I noticed some reviewers said they used to be very durable but are now a bit thin, while others just say "These hold up great!" I looked at the dates of these reviews, and it seems like most of those that complained about them not holding up were from a while back, and most of the more recent ones say that they are strong and sturdy. So I'm hoping that means the manufacturer began making them more strong in recent years. That's why I only bought 3 for now. If they seem strong, I plan to pick up 4 more.
Amazon, ordered last night and it was there this morning. Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NRTRACEZCRB29EVF2J8H?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
It’s about 60 lbs when full, though, so it’s a pain to carry.
Proper water storage. Gallon jugs from the store are better than nothing but the plastic is thin so they tend to burst when being bounced around. I’ve been using two of these for years and only punctured one once in the bed of my truck on an extremely bumpy road when something sharp happened to be next to it. Fixed it with JB Weld and it’s been fine since.
I use one of the 7gallon containers for my shower supply. It easily gives us a couple of showers. Since the supply is constrained having a limited tub would work ok.
I'd worry more about spilling the tub after the shower. Now you have a heavy awkward tub of water in your van.
New Orleans has enough boil-water advisories for its wretched potable water infrastructure that I just invested in a couple 7 gallon containers.
After spending younger years in desert hiking, that's more than enough for two person/weeks. One's pasta cooking water is drinkable, one can bathe with a damp rag.
I laugh when I see some preppers who have expensive gun collections, but no means of either purifying or storing water, which is the number one priority in any disaster/rapid-collapse scenario.
I have success with these, although like the other commenter stated you will need to at least check the pH before watering. It will fluctuate in the jugs. It may fluctuate within the acceptable range if you pH the whole jug to 6.5, but you will need to check or risk messing up your grow
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_RTxaGbR3GPWZF
While you are right that a large majority don't, you'd be surprised how many do. Especially since Covid hit. So many more preppers than there ever used to be.
The freeze dried stuff is really sparse right now and if you can even find some it's extremely expensive compared to last year. One major factor that you should almost focus on more than food is water. You'll die after 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. The generic rule of thumb is 1 gallon per day, but that's only for drinking and doesn't take into account that you'll probably working harder than usual in a SHTF scenario. I'd suggest to try and stock up on enough water to last you a month based off of 2 gallons a day. Rather than going for a 55 gallon drum (or two) like a lot of people do I highly suggest getting 5 or 7 gallon water containers. Water is roughly 8lbs per gallon so even those smaller containers can get heavy to move. The most cost efficient ones I've found are the aquatainers from amazon. Obviously the big thing with that is storage so you'll be in an awkward position trying to find space for that!
Water cubes are cheap, stackable and can be stored away from your house. The water heater trick is great unless your house burns down or it tips over the ruptures.
They sell stabilization kits that'll keep the water drinkable for 5+ years, also not expensive. Just remember to label them with the date and set a reminder to refill them.
Yeah I am actually on a well now but I don't drink that water either. Too close too the river. I like to buy water and store it in something like this
Lots of us planned to do that, however all of the large water storage containers are also sold out locally, on backorder on Amazon, or Amazon is allowing price gouging on the containers that are available. Check out these aquatainers that normally sell for ~$15: Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.D9Rzb8Q5JZ3R
yep. These have a built in spigot and have come in handy during water stoppages. Otherwise, they just sit in a corner of storage space. It's been exactly a year since I last swapped the water and it tasted just fine last time I tried it.
I agree with everybody else, you are screwed if you try to fit everybody and gear in one car.
But to answer your question, I come from Seattle, so the "Water Stores" I use are also good ones you can use.
Klamath Falls is the last decent sized town before Black Rock city. There's a Fred Meyer and a Wal-Mart where you can buy flimsy plastic gallon jugs.
I have a bunch of heavy duty jugs and I fill them up at one of 2 places:
1) About 20 miles South of Klamath Falls, look for Eagle's nest rv park in Tionesta California. The turn off is tiny and poorly marked by a ratty cardboard sign. The owners are burner friendly and will let you camp, shower, and fill your containers for free.
2) In Alturas Across the street from Subway there's a small mom and pop grocery store. If you buy some stuff, they'll let you fill up your water from their hose outside.
3???) There might be a place in Cedarville where you can get water, but I've never checked.
Seeing as both wildfires and power outages are going hand in hand, I want to repost an FAQ I wrote from last year for wildfire safety, updated with some power outage info. I'll be updating and simplifying this as time allows - hopefully it's comprehensive.
EDIT: Exceeded word count, I extended it into the comment responses. Check Table of Contents for whatever info you care about.
TL;DR SUMMARY:
Wildfires - Enhance awareness by checking fires and AQI, and buy/wear a valved N95-rated respirator (NOT a regular surgical mask). Most importantly, ensure a proper fit/seal if you don't want short or long term respiratory problems/failure.
Power Outages - Stay informed. Prepare 2 weeks worth of water and cash. Move things to fridge/freezer for up to 48 hours of storage.
Evacuations - Sonoma County is currently being evacuated as the Kincade Wildfire razes homes to the ground. Cal Maritime Academy was evacuated yesterday (10-27) due to the Vallejo ("Glen Cove") Fire. You decide if you want to prepare for evacuation - details below if so.
What's going on with power outages?
PG&E is implementing PSPS, "Public Safety Power Shutoffs", during times of high fire risk (dry, high winds), in an attempt to prevent wildfires.
​
How do I stay up to date about power outage information? Am I affected?
Official City of Berkeley webpage about PG&E outages.
PG&E outage map - use to check if you're out of power.
PG&E's Twitter may be a better information source if high traffic causes other websites to go down.
Other alternative sources available here.
What's on fire right now?
Official California wildfire maps here. A colored highlighted section will appear when a fire perimeter for a significant fire is created. Incidents not covered by CalFire (the state fire department) are listed as "Not a CAL FIRE Incident", in which you can click on it to find out which local city fire department will have more information. Status updates and evacuation orders are listed under each fire's specific page.
​
Tell me about the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
Official EPA AQI website here. The AQI is a metric used to measure air quality and certain pollutants, such as PM2.5 and ozone.
Unofficial AQI site - PurpleAir. Not government official, but there are significantly more sensors that are higher resolution and generally more accurate.
You should wear a respirator for an AQI of about 150 or above.
​
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 refers to fine dust particles less than 2.5 microns/micrometers in diameter - these are the particles that come from heavy pollution (see: China) and wildfires (see: California). In short, they damage your respiratory systems like no tomorrow (depending on concentration and duration of exposure) for both short term (asthma, heart attacks) and long term (respiratory disease risk increase). Source. Source 2.
These particles are microscopic and cannot be seen, which means the best way you should check if you need to protect from it is to check an official AQI source, NOT simply check if it's smog/smokey outside. (FYI context - the average virus is 0.3 microns in size.)
What are other major risks to be aware of?
​
Water
Running water may suddenly stop. Water utilities are vulnerable to both power outages and wildfires - lack of power to run pump equipment, and water redistribution to firefighting efforts will cause water outages.
EBMUD (East Bay Municipality Utility District) website.
​
Prepare - Have 1 gallon of water per person, per day, for 2 weeks of self reliance. If you don't have that much storage, fill as many bottles as you can. Then buy water storage containers such as Aquatainers (cheap, larger capacity) or jerry-can style water containers (more durable, better leak-proof, and smaller capacity + handle design = easier to lift and move to your car. Water is HEAVY.).
​
Cash
Credit card readers and ATMs may not work, and stores will begin to only accept cash. In addition to power outages, network outages will disable the verification process credit cards - so even if you have power, credit card readers will not work.
​
Prepare - Have a backup reserve of physical cash on hand for at LEAST 2 weeks worth of expenses. Smaller bills are better.
​
Internet
Wi-Fi and power outages are not directly correlated to each other.
If there is internet coming to your building, but your building has no power, you can still use your Wi-Fi network if you can run your modem/router on backup power somehow.
If the ISP network center, which sends the internet to your building, is experiencing power outage issues, then you will have Wi-Fi outages, even if your building has power.
Source for most of the respirator info - very long but thorough.
If there's more info to add or correct, feel free to comment and I'll edit this. Hope this helps everyone - stay safe out there.
This seems like a good place for a PSA:
Emergencies typically require one of two responses:
SHELTER-IN-PLACE (snowstorm, blackout, earthquake)
FLEE (fire, tsunami, attack)
When I assembled my kits, one of the most helpful pieces of advice I got was that "a kit is useless if you can't access it". For me, I am 90% of the time either at home or near my car so it makes sense to have a bug-out bag in both places. If SHTF while I'm at work or on the road, my kit at home is not going to do me any good.
Emergency preparedness goes beyond "did I buy the right things?" and has much more to do with the practical realities of emergencies. A good example someone else pointed out: having a giant water reservoir is great but won't do you any good if your water gets cut off before you can fill it. Similarly, having a car is great but won't do you any good if the roads are too clogged to drive. Solution? Make your bug-out bag light enough to carry comfortably and take the Heel-Toe Express out of town.
Bought some pickle buckets to store water in.
...
Nah I'm kidding I made an Amazon wishlist of stuff we need and ordered a few things like this 7 gallon container to test out.
Buy water storage jugs from camping supply sections or amazon prime and fill them with tap water.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_0jSRzb8EWX3BY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GKDFH4/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_0kSRzb4TS9GW0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KX1DLCY/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_CjSRzbVPGKN0C
I'd recommend getting some dedicated water storage; water bottles just aren't meant to be stored long term. They're great to have in a pinch (especially if you use them daily,) but if you have the space, I'd advice getting something like this, which you can rotate every 6 months to a year.
7 gal. container
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
Also a great thing to have; a water liner/bladder for your tub. If you have a bit of warning, you can fill up your tub with drinkable water. (1 time use without a bit of in-depth sterilizing.)
https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=water+storage&qid=1596410745&sr=8-5
As u/lennyflank said, have a mechanic go through any used van. You can typically find an ASE certified mechanic that will do a 'pre-purchase inspection' for around $150-200 under the services/automotive category of your local Craigslist(maybe even cheaper in your area).
As far as not having a shower or toilet, you're going to want some form of the latter at least for emergencies. There are a couple of folding stool/bag setups, or the Reliance Hassock that provides an extra movable seat/foot rest.
For a shower, the solar ones work in the right weather or you can heat some water to add when the sun isn't cooperating. Stuff happens and you might not want to run to the gym last minute to wash up. That brings me to water and a stove.
A water system can be as simple as an Aqua-tainer or two and a hand pump. Having some water on hand is kinda important for basic sanitation needs though. Wet wipes only go so far. You don't need to go built in with a stove either, I used a 2 burner butane camp stove and it served its purpose. Having some way of heating foods means you can keep a couple cans of chicken noodle soup around for those days you feel like $#!+ and don't want to leave the van for a hot meal.
My E-250 conversion had been partially camperized by the previous owner. He removed the middle row captains chairs, built a small galley out of a long bathroom vanity base with a fridge/foot pump sink along the drivers side and replaced the rear electric folding bench/bed with a permanent bed platform. Lastly he installed a passenger side seat swivel, DC-DC charger, 100ah AGM battery and roof vent. Would I buy the van again? Yes and no.
Having started as a conversion van it already had decent insulation, nice screened and venting windows plus decent overhead storage in the 'TV' top. The build was simple and reliable, though I did end up replacing the single 100ah battery with two. The single battery was fine for his weekend use, and even our own similar usage, but when my then GF and I spent six months traveling in the van it was a little lacking since there was no solar and we sat still more often(I think 100ah of lithium would have been fine). If I were looking for something already built for weekend/roadtrip/vacation use/solo part timing I would absolutely buy that van again. Besides the simplicity lending to reliability of the camper components, the previous owner did a great job going so far as to even match the stain on the galley with the nice wood trim from the conversion company.
Today, having spent 6 months in that van with another person(who was under 5' tall), for anything more than a month I would build something much more substantial. Seven gallons of fresh water just doesn't cut it for me, I(5'10") would want to be able to stand up straight with room to spare, would want a way to shower INSIDE the van and would want more storage for multi season clothing/outdoor gear. I would also install a real RV style propane tank, water heater and fixed stove. The portable butane stove we used worked fine, but finding cans wasn't always the easiest and I don't like the idea of propane tanks inside the van.
Unless I was planning to boondock a lot on BLM land, I would probably still skip a solar install since they easily draw more attention to an already noticeable high top. A 60A DC-DC charger alone can make short work of topping off 200ah's of lithium batteries if you move every day. I would also consider adding shore power/charging and an A/C unit built into the high top a la Roadtrek Class B's. But that's me.
I honestly think, from what you describe, my old van would have worked well for you and what you want(part time and basic). You said you really didn't need a stove or water system, but they are nice to have and don't need to be complicated at all. The build in my van wasn't elaborate nor something the average person couldn't replicate on a budget with a little research. The water 'tanks' were just Aquatainers hooked to a bar sink installed in a vanity that was contoured to fit the van wall. The bed platform was simple 2x4 and plywood construction with a 3/4 full(4'x6') futon mattress on top, and the stove was a portable butane unit as previously mentioned. If you're under 5'5" you probably could have even stood up in my van.
The Aqua-Tainers leak a bit when you use the spout. An o-ring will fix the problem.
The o-ring size is: 1-1/16" OD x 7/8" ID x 3/32" thick, (#17 O-ring)
It fits perfectly on the spout of the 7 gallon Aqua-Tainers:
Having been without power or water for 55+ hours last year in Texas...
*Have lots of backup water
*Generator if, possible
*Food
*Alcohol stove, can be used for cooking and heat safely indoors
*Hand sanitizer
*Hand crank radio/light/battery
*Water purification method, like a lifestraw
*Mylar blankets
*Hard copy resources like local maps, generator user guide, how to distill water, etc.
I also wish we had a tent or built a blanket fort to hole up in to trap our body heat.
www.ready.gov is a great resource!
Two of these: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/
I use Aqua-Tainers. Had them as a fire lookout, use them now in an apartment. 7 gallon rigid water storage with a spout- not stackable.
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
Deal link: Amazon (additional 15% off coupon on app)
Category-wise subreddits for Amazon Deals:
Category | Subreddit |
---|---|
Electronics | /r/Deals_Electronics |
Computers and Accessories | /r/Deals_Computers |
Video Games | /r/Deals_VideoGames |
Home Improvement | /r/Deals_HomeImprovement |
Clothing and Accessories | /r/Deals_Apparel |
Grocery | /r/Deals_Grocery |
Discord Server: Instant deal notifications on our Discord Server!
Amazon Canada Deals: /r/OnlineDealsCanada
Disclaimer: The deal links are affiliated. We may earn a small share on qualifying purchases. It does not affect the deal price in any way.
Do you refill them yourself?
I'm talking about exchanging them at the store.
For my own refills, I have three of these: https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6/
​
But my question was about how long I can store the ones I buy and don't break the seal.
Most water containers are not meant for long-term storage. Buy some dedicated water-storage containers. Aqua-Tainers are good ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
Thanks, I got the tank from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QC31G6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The easiest thing to do is just carry a few jugs, hoses and a water bandit hose attachment with you. You can also grab an RV filter if you want. Helps with taste. These are the things I suggest below.
Jug: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_8Fk0FbZBV7XVZ
Hose attachment ( for non-threaded spigots you find): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EDOSKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_OLk0Fb2TJ8FBG
Determine the most likely scenario (or two) that you can foresee happening and start to prepare for that. For me, that is a sudden job loss, or a sudden injury/illness that would result in time away from work. To prep for that, I've worked on an emergency fund that will cover at least 1 month of expenses without changing my spending habits (knowing that I can cut down on some spending if necessary) and at least a month's worth of food in the house. If I have enough cash to cover one month without changing anything, I can immediately cut back on unnecessary subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and immediately cut back on groceries if I have a good stock in the house already. Cutting back on those items should give me a bit of a cash buffer to cover the cost of traveling for a job interview, or visiting a family member in the hospital.
If I had to choose between setting up the cash fund and securing groceries, I would set up the cash fund. However, there are many charities and foodbank options in my area to help with food shortage. You need to find the right balance for you. Your pantry can be increased slowly for just an extra $5 per week if you stock shelf-stable items.
Storing at least a few gallons of water is a good idea. You may have the water main shut off for a few hours with no notice and it's nice to be able to wash up and keep clean. I like to repurpose half-gallon juice containers, 1 gallon Gatorade jugs, liquor bottles, and wine bottles for water storage. I have Aqua-Tainers for drinking water (https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=aquatainer&qid=1605391925&sr=8-1).
Another likely scenario for me, is power loss for more than 12 hours, but fewer than 3 days (caused by storms). I have a few items prepped for that (lanterns, flashlights, solar phone chargers, etc.) and will be adding to it after our most recent power outage. We lost power for about 18 hours. The outside temperature was 15F. The house we are renting is poorly insulated and it got down to 30F inside overnight. It was not pleasant. Because of that, I'm adding some more wool blankets to my prep. I have some in my truck, but will now have some in the house. At least our gas stove was functioning and we were able to make coffee with the French press.
What's your budget like?
Those monthly food buckets like this one for anywhere from $100 to $150: https://www.beprepared.com/emergency-essentials-30-day-1-person-emergency-food-kit-qss-certified (takes 15 gallons to rehydrate)
And those 7-gallon water jugs from a place like Walmart or Amazon approx $15: https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6/
I did the apartment prep on a difficult budget once and instead of the monthly food bucket I had a 25 lb bag of rice at the grocery store, some freeze dried vegetables and jerky from a place like the first website listed, and water containers like the second link.
Not ideal but it'll keep you alive.
$15 right now. Thanks
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dBDCFbEV3E9BH
In my experience, the collapsible water jugs don't last long and are prone to leaking.
I like these containers instead:
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
They don't have an o-ring on the spigot which can cause leaks when dispensing. You can fix this with a #17 O-ring: 1-1/16" OD x 7/8" ID x 3/32" thick.
A good backpacking water filter such as a Sawyer Mini or Lifestraw work well for a reliable, inexpensive, but low volume, filtration option. Both of these are on sale on Amazon at the moment ($12-$16).
These are pretty well liked in the camping community, and they are pretty well made IMO
This is a more common shape
​
I've got a pair of the reliance desert tanks. They have poor reviews, but I've been bouncing them around the desert for about 5 years without a leak.
I used a marine type freshwater pump that lifts the water. Needs power. Other wise get a diferant reliance can with pipe thread in the cap. https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
I've got a stack of these, filled:
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Aqua-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B001QC31G6
This model previously had a pretty weak spout that was easy to break if you handle it with the spout out (it's normally stowed on the inside of the screw-cap).
These containers are to get our household of 3 people through a short-term problem.
On top of that, I have a Sawyer Squeeze and a Platypus gravity filter system: http://www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus/filtration/gravityworks-40l-filter/product
These are for medium-term use. I've also got a map of fresh water reservoirs nearby.
And, last, but not least -- purification tablets since they're cheap and very portable.
For me, none of it feels like wasted money. I also camp and hike, so the filtration gear gets used for that as well.