Rainwater collection?

[Evan Friesen]

I was wondering if anyone does enough boondocking (or is project-happy enough) to rig up a way to collect water while boondocking.

My wife and I just got a Boler, and are in the process of de-craping it to make it livable. We plan on full-timing (i want to full-time boondock), and I can't get the idea of water collection out of my head. My goal is to be as off-grid as possible with solar power, but that's not enough for me! I've boondocked before and usually find water (and propane...hmm) to be kind of annoying to run out of and have to make a trip to the nearest water tap. I'm not planning on boondocking in deserts obviously, it does SEEM like a practical idea for me. I was just wondering if anyone had done this before and had some wisdom, or if anyone can tell me it's a terrible idea so I can put it to rest and think about something else...like paying my taxes or something.

I've thought of a rigging up a hideous awning and hose type monster to a filter water and collect rainwater in a tank (not sure if I'd use the existing tank or do something else).

I'm out of the country right now (my wife tells me we're on vacation) otherwise I'd be out rigging this up.

Anyone have ideas!

[Bud Kennedy]

Cruising sailors do it all the time. We had a system to collect it off the deck after it had been rinsed.

If I were to try it on a camper, I would definately rig it to collect off the awning. Barring an awning, perhaps a tarp stretched over a collapaible frame.

The practicality of this contingent upon the frequency, rate and duration of rain in the area.

[David A. L.]

In an earlier permutation of my life I used to do alot of open water cruising in a small sailboat. I lived aboard for 11 years and spent 3 years in the South Pacific on one voyage and 11 months on a second. One thing I would suggest regarding collected rainwater: Do NOT store it in your main water tanks. Rainwater gathers all sort of stuff (spores, bacteria etc) as it passes thru the atmosphere and what with the water being very oxygenated this stuff soon grows into a nasty slime in your main tanks. Better to store in five gallon jerry can type containers which can more easily be cleaned or pitched out if/when the slime gets to bad. Other than that, collecting rainwater where birds can possibly poop on the collection surface brings the risk of Cryptosporidium (see link). I presently live on a small island where some residents collect rainwater for household use. This and other parasites are a real problem so precautions against contamination is a real concern.

Hope this helps,
David
the link:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cryptospo...DSECTION=causes

[Raya]

Another sailor chiming in to say that I'm in agreement with the previous two posts.

On the awning collection: On boats, some folks sew small fabric "udders" or put small plastic through-hull fittings in their "canvas" awnings at the low point, to which they attach the collection hose. That way you can direct the flow right into a jerry jug (after you let the initial surface-rinsing rain run off).

Another idea might be to make a way to collect the water that runs off the roof of your tow vehicle, especially if you have a lot of roof, like I do on my wagon (my car has gutters, but they do also make stick-on flexible gutters for RVs; maybe you could do something with magnets that would be removable).

Raya

[Matthew A]

I have thought about getting one of these to filter water right into my tank from a stream creek or lake. Not exactly what you I looking for but just another idea.

http://www.rei.com/product/737349

[Roger C H]

Here is a good discussion of the subject:

http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/manual/water.shtml

I don't think he is accurate in saying that water at high altitudes was once drinkable. While a mountain stream LOOKS refreshing because it has all the refreshing appearances. However, there always were and hopefully always will be mountain goats, marmots and other critters fouling surface water.

Stay healthy!

[Mhrich01]

We replaced our current gutter spouts with the WildWater RV RainHarvest PROs. Works like a charm!

[Jon MB]

Not quite a record, but just a month short of 14 years between posts should be an indication that the subject matter isn't a high priority here.

Welcome to the group. Good luck with your business venture. Do some further research and you'll find that the molded fiberglass RVs tend to NOT have gutters to which your hose hangers can be attached.

[Mhrich01]

Originally Posted by Jon MB

Not quite a record, but just a month short of 14 years between posts should be an indication that the subject matter isn't a high priority here.

Welcome to the group. Good luck with your business venture. Do some further research and you'll find that the molded fiberglass RVs tend to NOT have gutters to which your hose hangers can be attached.

Thanks for letting me know when the last post was made 👍

You can always use after market gutters for this as well.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Mhrich01

Thanks for letting me know when the last post was made ��

You can always use after market gutters for this as well.

Matthew, I think you missed the point. All-molded fiberglass RVs, the focus of FiberglassRV, are built like boats. No internal framework, unlike your Keystone, which has an internal frame and flat panels stapled or screwed to that frame. There's no place to add gutters like you mention.

[Mhrich01]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Matthew, I think you missed the point. All-molded fiberglass RVs, the focus of FiberglassRV, are built like boats. No internal framework, unlike your Keystone, which has an internal frame and flat panels stapled or screwed to that frame. There's no place to add gutters like you mention.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't put an adhesive gutter track on a fiberglass RV

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Mhrich01

I don't see any reason why you couldn't put an adhesive gutter track on a fiberglass RV

Other than looks, you're probably right. I know it's something I'm not interested in. There are some that have used RV EZ gutter over windows so they can keep windows open more fully during a rain storm. But I still don't see how that helps with the RainHarvest Pro Gutter Spout

[Raspy]

It seems improbable that one could collect rain water, in the desert, when they need it, that was safe to drink, that flowed into a proper tank, from the trailer roof or awning. Collecting from an awning, while it certainly can work, likely won't. As rain in the desert is most often a short term heavy thunderstorm with wind. Wind and awnings don't mix.

Propane can last quite a while and extra tanks can be taken to the site. Solar can supply all the power needed. But one still needs to go shopping for food. So why not carry some 20 liter plastic jerry cans to fill up when food shopping? I take four of them with me on boondocking trips, as well as cases of drinking water to cook and make coffee. It's pretty easy to have enough water along to outlast the food supply, and I like to go into town once in a while anyway.

If you really want to collect rain in the desert, erect a dedicated tarp system, shaped like a shallow funnel, with a through-hull fitting and hose, over a 55 gallon plastic barrel. And sterilize the water with bleach for showering. But I see no reason to use the roof of the trailer, especially a fiberglass trailer, or the trailer's awning.

I had a catchment system at my house on the Big Island. It used the roof of the house and rain gutters to fill a 2500 gallon tank. It rained reliably about every 3-4 days with a heavy downpour. The air was pretty clean and the roof was frequently rinsed off, but there were a lot of birds. I never wanted to drink the water.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Raspy

I had a catchment system at my house on the Big Island. It used the roof of the house and rain gutters to fill a 2500 gallon tank. It rained reliably about every 3-4 days with a heavy downpour. The air was pretty clean and the roof was frequently rinsed off, but there were a lot of birds. I never wanted to drink the water.

Yeah, depending on location it's not advisable to use catchment water for anything other than watering plants and grass. Not vegetable gardens, not pet water and definitely not for human consumption or use. So that means, no dish washing either. Although if you could figure it out, maybe use it to flush a toilet. Acid rain on roof run off is a real thing.