flexible water tank, water bladder
Submitted: Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 21:40
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FullonCamper
hi, that might be of interest!
I did some search on what is avaliable around flexible water tanks, as I want to add about 200 liters.
All what I could find was in roll or pillow shape, which is not the most space saving form for any campers. But its the cheapest way to make them. They were also unprotected.
Then I found ballast tanks (called fat sacks) which are used to balance boats. They sit in the floor in the front, are sturdy and might be less prune to water swapping, due their high walls,
I bought one on ebay, brand Wakeboard Type Fat Cube, 220kg, (for us 220liter)1100x450x450 and even comes in a canvas cover with handles.
set me back $189 incl. shipping
On Ebay I found even a 12V pump to that tank $150, because once placed they are usually hard to access.
cheers
Reply By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 22:16
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 22:16
Sounds alright, can you put up link to eBay , use link button below
Cheers
AnswerID:
629650
Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 22:53
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 22:53
He might put a link to his website as
well?
FollowupID:
904693
Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 23:37
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 at 23:37
Yeah Michael, I thought that afterwards, maybe we won’t hear from him again
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904694
Follow Up By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 09:00
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 09:00
I,m glad you found the size required but did you
check if the material is suitable for potable drinking water (oils an't oils) a lot of PVC sheet fabric is NOT suitable
FollowupID:
904699
Follow Up By: FullonCamper - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 11:29
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 11:29
Right Michael, good thought.
In all euphoria I didn't think about that.
I ask myself how poinsen it could get? Probably shouldn't leave it filled in the sun and use the water quickly.
Maybe a water filter in the line with tap will keep the oils out.
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904707
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 16:17
Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 16:17
OT...
I had a coupe of friends who manufactured these PVC bladders for wake boats a few years ago.
They called their product "Fat Chicks".
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
904800
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 13:06
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 13:06
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FullonCamper,
I looked at your product link and, sure enough, the product is made of PVC.
Now, if you are not already informed, then Google "PVC toxic" and read some of that information.
PVC contains chlorocarbons and other nasties which are carcinogenic and really bad to ingest.
And don't kid yourself that a filter of any type will make it safe.
I wouldn't even wash regularly in such water.
Even if labelled "Food Grade" I wouldn't believe that if it came out of China.
AnswerID:
629669
Follow Up By: FullonCamper - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 14:02
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 14:02
Hhm, just looking at a Willow jerry can here, which we use for water, too. And then those cheap pvc swimming pools and pool covers in general,
snorkel gear, anything that is pvc and smells actually. Never mentioned.
Always difficult to find the useful middle.
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904713
Follow Up By: Member - silkwood - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 15:46
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 15:46
Most flexible rainwater bladders are manufactured in plasticised PVC...
The answer is... depends.
Peas and (some) beans contain chlorides. So do you.
The answer is... depends.
FollowupID:
904720
Follow Up By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 16:10
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 16:10
Allan
you are spot on, as a manufacture of low pressure vessels there are some nasty pvc fabrics out there, there are plenty of potable water grade weldable fabrics as
well they normally cost a little more & you will find that the better bladders are made with internal gussets & are not just blister welded, & are used for fuel, water, sewage etc. We do NOT make potable water bladders any more, we mainly make air holding vessels out of hypalon fabric & cold curer bonded, I personally would never have a bladder tank in a 4wd, over the past 40 years I've seen far too many fail, chafe, pop apart, etc. I would have sold thousands of Fuel bladders to surf lifesaving clubs & defence (army) for me to risk my drinking water to one, every week we get asked to repair every brand of bladder imaginable but will not if it’s for drinking water
FollowupID:
904722
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 16:24
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 16:24
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Thanks Vince,
I have worked in the petrochemical industry, including the manufacture of PVC, and understand what is in the stuff.
But it is good to hear from you, someone who deals with the application of such materials.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Gbc.. - Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 08:59
Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 08:59
I bought a flexitank from ARB for a desert trip in 2006. It is still going strong, not that it gets used all that much. I roll
mine in a piece of carpet. Anything else I should do? It is an excellent compromise for fitting 75 litres of water into a loaded car.
FollowupID:
904787
Follow Up By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 12:32
Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 12:32
Gbc
whatever your doing keep it up, but I would
check with the manufacture as most weldable fabrics have a safe usable time & most are not over ten years so
check as they brake down used or not, tips never have it fully loaded, always remove all air after filling unless it has a breather, keep it out of sun light, make sure it can not chaff against anything & be carful of what type of cleaning agent are used
Note: even your re-usable soda PVC bottles have a use by date for 2 reasons 1 as it is a pressure vessel & 2 its breaking down again used or not
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 13:48
Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 13:48
Plastic rainwater gutters, and rigid water pipes (including those for drinking water) and all the corresponding fittings for same are made from UPVC (unplasticised poly vinyl chloride).
Flexible PVC has the addition of plasticisers which can leach out over time (which causes them to become brittle and crack, hence the "use by date"), but here are plenty more dangerous things that we use and consume on a daily basis, IMO.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
904794
Reply By: FullonCamper - Saturday, Feb 01, 2020 at 15:42
Saturday, Feb 01, 2020 at 15:42
For those who want to get a FatCube, even thou pvc might be not suitable for drinking water, you will look for a way to fill it.
Pumps : Hardline 'FatPumper' ebay atm $120 (that's the off. name, but nobody uses it, hillarious)
And here is a dealer with pumps and fittings:
fittings for FatCube
That dealer recommends the 'Straight Line' pumps to fill and empty the bag. You see a blue fitting on the Straight Line Uber Pump. That's one you probably get by its own. The Uber has an adapter that stays on the bag and seals, when you take the pump off. The Straight Line 'Sumo' pump comes with adapters, but no idea which ones.
However, I like to find an adapter, that connects to the bag, like the blue one and connects with a quick connect to a standard garden hose.
I don't trust that seal on the Uber pump ;0)
They have quick connect adapters, too on their page. Find it here and buy local or on ebay.
I will put a manual valve on the blue fitting, stays with the bag until full, then close the valve, go outside and close the tab. To get the water out of the bag into my main tank, I will just connect that gardenhose to the quick connect and put some weight on the bag until its flat :0)
Hope that helps
AnswerID:
629841