160 gallons of water under bed... how do I secure it to withstand collision?

[Kevin Warnock]

Ideally I would like to keep my 160 gallons of fresh water tanks under the bed. This is a heavy load, and I don't want to get killed in an accident by having the tanks fly through the coach and hit me in the back of the head. I was planning to build a cage for them made from 1 1/8" plywood anchored to steel 2"x2" x 3/16" thick L-channel bolted to the floor with 3/8" bolts. Where there is solid metal bus frame underneath, the bolts would anchor to that. There isn't going to be solid bus frame to match every bolt, but since each side will have its own continuous piece of thick L-channel, I think there will be enough bolts mating with real bus frame to make for a solid connection overall.

The channel would go around all four edges of the bed, which is against the side wall of the bus. The plywood would be mounted on the inside lip of the L-channel. For the corners, I would also use the same L-channel, but on the inside corners. For the top, I also plan to use 1 1/8" plywood to fully enclose the box. On the outside top of the box, I was going to bolt some more of the same L-channel along the outside edge. This would leave a lip to the top of my box. I would make the plywood lid larger than the dimensions of the vertical wood sides such that the lid fits to fully cover the lip formed by the L-channel. Then I would use more 3/8" bolts to bolt the lid to the top L-channel. There would be no hinged access. If I need to get in, I will just unbolt the lid. I will have a tank monitor system and remote fill, so I don't think I really need to see the tanks that frequently. The pump and related stuff will not be under the bed, but about 5 feet away where I will have easy access. The tanks are plastic fresh water tanks with spun welded fittings.

Since I won't be able to get my hands under the top channel for the side of the bed next to the wall, I will tap the 3/16" L-channel lip to make threads, and screw that edge of the lid into those tapped holes. Does that sound OK? I was going to put the channel on the inside wall of the side of the cage next to the wall so that I can get the bed closer to the wall.

I am also planning to put three extra interior walls inside the box, so that each 40 gallon tank effectively gets its own box. These would be fastened the floor with L-channel bolted, and to the lid with L-channel tapped for screws. The bed is a full size, 54 x 75" mattress. I will make the box such that the tanks can't move inside because they are snug against the walls and lid. The bed frame will be built on top of the water box, and of course will be somewhat larger than the lid dimensions.

I've been kind of worried about putting something so heavy inside the passenger area of the bus. Do you think the above plan is safe?

My bus is an RTS if that matters.

I've read on here for years that people put water tanks under the bed. How are you securing the tanks, may I ask?

Thanks very much.

[Utahclaimjumper]

Make it easy on yourself and loose about 60 gallons, I also have 160 gallon tanks and in 11 years of use I have never filled my tanks. Its just too much weight to haul around and water is available everywhere. Space in your coach is also a premium that you will loose.  I boondock in southern Arizona alot and am out for weeks at a trip, I've found it not needed to fill more than 80 to 90 gallona for any reason.>>>Dan

[JackConrad]

Just curious, how big are your holding tanks? Unless you have 160 gallon holding capacity, 160 fresh is overkill. Also, it depends on how many people will be in the bus. In our case, it is just my wife & I. We have a 100 gallon fresh and a 100 gallon holding. We can go about 10 days before we have to dump & refill. Jack

[Kwajdiver]

Not sure I would add 1336 extra pounds (the weight of 160 gallons of fresh water) to my bus.  Sounds like you have a well thought out plan to anchor it down.  However, that would always be in my mind.   Plus, if you ever had a water leak, I would want in in one of the bays.

I carry 110 gallons of fresh water, in the rear bay.  That seems to be plenty, for my needs.  Also have a 110 gallon grey/back tank.  When I'm out away from everything, I have values to dumb shower and kitchen sink water to the ground.

Bill
Still at the beach.

[TomC]

I have my 130gal water tank in my AMGeneral transit mounted under my bed also.  With the rear seat/engine protrusion, and the rear closet, my tank is directly over the rear axle in between the wheel wells.  So the tank is contained between the wheel wells.  The framing around the tank is 2x4 wood with 3/4" plywood screwed to that. 
If you want to build your basic Sherman tank around the water tank, fine, but in a collision, where is the water tank going to go? To big to get past the bathroom.  With my tank being supported on 4 of the six sides by plywood, I'm not too concerned with it going anywhere.  Good Luck, TomC

[Airbag]

Would it be possible to put a cargo net around it anchored to some structure. They are very versatile in regards to mounting and strong like bull. I imagine you can find them surplus. They are light weight also.

[kyle4501]

Build it so the tanks rupture on severe impact. Then it's just water & not the vessel coming forward.

Just a thought . . . .

[belfert]

I think a higher priority would be to make sure everything in the front area is well secured than to worry about making the water tank into a fortress.  I am assuming you will spend most of your time while the bus is moving in the front of the bus.  Like Tom said, the tanks are going to have to get by your bathroom to make it up front.

Things like making sure the frig is secure and that furniture is bolted to metal and not the plywood floor.