Defender 130 water tank under rear seat box update

[86mud]

Hi all

I while ago a posted a thread about getting a custom made water tank to fit under the rear seats in my 130. I finally found a place:

www.atlastanks.com.au (http://www.atlastanks.com.au) on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane.

Cheapest by far for a custom poly tank. Size wise - will work out to be about 60 litres.

Will take two weeks to make.

I am just not sure which shurflo pump to get - either 3.8 litres/minute or 10.8 litres/minute?

Cheers
Andrew

[land864]

$$$ :)

[Hoges]

try 4WD RV Boat Marine Camp Shower | Water pressure pumps (http://www.clicktobuy.com.au/store/water-pumps-pressure-water-pump-c-28_43.html)

FWIW, I needed 2...so got the 12V Camper one for $69 plus a 40psi 17L/min for $109...both operate very well and have clever pressure regulators so they don't run dry... and are significantly less expensive than stuff in the caravan shops...

cheers

[86mud]

Custom poly tank is $400 inc GST.

I was first quoted $800 by a place in Brisbane

Thanks for the advice on the pumps...

I will need to install a water filler in the side panel. I will get one of these:

Lockable Caravan Water Filler - eBay, Parts, Accessories, Caravans, Motorhomes, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 19-May-10 20:38:53 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Lockable-Caravan-Water-Filler-/170485074613?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Caravan_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b1b3cab5)

I have already installed a tap on the rear cross member to the right of the tow bar mount
Cheers

Andrew

[Col.Coleman]

I found it easier to just fit a bladder when required.

CC

[land864]

Some questions if I could please Mr C

1. How much were the bladders? Someone on here had some in the Markets section but they have gawn! :o
2. How did you fix yours?
3. Was it under the rear seat or in the rear footwell?
4. Did you need to disinfect each time before use or do they dry out okay?

[roverrescue]

Instead of a 12V pump, if you have onboard air you can set up your water tank to get a little pressure from the airsystem and pump water out under air pressure. this is what i have done for my 45ish litre under sill aluminium watertank.
And in regards to a filler another options is to set it up such that you just have a breather (pressure line if using air) in top of tannk and the drain / feed line from bottom of tank. To fill tank just plug you garden hose onto the drain / feed line and fill until water comes out the breather. Simplifies plumbing.

Regards,
Steve

[Mulgo]

Some questions if I could please Mr C

1. How much were the bladders? Someone on here had some in the Markets section but they have gawn! :o
2. How did you fix yours?
3. Was it under the rear seat or in the rear footwell?
4. Did you need to disinfect each time before use or do they dry out okay?

Sorry to jump in here.

I use and recommend water bladders for over 5 years now. The one I have in my 130 is in that box under the rear seat - I wouldn't want anything else than a bladder.
No need to disinfect each time you use it - unless the bladder is non food grade material (make sure to check this).

Dry out is very easy as well - just take the bladder out and hang it up on the clothes line.

For the 110 you would fit it in the rear footwell with a false floor.

In terms of pricing, where I get them from (Flexitank, Melbourne) they currently charge for standard sizes:

35litres 1400x330x160 - $130
55litres 1400x400x160 - $200
75litres 1400x500x170 - $250

Water bladders can also be made to specific sizes.

Cheers,
Daniel

[Col.Coleman]

Some questions if I could please Mr C

1. How much were the bladders? Someone on here had some in the Markets section but they have gawn! :o
2. How did you fix yours?
3. Was it under the rear seat or in the rear footwell?
4. Did you need to disinfect each time before use or do they dry out okay?

It was a while ago I got the bladder, so cannot remember the price, but they sell them at most 4wd shops.

In the 130 there is a box under the rear seats with a large access hole. Cover the seat anchor bolts and line with some rubber so the bladder doesn't puncture and stuff it in. As you fill it it takes up all available space. Drill a hole for the hose before you install.

Like all water bladders, empty and hang up to dry out and no probs.

I notice the new puma has the box, but no access hole any more.

CC

[Bundalene]

We fitted a 60+ litre tank when doing the mod last year. This was a last minute installation. The tank was off the shelf from a caravan supplier - I can probably get more info. Check page 30 of the post.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/88257-bundalenes-daughters-130-repair-job-39.html

The plastic tank was around $100

We didn't take a lot of pics at the time but the one below shows the the tank sittinh on top and the cut out base.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7536/nov20008.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/nov20008.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The photo just shows the tap near the base of the ladder and the fill point above.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2879/nov2009189.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/i/nov2009189.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Erich

[slug_burner]

Chandlers have flexible water tanks (http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=133&item=85038&intAbsolutePage=1) I used one of these in the rear footwell of the deefer. Used some plastic plumbing bits to install a tap and a approx 40-50mm filling hose with a cap on the end of it like you would find on the gunwhale of a boat.

[land864]

Excellent Daniel and Steve:D

Daniel , is there no way of making it secure and safe below the seat rather than the footwell?

Steve at 700 wide , how was the fit? Are they food grade as Daniel has suggested?

[lardy]

Sorry to jump in here.

I use and recommend water bladders for over 5 years now. The one I have in my 130 is in that box under the rear seat - I wouldn't want anything else than a bladder.
No need to disinfect each time you use it - unless the bladder is non food grade material (make sure to check this).

Dry out is very easy as well - just take the bladder out and hang it up on the clothes line.

For the 110 you would fit it in the rear footwell with a false floor.

In terms of pricing, where I get them from (Flexitank, Melbourne) they currently charge for standard sizes:

35litres 1400x330x160 - $130
55litres 1400x400x160 - $200
75litres 1400x500x170 - $250

Water bladders can also be made to specific sizes.

Cheers,
Daniel

To my mind a sensible option would be split the capacity into at least two then you can pick up water supplies from two different sources if that happens to be possible ....imagine 160 ltr of foul water and a contaminated bladder to boot ...obviously not an issue in most towns with a safe supply.

[Mulgo]

Excellent Daniel and Steve:D

Daniel , is there no way of making it secure and safe below the seat rather than the footwell?


That depends on the space you have. In the 130" you put the bladder in that bench under the seat - as suggested in earlier posts. In a 110" you haven't got that box and might struggle to find enough room under the seats. For a 110" you would need to build a false floor in the footwell so that the bladder is secured in place.

Cheers,
Daniel

[Mulgo]

To my mind a sensible option would be split the capacity into at least two then you can pick up water supplies from two different sources if that happens to be possible ....imagine 160 ltr of foul water and a contaminated bladder to boot ...obviously not an issue in most towns with a safe supply.

Good point for when you travel away from safe water supply. Depending on what contamination we are talking about (bacteria or just dirty and smelly) it would also mean you need two different inlets and outlets.

Cheers,
Daniel

[86mud]

I looked at flexible tanks, but at the moment I have two child seats strapped to the back seat and it's a PITA to remove them all the time to get access to the seat box. I am after a more permenant solution - set and forget.

There is an Al-ko made watear tank sold by www.camec.com.au (http://www.camec.com.au) that is close to fitting but is 180mm high. I don't want to modify the seat box.

I was even thinking of buying the Al-ko tank and cutting it down and getting it re-welded, but I am not sure the cost of that or if the welding process will be as good as new.

So that is why I am going down this route.

Cheers
Andrew

[Mulgo]

I looked at flexible tanks, but at the moment I have two child seats strapped to the back seat and it's a PITA to remove them all the time to get access to the seat box. I am after a more permanent solution - set and forget.


Same here.
I do use my water bladder like I would any other water tank. In the past five years I have only taken it out once. I normally just flush it through for 2 mins., which means I let water in and pump it out at the same time.
The water bladder is for me a permanent solution.

Cheers,
Daniel

[jay_guess]

Hi all

I while ago a posted a thread about getting a custom made water tank to fit under the rear seats in my 130. I finally found a place:

www.atlastanks.com.au (http://www.atlastanks.com.au) on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane.

Cheapest by far for a custom poly tank. Size wise - will work out to be about 60 litres.

Will take two weeks to make.

I am just not sure which shurflo pump to get - either 3.8 litres/minute or 10.8 litres/minute?

Cheers
Andrew

Old post revival, what route did you end up going - I just came across this thread and like the idea of the custom Polly tank under the rear bench of our 130. Do you know if that can baffel them? This is my concern with the bladder all that water sloshing around!

[BreakingBad]

Old post revival, what route did you end up going - I just came across this thread and like the idea of the custom Polly tank under the rear bench of our 130. Do you know if that can baffel them? This is my concern with the bladder all that water sloshing around!



Hi

I've got the poly tank and yes they can add baffles. Mine has baffles but I still hear water sloshing. I only really notice it when I drive slowly then stop abruptly. eg: out of driveway and stopping at foot path.
Probably happens more often but I don't notice it over the general noise of the car. It's slightly louder if 1/2 to 3/4 full.

[86mud]

Wow, blast from the past for sure.

The tank from Atlas has been in the rear seat box for over 10 years. Been perfect. No taste issues at all over this time.

The tanks are made from food grade plastic and are baffled. Stood the test of time.

[POD]

With a bladder, if you can get the air bubble out of the top there is no sloshing at all. Don't know if this would be feasible with a bladder enclosed under the seat.

[towe0609]

I also have a custom Atlas tank under the rear ... I use mine for diesel, but I wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. I've found it hard to get a leak free seal at the fittings, and the tank has deformed a bit (doesn't really like the diesel) ... still holds though.