rynophiliac
Member
Does anyone else have to haul water? I'm looking for a good cost effective solution like a tank on my flatbed or something. What have you guys tried?
Hauling Water!
- Thread starter rynophiliac
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Mike
Well-known member
We use the 500 gallon "Tote Tanks" that paint or other liquids come in. Get 'em used for $25 bucks each and 4 will fit on a flatbed or trailer. Or move them with tractor/loader forks
They have a 2" outlet valve and a large filling inlet on top.
They have a 2" outlet valve and a large filling inlet on top.
rynophiliac
Member
Mike said:
We were thinking the exact same thing. I have found tote tanks in my area but they are only 330 gallons each and the cheapest I can find them for is $125 used! We were planning on putting two of them on our 1990 cummins 4x4 with a flatbed but wasn't sure how much weight the truck could handle because we have some hills to go up and are place is pretty rocky and bumpy!
How much consideration of your time costs is needed to decide if it is even feasible to haul water for cows?
I've seen numbers of 40 to 50 gallons per day per cow in our climate of western SD. It seems like the hotter and drier the area, the more they will need. Distance of haul, quality and cost of water, amount of time it will be needed. Unless it is for just a few very special cattle, it seems awfully costly in both time and money, but I know a lot of people do it even for some pretty big herds and they must feel it either worth it, or unavoidable.
mrj
I've seen numbers of 40 to 50 gallons per day per cow in our climate of western SD. It seems like the hotter and drier the area, the more they will need. Distance of haul, quality and cost of water, amount of time it will be needed. Unless it is for just a few very special cattle, it seems awfully costly in both time and money, but I know a lot of people do it even for some pretty big herds and they must feel it either worth it, or unavoidable.
mrj
Mike
Well-known member
Edit: These are only 400 gallon tanks we have.
rynophiliac
Member
We have a full time ranch hand that is going to be doing the hauling of the water, so they are getting paid whether they are hauling water or just looking around for something productive to do 
And the distance is not far. Just up to the higher elevation parts of our ranch (about 6 miles).
If we had a low desert ranch and had to haul water across long distances and didn't have a ranch hand on site then it would probably not be worth it at all, unless it was for just a brief period of time like in the spring months only waiting for the monsoon rains.
And the distance is not far. Just up to the higher elevation parts of our ranch (about 6 miles). If we had a low desert ranch and had to haul water across long distances and didn't have a ranch hand on site then it would probably not be worth it at all, unless it was for just a brief period of time like in the spring months only waiting for the monsoon rains.
leanin' H
Well-known member
Wish we were closer. I have several and would be willing to part with a couple.
Hayguy
Well-known member
Mike said:We use the 500 gallon "Tote Tanks" that paint or other liquids come in. Get 'em used for $25 bucks each and 4 will fit on a flatbed or trailer. Or move them with tractor/loader forks
They have a 2" outlet valve and a large filling inlet on top.
just a note, the "cage" around the tank makes excellent square bale sheep feeders, am able to put 8 or so bales in each one, curbs the waste asmuch as possible with sheep. :wink: :lol: sorry to take it off topic . as you were
Aaron
Well-known member
Old 250 gallon and 500 gallon fuel tanks chained to a big wagon and hauled with the tractor. I had 750 gallons capacity with the ability to add two more tanks for a total of 1250. At least then your making good use of your travel time.
bverellen
Well-known member
Those totes will become brittle and crack if left out in the sun, should cover them up with a UV resistant tarp or put inside when not in use.
kbaum
Member
I picked a few of those mini-tots free from the local ferilizer dealer. I'm using them as rain barrels. Power washer with detergent and they are good. Just talk to the ferilizer reps and they might give them to you. I was told that they couldn't return them.
BRG
Well-known member
How many cows will you be watering this way?
loomixguy
Well-known member
LazyWP said:
Doubtful that anybody here has bought more tanks than I have. My rule of thumb is a blem tank, in the smaller sizes, is gonna run about a buck a gallon to buy. The 2500-3000 gallon tanks aren't that way, but the 200-500 gallon sizes usually do. I buy all my tanks as blems from Snyder Industries in Lincoln. Blems carry the same guarantee as firsts but don't cost near as much.
The trailer thing is fine, but it can and will get you in trouble in rough or hilly country. That's why I use a 550 Ford with 1-300 gallon tank and 2-200 gallon tanks mounted on skids on the flatbed of the 550.
Cowpuncher
Well-known member
We bought a used 1000 gallon anhydrous ammonia trailer. Pull it with a tractor since they have no brakes. Were going to use for fire-fighting, but then found a used fire truck for not much more.
Guess that anhydrous trailer is still sitting there unused.
CP
Guess that anhydrous trailer is still sitting there unused.
CP
loomixguy
Well-known member
LazyWP said:
Don't know about the firsts, but you can sure buy the blems direct. Snyder Factory Outlet. They used to be out on west O, but several years they moved east. Exit 80 on 56th & head south...can't remember the name of the street, but it's north of Superior and back east 5 or 6 blocks. You want to talk to Stan.
strawking
Well-known member
I had to haul water to cows on stalks this winter so I rigged of what we call the Blue Buffalo. It's a 56 international truck that I pulled out of a tree row and mounted a 3200 gallon tank. At first I thought hauling water was no big deal, but when your hauling water for 400 head it becomes a full time job. We soon found ways to get water to most of the fields.