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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 4, 2018 19:21:37 GMT -5
Hi all- not sure if this is the exact right place for this, but since it involves a homelite I thought it would be best here! When I bought my XL1-1/2 pump I intended to rig up an emergency fire outfit for fire season or just generally as I live 10+ miles from the closest fire department. Last year I bought a used IBC tote and tied it to my flatbed for that same purpose. It worked but had issues. The biggest issue was the size of the tank, it held a lot of water but couldn't really do much else with the truck with it on there. So at the end of last season I decided I would build a tank in the neighborhood of 50 gallons to sit on the truck that would be much easier to work with. I got a start on the project this week. I had several boards left over from a fencing project which made the tank. I unfortunately did not get any photos of the construction of the tank but it was fairly straightforward. Once assembled I lined with a 10 mil liner. Here is the photo from the test fill: And here is a mock up on what I am planning on doing next, obviously the glue was still setting, but I am planning on sealing the lid on. I also am going to plumb the unit, my plan is to mount the tank as pictured and on the opposite side have a hose reel. More to come
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Post by sweepleader on Mar 4, 2018 19:29:09 GMT -5
Looks like a plan to me. You might include a pressurized water fire extinguisher too. To be used for small problems or when you flood the Homelite in the excitement of the moment. Make sure you practice starting up your apparatus cold and under stress.
You might be amazed at the amount of fire you will be able to handle, maybe you know already. 50 gallons is a lot if you get it on the fire early.
A stack of 6 or 7 pallets will make a convincing practice fire. Get a fog nozzle, much better use of water than a straight stream. I once put out a serious car fire with 2 1/2 gallons from an extinguisher with my thumb over the nozzle to make a spray instead of a stream.
Keep us informed. :{)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 20:00:40 GMT -5
Looks like you're in the fire dept.business.Maybe you'd be better off buying an old pumper/tanker?
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 4, 2018 20:06:51 GMT -5
Looks like a plan to me. You might include a pressurized water fire extinguisher too. To be used for small problems or when you flood the Homelite in the excitement of the moment. Make sure you practice starting up your apparatus cold and under stress. You might be amazed at the amount of fire you will be able to handle, maybe you know already. 50 gallons is a lot if you get it on the fire early. A stack of 6 or 7 pallets will make a convincing practice fire. Get a fog nozzle, much better use of water than a straight stream. I once put out a serious car fire with 2 1/2 gallons from an extinguisher with my thumb over the nozzle to make a spray instead of a stream. Keep us informed. :{) Thanks sweepleader, I am planning to get a lot of practice in once I have everything assembled. I will keep my eye out for a water extinguisher to carry alongside the pump as well. I always have an ABC dry chemical extinguisher in the truck. I also already have a fog nozzle and a full 3/4" hose which should do the job. I am sure 50 gal will be enough for my purposes, and I figure this will make the best use of everything as I can have it on the truck and still use the truck for camping, hauling 4 wheeelers, etc.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 4, 2018 20:09:48 GMT -5
Looks like you're in the fire dept.business.Maybe you'd be better off buying an old pumper/tanker? Nope, just a former Wildland fire fighter who likes to be prepared Can't justify the cost of buying and maintaining a rig for what I need it for, plus I don't think I could find one with a homelite pump
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 20:27:57 GMT -5
Looks like you're in the fire dept.business.Maybe you'd be better off buying an old pumper/tanker? Nope, just a former Wildland fire fighter who likes to be prepared Can't justify the cost of buying and maintaining a rig for what I need it for, plus I don't think I could find one with a homelite pump Yeah,they didn't use Homelite pumps on firetrucks,they needed something that would pump 1000 gal./min.Lol They needed pumps like Hale,Waterous,Seagraves,etc.
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Post by sweepleader on Mar 4, 2018 21:03:24 GMT -5
Be sure to have a quart or two handy to prime, just in case...
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Post by jerseyhighlander on Mar 4, 2018 23:55:34 GMT -5
That's a very cool pump. Interesting application.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 10, 2018 19:24:18 GMT -5
Well put the finishing touches on the tank this today Got the plastic glued to the bottom of the top of the tank: Did all the plumbing for the pump (photo sans the inlet connector): And finally attached the top to the tank. Here's a photo of the whole unit installed. Straps are temporary until I figure out something better, but they work great for now. I only ran into two issues. One was the inlet tube extended over the front of the tank, so I had to space back from the cab with a 2x4 to avoid the pipe hitting the cab of the truck. The other was I accidentially mounted the fill cap too close to the side, so it hit the side of the tank. By the time I realized it I had the lid on with sealant setting, so for now the top is about 3/8" off on one end. Not a big deal IMO but if I need to take apart I will probably cut the fitting off flush with the board so it can sit down on the top of the tank properly. However, when I tried to get the pump to fire up to test, I was unable to get it running. I'm going to make a post over in the help center regarding that. Once I get the pump figured out, I'll report back how it works!
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Post by sweepleader on Mar 10, 2018 19:47:38 GMT -5
Looks pretty good. When you decide you need to rebuild in a couple of years, I am guessing you will want to put the hose up on top of the tank and the pump on the driver's side. I can see myself digging the hose holder into my left arm every time I got out of the cab.
I am jealous of the pump and the truck so I am a little cranky. I doubt I would have though to build a wooden tank, that is a bit of alright.
Was that a camper truck? (duals and a "sunroof")
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 10, 2018 20:10:01 GMT -5
Thanks sweepleader. Yes, I may figure something else out for the hose holder. Although, the photo is a little misleading, there is probably 8-12" between the hose holder and the door. The reason I put the pump on the passenger side was the exhaust/intake are on one side and the outlets are on the other. If I put the pump on the driver side the outlets would be pointing into the back of the cab. I may switch the outlet arrangement at some point though.
Believe me, I searched long and hard to find a tank that would have worked before giving in and building a tank. Stock tanks, in-bed fuel tanks, etc. I couldn't locate anything that fit the bill that was also reasonably priced. In case anybody's curious this entire project cost around $130 (sans pump). If you take out all the plubming pieces (which I would have had to buy regardless of the tank) its more like $50-60.
Also, good eye! Yes, truck was originally a Mirage motorhome, built on a 1978 toyota chassis. Only 75k original miles.
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Post by sweepleader on Mar 10, 2018 22:08:55 GMT -5
Dang, now I am really jealous. I had two Toyota's, an 81 and an 86. Liked them both and have been looking but there is nothing in Minnesota that old, rust.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 10, 2018 22:47:42 GMT -5
Dang, now I am really jealous. I had two Toyota's, an 81 and an 86. Liked them both and have been looking but there is nothing in Minnesota that old, rust. Yeah we're fortunate here in the pnw to not have the rust issues. This is my 4th toyota, good rigs, tough as nails and easy to work on
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Post by jerseyhighlander on Mar 10, 2018 23:49:08 GMT -5
Very nice setup, well done.
One suggestion. Maybe it's there and I can't see it, maybe you don't need it given the shape of the piping but I'm thinking some form of flexible coupler, a rubber Fernco fitting or any rubber hose to separate the rigid pvc joints from the vibration of the pump.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 10, 2018 23:55:20 GMT -5
Very nice setup, well done. One suggestion. Maybe it's there and I can't see it, maybe you don't need it given the shape of the piping but I'm thinking some form of flexible coupler, a rubber Fernco fitting or any rubber hose to separate the rigid pvc joints from the vibration of the pump. Thanks! I probably should have put a flexible coupling in I realized after I had everything together. All the places the pipe goes into the tank is oversized by 1/4 and filled with flexible sealant, so that should allow some movement. If it creates an issue, I guess I will have to look at some modifications
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Post by onlyhomelites on Mar 11, 2018 8:21:23 GMT -5
I think the entire idea is pretty damned clever myself! Now I know there's one less guy in the PNW that's gonna start a forest fire...where are you located? We've actually been lucky to not have even worse fires than we've had the past few years.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 11, 2018 11:55:09 GMT -5
I think the entire idea is pretty damned clever myself! Now I know there's one less guy in the PNW that's gonna start a forest fire...where are you located? We've actually been lucky to not have even worse fires than we've had the past few years. Thanks I live in Salem but spend my weekends/store my saws/etc. in Sweet Home which is about 50 miles southeast of Salem. I agree on the fires, but it seems like its more of an "if not when" scenario these days.
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Post by rowdy235 on Mar 11, 2018 14:36:23 GMT -5
Alright guys as promised here is a video of the unit in action. This is just to show the functionality, it really does not do it justice. I didn't want to uncoil the hose so there are a couple kinked areas, and the pump is only about 1/2 throttle, and the pump is still pretty cold. I was shooting water 50-60' when testing earlier. youtu.be/CdEBhdZsgww
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Post by sweepleader on Mar 11, 2018 15:48:01 GMT -5
Works great!
I am still jealous.
Looked like the bypass valve near the hose might have been open, reducing your pressure.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2018 15:52:07 GMT -5
And the Rowdy Fire Dept.has begun!
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