Water Tanks

Yes. Several Boab tanks, including the 45 litre vertical/flat and the 40 litre footwell, are sold as bundles with a 12V pump, hose kit and breather cap included. A pump can be added separately to tanks that don't include one.

Under-tray and ute-mount tanks are purpose-built for it. Boab's 80 litre tank mounts under the tray itself, while the 55 litre ute-mount tank fits on top using straps or brackets rather than sitting in the cabin. For more capacity in a tray-mounted setup, San Hima's 75 and 120 litre tanks are built for exactly this.

NSW National Parks recommends at least 4 litres per person per day, plus 20 litres held in reserve for emergencies, as a baseline. Longer trips, more remote routes, or more people on board all mean sizing up.

The poly used across this range is food-grade and BPA-free, so it's designed for drinking water. Give a new tank a rinse before first use, and cycle the water out periodically on longer stints, water sitting still in any tank can pick up a stale taste over time.

There's no hard and fast rule, it comes down to available space and mounting ingenuity. The Front Runner 67 litre tank has a dedicated kit built for Slimline II and Slimsport racks, the most straightforward option if you've got one of those. The rest of the range wasn't designed specifically for roof mounting, but most could work with custom brackets and straps depending on your rack and the space available.

It comes down to where you're mounting it and how much capacity you need, rather than one universal best fit. For an all-rounder we'd point most buyers to the Boab 55 litre ute mount or 58 litre vertical and flat, a solid capacity-to-price balance that suits most utes and wagons. If tray space is tight, the Boab 40 litre footwell tank keeps the tray clear entirely.

There's no official use-by date, but as a general guide, water left untreated in any tank is worth rotating out every few months, sooner if the tank's been sitting in direct sun. Keeping it topped up and out of full sun where practical slows any staleness.

Each brand suits a different priority. Boab is our most extensive range and the strongest middle ground on price and capacity. Front Runner Outfitters is the pick if you want a tank that mounts to a Slimline II or Slimsport roof rack. San Hima is worth a look if you want a heavy-duty tank in the bigger sizes, running 75 and 120 litres. Weisshorn's portable wheeled tank is the budget and flexibility option if you don't need a fixed vehicle mount.

Longevity comes down to UV exposure and how securely it's mounted, more than brand alone. All the poly in this range is UV-stabilised, so direct sun isn't the main risk, a tank that stays strapped down and protected from rock strikes (footwell and under-tray positions) will generally outlast one left to flex against straps on rougher tracks.

• All-rounder: Boab 55L Ute Mount
• Tightest budget: Weisshorn 40L Portable
• Biggest capacity: Boab 120L Universal
• Heavy-duty pick: San Hima 75L or 120L
• Roof-rack compatible: Front Runner 67L
• Tray stays clear: Boab 40L Footwell