Thanks Bart!
For anyone not familiar with my longwinded posts
here's what I built for watering 125 new apple trees:
- Harbor Freight 40" x 48" trailer. (Used, $25). I added larger 13" tires to tow more easily on my steep, disced soft surface.
This trailer is exactly the size of a pallet.
- IBC Tote. Perfect fit on the trailer.
- Submersible 12 volt bilge pump (
Link) down inside the Tote. Output at a new tree's reservoir is 15+ GPM.
I drain the last water out of the Tote at the end of each project, so the pump isn't left submerged.
- Plastic elbow and pipe to keep the pump upright. (
Photo).
- 1 1/8" pool sweep flexible hose.
- Lawn sprinkler anti-siphon valve at the highest point above the tank. This breaks the siphon effect after the pump is shut off.
- Aluminum watering wand - was thin conduit or something. Fits the pool sweep hose. Its light weight is easier to lift as I depart to the next new tree.
- Brackets on tractor, to hold the watering wand as I drive.
Weight of the loaded trailer is 2600 lbs, exceeding the rated 900 lbs. But I don't need highway-level safety margin. A bent tongue is the only thing I've had to repair in a decade. (Bent trying to back uphill with the original 8" tires embedded to the rims in soft fluffy soil. The tongue folded instead. Get bigger wheels and tires).
Presently with the risk of fire so high, I leave this trailer next to my 1500 gallon tank visible from the lane, where anyone could fill it and tow it for firefighting if things go all to h*** this summer. I'm only 10 miles downwind from the worst fire in California history last year and similar the year before. A lot of fine ash and charcoal rained down both times, spot fires are possible. It's going to be interesting ...