Watering Tank platform for 3pt hitch - ideas?

JohnnyTractor · Apr 23, 2006

I'm getting ready to plant 100 spruce trees, and would like to rig up a 50-65 gal tank on some type of 3 pt hitch platform to drive around and water them all.

I was thinking that I'd either buy a tank from TSC or F&F and then rig it to be gravity fed. I'm wondering is whether or not anyone has done this before. At the very least, I'd like to build a 'platform' for my 3pt hitch that would allow me to install a tank on. Any thoughts would be welcome.

cheers.

beenthere · Apr 23, 2006

About any cheap carry-all will do the trick for you.

Head for the nearest FarmFleet or FleetFarm.

Another way is to buy a 3pt tank sprayer and enjoy the benefits of spraying fertilizer, herbicide, and other things besides watering trees.

Or go to Northern Tool,
Carry-all $90

jeffinsgf · Apr 24, 2006

You probably won't be very happy with gravity feed. At least, I wasn't. A roller pump on your PTO makes the your project much easier. I went with a carry-all and added some hooks so that I could strap my 55 gallon plastic drum onto the carry-all. I put a pick-up tube with inline filter in one bung and a hose bib and pressure regulator in the other. I can water my remote trees easily and quickly.

greg_g · Apr 24, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( At the very least, I'd like to build a 'platform' for my 3pt hitch that would allow me to install a tank on. )</font>

First consider that you've got what JD calls a " limited Cat 1 " TPH, and rear hydraulics rated at only 681 pounds. Then consider that you'd be asking an 1125 pound tractor to carry around 520 pounds of water, plus tank and supporting structure. And unless you've got a FEL that can counter a full tank of liquid, steering will probably be rather light.

And wide. If you've got any close quarters to consider, a TPH mounted tank will increase the overall width of your CUT. Towed tanks are typically mounted lengthwise. My recommendation for that particular tractor is a towed tank - two wheels or four, your choice - and a pump feed. I've never been satisfied with gravity feed myself.

//greg//

rozett · Apr 24, 2006

I think the towed tank is the best idea, but another alternative would be to mount the tank in you FEL and use a 12v pump. Just select a pump with a decent volume rating, as you don't need a lot of pressure.

gordon21 · Apr 24, 2006

100 trees times a couple gallons each is a need for 200 gallons. If you ran a sprinkler pump at 10GPM, it would take 20 minutes of watering at a minimum. This sure sounds like you need a tow behind tank for basic watering. A 50 gallon tank will mean at least 3 trips to spray and then refill. Chemicals could probably be done with a smaller tank. Your tractor can tow at least a 100 gal tank on a small trailer. Water is something like 7# per gallon, so 100 gallons on a small trailer would be under 1000#

Steve_Miller · Apr 24, 2006

Johnny,
This is one I built myself if your into that. Very basic and cheap. As far as the galvanizing, I had the chance to throw it on a truck that was taking a bunch of stuff to get galvanized one day.

Steve

RalphVa · Apr 24, 2006

Do you have some old hoses?

A fellow master gardener told me what he used to irrigate his many blueberry bushes. He said to take and old hose and lay it where you have bushes/trees. Drill a 1/8" hole at each bush or tree in the hose.

Another thing. You could get some black poly pipe. You'd only need 1/2" to 3/4". Just unroll it beside your trees and drill the 1/8" holes where each tree is located. Plug off the end of the line and connect the other end to a supply source.

I have a combo of the above: 1100' of poly line down to my garden, past my trees and mini vineyard. Then I run hoses off tees in the poly and drilled 1/8" holes where I have trees and grape vines. Up top, I have rain tanks to feed the system or can connect from my well system. Down below, I can back pump from a little stream using a 1-2 gpm 12v electric pump. It'll run 3 or 4 hours on a battery recharge.

In the garden, I converted to PVC and used PVC to run along the ends of my rows. Then I run soaker hoses down each row.

Have shutoff valves where I have hoses, just one of those cheap ball valve types.

Sure beats lugging water all over the place.

Ralph

db2 · Apr 25, 2006

I have a 125 gallon tank that I mounted on a frame(PT 4X4's) and I move it with a trailer. I use a 12V pump to move the water. Gravity was too slow for me. This setup works great. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

JohnnyTractor · Apr 27, 2006

great ideas. I've got some really hilly territory, and it's not condusive to towing a trailer, so I really like the carry-all idea best. What's the best way to tie into the 12v system?