More water needed....

[garyhaupt]

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

[Desert_Captain]

"Some areas allow gray water on the ground"


I have never been to a campground that permitted gray water to be dumped on the ground but...Even if you are somewhere that it is not outright prohibited, please DONT! It stinks to high heaven and everyone knows it. The garbage scraps in there will attract critters and not in a good way. Come on now folks, a little common sense here pleeeeese!

:S

[azrving]

Sometimes the gray valve will weep if not full closed. 😉

[camperdave]

I like the jugs on a front mounted cargo carrier. Simple and easy. And as long as you are out in the boonies and have bio-shampoo, an outdoor shower takes care of the grey water issue.

[JimK-NY]

Even in highly populated and regulated campgrounds getting rid of grey water is usually not an issue. I have a 5 gallon bucket as a trash can. I can use it to take a few loads of grey water to where ever the tent campers are supposed to dump their grey water.

[azrving]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
Even if you succeed in finding a suitable method of transporting the water you need, you still need to find a legal way of getting rid of it. Aren't you supposed to have grey water and black water capacity equal to the potable water capacity?

Some areas allow gray water on the ground

[JAC1982]

Woman here. Long hair too, but jury is out on the she-devil part (husband can probably tell you). I like to wash my hair at least every 2 days, even when boondocking, especially since we like to do RZR rides while boondocking and things get pretty dirty. I am very careful with water usage elsewhere so I can do this... ie use disposable cookware, drinkware and dishes so I only have to do dishes every couple days. Brush teeth outside using bottled water. Could even do dishes with bottled water using a tub outside if needed to conserve both water and gray tank capacity.

I also have it down to a science... wet hair just enough to be able to suds the shampoo (could do this part with a bottle of water outside prior to undressing and getting in the shower). Turn off water flow. Get the suds going, wash the rest of me while I'm at it. Then rinse all at once. I've never measured how much water I use, but I'm guessing I don't use more than a gallon or two.

Edit to Add: I also use cheap Suave shampoo vs the more expensive stuff I use at home. It suds less.

[pianotuna]

Gary,


I've always used jugs for drinking water in my RV. It works well. I get them from the Reverse Osmosis water "stand" at Safeway or other grocery stores. They last about 5 years. They are a translucent blue, so it is possible to see the water level.

Pouring them into the gravity fill for the fresh water tank may be an issue. None of us are as strong as we were ten years ago.

Where my gravity fill is located, I could use a tube and siphon the water into the tank, going out the window beside the dinette.

[garyhaupt]

Yes..the square water jugs might be the best answer. I can put a couple 3 on the front bumper and a couple in the tub..no water jugs on the floor.

Rats..I was like sooo wanting the roof top...oh well, saved me a tonne of cash.


Gary

[dedmiston]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
Aren't you supposed to have grey water and black water capacity equal to the potable water capacity?

That's kind of a stretch. Technically my 60 gal gray & 60 gal black equal my 120 gal fresh, but there's no way I fill those tanks at an equal rate.

[Cloud_Dancer]

Even if you succeed in finding a suitable method of transporting the water you need, you still need to find a legal way of getting rid of it. Aren't you supposed to have grey water and black water capacity equal to the potable water capacity?

[CavemanCharlie]

I'm a Caveman.

30 extra gallons of water could be carried in 6- 5 gallon portable jugs setting on the floor of the RV. (If you could talk her down a few gallons 5-5 gallon jugs would be easier to find room for.)

Then when you get to where you are camping just set the jugs outside on the ground until you need to add some water. A 12 volt electric pump would make putting them into the holding tank easier.

Coleman makes a nice square 5 gallon jug. But, their are cheaper ones that work well too. Just get a good one that won't leak.

[time2roll]

garyhaupt wrote:
A rear receiver is not an option. I have a bike box on the one that exists, now.

So that makes it even easier... just do a few mods to the water trailer to fit the bike box on there.
May have to modify the trailer leaf springs to increase the ground clearance like is done on Jeeps. Piece of pie, easy as cake 😉

[ppine]

Invest in an electric pump that can fill a container from a stream or lake. That can be special hair washing water. One 5 gallon container would be more than sufficient.

Get a plastic pan and a pitcher to be used for hair washing. It would be okay outside if away from lakes and streams. Use biodegradable soap.

A happy woman makes for some great traveling. Might as well use a solar shower while you are it.

It still amazes me that people think living in an RV should be like a hotel. The roots come from camping. Simple solutions are the easiest and most dependable. This is a perfect example.

[garyhaupt]

I am doing one response so as to avoid a sore typing finger.

airiding...you may have hit on the better way. My front bumper would take a bladder. I will look at that. I don't want a permanent 'box'. I have the correct tires for the E350..so, no..no big tires. But..my off road travels have been many.

Others...I am grateful for all the input. Thank you. Yes..it is tall and yes, it is maybe a tad top heavy. My vision saw/see's me watering before going off road, not driving around with a full 'bladder'. I asked the question...I shall investigate other options. A rear receiver is not an option. I have a bike box on the one that exists, now.

Someone mentioned Sharon reading my comments...you are kidding, right? You obviously don't know me. Sharon is the one person in my life that I will do most anything for. She supports me and accepts me...she loves 'docking and loves the deserts and wild places..the woman has no fears. So, if she needs more water than I currently carry, to wash her hair, to extend the stay...I will do what I can to provide.

Gary

[ajriding]

Very cool 4x4 lifted Class-C.

It is tall already so not ideal to add to the roof weight, and we assume you go off-road some where top heavy is even less desirable?

I think the roof would hold the weight if spread out like you say, but you will be stressing the walls while driving, forcing them to hold straight while the water pushes side to side... I would be weary.

Trailers are prob out of the question bc you go off-road.

Look into getting a front hitch and use carry trays to carry water bladders there. Some trays fold up so when not needed will be less obtrusive. This will help on some trails. You can do the same on the rear hitch.
If you need to fold the trays to get down a rough trail then jugs work better as those can be stuck inside while you drive down the trail, but a giant bladder will be un-moveable.

Most hitches can handle 300-400 lbs.

I have a front hitch on my truck and love the expanded ability to carry things, usually a generator for me, and it is also a great tow point when you get stuck.

Also, no woman wants this advice, but maybe for you... I use kids shampoo when camping, it suds up way less and is much easier to rinse out. Raking as much of the suds out of the hair before rinsing will make it quicker to rinse too. Of course, you know, let the hair rinse be what rinses off the body initially.
One rinsed dish/pot full of water gets poured into the next pot to wash.

I can shower every day, prep two meals per day, wash dishes all on one gallon of water per day, and I get dirty when camping and playing, so is legit shower cleaning... You will have to minimize your water to save water for her. Sounds like she is at her limit for water saving.

** I just looked at your pic again. You have a custom front bumper, it might have a receiver already, but otherwise just weld one in.
Looks like solar on the front of roof so you are talking about the bladder near the rear, which is behind the axles, not ideal.
You could consider moving the AC unit to the rear vent roof hole (is the bedroom area?), and putting the water bladder smack dab center of the RV so you are not leveraging weight behind the wheels... lot of work to do this though
And you have stock size tires, so guessing not a lot of off-roading going on?