Posted 2008-01-20 7:42 PM (#74900) Subject: Water Tank...is this possible
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
I am considering mounting a water holding tank in my hay rack. If nothing else, I was going to use it as a source for water for my horses when travelling or when somewhere either without water or with it really far away.
Would it be okay/possible to also use this water tank as a source for water for my shower/sink in my weekend package?
Posted 2008-01-20 10:32 PM (#74910 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Veteran
Posts: 285
The only problem I might see with that is you might have trouble with the water freezing if you use it when it is really cold versus having it inside if you have heat. We camped thanksgiving and our friends has their water tank up on top and their water froze up. Ours did not. I have seen a lot people mount the tank on top for just an extra spare water tank.
Posted 2008-01-20 10:33 PM (#74911 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
I don't know if your hayrack is covered or or not, but you may want to treat the water if it exposed to a lot of sun or extreme heat. Mold spores can grow quickly in warm water.
Posted 2008-01-21 9:02 AM (#74927 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The is one consideration you will have to contemplate. If you are going to add the water tank to your hay rack, in addition to the generator installation you had planned, you may be running into a roof weight/strength issue. If you add the combined weight of 7 lbs/gal of water, plus the hay rack structure, plus the weight of the generator, you will have a significant amount of weight sitting high on the back end of your trailer.
It will not be adequate to simply tack weld a hay rack to your roof. The original roof bows are not structurally strong enough for this amount of additional weight. The inside roof structure will have to be reinforced, transferring the centre load additional weight, outside to the sidewalls. If the stall area has a ceiling and is insulated, the area under the fabrication will have to be removed. If you have a removable centre door post, the top pin will be directly in the area where the roof will have to be strengthened.
A second approach would be to fabricate a very strong platform in place of the hay rack, with the outside supports attaching directly to the side wall joists. This would entail cutting out the roof only for the vertical supports. After they were welded, the roofing could be repaired and sealed. This would eliminate the ceiling reinforcement when a hay rack is used. Either way, it will take the skills of a custom fabricator to manufacture the necessary structure for this modification.
If your trailer is under warranty, these changes will void your warranty.
Posted 2008-01-21 9:23 AM (#74929 - in reply to #74927) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
Originally written by gard on 2008-01-21 9:02 AM
It will not be adequate to simply tack weld a hay rack to your roof. The original roof bows are not structurally strong enough for this amount of additional weight. The inside roof structure will have to be reinforced, transferring the centre load additional weight, outside to the sidewalls. If the stall area has a ceiling and is insulated, the area under the fabrication will have to be removed. If you have a removable centre door post, the top pin will be directly in the area where the roof will have to be strengthened.
A second approach would be to fabricate a very strong platform in place of the hay rack, with the outside supports attaching directly to the side wall joists. This would entail cutting out the roof only for the vertical supports. After they were welded, the roofing could be repaired and sealed. This would eliminate the ceiling reinforcement when a hay rack is used. Either way, it will take the skills of a custom fabricator to manufacture the necessary structure for this modification.
If your trailer is under warranty, these changes will void your warranty.
BOL Gard
The trailer came with a pre-installed hay rack so we won't be welding one in place. It also has cross beam type structures (I guess for the original purpose of keeping the hay off the roof directly). These are welded to the hayrack which is mounted so that it bears all the weight on the side structures of the walls. No weight is on the roof sheeting at all. All items that are placed up there will be on those beams.
Posted 2008-01-21 9:40 AM (#74934 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
most hays racks are designed for the weight of hay; a half dozen or so bales with their weight of a few hundred lbs spread over a large area. You are considering a higher amount of weight in a more concentrated area. The hay rack is not designed for that purpose.
Posted 2008-01-21 10:35 AM (#74939 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Gard is correct, shows I am not paying attention, missed the hay rack mounted generator plan...The concentrated weight is another matter from wide distribution of hay, as stated above. We have a 35 gal hay rack water tank, and I have used it for horse water, and in a pinch, ran a hose from that tank to refill my living quarters water tank (not to drink ) Our generator is in the tackroom, with remote start in the LQ, so that weight is not up top. I will put about 10 gal up top in the tank when travelling, as a bit of horse drinking water is nice to have enroute, altho mine, altho seasoned travelers, often drink miserly amounts while onboard. Being mules, they are more water efficient than horses (a generalization). I haul with a dry trailer often, then either fill just before reaching my boondock destination, or haul dry to a place with hookups, just to reduce wear and tear, and less weight. At the fuel cost of today, any little bit helps!
Posted 2008-01-21 11:13 AM (#74942 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
Thanks for the info. These are things I hadn't considered and as I stated before, this was just something I was considering.
I may go with a water tank behind the saddle rack instead and use that for the horses (though this is where I usually stuff my little push broom and fork that I use for cleaning out the horse area of my trailer.
I'm just trying to find ways to save space in the tiny area for the weekend package.
Posted 2008-01-21 12:21 PM (#74949 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Idaho
I have a water tank on top of my hay rack, it had to have a steel frame around it. There is one line out of it and a line to 2 stalls with shut off's for waters in the stalls. I love this! There is an easy drain plug. Go to Google and search "water hay rack" there are great ones to choose from. I've seen them in the corner of the rear tack and hoping I will be able to do this with my next trailer the exiss! But the faucet will have to be outside. Here are photos of the trailer with the water tank on top, and one you can kind of see of water valves in the stall
Posted 2008-01-21 11:46 PM (#75030 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
I recently bought a 39 gallon corner water tank that fits perfectly behind my rear tack saddle rack. It has the same dimensions as smaller corner tanks, but it's taller. Very easy to install! I will use it to refill my small LQ water tank so I can take a shower on those long hot dusty endurance weekends :) It seemed to be the best way to transport the water, and is safe from the sun too. All I need to do is run a hose from the spigot to the LQ water fill. Horse water is always available at endurance rides... water for showers isn't. I usually take bottled water for drinking so only need the extra water for a quick shower and the bathroom.
Posted 2008-01-22 7:42 AM (#75041 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I have one of those 48 gal. lay flat water tanks and put it in the back of my truck when I go somewhere with no water. It works out fine. I have a hose with one of those cut off valves on the end so I just open the water at the tank and use the shut off on the hose.
Posted 2008-01-22 8:19 AM (#75044 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Northern CA
I think the biggest issue you will have with a water tank on the hay rack is properly securing the thing. You should really use something other than the straps that come with the water tank itself.
Many of the corner water tanks will fit in the rear tack behind the saddle rack, you can easily modify the tank for filling and draining from the outside of the trailer (if you are handy). If space is an issue, you may want to do some measurements and see if one will fit in this space.
Posted 2008-01-22 10:11 AM (#75060 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I used a 25 gallon corner tank for several years, then the horses decided they didn't like drinking from that tank anymore so I went back to the Reliance 6 gallon cans. I fill onecan for each horse for traveling from home to the show grounds. If we were camping somwhere in the wild blue.....Then I guess I would need to carry a few more cans!! But, they work for us and you can put them most anywhere.
Posted 2008-01-22 6:49 PM (#75088 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
My previous trailer came with a 35 gallon roof mount tank. It was held in the hay rack with 2 nylon straps. I added two more of my own straps just to be sure. I never had a problem with it moving. 35gallons is only seven 5 gallon buckets. I found I ran out of horse water pretty fast on a dry weekend.
Nice thing about it in the hay rack, was that gravity works very well to move the water. With a 8 foot drop from tank to bucket on ground, the water comes out with pretty good force. My tank now is an angle tank behind the saddle rack. Since the bottom of that tank is only 14" off the ground. The water comes out much slower.
I made sure to never ever put anything but drinking water in the tank. (No lake water, or water from uncertain sources) I drained it, if it ever sat more than a weekend. Always a fresh tank before heading out.
Posted 2008-01-22 11:57 PM (#75100 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Member
Posts: 42 Location: Salinas, Ca
Believe it or not on my Exiss they installed a large hayrack and told me it was capable of 1200 lbs.
I've got 2 35 gallon water tanks up there and with them full of water and me walking up on the rack itself (because i hate thinking of denting the roof) it feels fine.
Mine may not be the same as yours but that's just what I was told and I've loaded the heck out of it and never had any problems.
Posted 2008-01-23 12:40 AM (#75101 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
I sent an email to Elite yesterday, but of course I haven't heard back, I believe the racks are made the way they are (with cross beams and such) so they can support a heavier load.
Posted 2008-01-23 7:41 AM (#75108 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Location: Texas
I have used 2 of the 35 gallon tanks in the hay rack on my Elite trailers for several years and had no problem. In addition to the water (570# when full) I regularly carry hay, coolers, etc. up there with the water tanks and have probably been close to 1000# at times.I have a hose run down the ladder to fill the tanks from the ground and a hose that runs down into the tack with a pump hooked on with a hose attached that I can rinse my horses or fill my trailer tank with. The pump also feeds the stall waterers and misters in the trailer.
Posted 2008-01-23 9:30 AM (#75115 - in reply to #74900) Subject: RE: Water Tank...is this possible
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: Nashville, TN
I've used a tank such as this one ....http://www.valleyvet.com/trailering-watering/63-Gallon-Pickup-Bed-Water-Caddy
for a number of years and found it to be a great solution to a number of water hauling issues. Since it is in the bed of the truck, you don't have to worry about the engineering issues on the hay rack.
Water Tank...is this possible
