Water storage for the automobile.

Sufler

Sufler

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Messages
1,886
I kept a water jug (1 gallon) in the trunk of my car all throughout the summer. Once winter came, the jug froze and unfroze and it spilled all over the inside of the tote I had it in (which had luckily contained the spill). I thought that it had probably cracked when the water expanded but there were no cracks in the jug - must have seeped through the cap.

Can you recommend a year-round water storage alternative for the car? Stainless Nalgene Guyot bottles were my first thought, but as we know their distributions has been temporarily halted.

I'm think the run-of-the-mill uncoated stainless bottles from WalMart, actually. Fill 3/4 full for the water to expand when frozen.

Thoughts, comments appreciated.

Thanks!

:thumbup:
 
I used to do the 1 gal jugs from the store until they all ruptureed and leaked. They're to fragile and difficult to refill. So I switched over to the Scepter MilSpec 2.5 gal military containers in green of course. They rock! Locking lids, bombproof plastic, wide mouth for easy cleaning and refill, plus small screw on/ off lid with vent for pouring, solid handle, flat square for easy storage. Also I can drop my filter into the wide opening to filter water from a roadside or mountain stream.

For giggles I intentionally placed them in the vehicle upside down and left other gear loose to slide into them to see if they'd leak or puncture. Nope. The 1 gal jugs collapse from temp variations, and elevation changes. They are just a target for a buddy to throw his ruck or axe onto or for the wife to lay her new potting table on top only to leak. Hard core containers for me from now on!
 
Last edited:
I just buy those plastic wrapped 24 packs of water from the grocery store. I drink them over the course of a month or so at work and then replace as they run low.

Having multiple small containers seems more versatile, and the disposable bottles don't seem to split if they freeze.
 
Water expands with unbelievable force when it freezes. I've seen it break through a stainless steel bottle. The best way around this it to leave some space in the bottle, no matter what it's made of, for this expansion. Put a Nalgene bottle in your freezer, with it half full, to get an idea of how much expansion there is. then you'll have some idea of how much space to leave.

If you use bottled water (commercial) they'll be overfilled for this. You'll have to dump some out to create the needed space.
 
Stainless would certainly be a better bet than plastic. The cap would also need to be stainless. Like Lou said, leave some space...about 10% should do.
 
I just carry 2 six packs of .5 liter bottled water if they freeze the smaller bottles will take it. I use the one i carry and replace them every 3 months $1.69 a six pack
Roy
 
Get one of those 1 gallon Coleman jugs and fill it up everyday and take it with you. Drink it all day and repeat the next day.
 
I really need to add some water to the PowernoodleMobile. I've got many other things covered, and especially handy is a plastic coffee can with lid (and toilet paper inside) for carsick kids, emergency bathroom and transporting a little gas. But if you are stuck in traffic for a few hours or worse, having a few 0.5 liter water bottles would be very handy. I definitely need to do that.
 
I currently have 6 frozen gallons of Poland Spring in the capped bed of my truck.
Same thing last year, they are in the cardboard carton they came in...the thawed with no damage.

I had though to pour out some water and retape the tops on with Gorilla tape.

You can wrap a gallon in a few garbage bags and then in a fleece blanket and store it in the passenger area.
 
Freezing expansion is what prompted me years ago to carry a flexible water bag in my winter canoing adventures. It is basicly a double layered food grade plastic bag inside a nylon carrier bag. Freezing causes no leaks or other damage. And the dark outer bag promoted thawing. They were precursors to the Camelbak. Search "Sea To Summit Pack Tap".
 
Wow! Those 2.5 gallon cans are the bomb! I'll be getting one for my canoe this spring instead of the water bag. The price isn't bad considering.
 
Quirt said:
I used to do the 1 gal jugs from the store until they all ruptureed and leaked. They're to fragile and difficult to refill. So I switched over to the Scepter MilSpec 2.5 gal military containers in green of course. They rock! Locking lids, bombproof plastic, wide mouth for easy cleaning and refill, plus small screw on/ off lid with vent for pouring, solid handle, flat square for easy storage. Also I can drop my filter into the wide opening to filter water from a roadside or mountain stream.

For giggles I intentionally placed them in the vehicle upside down and left other gear loose to slide into them to see if they'd leak or puncture. Nope. The 1 gal jugs collapse from temp variations, and elevation changes. They are just a target for a buddy to throw his ruck or axe onto or for the wife to lay her new potting table on top only to leak. Hard core containers for me from now on!
Click to expand...

Very interesting products. So, you've never had an issue with them freezing? Do you leave any space for expansion?

Thanks.
 
No worries bros, just use 2 liter soda bottles and squish them in about 2" before you put the cap on. Even better, if you can find purified water at your store in 2 liter bottles, just do the same. Tap water tastes nasty after awhile, but you can live off of it (high desert here).
 
I used to fill 2-liter bottles with water and freeze them instead of buying sack ice to put in my ice chest. They never broke in the freezer, in fact I would pound them with a hammer to bust up the ice and still have to cut them open. I keep a case of bottled water in the jeep year round with never a leak.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top