Toting water to BRC

deviceone · Post by **deviceone** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:43 pm

I have an exceptionally small car (Suzuki Swift), with an exceptionally small engine (1.3L 70 HP), and therefor an exceptionally small cargo hold.. er.. hatch area... or could you call it a trunk? Anyway, my car has issues when I have a passenger riding, let alone a bunch of supplies.

The Survival Guide (Oh have I read and read and read that) specifies 1.5 gallons of water per person per day. That comes down to 24 US gallons of tasty life giving fluid replenishment.

Here's a quick rundown of some of water's properties:
Weight: 62.416 pounds per cubic foot at 32°F
Weight: 61.998 pounds per cubic foot at 100°F
Weight: 8.33 pounds/gallon, 0.036 pounds/cubic inch
Density: 1 gram per cubic centimeter (cc) at 39.2°F, 0.95865 gram per cc at 212°F

So, 24 X 8.33 = 199.92 LBS.

Remember the "will my car melt" thread? If you wanna see a car melt, watch it pull into BRC after a trip from Colorado with all that extra hydration.

That said, my idea was to add the water at the last possible moment, because every mile I have to go with the extra weight shortens my car's lifespan like every minute a lung cancer patient spends in a Marlboro factory. Then I factor in the clutch and the brakes and its just not a pretty picture. At 70 HP and 1700LBS dry, this car barely has enough guts to drag itself around, let alone my fat ass.

I know I shouldn't tap the resources of the nearby desert communities, so I must ask the Great Interweb Spirits for advice.

Great Interweb Spirits, what say you?

///Adrian

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:08 pm

There's a rest stop after Winnemucca on I-80, Exit number 158, where you can fill up with potable water. (Make sure you use the tap that's labeled POTABLE, because there's one that isn't.) There's no real place to stop past that point on your westward journey without burdening and annoying the locals along the most-traveled route (like in fernley). There's still a pretty good distance to travel after Cosgrave Rest Area, but filling up there lets you travel the vast majority of your distance unencumbered by your liquid luggage.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:21 am

Hey man... those Swifts can take a pounding. Somewhat slowly, but they take it. 200 pounds is one large person or two small ones, still within specs.

I'd definitely wait until you're through all of the mountain passes, but beyond that just take it slow and keep an eye on the temperature gauge. If it's having any problems under normal use, get it checked out or consider trying to hitch a ride with someone else.

Assuming you're coming through I-80, there's a big grocery store one exit before you would pull off to start heading North. Leave room on the floors for the required 10 2.5 gallon jugs plus whatever other beverages you pick up.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:14 am

The grocery store would be one exit if you're coming from the West Coast, wouldn't it? From the east on I-80, there's Winnemucca and then Fernley, and precious little else. I could be wrong, we have the trailer so stopping for supples isn't part of our travel plan; I may not have been paying attention.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:55 am

I'd follow the advice of Ranger Genius. The drive in from Winnemucca is relatively flat. Keep your speed constant (and legal). I'm betting you'll do OK.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 10:22 am

That may be the wrong car to drive onto the playa. Consider renting something stouter.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:25 pm

1.5 gal per day X 7 days =10.5 gal.
I bring 15 gal 125 lb+/-

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:36 pm

The grocery store I'm thinking of is the Scolari's in Fernley. Looking at the map it might actually be the same exit you would take to head North, if you take 95 to 447. You just go South for a bit first to load up on supplies. Go to google maps and enter "scolari's, fernley, nv"

It's a big burner friendly store. The last time I went there on my way up they even had little handouts reminding us of what supplies we need.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:22 pm

Thanks for the clarification. Obviously we don't go into Fernley, just fuel up and head north!

deviceone · Post by **deviceone** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:14 pm

Thanks for all the ideas... I think Ill bring a few lister bags and try to fill them up at the rest stop mentioned. Anything extra Ill grab in Fernley.

Dork: do you remember that grocerey store having a coin op water vender for my own containers?

Oh and renting a car is NOT an option... Unless you want to buy a kidney for cheap :P

//Adrian

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:10 pm

No idea if they have a water machine. You could probably give them a call and ask. Water is such a small expense compared to everything else I just buy the 2.5 gallon jugs rather than messing with reusable containers and potentially nasty aftertastes.

frenchblue1 · Post by **frenchblue1** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:10 am

try dehydrated water...it is lighter.

seelivemusic · Post by **seelivemusic** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:30 pm

Jesus man, water? Where the heck are you going to keep the beer?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:58 pm

seelivemusic wrote:Jesus man, water? Where the heck are you going to keep the beer?

Jesus man, Jesus turns water into beer.

I only wish he could do it with grey water.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:58 pm

.
Not about water, but about hauling a bit of a load in that itty-bitty car.

Take a lesson from the truckers. When my 475 HP Caterpillar 3406 starts getting too warm while climbing a hill carrying 47.000 pounds of... hmmm... maybe bottled water!..., I let up on the "gas" pedal and shift to a lower gear. And I keep downshifting until I can maintain a steady speed with the pedal only half way to the floor and at a fairly high engine speed.

In other words, you want the engine to spin fast but not work very hard. That will help keep it cool.

You may be going up the hill in first or second, but you'll get there.

Never slip the clutch other than the bare minimum needed to get moving.

See ya on the Playa.

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:56 pm

The Swift, eh? A little ambitious naming on the part of Suzuki. That's why I always appreciated the name Aspire. It let's you know up front it's not quite a full car.

I factor both washing and drinking water into those 1.5 gallons per day, and always have water left over. Maybe 'cause I also had soymilk, juice, etc., etc.

Anyway, if you're not washing, maybe you can lighten the load. If you are washing, there may be a non-potable water source further along then the last potable water source. Not my geographic area of knowledge.

domitron · Post by **domitron** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:40 pm

What about those coming from the Reno direction? Is Reno the last place to fill up on water? Where in Reno have others filled up water? I am bringing water for 9 people for 4 days! This is a lot of water and a lot of weight. No way in hell I'd have my SUV lug that much water from the SF Bay area. It'd be a total waste of gas.

Xta_G · Post by **Xta_G** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:38 pm

And, coming from BC? I guess I'm looking at Klamath Falls as being the last big stop... but should i be contacting their water companies to arrange my purchase before driving into town to find out they're sold out? Or is this just silly, and there's never a shortage...

.. or is there somewhere even closer to BRC where we should stop for fluids?

Thanks :)

X.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:15 am

Xta_G wrote:And, coming from BC? I guess I'm looking at Klamath Falls as being the last big stop... but should i be contacting their water companies to arrange my purchase before driving into town to find out they're sold out? Or is this just silly, and there's never a shortage...

.. or is there somewhere even closer to BRC where we should stop for fluids?

Thanks

X.

/

I travel La pine then Lakeview. Lakeview SAfeway stocks up for burners.

domitron · Post by **domitron** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:33 am

I need a hose to fill a 45-gallon water bucket. It can be top. Where can I find that?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:49 am

domitron wrote:I need a hose to fill a 45-gallon water bucket. It can be top. Where can I find that?

/
Any RV or KOA park have filler hoses. I believe it's potable. REno/Sparks call ahead. Good luck.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:53 pm

DON'T FILL YOUR FRESH WATER TANKS AT OR NEAR ANY SEPTIC DUMPS.
Now, This will keep you and your campmate from not getting SICK.. I have seen people do some wild things at dump sites. The hose to wash down the pad is just coverd in CRAP..

nogganoodle · Post by **nogganoodle** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:26 am

Does anyone know of anywhere in Reno that is good for picking up water? I'm coming up from Vegas so Winnemucca and Fernley are a kind of the wrong way for me

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:39 pm

Don't need all the fancy math ... just remember a general rule of thumb:

A pint's a pound the world around.

8 pints to a gallon, 8 lbs to a gallon. Just add another pound for every 3 gallons so ... 30 gallons is 240+10=250 lbs. Unless you are flying, you don't need to be exact and you can add a pound for every 4 gallons if your number is easier to divide by 4 in your head than 3 or just round up or down a pound. if that makes it easier.

55 gallons is (50*8=400)+(5*8=40)+(54/3=18 )=458lbs

WATER IS REALLY HEAVY. So one barrel full of water accounts for the full cargo rating for a 1/4-ton truck. Two barrels and you have a half-ton. You don't want to bottom out the suspension of your vehicle, trust me on that.

I carry one barrel of shower water. This year it isn't going to be full. I place the barrel at the very front of the truck bed immediately behind the cab. This distributes the weight more evenly on font/rear suspension and helps reduce forward motion of the barrel during braking.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:47 pm

Does anyone know of anywhere in Reno that is good for picking up water?

See Louise's page at
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/ind ... pplies#spr

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:01 pm

nogganoodle wrote:Does anyone know of anywhere in Reno that is good for picking up water? I'm coming up from Vegas so Winnemucca and Fernley are a kind of the wrong way for me

Actually, Fernley is on the way for pretty much anyone coming from or crossing I-80.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:36 am

unjonharley wrote:
Xta_G wrote:And, coming from BC? I guess I'm looking at Klamath Falls as being the last big stop... but should i be contacting their water companies to arrange my purchase before driving into town to find out they're sold out? Or is this just silly, and there's never a shortage...

.. or is there somewhere even closer to BRC where we should stop for fluids?

Thanks :)

X.
/

I travel La pine then Lakeview. Lakeview SAfeway stocks up for burners.

Just a note, free water, camping, outside storage, hot showers and whatever else I am not thinking of at Eagle's Nest RV Park on Hwy 139 between Klamath Falls, Or and Alturas, CA

Xta_G · Post by **Xta_G** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:24 am

Thanks, folks! That info is super-helpful...

.. now I'm going to tackle my burn-mate's car for its owners manual, and see what her load rating is.. would suck to kill her car on the way there :(

X.

Toting water to BRC

Toting water to BRC

Water water water water