Stainless Steel Water containers

G'day, have a look at the s/steel fuel tanks in whitworths marine, a lot cheaper, see if you can adapt. seee ya, dingo

G'day, I am in the process of making a s/s water tank for behind the back seat of a Nissan Patrol, I will let you know what the cost is when I finish. Stay tuned............

Horror story!

Don't repeat my mistake....

Got a quote for round about $400 for a ally tank under the F truck from a manufacturer - wh0o was a bit busy and couldn't do the job for some weeks.

Went to another place - just opened up who said yep they could do it straight away, but didn't actually mention a cost.... but said it wouldn;t be too much different to the last place that quoted.

Then they said they could do it in stainless if i wanted and it wouldn't be much dearer than the ally, despite my misgivings, so they went ahead and did the now 2 tanks in stainless...

When I got the bill for $11K.. I blacked out and fell into a chair in the guys office - so they had to ring for an ambulance...(I've never been so shocked)...everything in the room spun round and the lights went out.

I was thinking along the lines..original quote was elsewhere $400

So I'm thinking twice that for 2 tanks = 800 OK maybe $1K

Then I'm thinking Twoce that again now we are talking stainless so $1K, becomes $2K, then I thought - hell - allow another K for contingencies - $3K oughtta see it out!

$11K....

To this day I still cannot believe it....

After I got out of hospital......once the electrocardiograms were over...

I ended up sitting down with the guy, and we came to an agreement over the REAL cost, and I paid a lot MORE than the $3K I was expecting, but a lot LESS than the $11K he was hoping for!

Be VERY vERY carefull about getting work done on 4WD's - the mere fact you own one in some peoples eyes means that you can afford to be severely ripped off.

Stainless tanks are great - but at the end of the day the polypropylene if it is food grade will do just as well in carting your water needs for a LOT less $

Something often not understood about stainless steel tanks.

When you weld stainless - you alter it's properties, and the actual weld will rust unless you buff / polish the weld to bring out the nickel content in the welded section to rust proof it again.

On a stainless steel tank - you can do this easily to the outside for appearances- but you CAN'T buff/ polish the inside of the tanks welded seams...so they do in fact rust internally slightly along the welds once you add water to them...and oxygen etc reaches them as the tanks empty.

So don't imagine that your stainless steel water tank inside is as clean and shiney / polished as it's outside appearance would suggest - you are still drinking from a rusty metal container in effect!

Yes 99% of the inside is clean and will stay that way but the seams can hold a few nasty surprises if you take a torch and have a good look in there one day thru the filler neck.

Cheers

I have a 60 litre in the shed that fitted under the tray of my Nissan that is available if anyone wanted it. It has a baffle, air bleed line and outlet underneath. Has a cradle too. I have had it on trader before. My phone number is with the profile.

long range automotive in lilydale
make fuel and water tanks, also top service and guys to deal with.
all the best

Thanks all. Seems like a tricky choice. Has anyone got experience with the Outback (www.4wdinteriors.com) 55 litre or the Blackwidow 57 litre behind the seat tanks? They are not stainless but seem well finished, but does anyone recommend them? Do they have baffles or not have baffles and 'slosh around' a lot.