Water Hauling Trailer

[kevinwak]

Hi all. I am thinking about hauling my own water to my home instead of paying for deliver and was looking for input onto my different options.
It costs $160+ to have a water truck deliver 2700 imp Gallons and I need a delivery on average every 35 days. Over the course of a year, or even 5 years that is a pretty significant cost and I was considering buying a trailer and tank and hauling my own water. There is a load station in each of the near by towns and it is $1 to load. I was thinking if we had a trailer set up I could pick up water when we go into town for church or the doctor etc...
My F150 has a 7800 pound max trailer tow rating. I have been looking at a used 18' equipment trailer from a coworker with 2 7000# axles. With this unit I am thinking about putting an 850 gallon tank which should be enough water to last me every 10 days. That is a little over the rating for my truck, but I do also have the option of using the GMC 3500 daully from my Dads farm up the road when it isn't busy, and have an older 1 ton available to use in summer months. I am also thinking about purchasing a new 12 foot deck over with 2 #5000 axles, in hopes of shaving off some weight and making it more in the range of the F150. I will potentially be buying a 3/4 ton in the next 3-4 years.
Any thoughts? Should I go with a larger tank, or just stick with what my truck can pull? I do understand the sway and slosh issues wioth half full tanks.

 

[Duffster]

If you are trying to cut weight and maximize payload I would look into one of these.

These are typically thousand gallons.

 

[kevinwak]

Thought about it, but I can't seem to locate anybody near me that sells them. Also I was hoping I could do double duty

 

[BoFuller]

I have a 500 gallon trailer and it has been serving us fine. I would prefer a 1,000 gallon tank to save on trips, but I just have a little Toyota Tacoma, so I'm pushing it as it is. I'd say go as big as you can get away with.

 

[kevinwak]

I have a 500 gallon trailer and it has been serving us fine. I would prefer a 1,000 gallon tank to save on trips, but I just have a little Toyota Tacoma, so I'm pushing it as it is. I'd say go as big as you can get away with.

Do you prefer hauling your own as opposed to getting deliveries?

 

[mdelmarcelle]

There is a load station in each of the near by towns and it is $1 to load.

How come it's only $1 to load? What's the point in even charging?

 

[powerstroke444e]

I was in same spot when we put a pool in and found a 1600 gal tank that fit nicely on my gooseneck. With full load of water I am with in limits of the trailer and my truck. If it was me I would get the bigger trailer as it sounds like you will be upgrading trucks and with water you don't want to have a marginal trailer get 800 or 1000 tank and slow work your way up amount your comfortable with.
Were I get water $18 for 1600gal at closest and $12 at town 5 miles further. I use a 2inch pump to speed up the unloading.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am curious why you haul water and just don't dig a well? I am sure there is a good reason but it seems like it would pay for itself quickly.

As for towing water I would want the load as low as possible and a deck over is not going to do that very good. As far as saving weight, what are you talking with a new trailer? Maybe 300#, not worth the cost. Save your money and get yourself a F-350 SRW 4x4 truck and you can haul anything you want. Skip the 3/4 ton, they are not much more truck than some of the new 1/2 tons.

Chris

 

[BoFuller]

Do you prefer hauling your own as opposed to getting deliveries?

I have never had a delivery. We decided when we bought the land that we would haul our own until we decided to drill someday.

 

[BoFuller]

I am curious why you haul water and just don't dig a well? I am sure there is a good reason but it seems like it would pay for itself quickly.
Chris

There are places in AZ where there is no water table or the water is not good. There is water in our area and it is good but it will cost at least 15-20,000 to drill. 500 to 800 feet with a lot of rock. The community association has drilled a well for the owners to use, so it's a lot cheaper to buy a tank and haul than to drill your own. It's only about 3 miles for me.