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01-29-2020, 11:31 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 24
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Ford
Chassis: E450 Super Duty
Engine: 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Rated Cap: Over 1 million bad ideas
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Refurbishing gas tank for fresh water?
I have an opportunity to get one of these gas tanks used ( https://www.amazon.com/Delta-482000-.../dp/B0002M8TLS), but in great shape for dirt cheap. I'm wondering if it'd be possible to recondition it for fresh water use?
Could it be flushed out, neutralized, and coated on the inside enough to negate any fuel toxins/carcinogens? Would it even be worth the effort?
Not sure if it was used for diesel or 'regular' fuel.
__________________
https://flightofthealbatross.com/
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01-29-2020, 12:05 PM
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#2
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 216
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: CAT 3126
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For posterity: The link is for a 51-gallon tank made of steel, $353.
In 2016, I paid $179/piece for 55-gallon, stainless steel, food-grade drums. They had previously been used to transport coconut oil and can be washed with sodium percarbonate (OxiClean's active ingredient).
So I take it “dirt cheap” here means under $100? Under $50? The way I see it, I've already cut the biggest corner of them all by choosing to live in a bus. I'm not going to skimp on “little” things like water storage--and regular, old, rusty steel (however prepped, painted, or powder coated) is for fools.
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01-29-2020, 12:09 PM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 52
Year: 1991
Chassis: Wayne Lifeguard
Engine: 7.3L IDI
Rated Cap: 23,600 lb
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Anything is possible, I guess, but this seems like an inadvisable option. The tank description doesn't mention any existing internal coating but if it is there it's intended for fuel and not for water. Getting another coating to stick on top of the existing may be impossible. Effectively removing all the fuel residue from the tank will probably be impossible, too.
I think using it as a potable water tank is out of the question but that doesn't mean it's unusable altogether. Maybe use it as spare fuel storage or adapt it for grey/black water?
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01-29-2020, 12:11 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,064
Year: 2003
Coachwork: IC / Amtran
Chassis: CE300
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 23
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I consider myself a subscriber to the 'anything is possible' mindset, but in this case, even if it was (& I'm not saying it is), I imagine you'd be better off working a minimum-wage hard-labor job for however long it takes to pay for a proper potable water tank than attempting to make this work. Just my .02. I've cleaned & reconditioned used motorcycle tanks just to use with more fuel & that was bad enough (as in I simply won't do it anymore).
__________________
Go away. 'Baitin.
Our Build: Mr. Beefy
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01-29-2020, 12:21 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 400
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New Member 7 posts and they have dropped 11 backlinks in the forum.
hmmm, ?
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01-29-2020, 12:44 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 24
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Ford
Chassis: E450 Super Duty
Engine: 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Rated Cap: Over 1 million bad ideas
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Thanks for the replies. In my case, it'd be <$50. Sounds like just not worthwhile at all.
__________________
https://flightofthealbatross.com/
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01-29-2020, 01:13 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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i got my food grade plastic 55 gallon drums for $5 each, they previously had apple cider vinegar in them so a quick rinse with baking soda and water was all the cleaning they needed. Repurposing a used fuel tank sounds like terrible idea by comparison.
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01-29-2020, 01:17 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Grayson County, VA
Posts: 1,428
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cweiss
Thanks for the replies. In my case, it'd be <$50. Sounds like just not worthwhile at all.
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Might work fine for a grey water tank though. You'd still probably have to clean it pretty good, but not freshwater good.
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01-29-2020, 03:37 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 61
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 25' Bluebird
Engine: T444
Rated Cap: GVWR 27,500
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Nope
I would never drink out of a fuel tank. No way. You know how toxic that is?
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02-15-2020, 04:17 PM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 271
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I tried it and NO it doesn’t work. Buy a clean new tank. Additives in gas will stick into the tank. Not worth it. Cheers
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02-15-2020, 08:42 PM
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#11
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 58
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 8 seats, 5 wheelchairs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown
i got my food grade plastic 55 gallon drums for $5 each, they previously had apple cider vinegar in them so a quick rinse with baking soda and water was all the cleaning they needed. Repurposing a used fuel tank sounds like terrible idea by comparison.
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Darn, I thought I got a deal when I bought mine for ten bucks a piece. Have four under two twin beds just behind the rear axle for almost 200 gallons of fresh water. I did use an old 100 gallon fuel tank off an old International Transtar semi for a grey tank. worked well.
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02-16-2020, 09:02 AM
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#12
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Almost There
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 80
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Is this one of the one million bad ideas?
Yep.
Don't do it. The people saying food grade poly or stainless are the ones you need to listen too.
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02-16-2020, 09:19 AM
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#13
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern VT
Posts: 154
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas Bus
Chassis: Allison MD 3060
Engine: Catepillar 3126B 210hp/605 ft lb
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This thread has to be a joke. Come on....
Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....
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02-16-2020, 09:37 AM
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#14
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Almost There
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 80
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matthews2001
This thread has to be a joke. Come on....
Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....
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No Joke,
Been seeing this coming a long time. And then people wonder why campgrounds won't have them or they can't get insured.
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02-16-2020, 10:22 AM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Athens, TN
Posts: 1,574
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International RE
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 76
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matthews2001
This thread has to be a joke. Come on....
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One can easily recognize Manchester town water by taste. They'd have a unique flavor for sure!
The medical bill 10+ years later might not be worth it though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matthews2001
Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....
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Is this really that bad? I skipped the black tank, but left room for one.
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02-16-2020, 10:36 AM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Grayson County, VA
Posts: 1,428
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kazetsukai
Is this really that bad? I skipped the black tank, but left room for one.
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Nah man, just straight pipe it to the ground and tell people it's the "slobber tube".
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02-16-2020, 12:13 PM
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#17
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Almost There
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: AZ
Posts: 93
Year: ‘09
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Vision
Engine: 6.7
Rated Cap: 35’
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So many other options than a used gas tank. Brand new 55 gallon blue barrels cost $50. No cleaning, food safe and easy to maneuver. No to a gas tank.
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02-16-2020, 04:21 PM
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#18
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Freedom Field, New Mexico
Posts: 459
Year: 1998
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Amtrans
Engine: 444E
Rated Cap: 84 pas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cweiss
I have an opportunity to get one of these gas tanks used ( https://www.amazon.com/Delta-482000-.../dp/B0002M8TLS), but in great shape for dirt cheap. I'm wondering if it'd be possible to recondition it for fresh water use?
Could it be flushed out, neutralized, and coated on the inside enough to negate any fuel toxins/carcinogens? Would it even be worth the effort?
Not sure if it was used for diesel or 'regular' fuel.
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No amount of rinsing is going to make that a good idea.
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