How to haul 500 gallons of water?

[sdkevin]

IDK what CA DMV says about hauling bulk tanks like that without a specific tanks endorsement on your DL . . .

..for the slow readers, he is NOT in Ca.

[Dutch3]

The freaking pot growers around here are scary when hauling soil and water.

Last summer, I saw a guy with a full IBC tote wedged in the back of an S-10 pickup go past my place. The front tires were nearly off the ground.

These clowns are always hauling dangerously overloaded. I am surprised nobody has been killed.

[calif 15-22]

While all (make that most) of the advice above seems legit . . . I gotta ask the question.

HOW IN THE HECK ARE YOU GONNA GET THOSE 400 GALLON CONTAINERS FILLED WITH WATER OFF THE TRAILER!

If it were me I'd place those tanks EXACTLY where you wanted them, and have the water delivered. It can't be that expensive and it would make the most sense to me.

Good luck though . . .Now I kinda want to see those tanks on a horse trailer going down the road when you need to hit the brakes quick

[Killer Bee]

..for the slow readers, he is NOT in Ca.

well speedy, why don't you go ahead and show us in this thread where the OP identified the state he's in?

if you're referring to his avatar, you might have noticed the post above you that you so rudely quoted, is not displaying one.. ever think that maybe he has de-selected 'show avatars' in his profile page?

or that just because he has a map of Idaho in his avatar, that it means that is where he's asking about hauling water..

or that he may be hauling water in Idaho and still have a CA DL..

furthermore, you may or may not be aware that commercial driver regulations are strictly regulated federally by the FMCSA and USDOT and most state regulations are very similar..

[Intimid8tor]

So much butthurt in this thread.

[waveslayer]

So much butthurt in this thread.

Yep, all those Internet ninjas on here, especially this forum

[Librarian]

failed sarcasm

actual miles on farm truck..

one of 5

ETA: the eldest p/u, '65 Chevy 283 4spd with 70k-ish miles

learned how to drive in this one

pic taken last sep when the boy and I were home for a visit..

Cool.

One of those 'house to the barn and back a couple times a day' things, maybe averaging 5 miles a day?

[KevinB]

I paid about 2 grand for my used 500 gallon tank trailer about 20 years ago. Tires have rotted off it twice. loaded it weighs close to 7 thousand pounds and would be a stretch for a 1/2 pickup to be hauling it. It has brakes on all 4 wheels and they are needed even with my diesel 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive pickup.

If it was snowing or icy, you couldn't pay me enough to haul it.

[Mtn folk]

well speedy, why don't you go ahead and show us in this thread where the OP identified the state he's in?

if you're referring to his avatar, you might have noticed the post above you that you so rudely quoted, is not displaying one.. ever think that maybe he has de-selected 'show avatars' in his profile page?

or that just because he has a map of Idaho in his avatar, that it means that is where he's asking about hauling water..

or that he may be hauling water in Idaho and still have a CA DL..

furthermore, you may or may not be aware that commercial driver regulations are strictly regulated federally by the FMCSA and USDOT and most state regulations are very similar..

I too have noticed Kevin's posts come through a bit on the sharp side. He has never hurt my feelings, but I think he could soften the blow a bit, we are are looking for the same thing here. No need to make someone out to be foolish.

[wheels]

..for the slow readers, he is NOT in Ca.

Or for those that haven't watched the OP when he was known as Problem Child over the last several years. OP may just want to start asking his neighbors how it's done up there, or barter with a neighbor for services.

well speedy, why don't you go ahead and show us in this thread where the OP identified the state he's in?

if you're referring to his avatar, you might have noticed the post above you that you so rudely quoted, is not displaying one.. ever think that maybe he has de-selected 'show avatars' in his profile page?

or that just because he has a map of Idaho in his avatar, that it means that is where he's asking about hauling water..

or that he may be hauling water in Idaho and still have a CA DL..

furthermore, you may or may not be aware that commercial driver regulations are strictly regulated federally by the FMCSA and USDOT and most state regulations are very similar..

While the regulations may be the same - the LEO's in ID are not the same as the ones in CA.

OP did a protracted countdown before he made the move late last summer to the northern end of Idaho

[Killer Bee]

Or for those that haven't watched the OP when he was known as Problem Child over the last several years. OP may just want to start asking his neighbors how it's done up there, or barter with a neighbor for services.



While the regulations may be the same - the LEO's in ID are not the same as the ones in CA.

OP did a protracted countdown before he made the move late last summer to the northern end of Idaho

had no idea op had another name.. problem child had a spotted pointer dog / john deere something avatar maybe? that's the full extent of what I recall about his personal business.. really could care less.. if you bothered to even read my other posts in this thread, I jumped in to share my experience of hauling water for the op's benefit..

regardless, dude's comment was rude and sarcastic.. furthermore, contributed absolutely nothing to the op.. right along with butthurt boy and the like.. making silly comments is fun.. pointing derogatory statements at someone else who was contributing to the op is irritating.. they want to act like jerks, shouldn't mind being treated likewise..

so you acknowledge that commercial vehicle regs are similar in other states but the officers are different.. so what makes them different in idaho, they don't enforce vehicle codes?

even if the op does live in a remote enough area to avoid leo contact, is it advisable to recommend that he disregards vehicle regs? most of which [in this context] are for motorists safety, including his own..

not sure if you noticed from this thread, I'm not from here, far from it.. but even in the boonies I hail from, we still have law enforcement.. we could get away with a lot out around the rural area of the farm, but our water supply is in town where unsafe or improper hauling or towing will get a leos attention eventually.. not worth the safety risks, or dmv, dl, insurance, etc. hassles..

grew up with this activity being discussed, and fully engaged in it for my entire career of over 25 years in multiple states.. I am currently an etp [employer testing program] examiner for ca dmv.. I hope the op's questions were answered..

[Mtn folk]

Assuming the water is intended to be and remain potable you are going to want to pass on the fire tender. Also will want to pass on the rental water truck. You never know what has been put in it, and they have a dump valve that is supposed to be open for highway travel. They also have an open top for filling.

The plastic tanks and horse trailer is an idea. Obviously have enough strength to hold water static but what about in motion? Slosh or no slosh, starting, stopping, and cornering is going to put huge forces on the sides of the tanks.

[dk94044]

Water as in moonshine?

[ChaoSS]

grew up on a farm in the midwest on well water.. draught seasons had to haul water.. very familiar..

we used an F350 with a bed tank typically..

if you don't have a large enough capacity truck, a trailer is a good option.. typically, lower center of gravity..

axle count isn't as important as axle ratings.. typical choices are 3500# and 5000#

a single axle HD utility [like p/u bed mentioned] is easier to maneuver.. especially by hand when empty..

the typical tandem axle trailer is more stable on the roadway.. but a bear to maneuver empty by hand..

and although tandem axle trailers typically only have one brake axle, you can order them with both [my carson has brakes on both axles ]

filed or fuller tanks will have less motion than a half filled tank for sure.. fill it to the neck and it will almost not move at all..

this is possible with WATER only.. naturally, not recommended for any other liquid transportation..

as you may already know, the only thing that can hit the ground is water and feathers

I have a CDL with tanks endorsement but you may not need either..

still should review this for good measure;


and absolutely, positively, verify the ratings of everything, whatever you decide to do..

• axles
• chassis
• receiver
• drawbar
• coupler
• ball
• etc.

good luck!

Wrong, axle count can be very important when the load is centered above the axle(s). With two axles heavy acceleration (either way, stopping or starting) will push the trailer more forward and backward. With one axle it will do more trying to lift up/push down on the tongue.

[Killer Bee]

Wrong, axle count can be very important when the load is centered above the axle(s). With two axles heavy acceleration (either way, stopping or starting) will push the trailer more forward and backward. With one axle it will do more trying to lift up/push down on the tongue.

valid point, however, my comment was in reference to axle weight ratings as in the second half of my sentence you bolded..

as long winded as my posts may be, can't possibly address everything..

I more than amply covered my experience towing single and multiple axle trailers, including single axle m149's