Thread: Dual-cab Defender 130 water tank - dimensions?

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Just to add an idea to your bulk purchase.
My tank is Al not plastic but this should still work.

-Just have two 12mm hose tails installed, one at the bottom the second at the top of the tank.
-Bottom hose tail goes to hose that you setup as your supply tap.
-Top hose tail uses a "quick connect" to your air compressor with a ball valve.

To fill tank disconnect "quick connect", attach hose to tap and fill tank until water comes out "quick connect".

Instead of pump, run air comp for a few seconds to pressurise tank, tap will pressure feed. Just watch the amount of pressure you apply!!!! Works well for us, a blast from the compressor will keep tank pressurised for many many litres. No hassle with pumps, pressure is good for lots of jobs!

S

Does the compressor add clean air to the tank? No taste issues, etc?

Got photos?

86mud: Thanks - there are qwuite a few different pumps in taht catalogue are you able to be more specific? Also I gather you put a ta[p from teh rear x/member ? If so what tap did you use please. Also did you put some kind of guage on teh tank so you can tell how full it is ?

roverrescue - yes the taste issue occured to me as well and you'd also want to be sure that there was no oil in teh air line anywhere. As did the fact that compressed air is quite hot. As did the suitability of a poly tank for this compressed air application. Also you say that you fill teh tnk until it overflows ? Where is your filler hose tail? If inside the vhicle wouldn;t overflow be annnoying ?

It was a Shurflo Classic series 2088 about $140 from memory. The lockable water filler is about $40. You will also need a strainer to filter the water from the tank before it enters the pump. These pumps can run dry. I don't have a guage on th tank at the moment, but am thinking of fitting one of these:

RV Electronics - Manufacturer of Breaksafe, Fridge Switch and Water Level Indicator :: RV Water Level Indicator

The tank is made from food grade plastic, so no taste, but I don't leave water in it all the time...only when on trips.

The tap was from bunnings. The hose connecting the tank to pump and to the tap is from Camec as well. It is specifically designed for freshwater systems.

I'll get some pictures up tonight.

Cheers
Andrew

Originally Posted by VladTepes

86mud: Thanks - there are qwuite a few different pumps in taht catalogue are you able to be more specific? Also I gather you put a ta[p from teh rear x/member ? If so what tap did you use please. Also did you put some kind of guage on teh tank so you can tell how full it is ?

roverrescue - yes the taste issue occured to me as well and you'd also want to be sure that there was no oil in teh air line anywhere. As did the fact that compressed air is quite hot. As did the suitability of a poly tank for this compressed air application. Also you say that you fill teh tnk until it overflows ? Where is your filler hose tail? If inside the vhicle wouldn;t overflow be annnoying ?

Hey vlad

i have this pump fitted Flojet RV 12V Pump 12.1LPM | Springers Solar Panel Specialists

i thought about a gauge but fiigured the tanks is low profile and because it is so wide you have to be on dead level ground to get any indication what the level is. you know when your getting low when the pump doen't cut out

i also thought about compressed air however went the auto pump, the pump has not failed me in five years and i don't have to worry about contaminates from the compressor. i can also switch the plumbing around, add a bit of hose and fill out of a creek if needed

quite often i am not playing attention when filling my tank and it over flows............as i don't have carpet its not an issue, it dries up quick enough

you will find to get max water into the tank you will need to park on a slight slope

have the breather the same end as the filler, for the breather i used clear hose running up the door frame

oh and i found out after the install i should have used a non-clear hose, no light reduces the possibility of things growing inside

although my set is in the footwell it is very similar to what you guys are doing, feel free to have a looksee

tap, i just used a standard garden tap that attaches to a house, a few bucks at bunnings

Pictures..... I have a rubber flap that covers the pump which attaches between the two rear outriggers to stop flying stones.

CHeers
Andrew

pumps are great, they are a bit more expanse but makes for little brain use.
I keep a loose mental note of litres used, and as weeds said, the pump changes tone when starting to suck air.
Air may work but you need to be more savvy I think. I once split my plastic tank with water pressure. The air valve had filled up with water because it was the same height as the intake and hey presto sprung a leak. The hose was not on hard but the pressure had no where to go but the weakest spot. I could see me over charging the tank with air and having the same issue. Just my thought.

The Camec pump that 86mud has is a bit cheaper by the sounds of it and there's a shop that stocks their stuff a Virginia.

If we all end up doing the same type of set up I'll get together with ranga and newhue and write a tech article on the subject.