A question I've had for a while: How do you folks keep your water for your 72 hr bag? I've got a large ALICE pack/frame, with 3 gallons in it, plus 10 Cl dioxide tabs and a 1L Nalgene (I have a pump in my camping supplies, if needed). As you probably already surmised, that's 25 lbs. for water, in a roughly 40 lbs. bag.

Do you folks keep the water seperate or in your 72 hr bag? If seperate, how do you plan on taking it with you? I'm wondering if it's best to keep 1 gal. in the bag, and keep the other 2 gallons in something else, though I'm not sure what. Ideally something that can be attatched to the frame. This would lighten the bag and free room, as well as give me some more leeway on additional water in the second bag.

Thanks!

If I'm bugging out, BOB and the ditch kit are going to have four full sized and two mini-nalgenes respectively. More goes in the car, but if I have to ditch the car for some reason, I'm not carrying that extra water.

In our 72 hour bags, I have some water in USCG approved water ration bags, like this:



I believe we have 12 packages in each kit, not a lot, but, it's the "break glass" reserve if the rest of the water runs out. It has a 5 year shelf life.

I also carry 3 1L Lexan Nalgene water bottles, and a Katadyn Guide model filter. I have a package of 30 Katadyn MicroPur MP1 tables in the kits also. Those are all actually in the backpack. In the back of both vehicles, which is where the backpacks sit, is a case of spring waters, 24 16-20oz bottles, depending on what's on sale. We go thru a lot of this stuff, so the case in the back of the cars is rotated frequently, so it's always "fresh".

If we were bugging out from home, we'd augment what's in the car with a couple of 5 gallon water jugs that we use camping.

I'm carrying almost a gallon in my ALICE and a little more than a gallon in my messenger bag.

I'll only carry a little over a gallon most of the way, Bugging-out, but I'll need the first gallon to get through the populated area that I have to get through immediately after Bugging Out. I'll get rid of the bottles as I consume the first gallon, and hang onto the bottles of the second gallon so that I can refill them after I clear the partially civilized areas and then have the time and secured location to process drinking water.

I'm looking at 59 lbs of weight starting out, and less than 51 lbs at the end of the first 24 hrs. I will be at less than 43 lbs at the end of the second 24 hrs.

I have two cases of bottled water in each of my vehicles. Fortunately I live where my trucks wouldn't be lost in the collapse of a multi story parking garage or something like that so they are an integral part of my BOB/72 hour+ kits and plans.

I carry 2-3 liters; then rely on treatment or tap water after that. To heavy otherwise.

tro

If I'm leaving in the vehicle, it won't be a problem to put in my aquatainers. If I have to go on foot I have Nalgenes I'll use. At some point I'd like to get a Camelbak BFM for a BOB and that will have a res as well. I have chlorine tabs for purification. It's a weak link for me.

I'm with Teacher on this one.

In my BOV I have a case of bottled water that I rotate. In my BOB I only carry 2 one liter soda bottles of water. I treat with Aqua Mira when backpacking and in an EOTWAWKI event I would use Chlorine bleach to treat as I go.

Lightweight backpackers seldom carry more than 2 liters of water at a time.

Thanks for the responses so far. Here's my "new and improved" situation in the 72 hr supplies. At this point, the idea is to keep items in one bag, and use it as a BOB if absolutely necessary.

1 Gal in my ALICE pack, along with a Nalgene and 10 Cldioxide tablets. More tabs to come in the near future, along with some coffee filters. I might stash another Nalgene in there.

2 Gallons in a very bright orange Wallyworld School backpack in my garage. The 2 bottles almost perfectly fit the main pocket. I also have 1 gal. in a milk-style container, on a shelf. I'll probably throw some food and a roll of TP in the orange bag, maybe a second pocket knife. That'll help split the location of supplies, as well as give me a quick BOB option. I can either attatch via carabiners to my external frame, throw it in the car or give to my girlfriend to carry. I've got a camo pack cover for my ALICE that can cover this bag if needed.

I assume that, in an emergency, I'll have a few minutes to grab the last bit of water from the tap. I've got my hiking supplies: a 70oz. camelback, 2 GI canteens, and 2 Nalgene bottles that are stashed. If need be, I can use my filter, jog/drive a mile to the nearest lake (or 1.5 to the next closest, with another 2 lakes within 10 miles), and top those off before the world comes crashing to a halt (people getting home from work, traffic snarling etc). I've also got a quart of H2O in my car, along with another Nalgene and 10 CL2O2 tabs (I found a store that sells them for $4).

End result, worst case scenario: 4 gallons stashed to this point, the possibility of filtering, within an hour, another 2 gallons. After that, quite a few lakes in the area, and absolute worst case scenario, the Mississippi is about 80 miles east (coming from So. Cal, this is a LOT of water!!)

I like the idea of having a big plastic tub with already filled gallon or liter containers of water. Keep it on a shelf in the garage and pop it in the truck when necessary

If you wake up to a "no running water" scenario, don't forget about the fresh clean water that is hidden away in your hot water heater.

You might want to drain the crud out of the bottom of your hot water tank at least once a year. I just did it, and this year wasn't near as bad as it was two years ago.

Clean water is better than chunky water.

Sue

Have anyone thought of a BOB on wheels for the purpose of carrying water ? Just in case you have to walk and not to leave that 5-gallon water container behind.

I would think something like a wagon would work (you know, the type kids play with - Red Flyer or something like that). Or maybe a skateboard if need be. Good thought; since I have neither of those in my house, maybe I should think about it.

That's why I'm still hemming and hawing on pulks that can take wheels for the other five months out of the year. :P

My BOB has hydration system that can hold 3 liters built into it. Since I didn't really want to store water in the hydration system itself, I keep 3 1 litre bottles of bottled water in the top of the bag. The idea is that as individual bottles, they are easy to rotate for fresher stock over time. Since they are actually in the bag, I can simply grab the bag and go, without worrying about filling the hydration system or figuring out where to put bottles of water that are on a shelf near my bag. If I have some time, then I can decide to fill the hydration system in addition to, or in place of the bottled water. If I don't have time, then down the road, I can decide if I want to use the bottled water to fill the hydration system. If I do, then that frees up the considerable space that the bottles take up in the pack, gives me 3 empty plastic bottles that can be used for other things or given to other people. The hydration system is the most convenient and best balanced system for myself, but much more awkward to fill and I'm not sure how much I want to share the drinking tube with others. Finally, in my pack I have a Katydyne water filter, so I can get more water elsewhere. For me, water is to heavy and bulky to try to carry 3 full gallons worth in my BOB if I am on foot. Now if I have my vehicle, then it is another story and I have several 5 gallon containers of water ready for use. Just my 2 cents worth.

There is something weird about this thread

I can only see it in the forum's main page but cant see it when I open the (Long-term Prepration) page.

So, I can see it only when it comes to the top and it can show on the main page. However, if someone post in another thread on the (Long-term Prepration) and this thread becomes second or third, there is no way for me to see it.

Is anyone else facing this strange peoblem ???

Not me, sorry...

I found the problem !

In the LTP page the thread has the title (Water Transportation) but in the main page it has the title (Overlooked water supply). Just realized that they are the same thread !!!

Regarding wagons, has anyone seen self-probpelled wagons ?

That may need some expalining !

A moped is half-bicycle and half-motorcycle




It is useful when you have gas you go father and faster and when you are out of gas you can still kick your way.

I am curious if there is a wagon that you can push or pull , and when you reach a hill it has a motor of its own to help go up, or even you can ride it from A to B. Wont be a cadillac but well.

I thought of the mule, a very simple vehicle



But it is a vehicle nonethles.
Has anyone seen a very simple wagon that can be carried in a car - if ncessary, and still can be self-propedlled to help carry heavy stuff ?

Your post just reminded me of something. In some places in europe they still use two-wheeled tractors (while sitting on an open trailer attached to it) as a farm vehicle and for general transportation. I've seen those trailers loaded up with 5 or more people and full of supplies being pulled by a tiny two wheeled tractor. And these were very steep, unpaved mountain roads. They're slow but they can pull some serious weight. BOV of last resort maybe?

Maybe one of these :

And how about tricycles for BOVs . They can be used for routine shopping (if you live in the right neighborhood) and also can be used for bugging out, even with heavy water.

Maybe something like this is what you have in mind? It truly does look interesting! And if it can go through deep, loose beach sand, it should go most places.

The Beach Walker, a motor-assisted wagon:
http://www.bdssystems.com/kurt1bw.html

Sue

Thanks Susan. That is intersting indeed.

I think the design can be improved however. Because it seems that steering is on one side and rider(s)on the other. If the black cargo box were positined on the other end and white seat was on the handle/steering end may be it would be more practical for pulling or riding , while your gear remains in the back anyway.

But they said that custom designs are possible too.

Thanks.

Thanks Chisel, thats pretty much it. The one's I saw had even longer handlebars and a couple of headlamps. Now just imagine a full size trailer attached to it and you get the idea.


Okay, finally found a page with a bunch of photos of some in China. They pull ridiculously heavy loads with these things! Not to mention they use the engines to operate water pumps, etc.

http://utterpower.com/china-truck.htm