Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: frames to panes on January 13, 2008, 10:07:30 am
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Plenty of advice on here for everything under the sun, but very little on bolting tanks really. What i'm looking for is under vehicle pictures of how the pro's do it, what size spreader plates and how they locate everything? I've done mine myself and it's barely adequate so i want to do a better job. I think heavy strapping is ok but it's the eyebolts or whatever are used that needs to be right........ so any pics or ideas please?
No arguments or "go to Grimsby because mine is best" we are talking diy here thanks.
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I ive got a escort 75 with a 400ltr strapped down with a rachet strap as ive got ties lops biult into the foor of the van broke sharp a couple of times with the tank quite fall never moves a inch.
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Yes mine doesn't move at all but what if you were to hit something solid?
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like most times it gonna hurt. dont matter how much its strapped caged if you have a bed enough accident its gonna move somehow. You could say what happens if you tip you van over etc.
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mine is bolted to the chassis with spreader plates that the hole are 2inches apart, i have the hardened steel straps the go over the tank, never moved a inch
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Thats the stuff, but what are your plates bolted to - the floor or the chassis?
Ah you said chassis, so was the chassis drilled?
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Correct me if your drilling chassis your weaking it? surely thats not good
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Your right, so how is yours secured to the chassis? Are the plates sort of 'L' shaped to lip under the chassis member? That's what i'm trying to visualize - how to do it.
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the lops come standard biult into the van floor
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i get a pic tommrow for ya
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right here goes
how to secure a tank
1. take keys out of ignition
2. fit a steering lock
3. lock doors
or failing that, ask the solider whos tank it is, to sleep with his gun inside the tank
;D ;D ;D
i'll get my coat
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you are right that drilling throught the chassis weakens it, mine has steel tube thats goes throught he chassis aswell, it hard to explain! the bolts that hold the tanks have a tube that is also through the chassis and the boltes go throght that, it how they put towbars on so it will hold without weaking the chassis, mate of mine owns a tow bar company and thats how they do it
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Just my thoughts
if you were a delivery driver and you had to deliver a pallet that weighed say a ton
would you not secure it in the back of the van using ratchet straps?
If every day people that deliver large weighted items manage then why do we need to go to the lengths of securing down principally the same weight
one ton of anything is still a ton ,water is no different
Just my thoughts
Andy
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Yes we've had these debates before, but it's piece of mind, i carry my kids in the front of my Despatch sometimes so i want to know that i could never be blamed for not adequately securing everything to the best of my ability. It SEEMS secure but i'm not settled in the way i have done it. I want the tank fixed to the chassis wether by straps with eyebolts or spreader plates so anyone with a Scudo, Expert or Despatch i would be grateful of your input.
Thanks Dave
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mine is in a expert, i can send you pictures of the under side of the van if you want DJW
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Thanks Scrim that would be good.
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ok give me ten minutes and i wil email you a picture
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i have sent you 2 pictures hope it helps
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i have sent you 2 pictures hope it helps
Any chance you can upload the pics on here as ive got a dispatch aswell.
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hope this help. it works well for me
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Thanks Scrim thats helped me out alot.
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i'm here to help ;D
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Got it, thanks scrim sorry for the delay.
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OK, this is a diagram of how my tank is fitted. Its a quick diagram and only represents the principle, my actual fittings look and are stronger than the one in the picture. For instance my eyebolts are thicker and the spreading plate is larger:
(http://lh5.google.co.uk/rupertthehair/R4oiKpiYdXI/AAAAAAAAAmU/3v5Nahqp5X0/chassis%)
Hope that helps, Luke
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How do you view it?
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Well, the window cleaning warehouse fitted it. And thats how they do all their vans for their cleaning company "crystal clear". I feel safe with it and have had to brake very hard from high speed a couple of times due to crazy drivers and it hasnt moved an inch. I feel that it is a safe way of fitting your tank but I am soon to get a cage, not just because its more secure but because it will help make good use of the space in my van. I would prefer to be over the top when it comes to safety, and while feeling safe how it is I just want the best I can get, Luke
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no, i meant the diagram ;D
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oh sorry!! you can look at it on this link:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rupertthehair/SUPERLITE2/photo#5154970289823053170
or right click where the picture should appear and click "bring up in new window" on the symbol saying there is no picture, Luke
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got it thanks, i'm looking at eye bolts but they would need a pretty long shank to get right through the box section chassis.
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We use "gate bolts". These are the bolts in a gatepost that the gate hangs on. You can get enormous ones that support huge industrial gates, so the eyes are strong enough for what we want, and the shanks can be as long as 2 foot :o
www.ironmongeryonline.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=4
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i had my escort fitted like that and it worked well but i didnt like the idea of ratchet straps, like i said it worked well through
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(http://www.safeharbordome.com/04042416.gif)
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ratchet straps can be immensely strong, but only the wide ones (about 2 inch across). However both our vans have the tank in a cage, which in turn is secured by 2 huge ribs under the chassis going from one chassis leg to the other. The bolts are some high tension gear and there's 2 for each plate meaning 4 on the left side and 4 on the right - 8 in total. The bolts are about 15mm in diameter
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Ian, did you drill through the chassis or were you lucky enough to already have holes that lined up?
I don't have a problem with ratchet straps as long as they are heavy duty. I've seen car transporters, haulage companies, aircraft etc using them so i don't see a problem.