[drive surgeon]

hi guys, can you tell me if i get a big van if a 1000 ltr baffled tank is too big or is this what i need. i have only got a kangoo at the moment and have been using water on site at jobs.   i need to get a bigger van first then need to get a tank fitted. all your ideas please!!!    can i get away with a smaller tank/ for domestic and
commercial work.   does anyone not have a tank in there van and just use water on site like me?  any advice would be great .

[Mike_G]

you will need a very big van for a 1000 litre tank.

[steve doyle]

I thought we had done this in another thread but......


No 1000 ltr isnt to big physically, i have one in my vito. You need to check the load weight of the van your looking at to see if it is suitable ( i dont know if mine is but i v.rarely carry it more than 1/4 full).

You only need a big tank if you have no water supply, but you wont do much more than a couple of terrace back yards with one tank approx (1hr).

In short.
If you want to carry a water tank work out the weight of 1000ltr, find a van thats big enough and will carry it safely and buy one.

I am not sure what else their is to say..

one thing,

Dont forget the size of tank is irrelevant unless you have no water supply. so i would get either a smallish one to use as a holding tank so you can work your gear from the van Or a large one if your going to work were there is no water supply. But i dont see the point of a medium sized tank cos its to big if you have water supply and not big enough if you dont.

[drive surgeon]

i may get a smaller tank then, its not an easy decision really. there is a lot of expense involved. do other pressure washing firms use smaller tanks? (not car valeters)

[Mike_G]

What about a trailer? As for the weight, each litre is a kg in weight so a 1000 litre tank will weigh 1000kg (1 ton i think) plus the weight of the tank, of course Steve is correct in saying that you do not have to fill it up whatever size tank you have if you are concerned about the payload of your van. And no Vito will carry a full 1 by time you add on all the other weight it has to carry i.e fuel and the person driving it etc

[drive surgeon]

can anyone recommend a van with built in tank as i dont have room for trailer at home now.  i was looking at a renault trafic van.

[BDCS]

I run a swb transit which I made custom tanks over each wheel arch - each about 185 ltrs and a 400 ltr tank against the bulkhead which I use for window cleaning and thats heavy enough. I just use a wheelie bin for drive cleaning which I fill on arrival on  site - WHY burn diesel transporting water. I have got a 1000 ltr bowser trailer that I have never needed !!!!

[steve doyle]

I would if i were you get a 1000ltr tank, a transit size van, stand pipe and some heavy duty straps.

[drive surgeon]

hi whats the score on getting water from water hydrants? dont you have to pay th council so much a year for this?

[Majestic]

I use a wheelie bin, I conect my hose to the customers tap fill up the bin and then use the water from that

[BDCS]

The hydrant seems to depend on where you are but you need the correct stand pipe and a permit from the water company - some its a set price others you need a meter. WHY can't you use the customers water ?

[drive surgeon]

i do use the customers water, i use a wheelie bin . but i cant do jobs where there is no water supply.

[drivewasher]

D/S
Do you mean where there is no outside or suitable tap in the premises, or like out in the wilds no water mains?

For jobs with no outside tap I have a couple of universal tap adapters so I put one on an inside sink. I curl the hose up in the sink and put old towels around the sink/floor in case of drips. When i use this method I DON@T use the ballcock valve on me tank as when tank fills and valve shuts off it can blow thr adapter off the tap! I just chuck loose end in tank and let it overflow if it does get full.

Also a washing machine tap can be used as these are 3/4 bsp the same as garden taps (most anyway) just pull washer out disconect cold pipe from its feed tap fit quick lock adapter and push hose on to it, towels and a bucket under it just in case....

More often than not neighbors are friendly and they will let you use thier tap.

Carting your own water say 1000 litres (weighs 1 TONNE) and it will only allow you to run for 1 HOUR

[drive surgeon]

i use the same method too, i meant if im in the missle of nowhere or shop fronts too save haveng hose pipes running thru the shop etc, its easier if you have on board water, there is a risk of flooding and all sorts if you use a sink tap, i do lots using this method at the moment.