Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dave0123 on January 28, 2013, 10:43:17 pm
-
hi guys.
Whats the pro/cons of a layflat or upright tank.. i am in two minds for which to buy for new vehicle. i want either 350 litres upright or layflat.
inital thoughts was upright.. but been thinking maybe layflat is better option so i can fit things on top like hose reel to work it out my side door, measuring an upright tank it would be squeeze to use a reel out the side door. However other worries are airlocks people have mentioned before in layflat tanks? but on plus sides it sits lower down on floor and must feel a smoother drive...duno wha to do.
-
i dont like either, layflat tank you suffer annoying airlocks if you dont close the tap before you drive off when the water is low, you cant get to the last bit of the water unless you park your van on a curb! you will also feel sea sick from the movement of the water
upright tank effects the handling of the van a hell of a lot more in a bad way, and in an accident the tank is much more likey to more forward,
i dont like the upright/flat tank i wish they did them in a rectangle shap,
these custom tanks look really good but i asked for a price which came back as ridiculous http://www.plasticwatertanks.co.uk/
-
I know where your coming from pain in the a*se.
Yeah i seen those tanks do look good... what sort of cash do they want for them.
-
£500 for a 600litre rectangle tank, with a bucket holder, mat and a basic frame it was £800 (look at the red vw caddy pics)
-
I know where your coming from pain in the a*se.
Yeah i seen those tanks do look good... what sort of cash do they want for them.
I got a lay flat 250 tank, never had airlock in it from day one! Even when tank is empty! That's because I fitted non return valves to the pipe work deforestation the pumps so no water runs back from them.
But do agree there is more movement with the water as there is a larger area for it to move about.
-
But do agree there is more movement with the water as there is a larger area for it to move about.
I thought the layflat tanks were a bit better for driving around in than the upright ones? or is it layflats that feel worse
-
£500 for a 600litre rectangle tank, with a bucket holder, mat and a basic frame it was £800 (look at the red vw caddy pics)
pricey but do look good
-
I've had both in 650. litre, lay flat every time!!!
-
But do agree there is more movement with the water as there is a larger area for it to move about.
I thought the layflat tanks were a bit better for driving around in than the upright ones? or is it layflats that feel worse
With mine when half full and put breaks on all you get is a wave effect splashing forward and back, you feel the motion, when I first drove my van, it made me have a slight sea sickness feel.
-
I have a 600 upright in my traffic, it does slosh about a bit but i live by the sea anyway! I like the space the upright allows though loadsa room for everything.
-
With mine when half full and put breaks on all you get is a wave effect splashing forward and back, you feel the motion, when I first drove my van, it made me have a slight sea sickness feel.
see what u mean yeah.. i imagine an upright would be near the same too with the force pushing the van foward
-
With mine when half full and put breaks on all you get is a wave effect splashing forward and back, you feel the motion, when I first drove my van, it made me have a slight sea sickness feel.
see what u mean yeah.. i imagine an upright would be near the same too with the force pushing the van foward
depends, could make it out of 2 smaller tanks, like some 500lt systems are made with 2 250lt upright tanks plumbed together,
-
Oh i just thought the layflat tanks where a smoother drive in the van less sloshing about and better MPG because of the low center of gravity and all that
-
Oh i just thought the layflat tanks where a smoother drive in the van less sloshing about and better MPG because of the low center of gravity and all that
they might be, i can only go by the 250lt tank in my van, you do get used to it, other tanks sizes may be better.
-
I have a 400 ltr flat tank in my L200 pick-up and never have any problems as already pointed out it is far safer and will give you just as much space in your van as an upright as you can just put cloths etc on top of tank . Mike
-
But do agree there is more movement with the water as there is a larger area for it to move about.
I thought the layflat tanks were a bit better for driving around in than the upright ones? or is it layflats that feel worse
With mine when half full and put breaks on all you get is a wave effect splashing forward and back, you feel the motion, when I first drove my van, it made me have a slight sea sickness feel.
I have a 650 L layflat tank and I think the baffles are completely inadequate.
This is what I did to combat the sloshing movement of water,
I stuffed 25 meters of this into my tank http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Drainage-Perforated-80mm-x-25m-coil-/260726903305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cb488d209
It has been very effective and made a big difference ;)
Simon
-
Layflats lower the centre of gravity and make the vehicle more stable and uprights take up less space.
-
hi guys.
Whats the pro/cons of a layflat or upright tank.. i am in two minds for which to buy for new vehicle. i want either 350 litres upright or layflat.
inital thoughts was upright.. but been thinking maybe layflat is better option so i can fit things on top like hose reel to work it out my side door, measuring an upright tank it would be squeeze to use a reel out the side door. However other worries are airlocks people have mentioned before in layflat tanks? but on plus sides it sits lower down on floor and must feel a smoother drive...duno wha to do.
I always go layflat - (650; 400 in vans; 200 in trailer) one reel on top out the side door and one out the back.
If size is not an absolute issue I would go for a 400 over a 350.
-
depends, could make it out of 2 smaller tanks, like some 500lt systems are made with 2 250lt upright tanks plumbed together,
[/quote]
Ive got 2 upright 250 tanks linked secured in a frame.
Very stable and doesnt take up too much room.
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z295/dune19670/004.jpg)
-
You could always take the top off a load of plastic bottles. Cut the bottom off as well and you have your baffles to stop the effect of the sloshing.
-
About ten years back I build a 34 metre ocean going yacht were lode and balance is of upmost importance and all I used was coke bottles. Each bottle becomes a mini tank so no sway or slosh at all. We found drilling holes a better way of doing it.We removed the lid and drilled 8 holes on the sides and 4 at the bottom. I have done the same in my van with an upright tank and am never aware of the water even at speed.The baffle in the tanks is hopeless as they allow to much movement. If I was an insurance company I would be more strict on this than steel frames.As closer the baffles and smaller complemented will make the van more stable.Up right tanks in my mind achieve this balance better.
-
http://www.enduramaxx.com/sprayers-and-nozzles/In-Tank-Baffle-Balls.html
-
Thanks for replys.
I think am heading towards the layflat tank due to the van being a bit more stable when driving. I don't really mind parking on a kerb to get the last of the water but i don't think i would use it all in a day anyway. I am still deciding but think il end up going for a layflat.. am like an old woman ;D trying to make a decision lol
-
depends, could make it out of 2 smaller tanks, like some 500lt systems are made with 2 250lt upright tanks plumbed together,
Ive got 2 upright 250 tanks linked secured in a frame.
Very stable and doesnt take up too much room.
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z295/dune19670/004.jpg)
[/quote]
i was thinking about making a 560litre tank out of two 280litre upright tanks,
do you find far less sloshing around with the 2 tanks?
-
I dont know what its like with a single tank, ive only ever used 1 of the 250 tanks on its own the upgraded by adding another 5 years ago.
I must say though that having 500 ltrs in the back of my 2.0 HDI Dispatch it doesnt hardly notice its there .
-
The best choice is a fully baffled flat tank. This maintains a low centre of gravity which will help with road-holding, MPG, tyre & suspension wear etc. The baffling needs to be of the multi-pocket type (as mentioned above) as generally the structural baffles are not enough. One of the best ways is to get drainage pipe of any type and cut lengths just short enough to be dropped into the lid of the tank and to stand upright in the tank. Simply slide the first one in and fit another - carry on doing so until the tank is full.
A large upright tank is simply not as safe and will adversely affect your vehicles handing and performance. It also will perform far worse in a crash situation. When carrying out crash testing of our own tanks we found that the lower the tank the less effort it took to hold it in place - the result is that we now have the lowest profile of any crash-tested tank and restraint system.
The other advantage is that there is a good amount of room above the tank in most situations to fit other goods if you need to transport stuff in your van at the weekend.
-
I don't know if anyone has seen these but there is a product called baffle balls not sure on the make etc but they looked awsome and tell you exactly how many you need to stop movement per litre so just order the rite amoant for your tank and your sorted
-
I don't know if anyone has seen these but there is a product called baffle balls not sure on the make etc but they looked awsome and tell you exactly how many you need to stop movement per litre so just order the rite amoant for your tank and your sorted
http://www.enduramaxx.com/sprayers-and-nozzles/In-Tank-Baffle-Balls.html
-
thanks for the replies.
Think i will end up going for a 350 layflat tank just make sure i close tap when driving between jobs lol.
I cant put too small tanks together as i am getting it installed properly.
-
http://www.enduramaxx.com/sprayers-and-nozzles/In-Tank-Baffle-Balls.html
They won't fit through the top of a wydale baffled tank. ;)
-
thanks for the replies.
Think i will end up going for a 350 layflat tank just make sure i close tap when driving between jobs lol.
I cant put too small tanks together as i am getting it installed properly.
Grippamax do a 400l lay flat tank which is crash tested.
My personal preference would be a cube shaped tank but this does need to be custom made.