3 pt. water tank

[Atch4115]

Looking to put a water tank on rear to water new trees.Getting tired of hauling by hand in 5 gal. buckets.Anybody done this,have any good ideas?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I would say that you could buy a 3pt "Carry All" and a mount a water tank to it. Both are available at places like TSC or Northern Tool.

The water tanks typically come in 25, 35, 50 gallon sizes and larger. But unless you have a pretty large tractor you will have to be mindful of the weight. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. I would probably start looking at the 50 gallon sizes and see if I could get an even larger one that would still be able to be carried. Most of the "Carry All" units have pretty limited weight capacities, as the gallons go up, you might find the need for a heavier duty carry all. I've seen some that will hold 1000#. That might make the front end of your tractor very light and hard to steer.

Most of the tanks I've seen have a drain on the bottom, you could probably remove the drain plug and hook a hose to that outlet. As long as the end of the hose is above the water level, the water will not drain out of the tank. You could simple let the hose down and gravity will drain as much of the tank as you need, then move on to the next tree.

If you want to get fancy about it, you could get a 12 volt pump and power pump water through a hose, that would allow you to drive up to the tree, flip a switch, shoot the water at the tree trunk and then move on, all without getting out of the tractor seat. I think you can get small pumps that will move a couple gallons a minute, but some of that flow depends on the spray head you use, if you even need a spray head.

 

[California]

I take water down to new trees in the orchard using 30 gallon garbage cans in my loader. Later I bucket-water from those cans.

There is a photo attached to This post.

I am thinking about making a plywood deck on top of my box blade to carry a couple of cans on the back at the same time. That would be high enough to siphon water out to refill the cans already in the orchard. Or I may tow a little 4x8 utility trailer for the refill cans.

Dad carried buckets in a wheelbarrow for this, and one of my earliest memories of Grandpa was him using a child's wagon to deliver the buckets.

 

[RobS]

I plan on using Bob's method this summer. I already have a 55 gallon drum rigged for watering (valve in lower bung hole). I used to use it for hauling water to the property before we moved, in the back of my truck. Now that we have water on site, I plan to pick up a three point carry all and strap the drum to it. I can water quite a few trees from one spot with a fifty foot hose attached /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Inspector507]

I once used the bucket on the FEL to haul water to the tomato plants /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Then dipped it out in watering can portions.

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm not sure what your budget is but we have a 750 gallon sprayer that we use for watering livestock, watering roads, arenas, trees, new grass, etc. We have boom poles that we can water grass in a snap, a 150 hose to water livestock and trees, or a sprayer. When not watering with it you can use it to do all of your spraying as well. I bought it at a farm auction for $150. New they are about $750. It couldn't be an easier or handy.

 

[LoganWildman]

I have done the very same thing for my tomato plants

 

[BB_TX]

I use a 55 gallon drum. I set it on my FEL, chain hook to the top rim of drum, pull chain tight and hook to my center FEL hook, fill with water and I'm off. Dip it out with a 5 gallon bucket now, but plan to add a drain to the drum.

 

[BigEddy]

I've got 2 45 gal plastic drums. I've got a hose bib in one bung hole, with about 4' of hose attached. For flower beds, I stick one in the loader horizontal, hose down, and pump water out of the pond with a gas pump into the upper hole. Drive to the flower beds, and raise it up 2' so the hose end is over the bed, then get off and do some weeding for 5 mins, moving the hose end every once in a while. Tuck the hose in the upper bung hole, and move on to the next bed. I don't bother to chain it in this way.
For trees I'll stand both drums up in the loader and wrap a strap around them, then fill them both up, drive to the trees and "dump" them out. Roll the drum so the hose is down, route the hose to the right spot, and drive away. 45 gals takes a while to drain out, and the tree gets a good watering and I can get other work done in the meantime (Note: 2 45 IMP gal drums is 900lbs and my 855 needs couterweight! The first time I did this, the back end of the tractor lifted off the ground as I filled the second drum)

Total investment can't be more than $15.

 

[Mark4510]

I used to carry a 55 gallon drum around in the bucket with a hose attached to it. Then I got a set of the 3pt forks similar to what TSC sells and attached the drum to a pallet. This allows me to carry it around, drop it off, and let it drain at whatever pace I want. At that point I can go off and do other things.

 

[JRP]

I found a 300 gallon tote that had a food grade additive at one time. It has a big 8" cap with also a 2" pipe thread, and 2" pipe thread outlet with ball valve at the bottom. It is mounted within a galvanized tubing frame made out of 1/2" emt tubing, and it all mounts onto a a plastic pallet. For $40 it looked like a good deal.

Made a great forklift fork set for the FEL. see "Post your pictures of forks" The forks originally were set up for the 3pt hitch. Plenty of power to lift 300 gallons. The 3pt mount came off when I got a FEL and wanted the forks on the front. Now I want to add 3pt mount back on the forks so I can carry the tank when full.

When empty the plastic tote container pulls out of the pallet/frame. I figure I can clamp/tie the frame to the FEL forks and use it like a man basket. With the wife driving I think the self leveling FEL will help keep me inside.

I'll try to get a picture.

Jim

 

[Currmudgeon]

If you have the luxury of scavenging a 55 gal drum with both ends still on, always cut the bottom off, instead of the top. That way, you can use the drain plugs in the bottom, or not, as suits you.

 

[Twobits]

I built a three point hitch mount for two 55 gallon drums, which works great on my Jinma 284. No problem lifting or holding both barrels full. Pictures are posted on the NYCTO site under Members Photos.

Also built pallet forks that go on the Koyker 160 loader. They will handle up to 1,000 lbs., but that kind of weight requires some strengthening of the bucket, and I have to put the water barrels on the back to keep the rear end down. Photos of the pallet forks (and a few other tinkerings) are all in the Member Photos at NYCTO. If someone could tell me how, I would be happy to post them in the various threads here, too.

 

[texbaylea]

If my plans come true, I will be planting Oak seedlings that have been inoculated to grow truffles. I plan to use an old trailer made from a pickup bed and frame that I have, add a 250 gal "pickup tank" from TSC and use gravity feed. Let my wife run the tractor around while I sit on the tailgate watering. Could also park it and let gravity do the work.

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Looking to put a water tank on rear to water new trees.Getting tired of hauling by hand in 5 gal. buckets.Anybody done this,have any good ideas? )</font>

Apply a couple of gallons of diesel fuel to each tree and you won't have to bother with them any more. "Gee honey, all those trees you wanted died. Must be some type of blight or something."

Saves a lot of work.

Bill Tolle

 

[MMM]

If you make it sturdy enough, you can use barrel carrier for counterweight. I built one for 2 55gal drums full of water and use it for carryall also. I guess it would make a decent waterer with a siphon setup or 12v pump.