Building a mini fire truck

[halfBaked2024]

I got a couple leftover 55 gallon food grade barrels to palletize and load on my side-by-side for miscellaneous watering chores and fire control while burning. I figure I also need to set up a pump for garden hose flow and pressure.

I think one of you guys has run this mousetrap… any “standard” way of doing this?

 

[BlueKnife]

A couple 55 gallon drums full of water weighs over 900 lbs. That's before adding a pump, valves, hose etc. What's the weight capacity of your side by side?

 

[WranglerX]

OI have a 30 gallon poly tank and a HONDA 1.5 inch pump and 50 feet of 3/4 garden hose, as a small unit I can drag up anyplace on property to monitor burn piles, If I need more the the 30 gallons I have not been paying attention to burn, shame on me..... Anybody know the number for 911...

 

[halfBaked2024]

A couple 55 gallon drums full of water weighs over 900 lbs. That's before adding a pump, valves, hose etc. What's the weight capacity of your side by side?

800# for the bed. Thanks for letting me know - I did the math and wasn’t planning on filling both 100%.

 

[halfBaked2024]

OI have a 30 gallon poly tank and a HONDS 1.5 inch pump and 50 feet of 3/4 garden hose, as a small unit I can drag up anyplace on property to monitor burn piles, If I need more the the 30 gallons I have not been paying attention to burn, shame on me..... Anybody know the number for 911...

Is that a trash pump you’re using (pump+motor)? I was going to see what kind of amperage load I could put on my SxS alternator and (deeper capacity than OEM) 12V battery. Otherwise, I’d bring along a small gas generator set up for 120V/15A max when needed.

 

[BlueKnife]

800# for the bed. Thanks for letting me know - I did the math and wasn’t planning on filling both 100%.

You may want to consider just using one and laying it on it's side, perhaps in a cradle of some sort. By the time you have 440 lbs of water + barrel and all the stuff to pump and get it to the fire, I think you'll easily be at max capacity with just one barrel.

 

[WranglerX]

PUMP IS HONDA Gas pump (Early model WX15) When a dumb redneck whats beer money and has $500 pump tagged for $40 at yard sale, you don't pass it up...... Not sure if I would depend on electric pump lasting needed time with out depleting SXS battery andstressing alternator... Having to drag generator along is an added complication if you are under stress in a "fire" situation....

And yes is on a pallet and tractor has forks....

 

[tude]

High pressure fog fire fighting was introduced post world war two. This was pushed to the rural areas due to the lack of water supply. FMC built numerous fire trucks which had just high pressure fog installations. This may be a solution if you have a high pressure water cleaner and small carrying water capacity.

 

[hslogger]

I have a 94 T100 with a 300 gallon poly tank,a couple Sears rubber garden hoses, some fittings,a special small fire hose nozzle and two gas pumps.i can be in operation quickly if need be. The Oregon fires of 2020 changed the narrative. One pump is a little Subaru and the other is HF

 

[WranglerX]

I have a 94 T100 with a 300 gallon poly tank,a couple Sears rubber garden hoses, some fittings,a special small fire hose nozzle and two gas pumps.i can be in operation quickly if need be. The Oregon fires of 2020 changed the narrative. One pump is a little Subaru and the other is HF

Its amazing how just one wildfire can change your perspective and mode of operation when it come close.... Had a wild fire come within the 100 ft defendable space (CALFIRE) a few years ago, it change you perspective how you use control burns (brush piles) and you fire equipment and defendable space around home buildings...

Defensible Space | CAL FIRE

Practical ways to protect your home from wildfire.

www.fire.ca.gov

 

[mrdrill]

Built my system using a 285 gallon iso tank, a $200 HF 1” gas pump and plumbed to suck from tank or creek with recirculating line back to tank so I can keep pump running without issues. Probably have $325 total in system and use it on a Northern Tools 4000# off-road trailer. Can fill tank in less than 15 minutes sucking from creek and throws 60’ stream of water with 3/4” HD hose.

 

[halfBaked2024]

Built my system using a 285 gallon iso tank, a $200 HF 1” gas pump and plumbed to suck from tank or creek with recirculating line back to tank so I can keep pump running without issues. Probably have $325 total in system and use it on a Northern Tools 4000# off-road trailer. Can fill tank in less than 15 minutes sucking from creek and throws 60’ stream of water with 3/4” HD hose.

I also got a 275 gallon IBC tote like yours. Plan is to use it for watering and tractor it with forks when needed for fire protection. I like your idea of a trailer better for transporting flexibility in an emergency. This is why I ask you guys, thank you! Barrel/UTV setup I mentioned in the original post is for “immediate on site proximity” preplanning near burn piles.

 

[halfBaked2024]

High pressure fog fire fighting was introduced post world war two. This was pushed to the rural areas due to the lack of water supply. FMC built numerous fire trucks which had just high pressure fog installations. This may be a solution if you have a high pressure water cleaner and small carrying water capacity.

I’ll have to look into this, thank you!

 

[halfBaked2024]

PUMP IS HONDA Gas pump (Early model WX15) When a dumb redneck whats beer money and has $500 pump tagged for $40 at yard sale, you don't pass it up...... Not sure if I would depend on electric pump lasting needed time with out depleting SXS battery andstressing alternator... Having to drag generator along is an added complication if you are under stress in a "fire" situation....

View attachment 5268647

And yes is on a pallet and tractor has forks....

Great layout - exactly what I was thinking! The barrel+UTV setup isn’t for emergencies, rather fire preplanning… but mostly watering in remote areas. Thanks again for the payload warning.

 

[RobertN]

Our fire district built a "mini-engine" out of a Kawasaki Mule. Skid pump with ~100 gallons and a hose reel. Also carried 200' of 1-1/2" with a nozzle (basically Lat Pack).

This one was set up at a large 6-story parking garage. Fire Engine cant get in there; way too big. But, they drop off a couple FF who take the UTV to the fire . One sets up Lat Pack on standpipe while the other starts suppression with the pump and hose reel on the UTV. While all this is going on, the Engine operator is hook a hydrant and setting up to pump water on the standpipe.

Makes a quicker fire attack than humping hose up stairs with a SCBA on and having to cross floor and make standpipe connection...

Look up/web search "Wildland Fire UTV"

 

[halfBaked2024]

Our fire district built a "mini-engine" out of a Kawasaki Mule. Skid pump with ~100 gallons and a hose reel. Also carried 200' of 1-1/2" with a nozzle (basically Lat Pack).

This one was set up at a large 6-story parking garage. Fire Engine cant get in there; way too big. But, they drop off a couple FF who take the UTV to the fire . One sets up Lat Pack on standpipe while the other starts suppression with the pump and hose reel on the UTV. While all this is going on, the Engine operator is hook a hydrant and setting up to pump water on the standpipe.

Makes a quicker fire attack than humping hose up stairs with a SCBA on and having to cross floor and make standpipe connection...

Look up/web search "Wildland Fire UTV"

Exactly what I am setting up! These mules aren’t fast, but such a great all around machine for getting work done! I’ll lookup those keywords - thanks Robert!

 

[Jstpssng]

I also got a 275 gallon IBC tote like yours. Plan is to use it for watering and tractor it with forks when needed for fire protection. I like your idea of a trailer better for transporting flexibility in an emergency. This is why I ask you guys, thank you! Barrel/UTV setup I mentioned in the original post is for “immediate on site proximity” preplanning near burn piles.

You also might build it for to go on your 3pth. Then you wouldn't be limited by a trailer.
The Maine Forest Service has experimented with powering their backpack sprayers using a Dewalt pressure washer.


I'm not sure how that's been working out for them.

 

[ptsg]

When it's fire season, I put 2 IBC on my trailer, a small gas powered pump and about 30 meters of hose. It's not much but should help some.

 

[halfBaked2024]

You also might build it for to go on your 3pth. Then you wouldn't be limited by a trailer.
The Maine Forest Service has experimented with powering their backpack sprayers using a Dewalt pressure washer.
View attachment 5301154

I'm not sure how that's been working out for them.

This DeWalt sprayer looks like a small scale version of what @tude mentioned above. Thank you!