OP
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
I've been waiting for someone else to mention a gravity tank, since I've done a fair amount of jawin' about it in other threads. But, since no one has, here's my summary:
55 gallon drum on it's side on a 5' high platform, placed there with a FEL. galvanized fittings, ball valve shutoff, filter housing and filter, 14' petroleum hose, swivel, farm nozzle. Some more fittings out of the other drum hole, vent pipe rising above the tank, another ball valve. More expensive than a can, etc., cheaper than an electric pump, absolutely reliable (no pump to break), possibly some increased risk if you're not careful.
All parts available on the 'net or your local oil distributor (the route I took). Lif the empty drum into the pickup bed, remove filter and hose (leave the other fittings in place), strap in and take to the distributor to be filled with off-road diesel (still in the truck, remove one of the fittings for filling), return, lay it on it's side in the pickup bed, pick up with bucket (strap in) and put it back up on the platform, blocking it in place. Re-attach the filter/hose/nozzle assembly and you're back in business for another 55 gallons.
Drive up, open the vent valve and fill valve, put the nozzle in the tractor filler and fill the same way you would a car. A farm nozzle does not have an automatic shut-off so you have to watch, but watching is easy because you don't have to do anything else - no cranking, no lifting, etc. No electric needed. I always shut off the ball valves again after filling, so I'm not depending on the valve in the nozzle to hold everything back.
I have it on a slab at my son-in-law's garage right now (next to my property), but when my barn is done and I move it, I'm going to set it off from the building a little ways and put a roof over it.
55 gallon drum on it's side on a 5' high platform, placed there with a FEL. galvanized fittings, ball valve shutoff, filter housing and filter, 14' petroleum hose, swivel, farm nozzle. Some more fittings out of the other drum hole, vent pipe rising above the tank, another ball valve. More expensive than a can, etc., cheaper than an electric pump, absolutely reliable (no pump to break), possibly some increased risk if you're not careful.
All parts available on the 'net or your local oil distributor (the route I took). Lif the empty drum into the pickup bed, remove filter and hose (leave the other fittings in place), strap in and take to the distributor to be filled with off-road diesel (still in the truck, remove one of the fittings for filling), return, lay it on it's side in the pickup bed, pick up with bucket (strap in) and put it back up on the platform, blocking it in place. Re-attach the filter/hose/nozzle assembly and you're back in business for another 55 gallons.
Drive up, open the vent valve and fill valve, put the nozzle in the tractor filler and fill the same way you would a car. A farm nozzle does not have an automatic shut-off so you have to watch, but watching is easy because you don't have to do anything else - no cranking, no lifting, etc. No electric needed. I always shut off the ball valves again after filling, so I'm not depending on the valve in the nozzle to hold everything back.
I have it on a slab at my son-in-law's garage right now (next to my property), but when my barn is done and I move it, I'm going to set it off from the building a little ways and put a roof over it.
