Another Tank / Trailer Setup Question - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

BrianD · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-05

As I am setting up my trailer, do I really need dual 325 gallon tanks? My original intention was to have the capacity to haul in 325 gallons of water where a source was not readily available and to be able to haul out as much waste water - or some combination of both. Because of trailer weight limitations, I don't intend to ever haul both tanks full with my full load of equipment.

How often do those of you who have been doing this a while need a full 325 gallons of fresh water and how often are you hauling away 325 gallons of waste water. I found 2 pretty good 325 gal. tanks with a fairly small footprint, but could really use the extra space in the trailer for equipment. If I went down to dual 225 gallon tanks would that be sufficient for most of the work I would be doing? Any thoughts and experienced opinions are welcome.

Thanks for all of the other help you have provided. I have learned quite a lot from all of you in a very short while.

Take care..........Brian.

#2 (**permalink**) 03-16-05

Brian,
Twin 325 or even 225 would limit your space in that 16 footer so bad you would have no floor space left for much else. If your mounting a skid unit you are really hurting for space!

I'm in an area where waste water is not a problem yet (knock on wood). The people here have no money and other things to worry about, so I have no experience to give you advice there. But I can tell you maybe 90+% of the time you will use the customers water. Washing homes, buildings driveways etc... is different from washing trucks, tractors and the like where at times water is not available and hauling all that weight costs you money at the gas pump, especially these days! You have to look at what type work you are doing, ie; where and what.
I do alot of store fronts and parking lots and a few of them do not have a water faucet available so I have to do them during their hours of operation because 325 gallons of water will not do all the flat work and the store front. At the price they were bid theres no way I could afford to haul the water as well.

Remember to ALWAYS ask if water is available when you bid a job or someone calls you at 10:30 at night wanting you to wash a truck the next AM!

ED

BrianD · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-05

Ed,

Thanks for the advice. Thanks to Doug T, I found a rectangular 315 gallon tank at Diverse Plastics that measures 30"W x 62"L x 50"H. If I mount them together, they will only consume 60" of my 16' (actually 15'9") trailer length - saving 16 inches over a round tank. That sounded OK to me. When I laid out all of my equipment using Visio, I appeared to have plenty of room for everything.

Then again, I may be missing something major. That is why I am looking for advice from the experts.

My last question (hopefully) about this is: do I need a 1 1/4 inch or a 2 inch outlet? My belt drive unit should pull enough to make the 1 1/4 inch outlet sufficient. Right?

Thanks again, Ed.

Mark · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-05

1+1/4" should suffice.

We have set up trailers with wash & capture
using 330# tanks, one for fresh water and the other
for waste water / recycled water, here is a picture
of a recent truck mount.

Mark · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-05

1+1/4" should suffice.

We have set up trailers with wash & capture
using 330# tanks, one for fresh water and the other
for waste water / recycled water, here is a picture
of a recent truck mount.

Mark · #6 (**permalink**) 03-17-05

Here is a trailer unit:

330 Gallon rectangular tanks on the truck, and 325# gallon tanks on the trailer.

Doug T · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-05

Brian,
You might want to consider going with the 2 inch, only because in the winter when you may need to dump water the bigger the hole the faster it will come out. Also on mounting the tanks.. on the botton of the steel support there is a screw that holds the vertical support to the horizontal support. Just take the screw out put a "L" bracket next to the support and put the screw back in. Attach the bottom of the bracket to your floor. Do that in all 4 spots and the tank is not going to move.

Diverse will put an opening on each end if you ask, at least they did for me. I have 3/4 on one end to feed the p/w and 2 inch on the other to dump water.

I would be sure and mount the tanks across the trailer for better weight distribution.

As far as recover and tank size it is going to depend on what you get into washing. But the recovery tank does not need to be as big as the fresh water tank. Feel free to e-mail if want. ddtt2@ earthlink.net
Doug