Help with Brush Fire Water Rig

59 Sons · Nov 12, 2012

I am seriously considering one of the 20gal sprayer setups on the back of my atv though, didnt know the pumps were so capable. Last summer I spent a lot of time dribbling water on smokers in the woods from my atv after our wild land fire. Ive seen reasonable units in northern tool catalog.

59 Sons · Nov 12, 2012

My arrangements certainly dont compare with what a pro would want, but then I am only hoping to buy some time till the volunteer fire dept arrives. There are two firehouses within 4 miles, and they are jonny on the spot. Just two months ago, a neighbors camper started on fire an hour after he left home. Another neighbor saw it and called me. I wasnt home either, but the water truck always has the keys in it. Told the neighbor to help herself. FD was there before she could roll out the hose. Burned about an acre of building materials and a log pile. that was less than 1000 ft from my place. We only get 14-18" precip a year, and it was the end of a very dry summer. For a few months a year, we live in a powder keg.

scollins · Nov 13, 2012

59 Sons said:
I am seriously considering one of the 20gal sprayer setups on the back of my atv though, didnt know the pumps were so capable. Last summer I spent a lot of time dribbling water on smokers in the woods from my atv after our wild land fire. Ive seen reasonable units in northern tool catalog.

I just looked at some of their ATV sprayers and 12V pumps. My pump is a High-Flo Gold Series pump capable of 3.8 GPM at 45 PSI. Their ATV sprayer unit, below, has a 5.5 GPM pump with 60 PSI pressure diaphram pump. The whole setup was on sale.

I got a Fimco spot sprayer for $99 and since the farm supply store had the 1 GPM, 2.2GPM and 3.8 GPM pumps, they were willing to swap out the puny 1 GPM for the 3.8 GPM for the difference in the pump prices. The holes at the base of the pumps are the same size. I then replaced the tiny 3/8 spray hose at the outlet with a threaded push in connector with an elbow and 1/2" TIPT x 3/4" GHT-M plastic adapter to hok up a short section of 5/8" (or 3/4") hose into. Some "tweeking" of the screw might be needed so that the pump stays on when the nozzle is opened and automatically shuts off when you shut the nozzle. I originally thought that the pump would only run a 3 GPM mopup tip but was surprised that it could supply a garden hose O-K.

Above, is the close-up of the pump setup (i.e. spot fire extinguisher).

In Eastern Montana, they had a spot sprayer on the back of their ATV for fire patrol in the campground during "Crow Fair". They just used the standard spray wand, that puts out a bit more than a trombone sprayer on a backpack pump. They had some injuries, however, when the water on the back of the rig flipped them over backwards when going up a hill. Another guy broke his wrist doing the same thing while loading the unit into a pickup front first and the tank weight tipped him backwards. A small sprayer hose reel on the front rack balances the weight out better front to back, and the 100' of garden hose is nice for getting to places were the ATV cannot squeeze in. As long as one is aware of the tipping hazard on hillsides, the ATV units are cool little spot fire extinguishers. The boomless sprayer might be "tweaked" with higher flow fan spray nozzles for laying down a "wetline" along a mowed firebreak.

SC

59 Sons · Nov 13, 2012

Scollins, thanx for the pump size feedback. It looks like a workable set up could be had for under $300. I am unfamilliar with that kind of pump, did you say it shuts itself off when you are not spraying? does it have some sort of pressure switch? This is definately looking economicaly feasable. Love the idea of a hose reel on the front.

scollins · Nov 13, 2012

59 Sons said:
Scollins, thanx for the pump size feedback. It looks like a workable set up could be had for under $200. I am unfamilliar with that kind of pump, did you say it shuts itself off when you are not spraying? does it have some sort of pressure switch? This is definately looking economicaly feasable. Love the idea of a hose reel on the front.

Correct. There is a little spring on a "pressure switch". Tighten the screw for more pressure. It is called a "demand" type electric pump, similar to a well pump that automatically goes on when you open the faucet. The little 2-wire connector, goes into a matching 2-wire trailer connector on a "pigtail" on the lawn tractor, plugged into a heavy duty toggle switch on the dash to turn off the pump when I don't need it, so it does not cycle on and off running the battery down. I keep up the RPM's on the engine so that the alternator keeps up with the amp draw (15?) on the pump.

Another switch on the dash turns on two 50watt (3 amp draw each) tractor flood lamps on the lawn tractor for hauling wood, mowing, etc. at night. I really should get an ATV to do this, but want to wait until I can afford a "Gator" or Polaris "Ranger".

59 Sons · Nov 13, 2012

Great info, I think the system will pair up nicely with my Kawa Brute Force 650. We are on high alert during the summer months, and till recently had no comunication. So when we smelled smoke, we never knew if it was nearby or blown to us from one of the many major fires arround the state. Many times I would jump on the ATV and take off cross country to look for fire. Would really like to have some minimal capacity on the ATV. Thanks for the ideas.

CompactTractorFan · Nov 13, 2012

scollins said:
View attachment 288549
View attachment 288550

For a little 12V electric sprayer pump, I was surprised. The nozzle put a small stream of water on the roof of the machine shed.
During the summer and late fall, the garden hose is replaced by 100' of 1/2" Ag spray hose with a deluxe spray wand and is used for spraying leafy spurge, canada thistle and other weeds in the pasture and woods.

This does not replace a "wildland fire truck", but fills a "gap" way back on narrow woods trails between stretching hose way back in the woods or hauling around a backpack pump everywhere.

For bigger stuff, I have an 80 gallon slip-on unit with a Briggs & Stratton 6:1 gear reduction engine hooked to a Series 7700 Hypro sprayer pump that puts out 10 GPM at 100 PSI at the end of the 150' 3/4 Ag sprayer hose on a reel. I use that to respond to wildfires. The "fire cart" is used when burning back yard leaves, brush piles off a trail, and for underburning off my trails (where a truck will not get in through the trees) under the "right" conditions.