Onboard water tanks and winter camping in freezing temps

[ghost123uk]

I know this has been covered before, and iirc the main answer was "put lots of Vodka in the tank"

But, seriously, it did occur to me that a freeze up and the possible consequence of damage to an onboard water tank could be a MAJOR hassle.

OK, so we have Propex, but if we have any nights like we had 2 winters ago, say at the Llangollen Xmas / new year camp over, then the water could freeze I mean the tank (on ours) is close to the outside skin and well away from the "warmed area".

A split in an onboard tank would be not good, and getting to them to repair it (well ours anyway = LeisureDrive) is a major interior strip out

I wonder if emptying it and using a good old fashioned white 2 gallon water bottle would be safer

[LittleMissSunshine]

I definitely think emptying it, I know it's a hassle having separate water but better than expense for the few times it could happen.

[jamesc76]

I have an underslung tank and its never frozen solid, even in the coldest of weather including Llangollen, tho in extreme cold do not fill to he top so if it does freeze it has space to expand!

[ghost123uk]

in extreme cold do not fill to he top so if it does freeze it has space to expand!

Do "we" reckon that that is a cert that it will expand "upwards" and never damage the tank ? I hope so because it would be a better solution !

[LittleMissSunshine]

But couldn't the plastic perhaps become brittle over the years so feel the pressure even with room to expand at top?

[ninja.turtle007]

We've camped out in -10c with no issues.

[1664]

This has been discussed previously

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... k#p7751387" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ian Hulley]

We had -28 in the frost pocket that is work about 3 years ago and our water tank (or leisure gas tank) never froze totally ... occasional clattering of ice chunks in the water but keep using the van and keep it ~1/2 full.

Ian

[v-lux]

Its interesting this, as i still havn't decided what way to go with an onboard water tank.

When i was away in the French Alps last year at xmas the van got broken into and they smashed both the front side windows. The van was then parked up for 2 nights with a tarp over it, during that time a full 25l water butt (jerry can style) had frozen solid, i mean solid, not a single bit of liquid left in there. Iirc the night time temps were about -22 across that time.

I can only assume that an exterior tank would have done the same...? It's possible that if the van was being used and the heater being on here and there etc maybe it might make enough difference to keep it from going solid. I suppose water usage would also help as it will keep the water moving in the tank a little.

I just feel that really there would be nothing that would keep an exterior tank from freezing up in those conditions.

[ghost123uk]

This has been discussed previously

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... k#p7751387" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah but that was mostly about exterior tanks, not onboard (interior) tanks

You did contribute useful info there =

From a freezing perspective the bigger and especially deeper the tank the better. Mine is under the rear seat and when it's really cold it does freeze but only the top half inch or so. The rest remains in liquid form underneath.

Bold emphasis by me.

Going by that I should be OK ?

[camper]

I have a custom made coolent heated aluminium WVO/SVO fuel tank that could be used for fresh water storage as an alternative.Its underslung to fit between the outer seal & inner chassis rail dia 1000mm x 300mm x 150mm.Its welded & craftsman made to heat up WVO/SVO or could be used to store fresh water & heated .It could possible fit under a rock&roll bedseat or internal storage unit.It was advertised in the for sale forum .

[1664]

Going by that I should be OK ?

I can only go by my experience and mine has never frozen solid, just a surface ice layer. Bare in mind this is a reasonably full tank and in our winters so about -10C average. The sea will freeze if it gets cold enough for long enough so nothing's guaranteed. I suppose you could lag a tank but I'm buggered if I'd bother, although you could spray cover it once fitted with that builder's expanding foam stuff like modern immersion heater tanks.

Or fill a flask each evening

[ghost123uk]

I have a custom made coolent heated aluminium WVO/SVO fuel tank

Looks very posh, but what's it for - What is "WVO/SVO"

[camper]

WVO/SVO is waste vegetable or straight vegi oil.Okay it looks a bit posh but it was made for a two tank conversion to run on heated vegetable oil.As said an alternative could use for freshwater storage its never been used or fitted.

[keith]

I have never used the tank on my westy....much prefer to see what is floating around in what I'm drinking.

Do you really use enough water to justify using an on board / under slung tank.
?

I'm assuming that we are talking about wild camping here