Fuel Tailer

[Joe1]

I think you will find that when those 18 wheeler fuel tankers unload at your local station, they are grounded.

I know Diesel is not as dangerous as gasoline, all I'm saying he may want to check to see if there is a grounding issue; particularly in light of the fact that another poster commented that he might be consider a fuel transporter over 99 gallons.

I'm not shooting him down; I like his idea, but if he can avoid running afoul of the regulators and be safer to boot, it may be worth his while to investigate it.

I wish him luck on his project.

 

[rambler]

Diesel isn't so bad, but gasoline it is quite an issue - grounding.

Those 18 wheelers will be using grounded fuel hose, and also a ground strap in most areas of the country to unload. One most likely will buy the cheaper ungrounded hose without thinking.....

Using a rubber innertube as he is, there are several grounding issues, from the tank to the vehicle, from the tank to earth, and even from the vehicle to earth - as well as if an electric fuel pump is being used. As fuel flows, it creates a weak static charge - ignoring any other discharge sources. Due to the size of his tank, he needs to cover his behind on this issue. Again, diesel is not much of an issue on this (gasoline always has the right evaporated fuel mix _somewhere_ around the tank when transfering, up here in MN a few fires are caused by the static electricity from touching the car & getting a little static spark in the dry air of winter...), but local & distributor rules on this should be considered. Sounds like he checked that out tho....

The fuel supplier will have grounded hose, so filling should be covered, and he likely will not unload more than 20 gallons at a time so the static will not build up a whole lot. But grounded hose on his tank would be a better idea, and/or a ground clamp when he unloads. Even if it is an 'issue', it only will cause a problem one in many thousand cases so one of those things we all ignore....

As the other person said, I'm not against the project, just some things to consider for the size of his project. Hate for him to find surprises after the fact. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Officials will become concered about how much volume of fuel can be transfered at one time (creating a bigger static charge) and if the hoses involved are grounded type.

--->Paul

 

[EddieWalker]

If I wire the tanks to the trailer frame, will that help with grounding?

For power to run my 12 volt pump, I'm planning on using towing plugs used for trailers. Four prong. Since I only need two wires out of four, could I dedicate one as a ground from the pump to the trailer frame to the tractor.

Most of my unloading of fuel will be at the same location. Would a ground rod be a good idea. I could clamp onto it easy enough when I park the trailer, and remove it when I get more fuel. The same ground cable could be used to ground at the fueling station.

My CUT will ony take 7 or 8 gallons, my backhoe will usually take around 20 gallons, but my dozer will be around 50 gallons at a time.

Last year there was a guy on the news who caught on fire from static electricity fueling his car at a gas station. It was all on film. Quite scarry!!!!!!!!! I'm very concerned about creating a time bomb or burning to death.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions.
Eddie

 

[Joe1]

Obviously, diesel is not as dangerous as gasoline. Gasoline flash point is something like -47 degrees F. The guy at the gas station today refilling the tanks said that the hoses on the fuel truck that dump into stations have ground wires built into the hoses themselves so they automatically ground when the probe is put in the tank.

 

[rambler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Obviously, diesel is not as dangerous as gasoline. Gasoline flash point is something like -47 degrees F. The guy at the gas station today refilling the tanks said that the hoses on the fuel truck that dump into stations have ground wires built into the hoses themselves so they automatically ground when the probe is put in the tank. )</font>

You can buy the same (grounded hose) for your own use as well - highly recommended for gasoline gravity flow, I believe required for gasoline & an electric pump. Nice to have on diesel as well, but as you say, it's not such an issue.

--->Paul

 

[mrcaptainbob]

All the gas station fuel hoses are 'grounded' type. The nozzles and filler necks are designed to make a purposeful contact. The flow of fuel through a hose causes a static buildup. That's the reason for the mandate of refueling the standard 5 gallon containers on the ground. Must be taken out of the vehicle. The explosion usually happens when the gas can is on a plastic bed liner, effectively insulating it from ground. The static build up is not dissipated. When the nozzle is removed, the spark makes the jump..... Use a hose that's made for gasoline transport. Nozzle, too. You might be able to get a lot of info from the California Air Resources Board on the 'right' way of hooking it all up. May make for dry reading, but it's all in there.

 

[EddieWalker]

I did a few more things on the trailer the other day.

I bought some fittings to run two hoses from the bottom of each tank. When I put the tank into it's bracket to mount it, I realized I didn't take into consideration how far down the elbows would be. ooops.

I added a 2X4 undet the 4X6 cradle and replaced the eight inch bolts with ten inch ones.

 

[EddieWalker]

My thinking is to fill one tank and have the fuel flow through the hoses into the other tank. This will balance itself out and allow me to keep the pump on one tank and the fill cap on the other.

Here are the hoses on the pump tank after the spacer was installed.

 

[EddieWalker]

The pump tank is mounted and ready to go.

Tires were an issue. I agree with the earlier advise about using good trailer tires. It's cheap insurance.

I brought the tires to a local tire shop to get new ones mounted on the rims. It turns out the 14 inch rims are not very common for trailers and the tires would be over $100 each. They also had to be special ordered from the Dallas area.

$300 or more for tires seemed a bit extreme. I declined those ones and went to the guy I bought my Centruy tractor and my 16 ft trailer from.

He sold me three brand new ST 205/75D15 6 ply Loadstar tires on brand new 15 inch rims for $59 each. It seemed like a really good deal!!!!

 

[JD3130]

Looks like you are getting enough advice. I agree with most of it. I don't think you will have much trouble in Texas. Some of the trailers i see around here scare the heck out of me. Did you put farm tags on it?. They are only $5.00, and the law pretty much leaves us alone, unless we really do something stupid. Just be sure you are really eligible to use them. When you replace those tires, get your next ones from your farmer's coop, mine get me Cooper 15" 12ply tires for about 72.00. Load range H. Great tires, just don't ever try to change one by hand, whoeeeee!!!!
If you park it in the same place all the time, why not just drive a ground rod in the ground right there? Paint it Orange, or flag it! so you don't forget to unhook it when you move the trailer.
All you need now is to paint it Green.
JD