Hang grey tank?

MambaJack

Senior Member
Joined
May 18, 2018
Posts
258
Location
the Missouri Ozarks
I have a 46 gallon grey tank and thinking about building a frame and bolting it to the bottom of the body thru some ribs. Seems like I have seen this on youtube. Is it an acceptable method or do I need to find a way to somehow bolt it to the frame?


Has anybody here done this, or better ideas?

Thanks
Dave
 
What are you calling a rib?

Do you have a photo of the tank and where you want to install it?
 
That tank would potentially be 400 pounds. I’d catch the frame or the cross members
 

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Hmm. Yea knew it would be heavy.

So in this pic the ribs I am talking about are all along the bottom of the bus. Every 27 inches is one and every three of those is open instead of closed
 

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Bubb, the real one posted this. I think in your setup, Like John said, is a good option

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5787&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1418970512

Holding tanks need bottom support, figure every 12 or 16 inches. You may consider something between Bubb’s and mine where you have ends that catch the frame and a couple supports across the bottom. I’d thru-bolt to the frame with several grade 8 bolts and nuts.

Keep in mind that potential 400 pound load is going to have dynamic forces that could double that value.
 
Last edited:
I think if I were doing it, I’d go with 1 1/2” angle and square tubing. Do the ends with angle, and a couple frames made out of square in the field like in Bubb’s picture. Protect the tank from sharp edges and abrasion.
 
80 gallon tank

I painted everything white because it is easier to see and work,
Do not drill through the top or bottom of the bus frame, just the sides,


The vertical piece bolted to the frame and the horizontal piece is 3in angle, the 45 degree piece is 2in angle, I used 3/8 in grade 8 bolts, after it was all up and level I then one at at time loosened the bolts and applied loctite glue.

I used a cheap rubber front door mat as padding under the tank and above the tank.
I used pressure treated wood to pad the frame to protect the tank, I also used the wood and mat above the tank since it is pressed upward against the floor supports


Since my tank is 5.5ft long I also added 2 supports to the middle, it has 2 end supports and 2 in the middle.


The 2 in the middle use a chain to come over the top of the tank, I used a long bolt with lots of washers to tighten the chain.
I used 2in square tubing bolted vertically to the inside of the bus frame as the top and bottom support anchor, probable a quarter inch thick,

Since the frame is 12in tall I cut the square tubing 18 inches long so 3 inches stick up above and below the frame. I cut 2 notches in each piece of tubing so it fits snug against the inside of the buses C-channel frame piece, so it cannot slip up or down,I then put 2 bolts in each tube to connect it to the frame.


These pieces were bolted to the inside of the frame because I would need to bolt the chains to these pieces after the tank was already hanging, not enough room to do it with them bolted to the outside of the frame.



To the lower end of the tubing I bolted a 2in angle piece that is horizontal and extends out under the tank, on the upper end of the tubing I bolted a chain that reaches over the tank and down to the lower angle piece.
I used that rubber mat and a thinner C channel piece of metal to cup the chain above the tank so each chain link cannot dig individually into the top of the tank.
You probable want one end of the tank to be lower than the other so when you hook up the end pieces for the first time use a single piece of thick plywood to place your level on for the tiny adjustments.

Several car jacks or several ratchet straps will help you lift it into place.
 

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