Thanks for the tip on the meter. That's something I've been thinking about. I was going to time how long it took to fill a 5 gallon bucket and then go from there. But a meter would be a lot easier.

I'm looking at the Seaflo 51 series which is 5.5 GPM but it's rated at 17 amps. Initially was looking at the 110v models, but I'm not seeing one in the current 2018 Seaflo Marine/RV catalog.

I'm trying to figure out the wiring and I'm probably overthinking it. I want to run this off of the trailer's battery so I need battery clamps and wire. I want to do a quick connect so I don't have to keep the clamps and cable with the pump. 30 amp rating is what I was shooting for to keep things safe. Clamps and wire I found easily in that rating. I think I'm going to use the 30 amp Anderson Powerpole connectors since I can't find a good selection of cigarette connectors in that rating.

 

Jim if you are going to be hauling it in the back off the truck just get a 4 way trailer plug and use the trailer hitch plug in. I was going to do the battery clamps and glad I went with the trailer plug instead. The brown wire (running lights), white wire (ground) other 2 connections not used. I leave the drivers window down reach in turn running lights on -- pumping water, when finished turn running light off -- pump off. 37 gallons transfer at 3 gpm roughly 12-13 min and the pump is barely warm.

 

I think the pump I ordered will pull more amps than the trailer lights circuit wants to provide.

 

I just looked at the manual 15a trailer running lights.
Depending which 5gpm ordered...
SFDP1-050-060-51 17a max
SFDP2-050-060-51. 9a max

 

Yep, the 17 amp one is the one I'm getting. My fresh water tank holds just over 120 gallons. While I doubt I'll be moving that much water each time, I don't want to wait too long.

I got the 150 gallon AquaTank II.

 

Make sure you post a pic of that baby full plus 1,240# +/- .

 

I got to use my water bladder for the first time a week ago. I was going to fill my trailer with water at a gas station close to my destination but the place was so busy that I couldn't get the trailer close and I didn't want to block other customers. So I went to my campsite, dropped the trailer and came back.

Not knowing how BIG the bladder could get I filled it with probably only 70 gallons of water. It looked big at the time. Back at my campsite I parked the truck uphill of the trailer and drained the bladder using gravity. It was dark by then so I didn't get any pictures.

I didn't rinse/clean the bladder before use. I don't know if the gas station's water was funny tasting or if it was the new bladder. Slightly bad taste. I used the same station last year and don't remember any bad taste. Afterwards, I rinsed the bladder at home with a very small amount of bleach. To dry it out I blew it full of air from my compressor (because I could). The bladder gets HUGE! If that thing is full and gets to rolling around in the bed of the truck it could cause some serious damage.

Any advice on how to secure the bladder in the bed would be appreciated. I used two ratchet straps diagonally across the top of the bladder, secured at each bed corner. That worked but I think I just got lucky. Planning is key before you start filling it. Once it's full you can't move it. So don't position the bladder where you can't get at the drain port/hose.

Mine didn't have a drain cap. Fortunately, I had one in the trailer. The drain cap and fill plug are two things you'll definitely need. Be sure yours came with it.

 

Jim the size (4'x6'x 12"?) and weight (1,200#) of it filled, if it moves you have more serious problems happening at the moment.

When I fill my 30 gallon bladder I'll put a tarp down so that its wrapped like a taco and use a bungee cord that has nothing on one end and the plastic piece on the other so the blank end is laced through some tarp eyelets and can be drawn tight. This helps keeping clean and out of direct sunlight. I have not had the bladder move at all and have been on some rough inclined roads.

 

Are you securing your 60 gallon bladder the same way? I just bought one and I plan on carrying it in the very back of my bed also.

 

I use the 60 gallons bladder just about every other week to top my tank off in the 5th wheel. All I do is lay a thick tarp down that's double folded, fill the bladder, fold the half of the tarp over like a taco shell. I have never had the bladder move even on rough off road conditions but then I take my time. If I'm heading to a real away from civilization boondock spot and won't be heading back to a town for a couple weeks I'll fill the bladder up when at the dump station and have traveled with it like that for hundreds of miles.

This post shows the 60 gallon bladder in the truck, the cooler next to it was for the cold stuff bought but normally there is no cooler in the truck.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post18634329

 

Last fall I used my 150 gallon bladder, filling it to maybe 80 gallons. I used ratchet straps across the top in an X with the straps terminating in the corner brackets in the bed. The 27 mile dirt road was very rough. While I couldn't see the bladder while driving, it doesn't seem to have moved much.

Scraprat's method is better than mine and I'm sure there other ways to secure it. But so far, two ratchet straps have worked OK.

 

I have probably the exact same tarp as he has pictured in the link. I ran out of water cause my dogs get so dusty in the desert so I had to fill my 10gallon drink cooler with water and jerry-rig a hose up with the barbed fittings, self-healing tape and hose clamps to get me by for 2 more days until it arrives.<br /><br />I'm going to just bring the tarp to fill it on and it probably won't be bad. I have everything I need to do it exactly like scraprat except the hose, flow meter and a 4-pin trailer plug.<br />

 

Can you fit the bladder perpendicular to the bed and place it at the rear of the bed? Slide a 2x6 into the bed slots to keep the bladder from moving. Just an idea, I haven't looked to see if the slots are in the right place.

 

Unless you have to lock up the brakes the bladder isn't moving. From the 5th wheel hitch to the tailgate it sits between them perfectly, hence the the double layer of tarp to protect the bladder. The bladder if 60 gallons full is only 480# and has the movement of a large thick jello block, I push up on it to tuck the tarp under it and it's barely moving to put the tarp under it.

I've had quite a few people with rvs come up and ask about it when I'm filling the bladder up and they see the size for 60 gallons. I'm sure I have sold a few along the way.

 

Yes, you should get a referral fee. I bought mine based on this thread. It works great!

When I was tent camping I left the bladder in the bed of the truck and made sure it was in the sun. I parked the truck uphill and ran a short hose downhill thinking I could get a warm shower. I got a shower, but it was quick because it certainly wasn't warm.