I almost always pick up the plastic 2 1/2 gal. containers of spring/drinking
water
leaving on a trip. I've also started carrying one of those 7 1/2 gal.
containers
just leaving it in the van and filling it whenever needed. Both have gotten
frozen without any problem. Drive a few hours on the road toward the
destination and everything in the van is drinkable. The only container
I drain after every trip and let dry out, is the 13 gal. Westy tank.

While camping in freezing conditions, it takes about 20-30 minutes of
Propex-time for the sink faucet to function, and that's with the coffee
pot percolating on the burner as well. I ALWAYS fill that the night
before whether summer or winter camping. Just habit.

I've never been without water due to freezing nor had water leak
from a cracked-after-freezing container. None. So far! ;-)

bob

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 7:49 PM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>wrote:

> Well, it's almost Friday so this slightly off topic question will get
> asked.  We are all aware that packing any winter survival kit for our
> Vanagons should include fluids to stay hydrated.  My question is how
> do you folks keep your fluids from freezing when winter gets really
> cold out.  Bringing water or other beverages into and out of the car
> each time we drive isn't the answer, so what's Vanagon driver to do?
>
> Generic gallon water bottles won't survive the expansion once the
> water does freeze, and draining 1/4 or so of the fluid to allow for
> expansion, but then you don't get as much fluid.  Would loading
> sugared drinks  or juices lessen the chance of freezing?  I was
> hoping to put maybe some cranapple juice in a Lexan Nalgene bottle or
> two and wondered if the stiff walls and a little bit of space for
> expansion might be a solution.  I'm not so worried about the fluid
> freezing as it can be warmed up in several ways, but I would like to
> find a fairly bullet proof method of storing the liquid.  thanks in advance
>
> DM&FS
>