liter/30 gallon or 50, pillow water bladder on the roof. It will be about 1 lb a gallon. I have the space, I have the place...I have 4 anchor points. It would only be in use when we were going were off into the weeds. Otherwise, all folded up, neat n tidy. The valves are not an issue, it seems. A ball valve most likely, but perhaps two..one in, one out. Yes, the type that is potable water safe. I would glue a piece of rubber roofing..a patch? onto the existing roof to prevent wear. I will need a telescoping ladder...a good one...to allow me to get up, anchor...and so on. If this is the right plan..it doubles my 'docking' time. What say...?Gary Haupt

How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :h

Is an motor home designed to carry 252# (30gal) directly on the roof structure with the bouncing that can/will occur while driving? Shouldn’t that load be carried on a roof rack attached to the roof above the walls where there is more structural strength?

Desert Captain wrote:How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :hthat was my thought, too. i think it's a no-go but check with the mfg to see how much weight your roof can support.

Desert Captain wrote:How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :hx2, using metric at standard temperature and pressure, a kilogram per liter right?would not want that weight on my roof, even stationary. plus it's going to get gross pretty quick getting cooked by the Sun.How about a tank on a front hitch cargo basket? or a bladder I guess?

You would be adding a lot of weight to the roof as stated, but also when turning the weight will shift to one side. This will make you top heavy and prone to tipping. Especially at like 50 gallons.

More water needed.... | Good Sam Community

Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Jul 28, 2020
How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :h
BCSnob
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
Is an motor home designed to carry 252# (30gal) directly on the roof structure with the bouncing that can/will occur while driving? Shouldn’t that load be carried on a roof rack attached to the roof above the walls where there is more structural strength?
rk911
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
Desert Captain wrote:
How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :h

that was my thought, too. i think it's a no-go but check with the mfg to see how much weight your roof can support.
GordonThree
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
Desert Captain wrote:
How do you figure water weighing 1# per gallon? Last time I looked it was 8.4# per gallon... What am I missing here? :h

x2, using metric at standard temperature and pressure, a kilogram per liter right?

would not want that weight on my roof, even stationary. plus it's going to get gross pretty quick getting cooked by the Sun.

How about a tank on a front hitch cargo basket? or a bladder I guess?
Sjm9911
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
You would be adding a lot of weight to the roof as stated, but also when turning the weight will shift to one side. This will make you top heavy and prone to tipping. Especially at like 50 gallons.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2020
If you are going to carry any significant amount of water, it needs to be down low and as far forward as feasible.

I think washing hair every 4 days is a long way from excessive. The issue is probably the amount of water needed for rinsing. When my wife had long hair and we tried to conserve water, she put her head down in the sink and I used the sink sprayer on low to rinse her hair.

My other thought would be, how long is 30 gal going to last anyway? With navy type showers and serious water conservation, my wife and I go through about 5 gal per day for drinking, washing, washing dishes, etc. That is 6 days maximum and in warm Summer temps we are likely to be more like 5 days. Worst case, we can skimp on the showers, use paper plates, and I have a couple of 5 gal jugs. Maybe we could push past 10 days but that would be difficult.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
A little 4x8 trailer with a couple of 55 gallon drums or possibly something like an Idaho Tote with your water tank.
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
Maybe the OP is talking about the weight of the bladder? I think 30 pounds for a heavy duty 30 gallon bladder would seem about right.

Here's a post from a few weeks ago about putting a Water Tank on an RV Roof.
lampooner
Explorer
Jul 28, 2020
A couple of thoughts, back in the 70's I mounted a water tank in space under bench seat on one side of dinette. Another idea since you will only need while boondocking, how about a rack with tank that plugs into a trailer hitch receiver on back of motorhome. Minimize time weight is in tank. Fill it last chance before getting to camping area and use it first.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 28, 2020
A 30 gallon tank will weigh 250 pounds plus the weight of the tank. That isn't out of the question, but hopefully it's large enough to distribute the weight across the roof. And hopefully it has baffling inside to prevent that weight from sloshing around.