DIY Expedition vehicle (Troopy) build. Water filtration system and Underbody water tank solution.

In this build series we are converting a stock Toyota land cruiser troop carrier (Troopy) into a global overland vehicle. In this episode we are are talking about how much fuel and water is required for remote overland travel. We visit Long Range Automotive to have a look at their manufacturing facilities and pick up our own 95 later LRA underbody water tank for the troop carrier. A water filtration system is very important to stay safe when relying on local water supplies in many different countries. So we are designing a DIY water filtration and supply system using thirsty nomad water filters.

[@colinfwalters]

In Africa I would be running two tanks. One to wash and shower the other for drinking water. The drinking water I would keep within the vehicle, and I would fill it from purchased plastic bottles. I would still keep that line filter on the drinking water system. Finally I would keep a backup 5 litre bottle of drinking water in a corner somewhere.

[@user-di7dq9hw7x]

You have some good ideas with this build can tell a lot of thought has gone into it, great explaining too. Looking forward to more episodes

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Thanks mate, I appreciate it

[@dmitrifrolov9883]

Dude. Thank you. This is like a master class from an engineer. Please keep this up

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Thanks, that's very kind of you!

[@largemarge1603]

2003, we built our ExpeditionVehicle on a 1996 Ford CF8000 commercial truck. GVWR -- 29,000#. Weight across the scale -- 14,000#. Cargo capacity -- about seven ton. . We immediately added a 140-gallon 'saddle-tank' to supplement the original 50-gallon tank. On the toy-hauler I fabricated on a similar commercial chassis, I mounted a 120-gallon diesel tank. In theory, our range without re-fuelling is Anchorage-to-Acapulco. . Although we could get fuel at any stop, we prefer areas with low taxes.

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Haha wow, yeah that's a whole different level we're talking about;) But sounds incredible!

[@BigYumps]

Loving the channel my dude, just bought a troopy and will be doing a similar kit out. Many usefull ideas, cheers :)

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Thanks mate, appreciate it!

[@largemarge1603]

In our ExpeditionVehicle, instead of one big tank, we carry water in five-gallon stainless-steel retired Pepsi kegs. Our usual load is seven kegs, a total of thirty-five gallons... ... however, our system is modular. We can add a dozen kegs in the rig, plus a couple-three dozen kegs in the toy-hauler. In theory, our duration is around four months without re-supply.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

good ideal. in the states so we can get water ,I go maybe 3-4 days off grid and travel In the winter in the desert . auz ./ taz NZ are on my list of somedays ,only outback we have , the baja coast of Mexico ,still have more to explore in my own back yard what is your expedition rig? I have a tacoma 4x4 access cab shell/ topper mattress basic kit and a 25' airstream /ram 4x4 for longer hollidays 2-3 weeks, like to get a tahoe /suburban size wagon and do a car camper troppy build with a pop up top

[@matthalpin1981]

11:00 My favourite part seeing a diagram explaining how it all connects together. I always worry about how to maintain safe drinking water in a permanently housed tank. I don't know if it is safe to leave water in it for weeks/months on end between camping trips and I don't know how easy it is to clean one of these tanks regularly.

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Yeah I have the same worries. One easy way of cleaning it is to fill it with a mixture of 25% vinegar. Then drive around to make it slosh a lot drain it and flush once or twice. This way you don't have to use chemicals.

[@thomasdahm3367]

I calculate with 10 Liter per day and per Person, if traveling in hot dry regions.because sometimes you only need 6-8 Liter drinking.

[@Mrwilder2012]

So if you really wanting to drink water from anywhere I would recommend a ro system. Most ROs require 45 PSI. You possibly could have the discharge line feedback into the clean tank long as he always have a bit of water in it it should always be diluted(rejected water). Most simple stage ROs come with a sediment prefilter and a carbon prefilter, meaning that you can disinfect/chlorinate the tank with the tablet or lightly disinfect at least before any water is used. This disinfectant stage would help oxidize any heavy metals in the water. They're always is a lot of pre-filtration recommended for RO systems but based off of experience I've seen that most RO systems can last quite a bit very neglected. Most simple inexpensive units take two and a half by 10 in filters and are easy to come by in most communities. I'd only be recommending to run this clean water to the separate drinking fountain. Upping the pressure with another booster pump to about 100 psi would help The efficiency of the RO. Ultraviolet lights are not bad but add to the complications one triggered by flow can be installed after the RO. All ultraviolet lights typically need is a 5 micron filter before so that way there is no chance that bacteria can be writing on the back side of a particle. The rejected water is usually viewed as a huge negative with RO's that usually keeps from having to change a filter a million times. Long as you can do something creative with the concentrate. Side note never put a back pressure on a concentrate line if anything a diverting ball valve that never creates back pressure. That's the one thing that will pop your membrane.

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Wow thanks for all the info. I never really researched RO systems in detail before but it sound very good. Can you quantify how much water usually get separated or"wasted".

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

nice ..wish we could get troopy's in the U.S. most of our wagons / s.u.v.'s all have to have 3 rows of leather, 2 sunroofs and of course 2nd row ent screens and power / this and that stuff to add wt and lower payload and the. thing every manufacture independent rear axle " for a smooth ride and leg room for the 3rd row " toyota / Lexus wagons have soild rear axles the 4 runner is our best trail rig just no room like a troopy

[@goneoverlanding4372]

That is true, but you also get some cool trucks that many other countries don't get like the Tacoma and the 4runner:) both I'd like to own haha

[@fromtheroad3081]

Hopefully if the pump breaks or the power system fails you still have access to your water via gravity feed bypass. When your thirsty troubleshooting doesn't taste as good. Pretty good system overall though. Sometimes wish I got that tank instead of thorburns 40 liter but it's been sufficient minus showers.

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Yeah if the pump gives up, we would need to siphon out the inlet or use the drain plug to get some water. But fingers crossed that won't happen:) Thanks for the feedback.

[@nomad2495]

How would this work in a cold climate?

[@goneoverlanding4372]

to be honest with an underbody tank you can only camp in temperatures slightly below 0 degrees. But if I do go snow camping I'll just leave the tank empty and keep some water in bottles inside.

[@largemarge1603]

11:07 Filter water going into the tank? . One of my hobbies is walking wrecking-yards aka 'dismantlers'. For a factory RecreateVehicle, after the aluminum siding is foraged, the innerds are exposed. . Every time, the translucent fresh-water tank has a load of muck at the bottom. Often, that muck is several inches deep. . We always filter water going into our kegs. With our modular system, if one keg gets stanky, we continue using the others... ... and the others can be used to clean the problem child.

[@goneoverlanding4372]

Yeah in the beginning I was also contemplating having smaller multiple redundant tanks, but unfortunately the space is so limited on this "small" rig that We only really can run one tank. We are filtering the water with a sediment filter when filling the tank and we are usually empty it completely and flush it every few months.