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Suggestions for a bladder type water tank n pickup bed.

Greyhound_RB
Explorer
Explorer
At 65 I'm tired of carrying the 5 gallon water jugs to pour in my 5er when at parks with no water at camp site. I'd love to get a compact bladder type tank to put in truck. I could go fill up with about 50 gals at park water station and then have 12v pump to pump into rv tank with my garden hose.
Can anyone inform me of a worth while bladder type setup. My self & back thank you.
32 REPLIES 32

Itinerant1
Explorer
Explorer
SoundGuy wrote:
Itinerant1 wrote:
X2^ plus the possibility of the containers growing legs and migrating to greener pastures.


Seriously? And a bladder or anything else in the truck can't? :R

I was thinking more or when you go by camps and everything they own is sitting out unsecured.
12v 500ah, 20 cells_ 4s5p (GBS LFMP battery system). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts)2s4p,Panels mounted flat. Magnum PT100 SCC, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter, ME-ARC 50. Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,500+ partial cycles.

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
Bobbo wrote:
The thing I like about the "outrageously" priced bladders is that they fold down to the size of a high school student's 3 ring binder when not in use. They are not taking up hardly any space as opposed to those rigid containers that don't collapse.


As I explained already, space at the front of the cargo box is that which I don't use for anything else, even with a short box, so containers I don't have to move or do anything with at all work best for me as they just sit there ready for the next use. :B A bladder I'd have to disconnect, fold up, and put away, then repeat the process in reverse anytime I wanted to use it, which for me is daily. ๐Ÿ˜ž To each his / her own but I think I'll stick with my tried 'n true rigid Aquatainers. :B
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
Itinerant1 wrote:
X2^ plus the possibility of the containers growing legs and migrating to greener pastures.


Seriously? And a bladder or anything else in the truck can't? :R
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

Pipeman
Explorer
Explorer
I, at one time carried about 10, 5 gallon jugs and used air pressure to get the water into the trailer. I then went to a 45 gallon hard, plastic barrel that I got from an orange juice company here in the city. Then I went to a 50 gallon hard container like DutchmanSport shows above but still used an air compressor to move the water. I just drilled out the vent in the cap and installed a tire valve. Used that for quite a long time. Now I have two collapsible containers. One is 50 gallons and the other is 60 gallons. Now I have an 8 foot box and do haul a 5er. The 60 gallon one goes just in front of the 5th wheel and behind the aux. fuel tank. The other one goes in the space near the Tgate. I use a regular trailer water pump and adapted it to plug into the rear 7 pin plug. The 45 gallon one came from Camping World and the other one looks like a large AWOL bag as shown on this site, http://discrv.tripod.com/waterboy.html.It took a while to get to me and the pump that came with it was broken. Everything fits into a container when folded up and that goes in the basement storage area. It's all a lot easier on my back.
Pipeman
Ontario, Canada
Full Member
35 year Fire Fighter(retired)
VE3PJF

Itinerant1
Explorer
Explorer
X2^ plus the possibility of the containers growing legs and migrating to greener pastures.
12v 500ah, 20 cells_ 4s5p (GBS LFMP battery system). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts)2s4p,Panels mounted flat. Magnum PT100 SCC, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter, ME-ARC 50. Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,500+ partial cycles.

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
The thing I like about the "outrageously" priced bladders is that they fold down to the size of a high school student's 3 ring binder when not in use. They are not taking up hardly any space as opposed to those rigid containers that don't collapse.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
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 ... ๐Ÿ˜‰

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. ๐Ÿ˜ž 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



2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

Itinerant1
Explorer
Explorer
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.
12v 500ah, 20 cells_ 4s5p (GBS LFMP battery system). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts)2s4p,Panels mounted flat. Magnum PT100 SCC, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter, ME-ARC 50. Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,500+ partial cycles.

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
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.



brulaz
Explorer
Explorer
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.
2014 ORV Timber Ridge 240RKS,8500#,1250# tongue,44K miles
690W Rooftop + 340W Portable Solar,4 GC2s,215Ah@24V
2016 Ram 2500 4x4 RgCab CTD,2507# payload,10.8 mpgUS tow

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


Recent Discussion on exactly the same topic. :W
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

lawrosa
Explorer
Explorer
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...


Example

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

2006 Silverado ext cab long bed. 3:42 rear. LM7 5.3 motor. 300 hp 350 ft lbs torgue @ 4000 rpms
2018 coachmen Catalina sbx 261bh

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have this one and am pleased.

45 gallon water bladder

Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

agesilaus
Explorer III
Explorer III
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.
Arctic Fox 25Y Travel Trailer
2018 RAM 2500 6.7L 4WD shortbed
Straightline dual cam hitch
400W Solar with Victron controller
Superbumper

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have military experience and bladders are top notch.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad