My last caravan had an onboard freshwater tank. I think it was about 10 litres capacity. I liked the fact that we could stop on a journey and have water to make a cup of tea. It was also great in the winter as it never froze.
My new caravan does not have this and I wonder if anyone has fitted one. If so is it easy to do. I was thinking of using the existing pressure switch to operate an on-board pump and using a float switch to control the external whale pump.
I’ve weighed my caravan fully loaded and I can carry an extra 15 kilos and still be legal. I’d aim to install the tank as close as possible to the axel. If I can get one that will be fixed under the floor that would be perfect.
Any advice will be appreciated
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
We have a small separate water container that we keep in a cupboard, or the fridge if its hot, and we use that for drinking water all the time.
I once fitted a tank in a caravan, but that was decades ago when caravans didn't have any kind of water system. It was really easy to do, the hardest part was finding somewhere to put it.
With such a small 15Kg payload, allowing for weight of tank, fittings and plumbing, you'll only end up with about 10 litres capacity! Is all the aggravation of obtaining suitable tank, fitting, plumbing, periodic cleaning, winter draining etc. worth it!
Do as others have suggested and I do, just carry a 5 litre or so container of fresh water, easy enough to find a suitable secure stowing position for safe transit, easy to refill from tap at home or standpipe on site, MUCH cheaper and far more flexible than a fitted tank of only slightly greater capacity!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 17/1/2023
With such a small 15Kg payload, allowing for weight of tank, fittings and plumbing, you'll only end up with about 10 litres capacity! Is all the aggravation of obtaining suitable tank, fitting, plumbing, periodic cleaning, winter draining etc. worth it!
Do as others have suggested and I do, just carry a 5 litre or so container of fresh water, easy enough to find a suitable secure stowing position for safe transit, easy to refill from tap at home or standpipe on site, MUCH cheaper and far more flexible than a fitted tank of only slightly greater capacity!
I could increse the weight by shifting something like the awning into the car. I want a fixed tank as it means my wife can use a tap for water while I am getting her wheelchair out of the car, putting up the awning, going for water etc.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
For nearly 50 years we have always travelled with two 5 litre contains of water kept on toilet floor.Is it worth all the effort fitting a tank and if the caravan is still under warranty cutting side to install a filling point,as this may well void it unless installed by an Elddis approved dealer. We never drink water that has been through the caravan pipe work ,always straight from the site tap via the containers. The only safe way if using caravan system for drinking,is to sterilise it every time you go away as in warm weather bacterial growth can form in a matter of hours whilst standing unused.
Quote: Originally posted by John4703 on 17/1/2023
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I could increse the weight by shifting something like the awning into the car. I want a fixed tank as it means my wife can use a tap for water while I am getting her wheelchair out of the car, putting up the awning, going for water etc.
Rather critical bit of info missing from OP, the potential convenience due to a disability for your wife to use the tap rather than a container! That changes your priorities and our likely responses.
Very much with birdman101 with regard to drinking from tanked water/caravan plumbing though. Always use my 5 litre container for drinking water, and that never gets to be more than a day or so old between refills. I know some claim to have drunk from taps/tanks for years with no ill effect, but I also know what can grow in stale water in pipes and tanks, so I'll stick with a container for peace of mind!
We also only ever use water from our water container for drinking, unless we are boiling it for a hot drink. However I can see why this may be a problem if a disabled person is involved. When I made my initial comment I never knew that.
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 17/1/2023
i have a 27 litre plastic container fitted in the cupboard and plumbed in under the sink.. i would not be without it..
i carry two more 27 litre containers in the tow truck.. to me its all part of being off grid capable..
trog
That sounds like a good idea. Thanks
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 17/1/2023
i have a 27 litre plastic container fitted in the cupboard and plumbed in under the sink.. i would not be without it..
i carry two more 27 litre containers in the tow truck.. to me its all part of being off grid capable..
trog
That sounds like a good idea. Thanks
the container i use has two fillers.. one is large and takes a normal external pump fitting this clamps with large cable ties.. the small opening is for filling ether with a hose pipe or a small pump and short piece of hose i made up.. this is for filling the plumbed in tank directly from my two spare 27 liter containers..
basically i have water on tap all the time whenever or wherever i stop..
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/1/2023
We also only ever use water from our water container for drinking, unless we are boiling it for a hot drink. However I can see why this may be a problem if a disabled person is involved. When I made my initial comment I never knew that.
I can see how not mentioning that my wife is disabled cause confusion. I did not mean to confuse anyone it is just so much part of my life that I don’t think of it as being in any way unusual (I know it is).
I’ll keep thinking about this idea, no rush as it is far too cold now to even consider working in and under my caravan.
I could probably move 20 or more kilos of stuff into my car so could have a tank that weighs up to 40kg. As my aqua roll is 40 litres I recon roughly 10 to 15 litres of water in the internal tank would be plenty.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
When you connect the water you have to fill the water heater unless you leave that filled all the time. If so, could you just use a small prefilled at home, 15 litre can and pop that outside with the pump when you arrive on site. With the water heater already full you would have running water a minute or two after arriving.
I have a 15 litre can with a tap on it which can sit on a work top.
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Topic: Onboard tank fitting
via mobile 16/1/2023 at 8:43pm
