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06-23-2015, 06:29 PM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
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HowTo Properly mount and install fresh-water tank?
15 pages into Google search, 6 pages here, and cannot find the details. I know there is something here, just can not find it. If there is something here with detail, post a link please. If not, can we start the discussion?
Best I can tell, I think I can squeeze a 70 gallon into the ass-end drivers side. I have no welding skills(maybe soon?), and my structural engineering is poor. I figure something that weighs 800+ pounds needs to be done right, same with propane mounts - right?
So where do I start?
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06-23-2015, 07:15 PM
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#2
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Iowa
Posts: 120
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Honey Badger RV Co
Chassis: tc2000
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 74
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Put my fresh water tank inside the bus and built cabinet over it. Wont freeze when camping in the fall/ winter months. Alot of the older rv's and campers had them inside.
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06-23-2015, 07:19 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia
Posts: 436
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Is it bolted down through the floor, or how is it secured in the event of a crash? That's a lot of mass if it breaks free of its mooring cabinet.
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06-23-2015, 08:37 PM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
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I think campers would have many more options, depending on average length of trip.
However, my plan is to full-time in my skoolie, and NOT in a campground or trailer park, so I would like to have 60-100 gallons for my extended stays (3-8 weeks) away from the world. I am not willing to sacrifice my internal space, as that is mostly taken already
Not concerned about freezing temps, as when the extremes come..... I will go.
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06-24-2015, 12:43 AM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Dublin California USA
Posts: 46
Coachwork: Looking for something
Chassis: Big Enough to fit my dog
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Fresh water is best inside. I figure you build a box for the larger bed in the rear, throw the tank under there on top of some rigid foam and strap it down with heavy duty metal straps rated for the weight. You can bolt it through the floor, washers locktight on the nut, no welding should be strong and your water wont freeze in cold weather. You can gravity feed the pump below even if its 10 or 20 feet forward.
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06-24-2015, 05:18 AM
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#6
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 100
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9; MT643
Rated Cap: (was) 44; (now) 2
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did you check this out?
School Bus Conversion - Plumbing
it is an example of welded but I bet you could plan out some drill and bolt if you're attentive to securing the bolts from wiggling loose.
I also saw a setup where the box was plywood and mounted with some real long threaded rod.
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06-24-2015, 08:26 AM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seroflorus
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Excellent, yes exactly what I was looking for
My fear is that looks a bit under-engineered compared to the fuel tank mount. It would make me feel better if someone said, "Yes, the fuel tank mounts are designed to survive 70 mph head on collisions" or something like that
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06-24-2015, 08:49 AM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 100
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9; MT643
Rated Cap: (was) 44; (now) 2
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I bet you could email VonSlatt about the mount strength...he seems rocky smart to me and he's traveled with those tanks.
There's also the National Transportation Safety Board website where you can do some searching for fuel tank recommendations. I read over there about a couple of accidents in the late 80's in which the bus fuel tank was knocked off the bus...
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06-24-2015, 01:20 PM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
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Ameri-Kart gives some recommendations in a document available on their web site. One of the key things they suggest is boxing the tank inside something with stronger walls -- I get the idea the tank should be considered as a sanitary liner to go inside some other container, rather than being a container on its own. Put it inside a plywood, metal, or fiberglass box, for example.
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06-24-2015, 02:57 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 100
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9; MT643
Rated Cap: (was) 44; (now) 2
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found this: Hepvo Waterless Valve and plan to use one or two myself to save valuable vertical inches...
wondering if others have experience with it.
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07-19-2015, 07:56 AM
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#12
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: in transit
Posts: 62
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International
Engine: dt466/5 speed spicer
Rated Cap: 72
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I was thinking of an enormous mid-ship bladder tank framed in between the insulation and the floor. Lose a foot or so of height but the weight lowers the center of gravity for a maximum roof raise.
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07-22-2015, 04:42 PM
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#13
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Posts: 121
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 29
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UNIVERSAL TANK MOUNTING KIT was how I fitted my external tanks - fresh and grey. They are bolted to floor above.
__________________
My Build site is https://schoolbusconversion.net
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07-23-2015, 08:27 AM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
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Unistrut works great. They sell it at Menards now. I used it to hang my rear tank behind the rear axle between the frame rails.
I'll send a couple of photos if I can figure it out again. Something is different and I'm not sure how anymore.
Bill
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07-23-2015, 01:37 PM
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Easy peasy. Go to a truck wrecking yard and tell them you want fuel tank brackets. Square or round depending on your your water tanks. They are designed to hold fuel which is only slightly lighter than water and a lot more flammable. Make sure you use grade 8 bolts, washers and nuts to mount to your frame. Don't mount to your sheet metal floor. There, your problem is solved, no welding or engineering because it has already been done for you. Sorry to say but many installs here are very shade tree and extremely dangerous. 100 gallons of water weighs 800 pounds. If you have this inside of your conversion and don't have it properly secured while involved in an accident, the results could be catastrophic. I will leave it to your imagination.
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07-23-2015, 11:14 PM
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#16
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
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Here is how i mounted my tank behind the rear axle. Channel iron and Its a 110gl tank. Rear view.
Bill
Michigan
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07-23-2015, 11:17 PM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
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Here is a side view of the rear tank.
Bill michigan
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07-23-2015, 11:29 PM
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#18
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miltruckman
Here is how i mounted my tank behind the rear axle. Channel iron and Its a 110gl tank. Rear view.
Bill
Michigan
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Holy cow! Did you clean and paint your undercarriage?
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07-24-2015, 08:18 AM
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#19
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
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Yes, took days with a descaler and grinding. Only done behind the rear axle so far. But as i go forward mounting stuff ill do the whole thing. Side tank and generator are next in front of the rear axle. Im not looking forward to more grinding rust! But its got to be done.
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07-24-2015, 11:43 AM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,826
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I'm doin the same.
Friends always rag on me doing everything the hard way. But I usually do pretty good work!
Great pics, your hard work shows, man. Keep it up.
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