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Jeep Wrangler JK: How to Install Pressurized Running Water Tank

Need to wash mud from your vehicle while camping? Tired of getting into your Jeep with sandy feet after a day at the beach? This handy tip will solve these problems and many others!

By Joel McCune - November 25, 2015
Contributors: Joel McCune

Running water can be a luxury while camping, at the beach, or really anywhere off the beaten path. Want to wash mud off your Jeep before it hardens after a day of off-road adventure, but are miles from nowhere? Or maybe just wash your hands after changing a tire. This step-by-step article will help you convert your rear bumper into a 7-gallon pressurized water tank.

Materials Needed

  • 16mm socket
  • 3" ratchet extension
  • 1 foot of 3/4 in. PVC pipe
  • Drill and bits
  • Shurflo 4008-101-A65
  • 4- 1/4" stainless bolts
  • Silicon
  • 6' braided vinyl tubing
  • Brass fittings (male and female to connect PVC pipe to vinyl tubing)
  • 4 bolts/nuts (to mount pump)
  • Water nozzle

Step 1 – Remove and seal your rear bumper

Using a 16mm socket and 3" ratchet extension, remove your rear bumper and brackets. On the underside of the bumper will be four drain holes. Use the stainless bolts to plug these holes. 1/4 inch bolts should work, but double check the size of the four holes and go with a bolt size that is just larger than the holes. If for some reason there is leaking of any sort, use the silicon to plug it. This will allow your rear bumper to hold approximately seven gallons of water! If you do use the silicon, be sure to allow 24 hours for the silicon to cure before testing for additional leaks.

Figure 1. Remove rear bumper with 16mm socket.

Step 2 – Drill two holes on the top of bumper

One hole should be drilled on the driver's side in an easy access location for filling the bumper with water. The fill hole should be large enough to easily fill the bumper with a hose, and can be plugged with a rubber cap easily obtained at any hardware store. The other hole should be drilled in a less conspicuous location, such as below the wheel well fender. This second hole will be for your pickup line, and needs to be just large enough to fit the PVC pipe.

  • Figure 2. Drill a fill hole on top of bumper.
  • Figure 3. Second hole drilled under wheel well to fit PVC pipe.

Step 3 – Insert PVC pickup line into the tank

Insert PVC pipe into tank and cut height to extend just out of the hole. You want to make sure the PVC pipe goes almost all the way to the bottom of the bumper to be able to access all the water inside. Use the brass fitting to connect PVC to braided vinyl tubing. You will need two sections of the vinyl tubing; one section will connect to the pump intake, and the other section will run from the pump to the water nozzle.

Figure 4. Attach brass fitting to pickup line, which will attach to hose.

Pro Tip

Use the drill to start the holes while bumper is still on vehicle and finish holes after bumper is removed. This will ensure proper hole placement.

Step 4 – Mount water pump underneath vehicle

There are any number of places the water pump can mount, but in this instance, it will be mounted above and to the side of the rear differential (see the Related Video below). There is plenty of room to line up the pump, and if you drill one starter hole from below, you can finish the remaining three holes from inside the vehicle. Once the holes are drilled, mount the pump with bolts and nuts, then attach your tubing.

  • Figure 5. Place water pump and drill one hole from below vehicle.
  • Figure 6. Finish drilling holes inside using pump as a template.

Pro Tip

To ease in the connection of the tubing, you may use zip ties, but hose clamps work even better if you need to remove or replace the tubing!

Step 5 – Mount the water nozzle

There are also many places to mount your water nozzle; the easiest is probably just zip tie it to the trailer hitch. If you require a different location, using a trailer hitch plug bracket mounted to the underside will provide you with many options. You may need to purchase bolts/nuts if they are not included with the bracket. Also, make sure your water nozzle can attach to a hose for even more versatility!

  • Figure 7. Water nozzle zip tied to trailer hitch.
  • Figure 8. Mounted water nozzle using a trailer hitch plug bracket.

Step 6 – Wire the pump for power

You can simply wire the pump into the rear DC outlet in the subwoofer enclosure, or you can wire it directly to the battery terminals. The Shurflo 4008-101-A65 has an automatic shut-off feature, so no on/off switch is required. It will shut down at 45 PSI, and turn on if there is a drop in pressure. Re-mount bumper and you are all set!

For more detailed descriptions see Related Discussions below!

Featured Video: How-to Jeep Wrangler Pressure Washer Install

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