water tank install into a Defender 130

[86mud]

Hi all

I have been meaning to post up the pictures from when I install my 60 litres water tank under the back seats of my 1998 Defender 130 HCPU.

Tank was custom made out of food grade polymer plastic. There is a pressure pump with the outlet on the rear cross member. Inlet is mounted on the side panel behind the rear door.

Here are the pictures:

Step 1 - remove rear seats - there are 3 bolts holding these in - 13mm spanner, plus the wing buts holding the uprights.
Step 2 - undo the 17 bolts holding the seat box to the floor - 10mm spanner. After 13 years I was concerned that the bolts would nut undo or snap, but I cleaned all ezposed threads with a witre brush and used plenty of wd 40 before I attempted to undo them.
Step 3 - Trim the threads back on the studs protuding into the seat box
Step 4 - test fit tank
Step 5 - cut holes in side of seat box
Step 6 - cut hole in floor for outlet
Step 7 - refit seat box and seats

Then fit water inlet, pump and rear tap.

[86mud]

more pictures

Time taken for the install was about 3 hours....

[Ranga]

Was that tank a custom model? A few of us are looking at getting one from Atlas, but apparently they have no mold for that size. It will work out cheaper for at least 3 of us to pay to have the mold made first.

[86mud]

Yeah Ranga it was a custom tank....be a lot cheaper now to get a mould made between a few of you. I did this a while back.

Cheers
Andrew

[akelly]

What about a bladder? I'm thinking about putting one out of a yacht under the seat in my 130, that way when I'm not using it for water I still have the storage space.

[86mud]

Thought about a bladder...but I wanted a permanent soultion and I was concerned about reports of tainting of the water from the bladder material.

With two kids booster strapped in the back, I am not going to be removing those to access the storage area all the time....

Cheers
Andrew

[Ranga]

With two kids booster strapped in the back, I am not going to be removing those to access the storage area all the time....

Cheers
Andrew
I'm in the same boat - no chance of accessing the area anyway, so might as well fill it with water. I also was worried about the strength of the bladder, particularly rubbing on bolts etc.