Suggestions for a bladder type water tank n pickup bed.

Itinerant1 wrote:
I was pumping from the 7 gallon containers but ordered the bladder to save on space.

When completed with the water transfer the bladder can be folded up and the pump broken down put away taking hardly any space.

An alternate view ... ;)

For years I carried four 7 gal Aquatainers in our Avalanche as I did on our first trip of the season last year with our Silverado (shown in the first pic below) but I've since found the Silvy's box will nicely accommodate five 7 gal Aquatainers stored in a row at the front of the cargo box. That's space I'm least likely to use for anything else, especially when we're camping, while that area closer to the tailgate is space a bladder would interfere with as we do use it constantly for tossing in junk for a visit to the beach or to pick up firewood, etc. If I had a bladder I'd have to disconnect the hose, fold up the bladder, and store it somewhere between uses so it wasn't in the way. :( AND, in order to do that the bladder has to be empty whereas any water that may be remaining in my Aquatainers after the transfer can just remain there, ready for the next transfer. :B

While camping I don't have to store anything as my fresh water transfer pump is mounted in a box on the tongue and is permanently plumbed to the trailer's fresh water holding tank ... I just leave the intake hose connected and wrap it around the tongue jack, ready for the next time I may want to transfer water. The most I do when we leave our campsite is roll up the short length of intake hose and I'm done. :B

I was pumping from the 7 gallon containers but ordered the bladder to save on space.

I used a Seaflo 33 series 12v pump , 3.3 gpm

I wired a trailer plug onto it and plug it under the tailgate .

I chose this pump for the time the one in the 5th wheel fails and I'll just use this one for it's replacement.

AquaTank II 30 gallon Bladder. That gives a 100 gallons for the 2 weeks and usually it's time to move on to the next location anyways.

2_5/8" OD x 1/2" ID Vinyl hoses, #4 clamps 1/4"-5/8" diameter, 1_3/4"female hose end x 1/2" ID hose barb




The bladder sits in front of the hitch and doesn't hit the tailgate, so a perfect fit.
This is full @ 30 gallons.


Just about empty


When completed with the water transfer the bladder can be folded up and the pump broken down put away taking hardly any space.

Here's how I did it. The tank came from Tractor Supply Company (Click here), and the 120 volt AC water transfer pump came from Lowe's Home Improvement. I opted for the 120 volt (AC) instead of a 12 volt (DC) because I always carry a 400 watt inverter in my truck and can always plug the water pump into it. And when electricity is available, just plug into normal AC power.

I do have to use a water transfer pump because the bed of the truck is about 18 inches lower than the fill port on the camper, and according to the physics class I took in college, I think they said something about the law of gravity and water simply does not run up hill. :B





Filling it from a water source. I fill from the bottom. Because the round cap on the top is one-way vented, I remove it to let air escape, otherwise, it would fill under pressure as water was added.

I use three 15 Gal plastic Jerry cans and a 12V pump.
Works fine.
And they're rugged, will not be punctured easily and light.

Greyhound RB wrote:
Can anyone inform me of a worth while bladder type setup.

Recent Discussion on exactly the same topic. :W

LOL those bladders are outrageously priced.

I got two 15 gallon tanks I found on craigslist for $10 bucks..

I carry one usually and make a few trips.( Usually water close by) It depends on where im boondocking though..

I have a harbor freight 12 volt transfer pump I use. I put a bargeman end on it and plug it into the 7 pin..

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-19418/Drums/Plastic-Drum-15-Gallon-Closed-Top-Natural?pricode=WB0298&gadtype=pla&id=S-19418&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_JTUBRD4ARIsAL7_VeUXzXrcWPmPv6irMWMaXSO2x8lhWBhw3yE_wjhWarlDSelH5ewXieUaAi0KEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


Example

https://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/for/d/55-gallon-plastic-food-grade/6496021120.html

I have this one and am pleased.

45 gallon water bladder

You could just get a plastic 55 gal drum, you'll usually find some on your local craigslist. Probably around $20-30 each. You can find one that held innocuous contents tho washing one out 4 or 5 times will generally make them safe to use. The EPA standard is 'triple-wash'. Be aware that 55 gal of water weighs almost 500 pounds so you will be adding a big load to your truck. That comes right off your payload. I'd lay it on it's side with the large bunghole at the 12 o'clock position. Fill it thru that. You'd have to firmly chock the drum since you will not want it to roll around.

Just looked at my local Craiglist and saw this:

"Plastic Barrels:
10 Gallon Wide Mouth Food Grade $12.00 Each
15 Gallon $10.00 Each
30 Gallon $15.00 Buy 4 Get 1 Free
55 Gallon Food Grade $15.00 Each Buy 5 Get 1 Free
55 Gallon Organic Food Grade $25.00 Each
55 Gallon Wide Mouth Food Grade Brown Barrel With screw on lid $30.00 Each Or 4 For $95.00
60 Gallon Wide Mouth Food Grade Brown Barrel With screw on lid $30.00 Each"

I'd really look at 30 gal drums tho.

I have military experience and bladders are top notch.

The military has the top-dog bladders but seeing the price may be an invitation to a coronary infarction.