Why Offroad Grit RV Doesn't Use Checkerplate to Protect Our Water Tanks (And Why That’s a Smart Thing)
- admin996144
- Jul 17
- 2 min read

When you're off-grid, water isn’t just a convenience, it’s essential. Whether you're camping for the weekend or vanishing into the bush for weeks on end, the last thing you want is to be let down by the part of your van that keeps you hydrated, clean, and comfortable.
That’s why we’ve put serious thought into how we build the water systems in every Offroad Grit RV, from the tanks themselves, to how they’re filled, protected, and maintained on the road.
Water Capacity That Works Off-Grid
Every Offroad Grit van comes standard with 2 x 100L fresh water tanks and a 100L grey water tank, giving you a total of 200L of clean water on board — a solid amount for most travellers heading off the beaten track.
For those looking to go further or stay longer, we also offer additional fresh water upgrades for extended self-sufficiency.
Why We Don’t Wrap Our Tanks in Checkerplate
We get asked sometimes: why no checkerplate under the tanks?
Here’s the short version, it sounds like a good idea, but it causes more issues than it solves. Enclosing tanks with metal sheeting traps dust, mud, and moisture — all of which leads to unnecessary weight, corrosion, and hidden wear.
Instead, we rely on rotomoulded polyethylene tanks that are up to 10mm thick, tough as nails, UV-resistant, and built to handle serious off-road punishment without needing a metal shell.
They’re also flange-mounted directly to the chassis using built-in moulded tabs. That means no straps that could fatigue or come loose over time — just solid, no-fuss engineering that keeps your tanks secure and rattle-free no matter how hard you send it.
Smart Plumbing, Protected and Practical
It’s not just the tanks we’ve thought about, it’s the plumbing too. We route all water lines as high as possible within the chassis to keep them out of harm’s way. And in any areas where pipes could be exposed, we lag them for extra protection from rocks, UV damage, and long-term wear.
Then there’s the user side of things. Filling your water tanks is done from one easy-to-access point on the chassis, keeping it simple and tidy.
Tank management, including isolation valves and the water pump — is tucked away in a dedicated, sealed hatch, keeping everything clean, dry, and protected from dirt, dust and road grime. You’re not fiddling around under the van or dealing with clogged-up controls just to get water running.

Built for Real Offroad Travel
At Offroad Grit RV, we don’t do gimmicks, we do things that make sense for the real world. Every decision in our plumbing and water tank setup is based on years of remote travel, customer feedback, and plenty of dusty miles.
So no, you won’t see checkerplate under our tanks but you will see smart, robust, and serviceable design that keeps your water system reliable where it matters most: out there in the wild.
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