Spare Tire Cavity

B

Bigbugberg

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I come from the motorcycle world where every square in inch of space is exploited. So lets say you mount your spare on the rear bumper. What are people putting in the vacated spare tire space?

Aux fuel? Water? Tools?
 
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Sweet! My Google search found nothing on this site.
Not a fan of rotopax. Seen too many failures in the field on motorcycles.
Vibration kills.
 
On expedition portal there's a thread from a guy who had a custom 38gal fuel tank made by a shop in Bend Oregon. That's what I'd do.
 
Great question. I have been debating this for far too long. For fuel now I use the Rotopax x3 4 gallon cells. Its gets me about half a tank. They're a pain and I still haven't worked out how to use them without getting gasoline on your hands as a result I believe it to be impossible. The time you take them off, set them up to poor, wait 5 minutes for them to empty, put them back, it is at least a 20 min operation for all three. However I would rather that as my source for auxiliary fuel. I have only ever used the full 12 gallons twice on a trip and it's been plenty sufficient. 38 Gal tank under there... that's 230+ pounds of fuel swishing around. Im not so sure about that and personally I don't have the need for a 38 gal tank other than pure laziness.

So now that I have mentioned why I'm not going down the aux fuel path, Im going to tell you what I plan on putting there which is a 15 Gal water tank which really becomes to 13 Gallons. The weight of a full tank is 108.55 pounds. So the intention to have the tank underneath was to have hot showers while traveling. Yes there's many other options ranging from propane heated shower kits, to garden sprayers to a plastic tube on your roof but most of them require set-up and time and a resource. This setup up would be plug and shower with instant hot water. The tank water will be heated via a Heat Exchanger mounted in the engine bay which is heated through the coolant passing through in a separate chamber. The water then runs through a different chamber being heated while it passes. (POISONOUS TO DRINK BECAUSE OF THE COPPER) the water then runs back to the tank to do the same thing over and over again until the desired temperature is reached. This set-up will work systematically whilst driving along or whilst engine is running.

I have been doing some test's of recent and I'm about 35% the way through of completing this setup.

So long story short that's what I'm doing with the empty cavity where the factory spare tire used to be. :yo:
 
[MENTION=51868]MeBe4running[/MENTION] Did you switch spouts yet on your rotopax? Once I switched to the international fuel spout my issues with the fuel canister were pretty much gone.

We need to catch up... I'll email you over the weekend!

Okki
 
If I recall correctly, didn't ARB build a custom water tank into the spare tire cavity? Not sure if it was for drinking or just showers, but I like that idea.

Could just keep the extra spare, and do a 5 wheel rotation with the rear mounted tire, I think that would be my option. All depends on needs & desired missions for the vehicle.
 
[MENTION=18472]MEB[/MENTION]E..

thinking out loud (smell something burning?)

I think that space would be suited as well as a stainless steel tank with some quick disconnects AT-Accessories-Shower would be a nice addition. Obviously an easy way to drain it and clean it out would be helpful as well. I think that page contains a heat exchanges as well..but I don't think we have that kind of real estate left under the hood.

I wouldn't be against cutting a fill hole and/or a quick connect on the side of the truck...God knows you never have enough water
 
Titanpat57 said:
...God knows you never have enough water
Click to expand...

How about the "water of the gods"... and stick a low profile keg in there! :frog:

Antman cupholders... onboard keg... and I saw a hitchmount smoker on the internet.... ahhwww yeaaahhhh..

Okki

okay... now back to your regularly scheduled serious programming.
 
Titanpat57 said:
[MENTION=18472]MEB[/MENTION]E..

thinking out loud (smell something burning?)

I think that space would be suited as well as a stainless steel tank with some quick disconnects AT-Accessories-Shower would be a nice addition. Obviously an easy way to drain it and clean it out would be helpful as well. I think that page contains a heat exchanges as well..but I don't think we have that kind of real estate left under the hood.

I wouldn't be against cutting a fill hole and/or a quick connect on the side of the truck...God knows you never have enough water
Click to expand...

What's wrong with making a bladder for temporary use underneath?
 
1engineer said:
What's wrong with making a bladder for temporary use underneath?
Click to expand...

A bladder as in some kind of rubber/flexible bag? What if something pokes a hole in it while driving since it's mounted underneath and completely exposed? :)

It's really amazing to hear about all these crafty ideas you guys come up with here, next thing you know someone going to figure out how to install a portable john.
 
eddiebx said:
It's really amazing to hear about all these crafty ideas you guys come up with here, next thing you know someone going to figure out how to install a portable john.
Click to expand...

Bladder from 1E,
Compressor to create vacuum,
Hose,
Appropriately sized funnel,

Sounds like a space toilet to me. Just hanging your rear end at the truck's rear end!. (and it only works for number 1).
 
Titanpat57 said:
not a damn thing.....

design it...make two...and we'll try it out and report back to the Bruthahood
Click to expand...

eddiebx said:
A bladder as in some kind of rubber/flexible bag? What if something pokes a hole in it while driving since it's mounted underneath and completely exposed? :)

It's really amazing to hear about all these crafty ideas you guys come up with here, next thing you know someone going to figure out how to install a portable john.
Click to expand...

Okki said:
Bladder from 1E,
Compressor to create vacuum,
Hose,
Appropriately sized funnel,

Sounds like a space toilet to me. Just hanging your rear end at the truck's rear end!. (and it only works for number 1).
Click to expand...

I have pm'd Pat with the concept ('cause that's what I do) so we shall see what he comes back with. Eddie you don't have to worry about something poking a hole in it . Let's see what he says.
 
Last edited:
if we did a tank 30" in diameter by 8" high that would yield about 27 gal. of water...which transfers into 202 lbs....so I think the ability to carry 15-20 gal would be fine.
 
good stuff...keep brainstorming!!!

Here is some pictures of the current setup and the way its going. As some of you know my shower on longer trips has been via the heat exchanger with a bucket. So adding a tank means no waiting for hot water or need to find water.

A great deal of help has come from "TheJosh" build.

1E... I like the possibility of a bladder, a lot!
 

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Milesar said:
If I recall correctly, didn't ARB build a custom water tank into the spare tire cavity? Not sure if it was for drinking or just showers, but I like that idea.

Could just keep the extra spare, and do a 5 wheel rotation with the rear mounted tire, I think that would be my option. All depends on needs & desired missions for the vehicle.
Click to expand...

They did, but it was a cold water setup.
 
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