Homemade Diesel Bowser

[Rgillard]

Hi Guys,

My neighbour has asked me to build him a diesel bowser to keep his tractor fueled up on site. He is a Fencing Contractor. Basically he wants it so that he does not have to drive the tractor off site to a filling station but this is only maybe every week and a half as the tractor does only be a little over idling to run the post driver. What he wants me to do is really take an old trailer and a domestic heating system diesel tank and stick the two of them together. Lash a pump on the outlet and bobs your uncle. However I fear there is a lot more to it than that. Can I ask anyone who has done something similar to this to send me a link or pics and any advise would be great. Want to know what I am getting into before I start. I have attached pictures of the old trailer that he is proposing, the tank and the pump that he has bought for it.

Regards,
Ronan

 

[blackd]

I am seriously concerned over the strength of your trailer. From the pictures it looks to be quite warn/used/over the hill. If the tank isn't filled to capacity it might work. I would recommend putting a water sepoarator on the output line just in case.

Of course, after saying all this I have never built such a thing, so take my advice at it's face value.

 

[Rgillard]

The only parts of the trailer that I intend using is the actual axle and the leaf springs. The rest of the trailer is too rusted. What I was planning was a sort of metal cage that would hold the tank in place, but the tank would be exposed which could leave it vunerable to being hit by stones and maybe hitting another vehicle. Maybe sheeting it with 3mm steel would protect it more and maybe disguise it to anyone who might pull him up on the road. Its a real cowboy effort I know. The frequency of use of this bowser is the reason that he is not going to buy a proper one.It prob only be on the road once every month as the tractor does not use that much diesel when operating the post driver.. think they about 3 grand new but they are a full steel tank and the manufacturer has to have all sorts of accreditation which slightly concerns me. Would I be responsible for this bowser should something go wrong.

 

[RHughes]

How big is that tank, 200 gal (800+ liters maybe)? I can't tell from the hotos. The axle looks like it's not much wider than the diameter of the tank.
If there are no baffles in the tank I would be seriously concerned that it would roll over, trailer and all, if it were towed in anycondition other that completely full or completely empty. If the diesel fuel were to slosh around while going around a curve it could really upset the cart.

 

[Highbeam]

I would say that's a bad idea. No baffles in that tank, the full tank is very heavy, the tank is too large, the trailer too small, and the plastic tank is not something I would say is roadworthy when full of fuel.

Why not buy a transfer tank to be mounted in a pickup? Or even a 55 gallon drum? The amount of fuel you need sounds very small and the smaller transfer tanks mounted in the vehicle would be plenty.

 

[PineRidge]

I wouldn't want 2000+ pounds sloshing around in a plastic tank going down the road on a single axle, nosirreebob.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

One major problem is you cant carry over I beleive 70 gal. without being plackard. This opens up a whole new can of worms. Hazmat!!!! The liabilities this project could cost you everything you own. Talk him in to putting a tank in his pickup.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I just noticed you are in Ireland. I dont know if your laws are like the ones in the U.S.

 

[Renze]

So this guy needs to refuel, let's say about 50 liters each 1,5 week ? which means that he could run 6 weeks on a 208 liter oil barrel... Or 3 months if you placed two 208 liter barrels, on each side of the axle to keep the center of gravity low.

Oil barrels have threaded openings onto which you can screw standard barrel pumps they sell on most streetcorners. Oil barrels are made to be used for transporting fuel and lubrication, when this guy gets an accident with it, nobody can shoot you down for using oil barrels for something they werent designed for...