Water: 5 gallon jug or multiple 1 gallon

[Mackerous]

Curious to hear people's opinions on the pros and cons of having a water-cooler-type 5 gallon jug for water, or 5 (or more/less) single gallon jugs.

I use a 5 gallon because I bought a few of them for Burning Man (yep, I'm one of those crazy burners. But you'd like 'em...fewer groups are more accepting of vandwellers) and I just bought a manual pump for $10. I was thinking of splurging and getting a $30 electric pump and having it right by my bucket would give it luxury (and waste) of running water when needed (also, the manual pump is crap).

The problem is since I bulked up my cooler with reflectix, my living area is a bit cramped. Going to single gallons would certainly be better for space, since I have plenty of room in the back. Also, I'm really hating the manual pump. I would love the luxury, but I know it would be a waste of water when I would use it instead of my spray bottle.

Opinions?

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Gah, meant for this to be in the General Questions catagory. Apologies.

 

[Van-Tramp]

I use both.

I have a 7 gallon jug (I place mine on the passenger floor), along with another 7 or so 1-gallon jugs. When I have to dig into the larger jug, I know it is time to start thinking about where to need to refill. But generally I use less than 1 gallon each day (on average) so I have two weeks of water with this setup.

 

[decodancer]

I have a 20 gallon square rv tank, you can get them in all sorts of shapes and sizes to fit almost anywhere. Mine is at the back door so I could use the sprayer outside if needed. Every time I have gallon jugs, they end up rolling all over the van. If you were to put four of them in a milk crate to prevent moving, it would take up the same space an an rv tank.

 

[SoulRaven]

Many times you can just repurpose industrial items to fit your needs.

For instance I was going to buy a 2.5 gallon solar shower but this item is much more durable and useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Chapin-20000-...8&qid=1399641779&sr=8-1&keywords=pest+sprayer

If you take the above item prime and paint flat black then cut the wand down to next to nothing you would have supply of pressurized warm water to wash you and your stuff.

In your case I would go with 4 one gallon recycled water jugs in a milk crate to make it a breeze to reload the sprayer without a spill.

 

[user 423]

I have a 5-gall. Igloo cooler (kept by the back door), a 2-gall. rectangular dispenser-type jug (with spigot) and four 1-gall. jugs. The dispenser jug sits on top of my cooler and I keep it filled with purified water from the smaller jugs that I refill at the machines. One small jug is kept full of regular water from the 5-gall. that I use for dishes,etc.

 

[Lucky mike]

I guess its going to have to depend on your water sources....

if you are stealthing and only get water from restrooms and a spigot when available then 1 gallon jugs are the way to go!!

last summer I had 3 weeks of being in a position that I needed to get 3 gallons a day in stealth mode!.....at a gallon a trip each morning. it beat not having water at all or buying it!

I prefer to fill the holding tank (110 gal.) and have 2 - 7 gallon totes but there are times and circumstances that requires special means!!...(I've done it with a Qt. bottle a few times)

 

[compassrose]

The drinking water dispenser machines here in NM (as well as the ones we found in TX) often charge more per gallon for a 1 gallon jug than for a 5 gallon jug (not all but some...usually the ICE HOUSE type places). A 5 gallon jug is heavier to lift than a 1 gallon jug. Of course you can always refill your 5 gallon jug with a funnel and the 1 gallon jugs. If you get a 5 gallon container (look in the camping section of Wal-Mart to see what I mean) it normally has a spigot on it. Set it up a little and you have "running water". No pump needed. We have done that back in our tent camping days (set it on a picknik table). I would place a dog water dish under the spigot to catch any drips, etc and my dog liked having her water dish there. We don't drink the city water here in NM. Nor did we use it on our food cart. Always RO water. Too many people have told us nasty things about the water... and it tastes funky.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I like the 7 gal aqua colored jugs from WalMart. They have a footprint that's not much larger than a couple 1 gal jugs.
Heavy, but easy to store.
We also have one of the blue cube style 6 gal that has the spigot. Very convenient, but almost the same footprint as 4 one gal jugs.
We also carry a couple 1 gal as back-up.

 

[caseyc]

I've pondered this topic for weeks. I've tried the large 7 gallon container, but ended up returning it because of my limited storage space. I then tried two of the 3 gallon containers, but even those were still too large for my limited space. I then got the rigid 1 gallon containers from REI sports. Ironically, I noticed I pretty much never use any of my water containers cuz I prefer to buy the bottled water stuff from the supermarket. I was buying the larger/bulkier water bottles, but now favor the taller/skinnier bottles cuz it's easier to store. As for water containers, I now have those flat collapsible types that can store easily when there's no water inside. I really should use my water containers, since it's more eco friendly and cost effective versus buying bottled water at the store. But I simply find it more convenient to get the bottled waters, especially when it's on sale for 3 for $5, or similar price.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

For the last three years, I have used 2 liter plastic pop bottles. Advantages:
1. They are free (get friends to collect them if you don't drink soda),
2. I can stuff them in a lot of small spaces,
3. They are virtually indestructable (I have dropped a full 2 liter 10 ft without breaking and freeze them for ice in coolers),
4. They come in a multiple of sizes,
5. Can be filled almost anywhere,
6. Are easier to handle than 1 gallon or larger containers (especially if you get a handle for them),
7. I use the smaller ones (12 oz and 1 liter) for grab and go canteens,
8. I don't worry if I accidentally damage, lose, or contaminate one (cuz they are free and easy to obtain). - Spiff

 

[Lucky mike]

.....I understand the drinking water part.....but for just general clean up or bathing that can be a gallon a day plus.

the pop bottle works ok ....in fact I use a large one with small holes drilled in the top for speed showers. or doing clean ups & dishes...and keep several small full ones for cold drinking purposes.

I guess Im over prepared or just not willing to spend 5 dollars for gas to pick up 2 dollars worth of water because I ran out...

 

[caseyc]

I don't bathe, wash dishes, etc, in the van. That's what gyms and restaurants are for. I know, I know...I must be in the minority.

.....I understand the drinking water part.....but for just general clean up or bathing that can be a gallon a day plus.

 

[Mackerous]

Great points here, guys.

The large Aqua-tainers won't work so well for me because it would have to be on a table of some sort to pour. It's why I have a pump. How I have things set up, it just wouldn't work with out some rearrangement, and I'm pretty happy with the set up right now.

I think I'm either going to go with the REI gallon jugs or the 2 liters. I have plenty of space in back of the van that I can't get to easily without getting out, but I can toss a few gallons back there and keep one or two in the living area. Under my bed and cooking table has space for a jug or two, it should work nice.

I also like the idea of drinking water vs. other. I tried it for a bit but works easier if I turn to jugs. I use the water machines mostly because it tastes SO much better than most of the water I get from the tap. I remember when I filled up with Orlando tap water...I couldn't force myself to drink it because it was so bad. But I'd be fine for my spray bottles and cooking water.

 

[Bdog1]

At the supermarket the 2 1/2 gal cubes with a sprocket are pretty handy to store, but seem more expensive for some reason. A gal fits real well in the footwell of the side doors. Makes it pretty handy.

 

[Lucky mike]

Actually this discussion highlights how big a difference it makes as to how someone out here does something due to the specific region of the country and whether they are in a city or boondocking....

 

[Willy]

I bought one of those thick rectangular utility containers (food grade) from Industrial Plastics. Turns out one of those plastic Coleman spigots screws right in! Keep it in the passenger side wheelwell of my truck and just have to tip it to fill my 1 gallon plastic container (or any other one). It's a LOT tougher than the thin walled crap they sell at camping stores, and translucent, so I always know how much water I have left.
Nice thing about having it in the wheelwell is that it's easy to get a full one in, or just run a water hose to it from a tap. It holds close to 6 gallons. ..Willy.

 

[Reducto]

I have a 7 gallon tank tucked away in an otherwise inaccessible spot under my bed hooked to a pump. The only downside is the initial cost and time to get it set up. I mostly wind up filling it using a 1 gallon jug and a funnel.

You can see the water level inside those blue jugs, just hold a flashlight up against the side.

 

[steamjam1]

I use a 5.5 gallon Reliance Rhino Pack for general use water, and keep three to four 1 gallon jugs of drinking water in the van for consumption. When I'm on an extended trip I'll carry two Rhino packs since you can stack them.

 

[MrNoodly]

I started with a 7-gallon Aqua-Tainer. Five months later I gave it away. It was much easier to use 1-gallon jugs. And they're easier to tuck away. I have three of them at the moment. I've had four. With the way I use water (lightly), that's plenty. It's not like I'm going on a long trek where there's no water available.

 

[Duck]

Instead of spray painting a plastic pump sprayer(they don't take paint well)
I prefer a cheap masonry sprayer, they come in black, and are handy for making warm cleaning liquid

http://www.amazon.com/RL-Flo-Master...id=1400043018&sr=8-8&keywords=masonry+sprayer

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http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-El...sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=12v+drinking+water+pump

For use with the store refillable 5 gallon jugs from the grocery store, instead of top mounting them in a weak dispenser. I saw one that was designed to plumb in under the counter but can't find it again.