[L.J.Thorpe]

tosh your pricing for off the shelf pretty much spot on but i must say mikecam is right if you want a two man set up use two pumps and two flow controllers i have dicked around with other set ups like by pass or two reels one pump etc and for the sake of 150 quid just get another pump and vari
 you can do a van mount for under 500 quid if you are practically minded and prepared to think laterally
and leisure batteries are the same as wheelchair batteries so bear that in mind cos a 20 ah battery will easily run a 60 psi shurflo all day

[Tom White]

Cheers, Mike and L.J.; I will get two controllers and two pumps; and the battery comments are noted.  Thanks guys.

If anyone has any other tips or advice; that'd be great!

[L.J.Thorpe]

you can get aholding tank for very little ,mine cost me 15 quid in diesel and a 80 mile round trip to lincoln
ratchet straps are fine if you get 5000 kg set (32 quid)
i had a "tray" made up for my scudo cost 140 bolts thru chassis members and floor with spreader plates behind,large lugs welded on and straps over,tank is a 640 ltr ibc on galvanized pallet with cage,diy baffles works a treat and all very cheap

[elite mike]

hi tosh

if you need an ibc, give rz or me a bell

[Tom White]

hi tosh

if you need an ibc, give rz or me a bell

Will defo do; thanks; will give you a shout over the weekend.

Thanks.

Tosh

[rz]

should be able to sort an ibc for you (static tank)

i have a 400 ltr tank if its of any use to you, (cost me nothing you can have it for the same price)

i may have a mate who can help with wiring a split charge for you.

and you might want to see how i have my water outlet so you can work with the doors closed, very easy and inexpensive.

[AuRavelling79]

You can insulate the tanks and pipes yourself with stuff from Wickses - well worth it - last winter I carried on working when other less prepared window cleaners (Mr. S. C. of Chepstow comes to mind) couldn't! 

Also a couple of cheap oil filled rads for the van and the storage tank. And a pond heater to dip into your tank when necessary.

Put your storage tank up on breeze blocks so as to fill your van tank by gravity if you have off street parking.

[Tom White]

should be able to sort an ibc for you (static tank)

i have a 400 ltr tank if its of any use to you, (cost me nothing you can have it for the same price)

i may have a mate who can help with wiring a split charge for you.

and you might want to see how i have my water outlet so you can work with the doors closed, very easy and inexpensive.

Hey, thanks, RZ, I'll take you up on the offer of both tanks, if that's okay.  I'd like to give you a little something for them though (phnaar phnaar).

And yes, I'd like to have a look how you've done your water outlet; cheers.

Gold; thanks also.  I do plan to winterise the van and the breeze block trick could be ideal for my ski slope of a garden; and I've got a small drive at the bottom of the slope (once I get rid of the caravan)!

This has been a really helpful post for me; thanks all.

[John drake]

It is Funny.

It is Posts like this that really show how CIU miss's DIYWFP MATT.

He would have a list of things to buy, even down to the gauge of bolts to use.

[AuRavelling79]

Don't forget van insurance is different from car insurance. Being insured on a van often means you aren't insured to drive other vehicles. And being insured for a car doesn't cover you for vans.

Speed limits change too - anything over 2000kg GVW and/or that isn't car derived is subject to van limits.

So anything heavier than a 1.3, 56-59 plate doblo is speed restricted on non motorway roads and dual carriageways.

[rz]

tosh.

i have the 400 ltr tank in my van and either today or tomorrow will be visiting my mum in sedbury so if you email me your phone number i,ll give you a ring and drop it off, email in profile.
ibc could take a couple of weeks.

[mark dew]

If you are getting a flojet pump then you won't need a flow controller.
All you need is a 1/2" on/off valve placed between your water tank and the pump. There is no real strain on the pump if it is before the pump instead of after.
And turn that towards closed until you get the right flow out of it.
Its the best most consistent flow rate you will get. Which you won't get with any pump controller i don't think.

If you are going to have you backpack in the van as well then maybe a 12v pump sitting inside your tank on the van. To transfer water to your backpack.

[Lee GLS]

If you are getting a flojet pump then you won't need a flow controller.
All you need is a 1/2" on/off valve placed between your water tank and the pump. There is no real strain on the pump if it is before the pump instead of after.
And turn that towards closed until you get the right flow out of it.
Its the best most consistent flow rate you will get. Which you won't get with any pump controller i don't think.

If you are going to have you backpack in the van as well then maybe a 12v pump sitting inside your tank on the van. To transfer water to your backpack.

i haven't found that to be the case, a flow controller will give you a more consistent and controllable flow, and it will make your battery last longer.

[Tom White]

tosh.

i have the 400 ltr tank in my van and either today or tomorrow will be visiting my mum in sedbury so if you email me your phone number i,ll give you a ring and drop it off, email in profile.
ibc could take a couple of weeks.

E-mail sent, RZ.  Thanks, mate.

Added later:

Thanks for dropping of that tank, RZ.  I'll use it to start with and if I do find I need bigger, I'll get one; but Wor Lass just does short days, so I could top up when I drop her off, maybe?  Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

[Tom White]

If you are going to have you backpack in the van as well then maybe a 12v pump sitting inside your tank on the van. To transfer water to your backpack.

I plan to do this, though I don't know how to do this... yet! 

[BORBRYCE]

I fill my backpack every day by simply sticking a hose in the tank, give it a sook  and it all syphone's out into the pack. It's very green and all that and works a treat.  

[rz]

tosh.

i have the 400 ltr tank in my van and either today or tomorrow will be visiting my mum in sedbury so if you email me your phone number i,ll give you a ring and drop it off, email in profile.
ibc could take a couple of weeks.

E-mail sent, RZ.  Thanks, mate.

Added later:

Thanks for dropping of that tank, RZ.  I'll use it to start with and if I do find I need bigger, I'll get one; but Wor Lass just does short days, so I could top up when I drop her off, maybe?  Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

your welcome tosh.  nice to meet you and thank you very much.

[Sir Squeaky]

Get a Shurflo pump if you can mate.

I've had 2 Flojets and they lasted 6 months each.
I got a SECOND HAND Shurflo and it's faultless 3 years on. God knows how old it is. And they're cheaper, it's a no-brainer.

Doubt you'll need a transfer pump unless you're in a rush either.
If you park below your tank (ie move the car 10 yards round the corner) it'll flow in on it's own. Mine does.

Just takes 25 mins rather than 5, but so what? You don't sit there watching it...

[BORBRYCE]

Squeeky, that does not make any sense, unless you live in on a very hilly place. If you have your holding tank in the garden shed, say high at the top of your garden, and your van is parked in the street which is quite a bit lower, then yes it will work no problem. Is that what you mean? Good idea if it is. If not, that is just daft  
I do agree with your comment concerning the pumps however. Sureflo for robustness every time

[Tom White]

Good idea if it is.

It is a good idea; my house, garden, and where I can park is all on a gradient (looks beautiful in the Winter, having my very own mini ski slope in the back garden), but since the tank I've been kindly given is 400 litres, I may have to give it a quick fill when I drop Wor Lass off (she won't work past 2 or 3 pm otherwise her nose starts to bleed, and she threatens me with having to do housework, and then my nose starts to bleed), so I will get a transfer pump anyway, so I can fill up quickly if I need to.

I really don't know how much water we'll use though, till we start working together, and looking at my work it'll vary quite considerably from the type of work we'll be doing.