I just stumbled on this video, and want to thank you for it. We currently live full time in a trailer (5th wheel toy hauler), moving from one location to another, anything from overnight to a few months. At some point though, we want to settle down again, and something off-grid would be great. I love the idea of a raised tote to act like a water tower. Maybe we'll end up doing roof cachement for our main supply, with lower and larger totes for storage, I don't know. But whatever we do, I appreciate the good explanation of your system. The way you use a battery-powered pump to catch up the supply is ingenious. I assume you then slow-charge that battery so it's ready for next time. So much of independent living is "making do", and the more people sharing their creativity on that, the better.
Be whatever it be, I think its a great system, cover the storage tank maybe so no algae buildup. Very smooth deal ..except you need to loosen the drag on the windup reel for the intake at the lake. I have had it happen to me when drawing water for the firetruck. People never mention water or even miss it till its not there and then it goes panic mode quick. Nice video, looks like you are giving it a good try so hit that sub marker and like button for what ever its worth....
Lol. Great comment. Made me laugh. Ty so much for the great words. I’ve been busy with work and have not had the opportunity to make content lately. I’ve been at the off grid cabin all week and have recorded video. More great stuff coming soon. Stay tuned
our bath house tank is the same style tank. We use a 12 volt pump instead of gravity to take showers and the sink, but that tank full lasts us a couple weeks, It is great. Next year we plan to do rain collection now that we have a cabin to catch it off of. Nice little set up you have. ALSO....jealous of your shoreline, LOL. Best wishes
I likely filmed this video the weekend before upload on April 26th. You must get to your retreat a lot more then I do. Last weekend I looked and I just went below my electrical tape marker I put on for this video with last weekends trailer tank fill up. I often shower in the lake. But do all dishes and hand washing and 50% daily showers. No toilet I use an outhouse. I had two weeks of vacation and have been there every weekend for over a month too. I think I refilled it once. That’s 4 months of water use on two tanks. Sure you don’t have a leak? Yes I really lucked out with water. Got in just in time. Just before covid. All lots are sold now and selling at more then double what I paid!!
@@IndependentOffGridRetreat ya we have two people showering daily for two weeks, it drains the water down pretty quick in comparison to just watching dishes and such.
Thanks for the video. I'm getting ready to add a solar pump (RPS brand) to my well and I'm going to pump to an uphill tank (which I still need to buy). I've been eyeballing those totes like you have. They're about $200 where I live. I'm shooting to have my tank about as high as the top of my trailer. I'll probably build a little platform for the tank to sit on. Something like yours but shorter. Have a great summer.
Nice setup. Would it be less work for the pump it you were to add a diversion valve at the tank so that you could fill the tank from the top instead of the pump having to work against the back pressure as the tank fills?
I’m testing it. I know the sun should cause algae to grow. But I’ve had a white plastic 50 gallon drum out and hasn’t grown any yet 🤷♂️. Thanks for the suggestion.
I bought a two story house, off grid, it has a sprinkler on the roof(one of those rotating heads) not sure what the previous owner used for a pump. I wonder if this would provide enough pressure to keep the roof wet? until the FD shows up....its about a 20' drop to the lake which is 60' from the house. I also have one of those fire packages on a dolly(pump , hose, nozzle etc...Thanks for the video.
I don’t think there would be enough volume to activate the hammer thing that moves the sprinkler. I would recommend a gas pump for fire protection. Likely like the one you have on the dolly. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. 🍻
No sir. While empty I tied a rope to the back of the bottom of the tank and leaned 16’ 2x4’s up against the top of the tower. I wrapped the rope around over the back of the top and back thru the front to me thru the middle. I pushed the tote while I pulled the rope continuously untill it was on the top then pulled the 2x4 out
Lag bolts is what I used to attach the legs to the platform. The platform itself was assembled with nails as well as the cross bracing. I did use some screws to help quickly hold things together but all were replaced and had nails added at their locations. Screws are great in a pinch but if you bend a nail in half it’ll fold and back and forth a few times before it will snap. Most screws will snap off during the first bend. Not recommended to use screws for anything other then hanging a picture. :). In time a structure under load will eventually snap screws off as the building stresses under changing loads. Hope this helps. And thanks for checking out the channel.
Hi. I found mine in Facebook marketplace from someone in Toronto. They are usually listed there or on Kijiji perhaps Craig’s list. It’s called an ibc food grade tote 80-120 bucks . 🍻
Hi Larry. Welcome to the channel. This is not a winter system. In the fall I will winterize all the ball valves, lines and empty the tank. In the winter I get my water with a bucket from the lake.
@@larrythomas3624 np this is a community I’m glad to share. sometimes simple is better. Everything had advantages n drawbacks. I’d be interested in your ideas. Let me know what you decide to do
In the winter time I still use my trailer. Come late fall I winterize my trailer shut off and winterize the pumps. Empty my tower tank and blow out the water from the above ground waterline. I leave all the ball valves open so they don’t burst and crack. I use a five gallon water jug and a ladle to get water through the ice for washing dishes which I do in two plastic plastic containers and water I heated on the propane cooktop. One container for soap one for rinsing. Dumping the water outside when I’m done. I buy drinking water in 3l or 1 gallon jugs for coffee and drinking. I clean myself using the same method but use very little soap and a face cloth so I don’t have to rinse as much. My dad used to call it a spit shower cause you only use a spit worth of water to wet clean and rinse yourself. :) It’s quite primitive but doable. The insulated bunkie that I’m building in my other videos is Definitely the way to go for winter camping. No trailer I’ve ever seen has enough insulation to comfortably use in temps below freezing. I’ve spent up to a week at the trailer. Winter trailer camping is quite hard on the unit. The poorly insulated walls and colder temps outside cause a lot of condensation to form.
No filters. There is a large screen on my foot valve which as you seen I have elevated off the bottom of the water with a milk crate. Then my trailer pump has a sand filter on the intake. I have thought about buying a couple canister filters so I can drink the water. Now that I’m building the cabin I’ll wait until I have a spot to put it in there.
Good work mate, simple to the point and you seem like a wholesome dude, thank you for your time
Thanks for watching. All the best
I just stumbled on this video, and want to thank you for it. We currently live full time in a trailer (5th wheel toy hauler), moving from one location to another, anything from overnight to a few months. At some point though, we want to settle down again, and something off-grid would be great. I love the idea of a raised tote to act like a water tower. Maybe we'll end up doing roof cachement for our main supply, with lower and larger totes for storage, I don't know. But whatever we do, I appreciate the good explanation of your system. The way you use a battery-powered pump to catch up the supply is ingenious. I assume you then slow-charge that battery so it's ready for next time. So much of independent living is "making do", and the more people sharing their creativity on that, the better.
100%. I appreciate you kind words and logic. Make do with what you go that’s what I say too
Howdy! I love your calm, measured, mellifluous voice.
Oh....and the water-pumping information.
From Louise in Adelaide, Australia 🦘
Thanks Louise!! Howdy back!! Look at you stealing hearts and handing out smiles. Thanks for making my day. 🍻
Excellent system and beautiful video. Good job!
Ty for your kind words sir
For every 28 inches you get 1 psi. I think that was a cracking fact! Thanks very much for the video.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🍻
Like grandpa would say that's finer than frog hair that's one nice Tower
Thanks man. Pretty slick easy way to get water. Welcome to the channel.
Be whatever it be, I think its a great system, cover the storage tank maybe so no algae buildup. Very smooth deal ..except you need to loosen the drag on the windup reel for the intake at the lake. I have had it happen to me when drawing water for the firetruck. People never mention water or even miss it till its not there and then it goes panic mode quick. Nice video, looks like you are giving it a good try so hit that sub marker and like button for what ever its worth....
Lol. Great comment. Made me laugh. Ty so much for the great words. I’ve been busy with work and have not had the opportunity to make content lately. I’ve been at the off grid cabin all week and have recorded video. More great stuff coming soon. Stay tuned
our bath house tank is the same style tank. We use a 12 volt pump instead of gravity to take showers and the sink, but that tank full lasts us a couple weeks, It is great. Next year we plan to do rain collection now that we have a cabin to catch it off of. Nice little set up you have. ALSO....jealous of your shoreline, LOL. Best wishes
I likely filmed this video the weekend before upload on April 26th. You must get to your retreat a lot more then I do. Last weekend I looked and I just went below my electrical tape marker I put on for this video with last weekends trailer tank fill up. I often shower in the lake. But do all dishes and hand washing and 50% daily showers. No toilet I use an outhouse. I had two weeks of vacation and have been there every weekend for over a month too.
I think I refilled it once. That’s 4 months of water use on two tanks. Sure you don’t have a leak?
Yes I really lucked out with water. Got in just in time. Just before covid. All lots are sold now and selling at more then double what I paid!!
@@IndependentOffGridRetreat ya we have two people showering daily for two weeks, it drains the water down pretty quick in comparison to just watching dishes and such.
Thanks for the video. I'm getting ready to add a solar pump (RPS brand) to my well and I'm going to pump to an uphill tank (which I still need to buy). I've been eyeballing those totes like you have. They're about $200 where I live. I'm shooting to have my tank about as high as the top of my trailer. I'll probably build a little platform for the tank to sit on. Something like yours but shorter. Have a great summer.
Thanks Dan. It’s a simple setup that works great. Hope you also have a great summer and your installation goes well. 🍻
Nice setup. Would it be less work for the pump it you were to add a diversion valve at the tank so that you could fill the tank from the top instead of the pump having to work against the back pressure as the tank fills?
good job jeff !
Well ty sir :)
you need to paint that water tank black , good video
I’m testing it. I know the sun should cause algae to grow. But I’ve had a white plastic 50 gallon drum out and hasn’t grown any yet 🤷♂️. Thanks for the suggestion.
You can add a little chlorine to the water to deal with any algae.
@@polarbear4612 yes thanks. I’ve also heard hydrogen peroxide will help with this.
I bought a two story house, off grid, it has a sprinkler on the roof(one of those rotating heads) not sure what the previous owner used for a pump. I wonder if this would provide enough pressure to keep the roof wet? until the FD shows up....its about a 20' drop to the lake which is 60' from the house. I also have one of those fire packages on a dolly(pump , hose, nozzle etc...Thanks for the video.
I don’t think there would be enough volume to activate the hammer thing that moves the sprinkler. I would recommend a gas pump for fire protection. Likely like the one you have on the dolly.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video. 🍻
Go with a diesel water pump especially if you pump water from a bore. A diesel pump will fill your tank in just a few minutes.
🤔 how did you get that IBC tank on top of your tower, you got yourself a forklift in the middle of nowhere?
No sir. While empty I tied a rope to the back of the bottom of the tank and leaned 16’ 2x4’s up against the top of the tower. I wrapped the rope around over the back of the top and back thru the front to me thru the middle. I pushed the tote while I pulled the rope continuously untill it was on the top then pulled the 2x4 out
Lag bolts, nails or screws to built tower?
Lag bolts is what I used to attach the legs to the platform. The platform itself was assembled with nails as well as the cross bracing. I did use some screws to help quickly hold things together but all were replaced and had nails added at their locations.
Screws are great in a pinch but if you bend a nail in half it’ll fold and back and forth a few times before it will snap. Most screws will snap off during the first bend.
Not recommended to use screws for anything other then hanging a picture. :). In time a structure under load will eventually snap screws off as the building stresses under changing loads.
Hope this helps. And thanks for checking out the channel.
Where can I find the tank your useing
Hi. I found mine in Facebook marketplace from someone in Toronto. They are usually listed there or on Kijiji perhaps Craig’s list. It’s called an ibc food grade tote 80-120 bucks . 🍻
Very interesting! What about issues with the system freezing?
Hi Larry. Welcome to the channel. This is not a winter system. In the fall I will winterize all the ball valves, lines and empty the tank. In the winter I get my water with a bucket from the lake.
@@IndependentOffGridRetreat Thanks for responding! It’s got me thinking. I’m just getting started, but I like the set up.
@@larrythomas3624 np this is a community I’m glad to share.
sometimes simple is better. Everything had advantages n drawbacks.
I’d be interested in your ideas. Let me know what you decide to do
What do you do at below freezing temps?
In the winter time I still use my trailer.
Come late fall I winterize my trailer shut off and winterize the pumps. Empty my tower tank and blow out the water from the above ground waterline. I leave all the ball valves open so they don’t burst and crack.
I use a five gallon water jug and a ladle to get water through the ice for washing dishes which I do in two plastic plastic containers and water I heated on the propane cooktop. One container for soap one for rinsing. Dumping the water outside when I’m done. I buy drinking water in 3l or 1 gallon jugs for coffee and drinking.
I clean myself using the same method but use very little soap and a face cloth so I don’t have to rinse as much. My dad used to call it a spit shower cause you only use a spit worth of water to wet clean and rinse yourself. :)
It’s quite primitive but doable. The insulated bunkie that I’m building in my other videos is Definitely the way to go for winter camping. No trailer I’ve ever seen has enough insulation to comfortably use in temps below freezing.
I’ve spent up to a week at the trailer. Winter trailer camping is quite hard on the unit. The poorly insulated walls and colder temps outside cause a lot of condensation to form.
@@IndependentOffGridRetreat To tough for me, I just move my rv where it's warmer
@@safffff1000 I wish. I’m Canadian. So there is no escaping the winter especially during covid travel lockdowns.
How is the water filtered from lake to trailer?
No filters. There is a large screen on my foot valve which as you seen I have elevated off the bottom of the water with a milk crate. Then my trailer pump has a sand filter on the intake. I have thought about buying a couple canister filters so I can drink the water. Now that I’m building the cabin I’ll wait until I have a spot to put it in there.
Is that pump expensive
If I remember correctly I paid 271+tax Canadian.