Water is the heaviest thing you carry and the one thing you cannot go without. One litre weighs one kilogram, so an 80 litre tank is 80kg of payload that stays put until you drink it. That single fact should shape how much you carry, where you put it and what you put it in.
The rule of thumb most tourers settle on is 4 to 5 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing, plus a reserve for remote runs. Two people on a week-long trip, with a margin, comfortably need 70 to 100 litres.
The three ways to carry it
Jerry cans are the simplest and most flexible. Food-grade 20 litre water cans strap into a tub, a canopy or onto a rack, cost very little, and can be refilled or replaced anywhere. The downsides are the lifting and the space they take up. A proper jerry can holder stops them wandering around the tub, and for plenty of people cans are the right answer permanently.
Under-vehicle tanks put the weight low and out of the way, which is the best place it can be. Poly or stainless tanks mount to the chassis or under a tray, typically 40 to 100 litres, plumbed to a tap or a pump. Fitted well, they are the tidiest option going. Fitted badly, they collect stone damage or sit too close to the exhaust, so the mounting and protection matter as much as the tank.
In-canopy and in-tub tanks live inside the canopy or tub with the rest of the setup. They are easy to plumb to a pump, sink and shower, easy to inspect and easy to fill. What you give up is cargo space, and the weight sits higher than an under-slung tank.
Whichever way you go, the tank should be food grade, baffled if it is large, filled through a screened inlet, and easy to drain so you can empty and clean it between trips. A half-full unbaffled tank sloshes hard enough to feel through the steering on a winding road.
Our camping gear range includes vehicle-mounted water tanks and jerry can holders, and we can talk through where they will fit on your vehicle.
Pumps, taps and a shower that works
A 12V pump turns a tank into plumbing. Most touring setups use a pressure-switched diaphragm pump that runs on demand when a tap opens, draws modest current, and delivers enough flow for a sink and a shower head. Fit a strainer before the pump and it will last for years.
The simplest version is the jerry can shower: a small 12V pump dropped into a water can, a hose and a shower rose, powered from the vehicle. It costs little, packs down to nothing and works well with a heated water source.
For hot water, in rough order of luxury:
- A black solar shower bag on the roof rack. Almost free, and surprisingly effective in an Australian summer.
- A portable 12V gas hot water unit, the popular middle ground, which gives a proper hot shower within a couple of minutes of setting up.
- A hot water system built into a canopy fitout and plumbed to an outlet on the side of the vehicle.
A shower tent or awning wall takes care of privacy, and a tub under your feet catches the grey water. National park and campground rules on grey water vary, so check before you tip it anywhere, and keep it well away from creeks and waterholes.
Filtration and drinking water
Town water goes in clean and comes out of a tank tasting like a tank unless you look after the system. A carbon filter at the tap fixes the taste. For water from creeks, bores or tanks of unknown history, filtration or a sterilising method is not optional, and boiling is still the most reliable answer in the field.
Keep drinking water separate from washing water if you will be topping up from unreliable sources. A 20 litre drinking-only can, kept clean and refilled in town, is cheap insurance.
Where the weight should sit
Low and central, every time. Water above the axle line or behind the rear axle changes how the vehicle behaves, most noticeably under brakes and on side slopes. An under-slung tank between the axles is the best position on most vehicles. A full jerry can on the roof is the worst. If the only space left is high or right at the back, carry less and refill more often.
Because water is heavy and always on board, it belongs in the same conversation as the rest of your load. If the build is already close to its limits, look at your suspension and GVM position before adding another 100kg. The shower tents, compressors and camp kit that go with it are in our touring and camping range.
Frequently asked questions
How much water should I carry for touring?
Allow 4 to 5 litres per person per day, plus a reserve for remote travel. Two people on a week-long trip usually carry 70 to 100 litres.
Where is the best place to mount a water tank?
Low and between the axles, which keeps the weight off the roof and ahead of the rear overhang. Under-tray and under-chassis tanks do this best when properly mounted and protected.
What is the best jerry can for water?
A food-grade 20 litre water can in a holder that stops it moving. Keep water cans clearly separate from fuel cans, and never use one for the other.
How do I get hot water while camping?
A solar shower bag for simplicity, a portable 12V gas hot water unit for a proper shower, or a plumbed system built into a canopy for full-time touring.
Working out how to carry water on your build? Call 1300 856 888, visit the Brookvale showroom, or tell us about your setup and we will look at where the weight can go.
