Transporting water

[Judith]

What is the easiest way to transport large amounts of water. We do not have a well on the property at the moment and need water for everything from drinking to watering livestock. What is the easiest set up for this? I have seen tanks for the back of pick-ups. Has anyone used this type of thing?

[Sgt.Sausage]

Given that current economic conditions will likely make it all but impossible to fill up your pick-'em-up by the end of this month (What bailout? doesn't seem to be working does it!?!?) -- the best way I've seen that doesn't involve spending a couple of grand on wind-power looks like this:

http://greenupgrader.com/3934/q-drum...n-made-easier/

[Judith]

LOL, interesting web link but water is about 6 KM away from the building site. I think there is a moose hole someplace on the property that I could use for the livestock.. I wouldnt want to have to drag 300 litres at a time that way I was thinking of some sort of tank thingy. Currently we fill up 4 litre milk jugs. It is a requirement of guests to bring up water with them at each visit

[Old Vet]

A tanker truck is the best way to haul water. If you don't have a tanker tuck then a pick up with a tank on the back is second best A tanker wagon is the first best if you don't have a tanker truck. Just put a tank on a trailer and pull that around instead of having it in the truck.

[edcopp]

Hauling water is a fun thing sort of. I use a plastic tank on my full size pick up truck. Actually I have 2 tanks, but the one that I use the most is 275 gallons (U.S.). It costs me $1.37 (U.S.) to fill this tank, and my water must be paid for in advance 10 loads at a time.

I live in southern Ohio USA, where we have not had enough railfall to fill a shot glass in 75 days or so. There have been storms and floods 70 miles away but I did not notice. That said I need to haul some water from time to time.

For me the trip is just under 14 miles round trip, and the fill takes 10 minutes or so.

Hauling water can be a bit tricky. The load on my truck weighs about a ton, so it may want to shift and slosh around a bit. It can have a mind of its own. Also an extra ton on a pick up can break a spring if there is a bump or hole that is hit just right. So caution and care are required for safety.

Tanks can be purchased at most farm supply outlets or even on the internet. Costs will vary. I bought the tank that I use now, used for $50 (U.S.) and a new tank might run about $300-500 (U.S.).

I do not know where you are but I gather that you are not near where I am. So for hauling water you will need the right equipment, you will also need to consider how far, and how often you need to do this little chore.

Good hauling, and just keep on truckin'

[watcher]

One thing to remember when hauling water, it doesn't stop moving when the tank does. When you come to a stop the water will slosh back and forth and when you make a turn it will move to the outside of the curve.

This is annoying at the best and dangerous at the worse.

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by watcher

One thing to remember when hauling water, it doesn't stop moving when the tank does. When you come to a stop the water will slosh back and forth and when you make a turn it will move to the outside of the curve.

This is annoying at the best and dangerous at the worse.

The plastic (poly-something) tanks that most farm supply stores sell work fine. You can get the low profile ones shaped to fit in a pickup bed, sizes around 200 to 400 gallon. Remember, water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon, so get one that doesn't overload your pick-up and fill it. If it is full, the load will ride well, if it is half full, it will slosh back and forth, shifting the weight and cause problems. If you keep it clean, it will be suitable for drinking water.

[artificer]

How much water do you need to transport, and how often. Poly tanks tend to cost about a $1/gal. We picked up some 300litre totes for $45 each. These are the squareish cubes inside a steel tube frame, mounted on a plastic base. Strapped down well I carried one in the pickup, and 2 on the skidsteer trailer.

Michael

[fordy]

...............Hauling water is much more feasible on a tandem axle trailer ! I would look for tanks with Baffles , they keep the water from continuously shifting within the tank . IF you are close to one of the national Auction places like Richie Bros. , you might find a large stainless steel tank designed to haul Potable water for a decent price . They have a website that lists all items up for auction for several weeks prior too the actual auction . Another source is to monitor Auctions held on military bases as the military uses trailers with water tanks built specifically for that purpose . , fordy

[goatsareus]

we have a Ford 150 and a 325 gallon plastic water hauling tank. Sounds like edcopp and we get our water at the same place. We have our own water system, a spring development and it is struggling to produce water right now, it has been VERY dry here. But through severe water conservations measures, we have not had to start to haul water yet. We get our hauled water from the local water treatment plant, pull up truck, water is dumped in, drive away. We are only 4 miles from the plant, very convenient for us. We have had to haul water four different seasons since we bought the water hauling tank in the late 1980's. It is a life saver for us. We run garden hoses from the water tank down the hill to our holding tank.

[MELOC]

several folks in our neighborhood used to use a big, steel tank on a trailer (the water wagon, lol) to take water from our spring fed system to fill their cisterns. it was pulled by a tractor. it probably held at least 1000 gallons...i'm not sure. i would hate to put that kind of wear on a modern vehicle.

[copperkid3]

Originally Posted by Judith

What is the easiest way to transport large amounts of water.

I believe the answer to that question, would involve several large cumulus clouds......... Now.....getting them into the proper location and then releasing their load.......that's another question.

[jennigrey]

Originally Posted by Judith

I think there is a moose hole someplace on the property that I could use for the livestock..

I just wanted to comment that is has been forever since I heard someone use the term "moose hole" and it brightened my day a bit to hear it.

[Judith]

I had to laugh at the "Moose Hole" comment. As a typical canuck I totally forgot that I should have called it a swamp If you are from Canada, a swamp is a scary body of water found in Florida and other states. Swamps tend to harbor things like gators, water snakes and other creepy crawlies Granted if you have ever seen a moose in rut, a gator looks rather tame....... There are moose EVERYWHERE right now!!! Alot of bears this year as well.

[neolady]

You could look for an old used fire department vehicle - they show up fairly regularly. Preferably a tanker over a pumper as the tankers usually have greater capacity.

[radiofish]

When I worked in the fish hatcheries, we had fish transport tanks ranging in size from 400 gallons portable units up to dedicated trucks with 1600 gallon tanks. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon, and as posted above - In a partially filled tank, you will experience additional motion from sloshing, going around curves, sudden starts and stops, etc...

Just be aware of the limitations in hauling water, and the possible dangers of having an unsecured tank possibly weighing thousands of pounds sliding around in the bed of your truck/ vehicle. I have seen them slide and break out a rear window, and dent the metal body work of a vehicle from carelessness of the driver!!!!

[MorrisonCorner]

375 gallon tank on the back of a 3/4 ton chevy... with timbrens enhancements on the rear suspension. That would last us about a week of living less than frugally (in other words, I still took a nice hot shower in the morning), 4 dogs, 14 or so sheep, and laundry running on that water.

And I second, third, fourth, whatever.. water does not stop when the vehicle does. Water also moves back there as you're going around turns. FILL that sucker. And secure it FIRMLY into the bed of the truck!