Diesel Tank for Property

wfcjr · January 02, 2015, 01:39:03 PM

We are starting to outgrow the time honored method of hauling 5 gal diesel cans back & forth from the gas station.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience with modest, above ground diesel tanks with pump for use on the property?
Probably do not want to go any larger than 100-150 gal. Also, since all of our use is on our property, I don't have any need for
hauling diesel off-site and would rather not put a tank in the back of our pickup.

Thanks.

NWP · January 02, 2015, 01:57:27 PM

How will you fill the tank? Will the bulk truck come for 100 gallons? I have a 100 gallon tank bolted to a pallet. Fill it up in town, bring it back and unload it with the forks on the skid steer. Works great.

Corley5 · January 02, 2015, 02:14:19 PM

I've got a 100 gallon tank strapped to a small trailer that we use when the 40 gallon one in the truck isn't enough.

barbender · January 02, 2015, 02:25:30 PM

wfcjr, from what I understand, the problem with bulk tanks is condensation. If they sit half full, they collect water. I have an 80 gallon transfer tank in my work truck, and I've never had water problems with that, but it gets refilled every two days as my forwarder burns 30-40 gallons a day. But people have told me of problems they had with bulk tanks they had that they only filled every 2 weeks or a month. I suppose if you set the tank up right the water could be dealt with, but it is something to be cognizant of. Last year we had a job out of town where we were running 3 cut to length crews so the boss sent a trailer mounted fuel tank to the job site. I think it was 1000 gallons or close to it. A harvester fueled off of it first, and made it about 15 minutes before he plugged his filters. No one else got fuel out of it after that :D I think that idea of a 50-100 gallon tank on a skid has merit if you don't want a tank in your pick-up.

LeeB · January 02, 2015, 02:33:17 PM

I have a 500 gal tank that I have never put more than 300 gal in. Lasts me about a year. I put algecide in it when I buy the fuel. I also have a water trap w/ filter on it. Haven't seen any water in it yet or had any problems with clogging.

barbender · January 02, 2015, 02:37:26 PM

I think the winter weather conditions is when you will have a problem. Northern winter, not Arkansas ;) Take my opinion FWIW, I've never had my own bulk tank and I'm only repeating what I've heard about them in my area.

wfcjr · January 02, 2015, 02:51:48 PM

Quote from: barbender on January 02, 2015, 02:37:26 PM
I think the winter weather conditions is when you will have a problem. Northern winter, not Arkansas ;) Take my opinion FWIW, I've never had my own bulk tank and I'm only repeating what I've heard about them in my area.

You are right, there will be condensation issues. You can't pump from the bottom and can let the levels go to low.

How do you handle the supply situation? Tank in bed of pick-up, or some other method?

coxy · January 02, 2015, 03:25:32 PM

one other thing to think about is if you have a 300-1000gal tank and all of a sudden there is a leak not big but just a leak and the wrong person sees it your in deep dodo they make double wall tanks but there high price just check your laws they are different in every state and county- town

Gadrock · January 02, 2015, 04:07:29 PM

I have a 500 and a 250 extra above ground tanks that I do not use now because they are not big enough. Years ago they were regularly drained of condensate from the low point when their usage was well worth it. But somewhere along the way my fuel jobber stated charging significantly to deliver such a small amount.

Today I need 5000 gal to make it worth the trouble so I end up getting 80-100 gal a day for my toys and sometime I must go again during the day. That trip is only 7 miles round trip in my pickup which carries the small tank.

I have been informed the largest truck mounted tank allowed is 118 gall but most other loggers use 200 gal to pump from their trucks. The problem with 200 gallons is that nothing else matches the design when it is in the truck...that is tool box, 5th wheel. SO now I am also considering going to a flatbed of a special design. DOwn here the truck must be 4x4.

David G

carry on

snowstorm · January 02, 2015, 04:44:57 PM

i have a 550 gal tank. never had any trouble with water. when its real cold it will frost on the outside to the level of the fuel

Dave Shepard · January 02, 2015, 04:56:52 PM

Same here. We have a 550 on the farm. Have had it for at least 25 years. It gets topped off several times a year, and we have never had a water problem. If I was going to set up on site storage, and I might be this summer, I would get half a concrete septic tank to put the fuel tank in, then put a roof over it. There is a place down in Torrington, CT, that may even make a special casting just for fuel tanks.

wfcjr · January 02, 2015, 05:04:03 PM

Thanks for the replies so far....

Have not heard back from our fuel & propane folks yet if they will deliver diesel.
If they will, then will likely go with a stationary tank.

If not, will look hard at a fuel tank/trailer. Looks like they are available in sizes from 150 gals & up.
May be handy to be able to just head into town, fill it up & then park or place it where needed. Does any one
have any experience with these fuel tanks that are on their own trailers?

Maine logger88 · January 02, 2015, 06:11:13 PM

It's a little bigger than you want but a old 275 gal furnace tank works well I know my father and the guy he used to cut with used to have one that they made so it could be loaded in the pickup and moved to different jobs. They would have a local fuel truck fill it up on site

1270d · January 02, 2015, 06:20:19 PM

Just an observation on condensation.
Four pickups with 100 gal transfer tanks in the beds and one 500 gallon outdoor bulk tank.

None of the tanks had ever been checked for water and all together have a combined age of around 40 years. Not a spec of water. We checked with the paste on a stick that the fuel stations use to check for water. The pickup tubes don't go to the very bottom of the tanks so if there is some water it should stay on the bottom.

Couldnt believe it. NO water. None. The bulk tank had sat around half full from late winter to late summer.

bill m · January 02, 2015, 07:31:39 PM

I have had a 43 gallon tank in the back of my pickup for a few years now and the meter says over 3400 gallons to date. I drained the tank this summer to check for water and found NONE! I also have a 300 gallon bulk tank in a containment tank and have never used it. No one will fill it. They all have a 500 gallon minimum.

snowstorm · January 02, 2015, 07:44:09 PM

getting someone to fill it can be a problem. the little local oil co i have used for many years sold out to the big boys. i still buy from them but charge more

barbender · January 02, 2015, 07:47:01 PM

I know the pickup box mounted tank works best for me.

xalexjx · January 02, 2015, 07:51:52 PM

we have a 1500 gal and 750 gal at the shop, one was for off-road and one for on road but now we just use the bigger tank and buy all on road fuel. In the summer we use them but they get filled every other week havent had any problems with moisture. If there were a spot in town to get fuel we wouldn't have them, the dec permits and paperwork every year is a pia. They made us put in containment pits cover them and some other stuff 4-5 years ago

In the winter I just use the 45 gal tank in the back of my truck as I dont dare leave a skid/tank on the woodlot in the winter.

Ed_K · January 02, 2015, 08:06:36 PM

I have a 300 gal above ground tank,I bought a bottom half of a septic tank to put it in. Ma. rules say you have to have a catch tank that 110% of the fuel tank. I set the whole setup on a slight incline,haven't had a problem with water.If you don't use a lot then you can wait till the price go down to fill it,if it ever does >:( .

Dave Shepard · January 02, 2015, 08:16:14 PM

Quote from: bill m on January 02, 2015, 07:31:39 PM
I have had a 43 gallon tank in the back of my pickup for a few years now and the meter says over 3400 gallons to date. I drained the tank this summer to check for water and found NONE! I also have a 300 gallon bulk tank in a containment tank and have never used it. No one will fill it. They all have a 500 gallon minimum.

We have been getting our off-road from Clifford since H.L. stopped delivering in MA. I think they will deliver whatever we need.

lopet · January 02, 2015, 08:26:42 PM

Quote from: barbender on January 02, 2015, 02:25:30 PM
15 minutes before he plugged his filters. No one else got fuel out of it after that

Always have a filter setup on the transfer tank also ! Saves a lot of hassle. And keep a spare in the truck !

Maine logger88 · January 02, 2015, 08:33:57 PM

Quote from: snowstorm on January 02, 2015, 07:44:09 PM
getting someone to fill it can be a problem. the little local oil co i have used for many years sold out to the big boys. i still buy from them but charge more

Yeah they were the ones they had fill up there tank. I usually buy my off-road from them but this summer the depot in unity was quite abit cheaper and where I was working there anyway I bought it from them

kensfarm · January 03, 2015, 12:50:56 AM

I have a 300 gallon tank w/ 12volt pump.. I have a water filter on the pump.. always add diesal treatment for a new tank full.. never had problems w/ water or algea. In MD.. all off-road diesal is low sulphur now. Hope you find what works for your operation.

wfcjr · January 03, 2015, 01:07:40 PM

Any of you gents with tanks, are they steel or aluminum? I would imagine that the truckbed tanks are likely aluminum, but the onsite or larger tanks
may be aluminum or steel.

Looking hard at a tank trailer that is local, but pretty sure it is powder coated steel. Any downsides to the steel tanks?

Thanks,