[hank jr]

Ok so the van im about to buy has no bulkhead. Would you fit a water tank into a van with no bulkhead?

[Don Simon]

yes

[chris turner]

As long as the tank is bolted down then it's fine.

[nathankaye]

I have a fiat scudo van, which was already fibre glassed thoughout in the back. The previous owner used it as a dog warden or something along those lines. There is a divide between the seats and the rear. Now it doesnt seem to be as solid as i would like, just a couple of mm as i was able to drill into it for something i was doing. But my water tank sits neatly upto it and is secured in the van. If i ever have a nasty accident would this supposed bulk head save my life, i doubt it. But then my tank is secured down and not moving nor would travel to pick momentum up to smash through bulk head.
So in essence, does it matter if its there or not, not really or atleast thats how i feel.
It does divide the van nicely though to cabin n rear, so the heating doeant take long to warm the cabby bit for me ☺

[hank jr]

thanks for your answers guys.....

any idea how much it costs to get a water tank fitted?

[windowswashed]

I've just bought a van which doesn't have a bulkhead fittedso the first thing I've done is ordered a bulkhead which is the first thing I'm fitting in on Monday before I fit the tank. The reason I'm fitting one is because if I have to do an unexpected emergency brake any time in the future I can feel safer knowing that nothing loose in the rear of the van is going to come flying at me whilst I'm driving, worst that will happen is something might put a dent in the bulkhead and not my head or through the windscreen. Safety is paramount 

[hank jr]

I've just bought a van which doesn't have a bulkhead fittedso the first thing I've done is ordered a bulkhead which is the first thing I'm fitting in on Monday before I fit the tank. The reason I'm fitting one is because if I have to do an unexpected emergency brake any time in the future I can feel safer knowing that nothing loose in the rear of the van is going to come flying at me whilst I'm driving, worst that will happen is something might put a dent in the bulkhead and not my head or through the windscreen. Safety is paramount 

this is what i was thinking, as well as the water tank. Any idea how much it costs to get a water tank fitted properly?

[windowswashed]

I fit my own as I'm a skilled fabricator by trade so easy enough to do if you know how.  Ask a  local garage  you can trust with a good reputation to give you a price, get a couple quotes from a couple garages and pick the medium price if unsure 

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

no , first thing we do is fit one , they don't have to be metal , as a good sheet of half inch marnie ply will be as good , they can be a night mare to fit but any van line company will fit them with in minutes for you

[slap bash]

I fitted a metal bulkhead when I got my connect and it does offer you protection if things go wrong. I use 3x 4 ton straps to secure it and it`s never moved an inch.I have had many times applied the brakes in emergencies and no problem. Many chaps would say it's not safe but HVG truckers tie down their loads and they feel they are safe. AS long as your anchor points are strong. Its easier to use a large backing plate under the floor with a large bolt through than to fit a welded frame. The points in a connect are excellent.
Why I fitted a bulkhead was for the security it gives against theft. My door to the back have quality security locks so my equipment is safe from theft and my insurance will be happy I have tried to protect my poles, equipment has cost a great deal of money.

 

[Lee GLS]

I just bought a dispatch that didn't have a bulkhead, I managed to get one from someone breaking one on eBay for £50,  but the do seem to sell quickly. More importantly it didn't have cup holders which is more important than a bulkhead  so I got those as well

[Dry Clean]

Total waste of time, at best it will keep you dry as your being freed when the dented pushed forward bulkhead has pinned you to the steering wheel.
Put your money into a good tank in a secure metal frame securely bolted to plates under the floor.

No bulkhead on this van but look how it goes through the metal between the driver and the engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w56cXOXtrrk

[slap bash]

That tank in that van was loose so not a true test of a system. A tank would need to be loose to smash through the bulkhead. I had a strapped in tank in my older van and had an accident. A chap slammed on his brakes in front of me. The tank moved forward 3 inches to the bulkhead.

[Spruce]

Personally I would fit a steel bulkhead.

I would buy a second hand unit from an advertiser, ie breakers yard that was a factory fit option as they are well designed and strong.

I would buy this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-EXPERT-CITROEN-DISPATCH-FIAT-SCUDO-BULKHEAD-2007-2015-/291976525387?hash=item43fb28364b:g:fkcAAOSw5cNYV-U2

and wouldn't even consider this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Guard-Full-Solid-Steel-Bulkhead-with-Window-for-Citroen-Dispatch-07-16-/172016036385?fits=Model%3ADispatch%7CCars+Year%3A2008&hash=item280cf46a21:g:NMsAAOSwgY9Xdnsc

You will be able to find them cheaper but you have to be patient and will have to travel to collect it.

[Tony dunmall]

I take out mine normally in the transit connect SWB I ripped it out
Everything is bolted down any way and all grippa tanks fitted, and  pole in secure tubes

In new LWB connect was going to remove but the head rests and seat belts are Intergrated into the bulk head but even the long poles fit in so I need

[andyM]

Another point which hasn't been mentioned is that a bulk head can also offer an extra level of security.
If for example you work with the rear doors open and the front doors locked a bulkhead will stop a thief from easily entering the front cabin where you could have valuables or cash.

[robert mitchell]

That tank in that van was loose so not a true test of a system. A tank would need to be loose to smash through the bulkhead. I had a strapped in tank in my older van and had an accident. A chap slammed on his brakes in front of me. The tank moved forward 3 inches to the bulkhead.

No it wasnt , it was bolted down , read the comments underneath .

[Perfect Windows]

That tank in that van was loose so not a true test of a system. A tank would need to be loose to smash through the bulkhead.

As per the comments from Gardiners on that video: "Thank you for your comments. This was an initial test of our first development system. The lids were fully screwed on (standard tank lids) and the tanks are made out of standard 6mm thick as most other tanks are on the market. It was fully bolted down."

Vin

[colin bird]

 personally  I wouldn't feel that confident that a bulkhead  alone would  stop a tank weighing half a ton,from crushing you to death.
My tank is bolted to chassis,so hopefully I will be ok in an accident.

[p1w1]

personally  I wouldn't feel that confident that a bulkhead  alone would  stop a tank weighing half a ton,from crushing you to death.
My tank is bolted to chassis,so hopefully I will be ok in an accident.

Pure freedom only bolt their frames through the floor not your actuall chassis

[Dry Clean]

personally  I wouldn't feel that confident that a bulkhead  alone would  stop a tank weighing half a ton,from crushing you to death.
My tank is bolted to chassis,so hopefully I will be ok in an accident.

Pure freedom only bolt their frames through the floor not your actuall chassis

I think the majority of vans are now unibody which means the whole body acts as the chassis, so as long as they have plates under the floor stopping the frame bolts being ripped through it in an accident then it will be the same as being bolted to a chassis.

[p1w1]

personally  I wouldn't feel that confident that a bulkhead  alone would  stop a tank weighing half a ton,from crushing you to death.
My tank is bolted to chassis,so hopefully I will be ok in an accident.

Pure freedom only bolt their frames through the floor not your actual chassis

I think the majority of vans are now unibody which means the whole body acts as the chassis, so as long as they have plates under the floor stopping the frame bolts being ripped through it in an accident then it will be the same as being bolted to a chassis.

[colin bird]

personally  I wouldn't feel that confident that a bulkhead  alone would  stop a tank weighing half a ton,from crushing you to death.
My tank is bolted to chassis,so hopefully I will be ok in an accident.

Pure freedom only bolt their frames through the floor not your actuall chassis

d disagree mate I have large metal plates that are around the chassis,,that is attached to my tank frame ?  And that's how it's been for the last three van mounted systems I've had ?
Also bolting through the chassis in my opinion would weaken it as you would have to drill big holes,but I'm only a window cleaner and not an engineer

[Marc Stock]

As long as you don't exceed the payload limit you should be ok on the existing lashing eyes.

Mine is strapped down using all 6 of the lashing eyes.

500kg /6= 83.6 kg

[robert mitchell]

As long as you don't exceed the payload limit you should be ok on the existing lashing eyes.

Mine is strapped down using all 6 of the lashing eyes.

500kg /6= 83.6 kg

It doesn't still weigh 500kg when you stop suddenly from 30/40/50 mph and the load wont be spread equally between the six lashing points so thats a very flawed calculation.

[Dry Clean]

As long as you don't exceed the payload limit you should be ok on the existing lashing eyes.

Mine is strapped down using all 6 of the lashing eyes.

500kg /6= 83.6 kg

Doesn't work that way Marc, in a collision the lashing eyes to the front of the tank wont be taking any of the force
also if the tank isn't in a metal frame then it will buckle change shape meaning one strap could end up taking the full
force and snap overloading the other two.

With a bolted down tank in a frame the three bolts to the back will take the majority of the force but the three to the front
will still take a certain amount depending on the size of the plate under the floor, if one bolt snaps you will still have the opposite
bolt holding on unlike a strap where you lose the two.

Strapping a tank in is a quick and cheaper way to do the job and will allow a certain amount of protection but its definitely a
compromise on safety.

[Marc Stock]

Oh I see.

So why is it more expensive to insure a van that has been modified to accept a tank, than to use the lashing eyes if using the lashing eyes is not as safe?

fortunately most of my driving is stop start driving and i rarely exceed 40mph

[robert mitchell]

Oh I see.

So why is it more expensive to insure a van that has been modified to accept a tank, than to use the lashing eyes if using the lashing eyes is not as safe?

fortunately most of my driving is stop start driving and i rarely exceed 40mph

Becaue of ignorance in the insurance industry .......it is starting to change though with some insurers only wanting to insure professionally fitted tanks , a good thing in my opinion .

coming to a dead stop by hitting a tree for instance at 40mph , that tank in your van will not stay put.

[Perfect Windows]

Oh I see.

So why is it more expensive to insure a van that has been modified to accept a tank, than to use the lashing eyes if using the lashing eyes is not as safe?

fortunately most of my driving is stop start driving and i rarely exceed 40mph

If a tank's bolted in the energy in a crash will be absorbed by the structure of the van.  So even a lowish speed collision is likely to end up as a write-off as the van structure will be irreparable.  A low speed crash with a tank merely tethered will be much less likely structurally to damage the van, so no need for a payout.

Vin

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

As long as you don't exceed the payload limit you should be ok on the existing lashing eyes.

Mine is strapped down using all 6 of the lashing eyes.

500kg /6= 83.6 kg

Doesn't work that way Marc, in a collision the lashing eyes to the front of the tank wont be taking any of the force
also if the tank isn't in a metal frame then it will buckle change shape meaning one strap could end up taking the full
force and snap overloading the other two.

With a bolted down tank in a frame the three bolts to the back will take the majority of the force but the three to the front
will still take a certain amount depending on the size of the plate under the floor, if one bolt snaps you will still have the opposite
bolt holding on unlike a strap where you lose the two.

Strapping a tank in is a quick and cheaper way to do the job and will allow a certain amount of protection but its definitely a
compromise on safety.

compromise of safety ill ask you like I asked gripper tank have you any stand up datea to prove this ? as if so by law its your duty of care to let the right people know i.e. ford.vw,fiat, let alone eddie Stobart, d.p.d ect ect  if your with holding real prof then your liable for any people getting hurt

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

Oh I see.

So why is it more expensive to insure a van that has been modified to accept a tank, than to use the lashing eyes if using the lashing eyes is not as safe?

fortunately most of my driving is stop start driving and i rarely exceed 40mph

If a tank's bolted in the energy in a crash will be absorbed by the structure of the van.  So even a lowish speed collision is likely to end up as a write-off as the van structure will be irreparable.  A low speed crash with a tank merely tethered will be much less likely structurally to damage the van, so no need for a payout.

Vin

also if your bolting it to the  chaisses this also could void all warranty claims on the full drive train  (new vans) unless signed off buy structural enginer  this is what I was told by v.w. uk in Milton k. when I rang them about our t5 with our truckmounted carpet cleaner in the back 

[Marc Stock]

Wow it's a difficult one isn't it. So much conflicting information