Portable backpack or fitted tank

[Scribbo]

Evening all , I have a dilemma that I'd like your thoughts on. I currently work with my gardiner backpack and pole , and fill up my 4x25 litre barrels and go off to work.

It's getting a bit laborious doing this and I'm toying with the idea of putting a tank in the back of my van and making life easier , but I'm not sure if it'll be cost effective , in fact I dint even know what it would cost lol

Any thoughts ??

 

[Jimroot]

if you can, filling to the van mounted tank is Much easier than carrying water IMO, the costs will vary a lot with your set up and situation, RO Di ? Type of van, type of bulkhead, size of tank, proximity of van to tap, storage space, finances

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Are you wanting a van mounted setup, tank, pumps, controllers, reels etc or are you just wanting a large tank to fill your pack from so you aren't filling barrels all day?

 

[Scribbo]

The full van set up really , so I don't have to lug my barrels around anymore , but it would come down to cost

 

[Neil]

This is the thing I thought about when I started , shall I get a small van? Shall I use a trolley with barrels? In the end I went with a big van 500lt tank pumps controllers 2 di vessels in the van ro system on the van. I'm glad I did because work has picked up in the last 4 years and I would've only had to spend more doing it later on [emoji1303]

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[Tuffers]

Evening all , I have a dilemma that I'd like your thoughts on. I currently work with my gardiner backpack and pole , and fill up my 4x25 litre barrels and go off to work.It's getting a bit laborious doing this and I'm toying with the idea of putting a tank in the back of my van and making life easier , but I'm not sure if it'll be cost effective , in fact I dint even know what it would cost lol

Any thoughts ??

Are you doing a mix of trad and WFP as I see you're only using 100 litres a day.

 

[David K]

Actually im running a 350 liter van Mount , but Been considering getting a backpack as a backup , we all Got custys with difficult acces areas . As i Can calculate you Got bout 10 min . Effective run in most backpacks . Would definetly cover my odd jobs .

For full time work ! ? NO WAY !!!

 

[steve garwood]

No window cleaner ever regrets fitting a van mounted system. It makes life so much easier

 

[Dave B]

If you wanted you could fit a big tank with bilge pump

Put backpack on floor

Stick hose in it

Flick switch on

Backpack full in seconds

Depends if you want a full system or not

 

[simon]

i went from an estate car & backpack to a van with a 350 tank a 1" outlet which fills my backpack in 20 secs

did that for 3 years & last year fitted a reel & pump box

soo much easier & quicker

my lad uses the backpack all day no problem still but when we swap for a bit i'm amazed at how hard it is lol

 

[kahoona]

if your going to use the tank to replace your backpack, then you will need to factor in cost of reel and hose and pump, controller & battery. Say around £350 - £500.

If your going to use a tank to replace the 4 x 25 ltr barrels and just refill you back from the tank cost say £150 by the time you added bits & bobs like ratchet straps, plumbing bits (tank tap) etc.

Increase both the above by another £150 - £200 if you want to your tank in a cage, athough I think with a 100 - 200 ltr tank this might not be essintal.

Then in both cases you need to consider how you are going to fill the tank each night. Potentially another £50 - £70 for a submersible pump and hose.

Personally I see virtually no advantage in installing a tank just to fill your back pack from. You will however make significant time and effort savings if can move from backpack only to a tank based delivery system. It just requires most up front cost.

All the above assumes you are either producing your own pure water with a home based filter system or buying your pure water from an external source.

Hope that helps

 

[steve garwood]

if your going to use the tank to replace your backpack, then you will need to factor in cost of reel and hose and pump, controller & battery. Say around £350 - £500.
If your going to use a tank to replace the 4 x 25 ltr barrels and just refill you back from the tank cost say £150 by the time you added bits & bobs like ratchet straps, plumbing bits (tank tap) etc.

Increase both the above by another £150 - £200 if you want to your tank in a cage, athough I think with a 100 - 200 ltr tank this might not be essintal.

Then in both cases you need to consider how you are going to fill the tank each night. Potentially another £50 - £70 for a submersible pump and hose.

Personally I see virtually no advantage in installing a tank just to fill your back pack from. You will however make significant time and effort savings if can move from backpack only to a tank based delivery system. It just requires most up front cost.

All the above assumes you are either producing your own pure water with a home based filter system or buying your pure water from an external source.

Hope that helps

Very well put kahoona, agree with every word. The initial outlay for a van mounted system with reels, pumps etc is worth every penny I.m.o.

 

[Scribbo]

Holy cow , lots of info and words that mean nothing to me lol !!!

My plan is to have a tank in the van that will be used , not to fill my backpack up from.

I do all ups with the WFP and trad downstairs , I have about 250 houses and some commercial but looking to pick up another 50-100 houses over the coming months , so will be using more pure water.

With regards to the water I currently but from a friend but I'm aware I'll need my own set up ( just ordered a Ro-Man system but may need bigger if going to large tank ).

TBH it's all a bit of a minefield to me hence needing the advice , which is much appreciated fellas

 

[steve garwood]

Holy cow , lots of info and words that mean nothing to me lol !!!My plan is to have a tank in the van that will be used , not to fill my backpack up from.

I do all ups with the WFP and trad downstairs , I have about 250 houses and some commercial but looking to pick up another 50-100 houses over the coming months , so will be using more pure water.

With regards to the water I currently but from a friend but I'm aware I'll need my own set up ( just ordered a Ro-Man system but may need bigger if going to large tank ).

TBH it's all a bit of a minefield to me hence needing the advice , which is much appreciated fellas

If u get a van mounted set up, you wont need to trad downstairs windows, that's just time consuming

 

[Hunty]

I don't have RO in my van I buy my water and I think it's much easier, keeps initial costs down too /emoticons/wink.png

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[Kennygggkent]

I'm kinda in the same position Scribbo, I have room for 5 25 litre tubs in my van, I have a trolley but I leave it in the van and use the pump and controller off it and a reel of course. For me it comes down to weather I need any more water and the answer really is no, I earn as much I need off 5 barrels or less a day. For me I love me able to completely empty my van if I need to in 15 mins, maybe if I wanted to do some man and van work! also I think about the extra fuel costs of a bulky tank which if I didn't use all the water I would be lugging back to my gaff at night affecting fuel consumption. Sound a bit tight but I think about those little costs.

 

[steve garwood]

I don't have RO in my van I buy my water and I think it's much easier, keeps initial costs down too /emoticons/wink.png

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Initially yes, long run no

 

[Taxlossloz]

I'm kinda in the same position Scribbo, I have room for 5 25 litre tubs in my van, I have a trolley but I leave it in the van and use the pump and controller off it and a reel of course. For me it comes down to weather I need any more water and the answer really is no, I earn as much I need off 5 barrels or less a day. For me I love me able to completely empty my van if I need to in 15 mins, maybe if I wanted to do some man and van work! also I think about the extra fuel costs of a bulky tank which if I didn't use all the water I would be lugging back to my gaff at night affecting fuel consumption. Sound a bit tight but I think about those little costs.

I have a tank with pump and reel and can still empty van in 15 mins - tank is just held by ratchet straps and there's no water to lugg around as that has been used up on the day's work

I also have a pipe that can fill my back pack at side door as I love back pack for quick use

If you already own a van seems daft not having a tank in

 

[Kennygggkent]

I have a tank with pump and reel and can still empty van in 15 mins - tank is just held by ratchet straps and there's no water to lugg around as that has been used up on the day's workI also have a pipe that can fill my back pack at side door as I love back pack for quick use

If you already own a van seems daft not having a tank in

How big is your tank? My buddys 250l is a bit of a job to get out by yourself. Also if he's not using lots of water it seems daft to pay £100+ for a tank when ya can pick up some tubs for £10+. Seems to me that whole point of having a tank is to fill it up, but if ya dont use it all then there is excess weight to lugg around.

 

[paul1]

Tank all the way and ive done both, only use backpack now for awkward stuff and terraced etc

 

[Posh]

I just use 25 litre cans.

Bought a pump & battery.

Fitted hoses on & fittings. Put in a bucket & just drop the hose into the can & connect other hose to my 35m hose & walk round the house. All runs out of the van. Have backpack but rarely get it out.

Or myself & @daveyboy1 bought a pump & battery all in a nice box off eBay for £65. Works a treat.