What is the minimum size pickup to haul 2.5 tons of water?

On Thursday, July 10, 2014 9:46:02 AM UTC-5, Kevin Bottorff wrote:
> "Steve W." > wrote in
>
> :
>
>
>
> > Danny D. wrote:
>
> >> On Tue, 8 Jul 2014 14:01:00 +0000 (UTC), Kevin Bottorff wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>> you can use a 3/4 ton pkup fine. I use a tonner for 500 gal.
>
> >>> sprayer
>
> >>> with no problems. the important thing about weight is speed and
>
> >>> tires. you will have to have tires with the proper weight rating and
>
> >>> drive slow, not over 40 to 45 and you will have no problems.
>
> >>> (remember corners are at a crawl). If you just have to go faster,
>
> >>> you will need much more truck to safely do it.
>
> >>
>
> >> This is very good news that a 3/4 ton pickup will suffice for 2.5
>
> >> tons of water!
>
> >>
>
> >> BTW, when they say "3/4 ton", what do they actually mean?
>
> >> Do they mean what it's supposed to carry normally, all day, every
>
> >> day? Can that weight be on a trailer?
>
> >> Or is it only in the bed?
>
> >>
>
> >> As for tires, that makes sense since they have a load-bearing limit.
>
> >> Driving slowly is not a problem because we have to go a few miles up
>
> >> a 9% continuous grade for a few miles of windy road. Nobody is going
>
> >> over 20mph on that road!
>
> >>
>
> >> We're just going from a local SJWC fire hydrant at the bottom of the
>
> >> hill to houses at the top, which is at most 5 miles away one way, so
>
> >> the round trip is 10 miles at 20mph for each load. (We would pump the
>
> >> water out of the truck into the top of the water tank, which are
>
> >> generally 5,000 gallons each, so it takes about 15 trips to fully
>
> >> fill up one household).
>
> >> https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3835/1...b1b7b947_b.jpg
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > An F250 or GM2500 ton won't last very long hauling that much weight.
>
> > Notice that he uses a 1 ton (F350 / GM 3500 / Dodge 3500)for a 500
>
> > gallon spray tank, BUT you don't use spray tanks like you will be
>
> > using your water tank, and you have about 1000 pounds in extra water
>
> > over the 500 gallons.
>
> >
>
> > Also if the tank pictured is the one you plan to use you can't use a
>
> > P/U anyway. It won't fit in the bed between the wheel wells.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > So you need either something with a flat bed OR a trailer. Or a
>
> > purpose built hauler.
>
> >
>
> > You also may want to check with the DMV on the requirements on an
>
> > older fire engine. You won't be using it as a fire truck and may not
>
> > need to have a CDL to operate it as a not for hire vehicle. Not sure
>
> > where you are in Cali. but you can operate a vehicle up to 26,000
>
> > pounds GVW without a CDL. and many older fire engines fall under that
>
> > rating! Speaking from experience as a fireman here in NY. If you were
>
> > out here my FD has one you could buy cheap. BUT the gas to drive it
>
> > out there would probably cover the national debt!
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > My neighbor hauls water in a purpose built trailer.
>
> >
>
> > He started with a tank like this one
>
> > http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...e-tank-525-gal
>
> > on a small dump style trailer like this.
>
> > http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/4557408155.html
>
> > He mounted the pump on the back.
>
> >
>
> > His current trailer is like this one
>
> > http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/hvo/4513045185.html
>
> > And he has a 1,000 gallon tank like this
>
> > http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...-tank-1025-gal
>
> > on it.
>
> >
>
> > He bought the tank new and the trailer used. He also had to get
>
> > certified by the state to haul potable water and the new tank was a
>
> > BIG help with that as they wanted proof that it had never hauled
>
> > anything "bad".
>
> >
>
> > Nice thing with a trailer is that you can just park it out of the way
>
> > when not needed. You just need to watch out how heavy it is. Anything
>
> > over 10,000 pounds also requires a CDL.
>
> >
>
> > You may want to consider your tank on a purpose built trailer. If you
>
> > figure you fill it with 625 gallons you have 5,200 pounds of water,
>
> > Tank weight of around 120-150 pounds. You are in the 5,400 pound area.
>
> > Add in a trailer and your around 8,000 pounds.
>
> >
>
> > Or look at these for an idea.
>
> > http://www.water-storage-containers....erstorage.html
>
> > Their 800 gallon unit has a GVW of 9200 pounds.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > If it was me I'd hunt up a medium duty truck, either an old fire
>
> > tanker, ex military 2.5 ton (M35A3, M44 or M1078 series)or common
>
> > cargo truck like a GM top kick or Ford F650/750 series. Paint WATER
>
> > and not for hire on it, add a tank and register it at 24,000 pounds
>
> > and start hauling water.
>
> >
>
> > What would be ideal would be to find an M-50 water tanker. They have a
>
> > 1000 gallon baffled tank.
>
> > http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m50water.php
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
> He won`t have any trouble hauling 500 gal with a 3/4 ton pkup if the
>
> speed is kept down. My spray rig alone is more than 1000 lbs heaver than
>
> a simple 500 gal tank. and I have used mine for over 15 years doing much
>
> harder work spraying in the field than any road hauling would be. tires
>
> will be more of a concern than anything else. now that said 300 gal tank
>
> in the pkup and 500 on a trailer would be more efficient use of trips.
>
> KB

What about a good old farm tractor?

JR > wrote in
:

> On Thursday, July 10, 2014 9:46:02 AM UTC-5, Kevin Bottorff wrote:
>> "Steve W." > wrote in
>>
>> :
>>
>>
>>
>> > Danny D. wrote:
>>
>> >> On Tue, 8 Jul 2014 14:01:00 +0000 (UTC), Kevin Bottorff wrote:
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >>> you can use a 3/4 ton pkup fine. I use a tonner for 500 gal.
>>
>> >>> sprayer
>>
>> >>> with no problems. the important thing about weight is speed and
>>
>> >>> tires. you will have to have tires with the proper weight rating
>> >>> and
>>
>> >>> drive slow, not over 40 to 45 and you will have no problems.
>>
>> >>> (remember corners are at a crawl). If you just have to go
>> >>> faster,
>>
>> >>> you will need much more truck to safely do it.
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >> This is very good news that a 3/4 ton pickup will suffice for 2.5
>>
>> >> tons of water!
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >> BTW, when they say "3/4 ton", what do they actually mean?
>>
>> >> Do they mean what it's supposed to carry normally, all day, every
>>
>> >> day? Can that weight be on a trailer?
>>
>> >> Or is it only in the bed?
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >> As for tires, that makes sense since they have a load-bearing
>> >> limit.
>>
>> >> Driving slowly is not a problem because we have to go a few miles
>> >> up
>>
>> >> a 9% continuous grade for a few miles of windy road. Nobody is
>> >> going
>>
>> >> over 20mph on that road!
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >> We're just going from a local SJWC fire hydrant at the bottom of
>> >> the
>>
>> >> hill to houses at the top, which is at most 5 miles away one way,
>> >> so
>>
>> >> the round trip is 10 miles at 20mph for each load. (We would pump
>> >> the
>>
>> >> water out of the truck into the top of the water tank, which are
>>
>> >> generally 5,000 gallons each, so it takes about 15 trips to fully
>>
>> >> fill up one household).
>>
>> >> https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3835/1...b1b7b947_b.jpg
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > An F250 or GM2500 ton won't last very long hauling that much
>> > weight.
>>
>> > Notice that he uses a 1 ton (F350 / GM 3500 / Dodge 3500)for a 500
>>
>> > gallon spray tank, BUT you don't use spray tanks like you will be
>>
>> > using your water tank, and you have about 1000 pounds in extra
>> > water
>>
>> > over the 500 gallons.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Also if the tank pictured is the one you plan to use you can't use
>> > a
>>
>> > P/U anyway. It won't fit in the bed between the wheel wells.
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > So you need either something with a flat bed OR a trailer. Or a
>>
>> > purpose built hauler.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > You also may want to check with the DMV on the requirements on an
>>
>> > older fire engine. You won't be using it as a fire truck and may
>> > not
>>
>> > need to have a CDL to operate it as a not for hire vehicle. Not
>> > sure
>>
>> > where you are in Cali. but you can operate a vehicle up to 26,000
>>
>> > pounds GVW without a CDL. and many older fire engines fall under
>> > that
>>
>> > rating! Speaking from experience as a fireman here in NY. If you
>> > were
>>
>> > out here my FD has one you could buy cheap. BUT the gas to drive it
>>
>> > out there would probably cover the national debt!
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > My neighbor hauls water in a purpose built trailer.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > He started with a tank like this one
>>
>> > http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...e-tank-525-gal
>>
>> > on a small dump style trailer like this.
>>
>> > http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/4557408155.html
>>
>> > He mounted the pump on the back.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > His current trailer is like this one
>>
>> > http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/hvo/4513045185.html
>>
>> > And he has a 1,000 gallon tank like this
>>
>> > http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...e-tank-1025-ga
>> > l
>>
>> > on it.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > He bought the tank new and the trailer used. He also had to get
>>
>> > certified by the state to haul potable water and the new tank was a
>>
>> > BIG help with that as they wanted proof that it had never hauled
>>
>> > anything "bad".
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Nice thing with a trailer is that you can just park it out of the
>> > way
>>
>> > when not needed. You just need to watch out how heavy it is.
>> > Anything
>>
>> > over 10,000 pounds also requires a CDL.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > You may want to consider your tank on a purpose built trailer. If
>> > you
>>
>> > figure you fill it with 625 gallons you have 5,200 pounds of water,
>>
>> > Tank weight of around 120-150 pounds. You are in the 5,400 pound
>> > area.
>>
>> > Add in a trailer and your around 8,000 pounds.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Or look at these for an idea.
>>
>> > http://www.water-storage-containers....erstorage.html
>>
>> > Their 800 gallon unit has a GVW of 9200 pounds.
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > If it was me I'd hunt up a medium duty truck, either an old fire
>>
>> > tanker, ex military 2.5 ton (M35A3, M44 or M1078 series)or common
>>
>> > cargo truck like a GM top kick or Ford F650/750 series. Paint WATER
>>
>> > and not for hire on it, add a tank and register it at 24,000 pounds
>>
>> > and start hauling water.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > What would be ideal would be to find an M-50 water tanker. They
>> > have a
>>
>> > 1000 gallon baffled tank.
>>
>> > http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m50water.php
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> He won`t have any trouble hauling 500 gal with a 3/4 ton pkup if the
>>
>> speed is kept down. My spray rig alone is more than 1000 lbs heaver
>> than
>>
>> a simple 500 gal tank. and I have used mine for over 15 years doing
>> much
>>
>> harder work spraying in the field than any road hauling would be.
>> tires
>>
>> will be more of a concern than anything else. now that said 300 gal
>> tank
>>
>> in the pkup and 500 on a trailer would be more efficient use of
>> trips.
>>
>> KB
>
> What about a good old farm tractor?
>

with a tractor and trailer he could easily haul up to 2000 gal at a time,
uphill. downhill it wouldn`t have the brakes to do safely unless the
trailer had brakes too. KB