Custom Holding Tanks

[luvrbus]

The life of plastic depends on what part of the US you live,plastic of any kind has a short life here in the AZ heat and sun ,I having a small debate now with Tractor Supply over my 25 gal spray tank with a 10 year warranty 5 years ago I bought the tank and pump now it has cracked and you can push holes into the tank with your finger it is so brittle 

[richard5933]

The plastic used on my tanks is 3/8" thick sheets with very smooth sides. They do have multiple baffles inside across the tank to reinforce the tall side walls, and after 45+ years there is no bowing at all.

[luvrbus]

I have stainless tanks only plastic is the drain connection and the compartment is covered with  Stainless that needs cleaning lol

[Jim Eh.]

A suggestion if you are making your own hold down straps. When you weld the overlap, only weld the edges. You could also cut the overlap to an arrowhead shape and weld along the angles just as long as you do not weld across the strap, it weakens it and creates a point of failure along the weld.

[Jim Blackwood]

There's a man with a steady hand.

I think it'll be easier for me to stick with the stainless, provided I can find a deal on the material. One of the local salvage companies that had a good bit of stainless quit selling to the public, the knuckleheads. I'm writing them out of my will. I'll think about using thicker material on the black tank. But if it ends up the same as my fresh water tank I think that will already be overkill. That one is 16ga and I personally built that tank from new materials back when we were building a big 3D metal printer. It was a prototype and got scrapped out so I cut it down. Still have some work to do on that one.

Jim

[dtcerrato]

Our original black tank we replaced had vertical baffles. I didn't think they were there for rigidity of the side walls as much as retarders for sideways sloshing of the liquid. It was the plastic welds used on the baffles that developed a leak (@ almost 30 years old) the new replacement didn't have any - same mfger. To prevent any "flexing" on a plastic tank is an asset to the durability of the tank.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

   HI;
      Try also, Ardemco.  They are a BCM advertiser.  Got mine from Ardemco a lot of years ago and no problems. 
      Phone (800)253-0115.    They are in Costa Mesa, Ca
                                                        Good luck   

I agree. Ardemco has over 400 different size tanks to offer.  Unless you need a bastard configuration, they should have a tank to fit your space.  They have been making these tanks for bus converter people for years.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I wonder if you couldn't use old fuel tanks off of a semi truck. Not the most efficient use of space, but should be cheap and durable i would think.

[freds]

The stainless tanks in my bus were put in in 1983 and are still fine as far as i know. 

1980 in my case...

[64MCI]

I agree. Ardemco has over 400 different size tanks to offer.  Unless you need a bastard configuration, they should have a tank to fit your space.  They have been making these tanks for bus converter people for years.

Unfortunately, I need a bastard. 

[buswarrior]

I wonder if you couldn't use old fuel tanks off of a semi truck. Not the most efficient use of space, but should be cheap and durable i would think.

Oh boy... someone did this years ago and it became a shouting match as to the suitability. Lots of people mad at one another over that to this day!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Hmmm......wonder how i missed that one!  

[buswarrior]

Likely was over on BNO, might even have to go to the archives for it...

And what's there is the Moderated results, the hottest stuff had to be "adjusted"

Before social media, things needed a fair bit of Moderating and cautioning, when peeps got impassioned about their particular take on a project.

All that sort of less than polite and supportive style has an outlet elsewhere today.

Poor old Gary hasn't a clue how much work is involved in keeping a Board cleaned up, if those days were to return!!!

More trivia of busnuts long ago and the evolution of using the internet.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[uncle ned]

Ed  sometimes us "OLD" people have to just be quite about how we have done somethings on our coaches.

uncle ned

[Jim Blackwood]

Seems like an old fuel tank out of a bus would be a better choice, in terms of shape and capacity. Even comes with a level gage.

Jim