[LWC]

ive been talking to a friend of mine.

we were looking at my cage and he was telling me what he would of done etc etc

i know some of you have been to fabricators and have been VERY shocked by their prices

what would you be willing to pay for a cage in honesty? as we may be looking into it, but at a more competitive price

also was thinking about getting a full package out, fit them all out and ready to go, ie tank, cage, pumps, controllers all wired up ready to go. new guys would you be interested in this. so job lot all parts all done and ready to just plug into hose

this is what mine looks like



let me know. feedback apprectiated

[trike]

are the pumps supose to be upside down or can they work the same other way up,i have my pump other way up,nice set up by the way

[d s windowcleaning]

also was thinking about getting a full package out, fit them all out and ready to go, ie

would your full package be for static users only ?

[alanwilson]

A competent welder will easily weld a frame for a 400/650 tank in an hour or less.  Cost of steel around £60 so 1hrs labour plus powder coating no more than £150

[Chris Galloway]

are the pumps supose to be upside down or can they work the same other way up,i have my pump other way up,nice set up by the way

technically it doesn't matter, however the manufacturers recommend being the other way to prevent short circuiting if the pump leaks onto the connections..

[LWC]

also was thinking about getting a full package out, fit them all out and ready to go, ie

would your full package be for static users only ?

would do it to suit the client really i suppose

[Tim82]

As I'm a trolley man, I'd guess £100?

[Ian Lancaster]

Most people miss the point of a cage:  It's useless if it isn't anchored properly to the chassis.

By far the most important part of any tank mounting is the quality of the fixings - if they aren't bolted through the strongest part of the van chassis with at least 10mm high tensile bolts, they're worse than useless.

I use 5mmx5mmx60mm angle steel, two lengths right across the van bed, in front and behind the tank.  I bolt them down through the chassis with four 12mm high tensile bolts going right through convenient chassis members.  (There are often holes already drilled in the chassis which saves having to drill new ones.)  The upright web of the angle is drilled to accept the claws of 10ton ratchet straps which pass over the tank.

In the event of a crash, the angle steel will rip the entire van chassis up before it breaks, in other words it's as strong as it could possibly be.

If you don't like the idea of ratchet straps, you can bolt your cage to the angle steel at any convenient points.

[JSMC]

i have got 4 rectangular U bolts manufactured to my size which will go around the chassis instead of through it. all other fixing point swill be spreader plates and high tensile bolts through the floor.

[Andrew McCann]

Mr Lancaster is right as usual.

Any cage is only as good as the fixing to the floor. Any structure is only as good as it's weakest point.

I have looked into this and won't do it for a number of reasons. The fixing being one of them. Then you have the problem of carriage for such a large, heavy item and also damage during transit. Then you would get the customer asking for fixing bolts/plates etc or what ones to gget. This wouod be a bit of anightmare because almost every vehicle is different.

I don't think Alan Wilson is too far out providing you can find a local fabricator who wil do it for you. A lot don't like small one-off jobs like this.

My6 one big piece of advice is to steer well clear of those metal straps especially on upright tanks. They are as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Andrew