Thread: Water Tank Installation

I’m well on my way to completing the installation of a water tank so I thought I would give a progress report. I am heading across the Simpson with the family so space is at a premium. I looked at water bladders, plastic tanks and plastic water containers/jerries. One of the main factors was not to take up cargo area space.

I decided on an aluminium water tank across the rear floor, keeps the weight low, the kids legs don’t touch the floor, an extra step for the kids to get up on the seat and rarely do adults sit in the rear seat. The tank measures 1200mm x 400mm x 150mm which equates to approx. 70L. I didn’t allow any room for error, maybe I should have!!

Cost so far
$170 3mm ally sheet, have enough left over for the rear door
$40 Hose and Fittings
$130 Flowjet Pump 12L/min

I’m lucky to have good workshop facilities at my work which has made this project worth while. I spent a few hours one day before work to learn/practice TIG welding. I worked three mornings from 5:30am – 7:30am to make the tank. A teacher supervise the bending the sheet in the pan brake press as I didn’t want to throw away $100 of ally.

Things complete
- Tank Installed – had to remove the rear seat, didn’t realise there were a number of round headed bolts at the front of the foot well bolting the floor in, The tank no sits up a few mm at the front, too late know as I have bolted the seats back in, will put in some spacers so the bolt heads don’t rub, bugger, would have been nice to make the tank 380mm instead of 400mm.
- Tap on rear door
- Drilled holes in the floor the secure the tank

Things to do (going camping this weekend hoping to test run the setup by the time I finish the family will be just waking and of we go to Boonah for Xmas in July)
- Complete plumbing, one fitting to buy, a one way valve for the breather (having troubles finding) and water filtration umm still researching, I remember somebody mentioning a carbon filter
- Wire up the pump
- Bolt pump down
- Bolt the tank down
- Remove rear wind screen wiper motor including wiring
- Fit ally sheeting to door
- Refit tap
- Carpet on top of tank
- One way valve to breater hose, hose will sit up inside seat cover

I couple of photos, will post more when completed.

Kelvin,
did you bother with a baffle?
I have been nutting out a tank in under the seat boxes as on fishin trips I often have an adult in the back of the 130. The seat box is doable but for the bolts for the rear seats are a killer. Everything is possible! Just need to play.

Also did you think about just having it gravity feed out one of the rear doors?
S