Carrying water for camping on the ST

[jfheath]

I would be careful to respect the load limit of the topbox and panniers. And smaller containers full of water would be better for the bike's handling than a 5 gallon container half full. 25lb of loose weight sloshing around the rear wheel isn't going to improve the handling any. Maybe collapsible containers would be better for that ?

 

[st11ray]

Unless you are going to the desert, why not just carry a water filtration system with you? I keep one of these with me when camping or just on a long trip.

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle - 24 fl. oz. | REI Co-op

A global traveler's dream with fast, easy performance, the Grayl Geopress water filter and purifier bottle helps protect you from viruses, protozoa, bacteria, particulates, chemicals and heavy metals.

www.rei.com

 

[Nexus]

If you aren't carrying a pillion, could you fabricate a box/enclosure that attaches down to the bike in place of the rear seat, similar to the Corbin Smuggler? That would keep the weight where the pillion would normally be, and off the rear rack.

Here's a pic of the underside from Saddlemen's website: https://saddlemen.com/image/catalog/data/product-spec/12580.jpg

That's an interesting idea. Maybe you could use a police radio box:
View media item 452
Not sure how much you could make it hold. Maybe you could modify it or use it as a starting point? You'd also have to replace the sub-frame, thogh. AFAIK.

 

[Hondafarian]

As STRider mentioned, I originally had the Rotopax shaped tanks in mind. Two stacked on top of each other would fit nicely on the pillion seat extending slightly onto the cargo deck but they would be unwieldy from the weight and especially with more cargo piled on top. Also, not sure I could justify the expense with as little as I would realistically use them.

If you aren't carrying a pillion, could you fabricate a box/enclosure that attaches down to the bike in place of the rear seat, similar to the Corbin Smuggler? That would keep the weight where the pillion would normally be, and off the rear rack.

Here's a pic of the underside from Saddlemen's website: https://saddlemen.com/image/catalog/data/product-spec/12580.jpg

This is brilliant. A flat bed with low sides that extends out over the cargo deck. It could be made out of wood and painted to match the bike and have all kinds of attachment points drilled and bolted into to it. I wonder if anyone has ever attempted something like this? Could a platform be attached to a pillion seat base after removing the seat cushioning?

 

[dwalby]

Unless you are going to the desert, why not just carry a water filtration system with you?

in this case that's exactly what he's doing, camping in a place with no water around anywhere.

 

[Pop-Pop]

I use a coleman cooler and a one gal jug. Must have a screw cap so it doesnt pop off when you tighten it down. Buying water by the serving is too expensive. I change water jugs after every tour.
K.I.S.S.

 

[dwalby]

what is this "water" you guys take with you camping, is there nowhere to buy any beer?

 

[W0QNX]

How much do you want to camp in the desert? A lot? Get some small rope, 550 maybe, tie to the jug handles of 2 gallon water jugs. Throw on the bike some where. go camp for one or two days instead of a week. If the jug falls off get on the bike you came on and turn around. Nobody died. If not go camp and come back and tell us about it.

So many of man's problems now days are all about "looks" and not doing. I was going to desert travel and camp a couple nights last summer. My prep was make some 2 liter bottle holders from old jean legs. Things didn't work out and I didn't get to go west last summer. FYI gallon jugs will fit in jean legs.

 

[st11ray]

How much do you want to camp in the desert? A lot? Get some small rope, 550 maybe, tie to the jug handles of 2 gallon water jugs. Throw on the bike some where. go camp for one or two days instead of a week. If the jug falls off get on the bike you came on and turn around. Nobody died. If not go camp and come back and tell us about it.

So many of man's problems now days are all about "looks" and not doing. I was going to desert travel and camp a couple nights last summer. My prep was make some 2 liter bottle holders from old jean legs. Things didn't work out and I didn't get to go west last summer. FYI gallon jugs will fit in jean legs.

Unless he wears skinny jeans!

 

[kiltman]

What you use the water for will dictate how much you need. Hydration being the number one consumption. If you bring a cooler do you freeze water in containers? When that water is melted you can use it for hydration, and/or cleaning up.
Do you have a gray water collector? save the water you use for cleaning up dishes from the night before and you can probably use that water again the next morning.
I make alcohol wipes out of cloth that I cut up into squares and put in a seal tight container. I use them for personal hygiene or for cleaning dishes, saves on water. The cloth is durable and reusable.

 

[Pop-Pop]

Unless he wears skinny jeans!

Been a while since ive worn anything “skinny”!

 

[RichKat]

We have a local fast food chain called Taco Casa, they sell ice tea (very good ice tea) that you can get in one gallon bags, the bags are very thick plastic with good resealable lids, great thing is when empty they are completely flat. Perfect for camping

 

[Hondafarian]

Been meaning to write a follow up to this thread. Ended up ordering 4 of these collapsible 5L bags. One each fit very nicely in each pannier. Did a test one night camp out hauling all 4 full. I knew I wouldn’t need that much water but wanted to test packing and weight on the bike. Learned a lot about remote camping from the bike as I was new to this experience. The water bags themselves worked great in camp but my packing had room for improvement.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Just a note on packing a load on an ST -
I highly recommend ratchet straps because if you have secure attachment points, ain't nothing going to fall off -





It's easier on ST1100s (to me) than ST1300s because of the seat 'flip outs', but with frame loops you can do the same basic thing.
I took a standard set of ratchet straps, cut the length to what I needed and replaced the hooks with good plastic hooks.

 

[Pop-Pop]

Been meaning to write a follow up to this thread. Ended up ordering 4 of these collapsible 5L bags. One each fit very nicely in each pannier. Did a test one night camp out hauling all 4 full. I knew I wouldn’t need that much water but wanted to test packing and weight on the bike. Learned a lot about remote camping from the bike as I was new to this experience. The water bags themselves worked great in camp but my packing had room for improvement.

Do you have a link for these?

 

[Pop-Pop]

Just a note on packing a load on an ST -
I highly recommend ratchet straps because if you have secure attachment points, ain't nothing going to fall off -





It's easier on ST1100s (to me) than ST1300s because of the seat 'flip outs', but with frame loops you can do the same basic thing.
I took a standard set of ratchet straps, cut the length to what I needed and replaced the hooks with good plastic hooks.

I use the 1” nylon straps with a metal pull thing. About $8 for the pair. Got me thru 4 tours and replaced them. I really dont like pulling on plastic. Broke a few before. I check and pull my straps most every stop. Its become a ritual to me.

 

[Paul st1300]

Trip to Canada. I was really packed out the end of July first of August. Water straped to rear crash bar. Four ratchet straps to hold things tight. Also has a small cooler on rear top. I am type one diabetic so had to figure out how to keep my 14 day supply of insulin cold. I put a 32oz Yettie cup that had my insulin in, in with crushed ice inside the smaller cooler packed with ice. I replaced the ice in the cooler every 2 1/2 days and never had to replace the ice that was inside the Yettie cup.

 

[Hondafarian]

Do you have a link for these?

Here you go, Pop-Pop: Amazon.com: TIFMI 4 Pack 1.3 Gallon Collapsible Water Container Bag, BPA Free Food Grade Clear Plastic Storage Jug for Camping Hiking Backpack Emergency, No-Leak Freezable Foldable Water Bottle : Sports & Outdoors

After only one camping trip, I would give them a big thumbs up. The spigot is key to be able to wash your hands and other chores hands free. They held up well on over 20 miles of rough, washboard gravel road.

 

[Hondafarian]

Just a note on packing a load on an ST -
I highly recommend ratchet straps because if you have secure attachment points, ain't nothing going to fall off -

Thanks for this, U.P. I had it in my head how I was going to pack the load on the bike but the morning I was going to leave I realized it all wouldn't fit attached to, and in front of, the passenger backrest like I'd planned. Took off the backrest, scrambled to repack and several hours later just threw a heavy rope and several bungies overtop of the load. I already had 4 straps running from the T-bag on top doing most of the securing.

But in my haste, I completely forgot about using ratchet straps (which I had) and/or the friction straps I use to secure the kayak on the car roof. Duh. I looked like the Beverly Hillbillies car going down the road and was too afraid to jump on the freeway for the first 15 miles of the trip - figured I'd need to stop on short notice to retrieve the items that fell off the back. Amazingly, the load stayed in place and I made the 125 mile trip. Did have a close call losing control in deep gravel once.

 

[Uncle Phil]

On long items (like the fold out camping cot and the tent), I just laid them on top of the saddlebags and let the extra length stick out the back.
That way I could be comfortable while riding without them sticking me in the back of the legs!
At the end of the day, the STs can carry an extra person behind you and the total weight of camping stuff is usually less than that.
So it just becomes a matter of how to position and secure it on the ST.
On the burgundy ST, that load went 1,800 miles without any issues.
On the red ST, that load went a good 3,000 miles (including down the BlueRidge Parkway after a run into Canada) without any issues.