I notice the adverts for new tank systems and the prices they are demanding and laugh at what is often a common thin baffled plastic tank fitted with a few pre cut and folded sheets of thin mild steel with a logo or two on and think to myself I'm in the wrong business.

What's with powder coated steel frames, they rust from the inside out and weaken the frame that holds the tank or ground mounted system that is bolted through the floor once the powder coating is damaged and the mild steel is exposed to air. I have experience in powder coating steel from previous employment in the fishing industry. Talk about safety, what a joke using powder coated frames because of economics.

I have an Ionics crash tested tank inside a stainless steel frame which I bough secondhand and fitted myself being an ex coded welder and fabricator so I know it is truly safe one hundred percent and will last my working lifetime.

Good to see a local wfp supplier is introducing Kevlar based base pole sections instead of fibreglass base sections regarding electrical conductivity.

Better off priming and painting a mild steel frame. Its easy enough to rub down and repaint. Plastic coated frames once they fail look a mess and you have to strip it all off to re coat it. To be fair it will take a hell of a long time to rot out 3 or 4mm steel but its just looks crap

Quote from: Stoots on January 06, 2026, 02:33:51 pm

Always makes me laugh when people say system, its a battery a pump, and a controller slapped on a tank. 

That`ll be 3 grand please sir....

If you want  to pay an extra 2 grand they will happily slap an ro/di/b2b on there for you

get your pants down ready  ;

Every one’s different sometimes people aren’t confident to fit a tank ,wire in a split relay etc  remove a fuel tank if needed and then it can come down to time drop a van of and pick it up 6 hours later all done.

And what are they called if there’re not called a water fed pole system

A day off work to fit it plus cost of fitting it plus cost of "system".

Vs

Buying  a tank new or second hand, buying or making a frame, getting a battery, split relay, Pump etc and spending a Sunday putting it in. You'll save time and at least a couple of grand and you will get to use tools and do man things. Whats not to like.

I notice the adverts for new tank systems and the prices they are demanding and laugh at what is often a common thin baffled plastic tank fitted with a few pre cut and folded sheets of thin mild steel with a logo or two on and think to myself I'm in the wrong business.

What's with powder coated steel frames, they rust from the inside out and weaken the frame that holds the tank or ground mounted system that is bolted through the floor once the powder coating is damaged and the mild steel is exposed to air. I have experience in powder coating steel from previous employment in the fishing industry. Talk about safety, what a joke using powder coated frames because of economics.

I have an Ionics crash tested tank inside a stainless steel frame which I bough secondhand and fitted myself being an ex coded welder and fabricator so I know it is truly safe one hundred percent and will last my working lifetime.

Good to see a local wfp supplier is introducing Kevlar based base pole sections instead of fibreglass base sections regarding electrical conductivity.

Professional fit every time esp if you want a diesel hot system. Get it fitted into a brand new van if you plan on window cleaning for many years to come.

Nothing worse than messing about every few years switching systems from van to van.

Quote from: Klean07 on January 06, 2026, 03:37:17 pm

D.I.Y sounds great in fact on my first system that's exactly what I did it was delivered on a pallet. I remember getting my local garage to bolt the tank frame to the floor which they did with spreader plates on my old Ford Connect. TCW fits for free if you have a system off them but as I'm looking for a flat lay tank this time around I'm going to have to look elsewhere because they only sell upright versions.
I was led to believe that if your tank wasn't professionally fitted then your insurance would be void. I've just renewed my insurance with Howden who I've been with for a while at a cost of only £360. Very cheap I thought.

I always declare my tank is DiY bolted through the floor. Never had a problem with insurance.

No issues paying out after my significant prang of 2023.

No problem getting insurance afterwards.

Some insurance companies ask who fitted the system , some want a written certificate stating it’s professionally fitted , others don’t ask for anything