Transporting a tank

NastyZ · 01/30/2014, 09:41 PM

Question for you guy could I move and empty tank on the stand in a truck my truck isn't wide enough to put them side by side and I'm also picking up some other stuff so I need the room my thinking is if the stand can carry a loaded tank it should be ok strapped down right? I might just have to rent a trailer what do you think

CRJ · 01/30/2014, 09:51 PM

uh, can it be done? sure! but i cant promise you the tank will arrive in one piece. could i manage it, probably, as i have a good supply of straps and know how to hold something down thats akward or tall. in your case you have to trust yourself to be sure it wont move at all. if its a $20 tank, sure. if its expensive, rent a trailer or make two trips. or rent a uhaul truck

NastyZ · 01/30/2014, 10:04 PM

Yea two trips isn't gonna happen driving 4hrs to pick up this tank and yes it's expensive I trust myself to be able to strap it down but I think I might rent a trailer for peace of mind

apexkeeper · 01/30/2014, 10:33 PM

Personally, it wouldn't bother me one bit to move a tank on the stand. But I move heavy awkward machinery all the time so I have the proper straps, gear, and experience to be confident in doing something like that. If you question yourself for a second, go with the trailer. You can rent a 5x8 trailer for a day for less than 100 bucks, sometimes alot less. That's chump change compared to a broken tank and a lawsuit for an aquarium causing a 10 car pileup on the highway...

NastyZ · 01/30/2014, 10:41 PM

Yea I have confidence in being able to strap down a tank I strap down my motor cross bike all the time can't be too hard I have a ton of straps i have a week and a half to decide but I might go with a uhaul since I'm going to be picking up live rock as well

apexkeeper · 01/30/2014, 10:45 PM

Out of curiosity how big is the tank?

NastyZ · 01/30/2014, 10:57 PM

It's a 90 tank is 48Lx24Wx20H stand is 50Lx26Wx30H

Silvergryphon · 01/31/2014, 06:25 AM

Yes I would think it can be done. Bring an old blanket to help pad the tank from the straps. I would strap the tank to the stand, the stand to the truck, then toss a few more straps over the tank, and around the side of the tank and stand. Strap everything carefully, make sure everything is tight, wiggle it by hand, if it can shift tighten it a bit more. Be careful while driving, avoid potholes, take turns slower than normal, and avoid hard braking/accelerating.

Personally I'd rent/borrow a trailer for it. The tank will have a high center of gravity.

Silvergryphon · 01/31/2014, 06:29 AM

If anything scrap the stand and build a new one.

BigCountry74 · 01/31/2014, 12:27 PM

I was able to fit a 55g + stand and 2 buckets of rock in the back of a jeep cherokee. If that helps. You can easily get a 4f tank in a suv. Do you have access to one of these - http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Hit...rack_small.jpg ?

You could put the stand on that and tie it down.

Redman88 · 01/31/2014, 12:59 PM

i fit a 125 tank and stand in my wife mini van

and have several times put a 55g in my honda fit

NastyZ · 01/31/2014, 01:07 PM

I'm going to have to measure out my Cherokee and my trooper see if I can make it work

Redman88 · 01/31/2014, 01:10 PM

best bet would be to rent a trailer or uhal type moving tuck

MondoBongo · 01/31/2014, 02:02 PM

what if you put the tank on the bottom and the stand on top?

that way the center of gravity would be much lower, and it would make it easier to secure.

renting a trailer or van large enough to fit both is probably the best plan, but inverting them could be an option.

BigCountry74 · 01/31/2014, 02:05 PM

MAN UP!!!

AndysReef · 01/31/2014, 05:01 PM

Oh my

syrinx · 01/31/2014, 10:03 PM

I had the best car for carrying tanks- believe it or not a late 80s subaru 4 door sedan- I could put a 90 in the back seat! But back to the original post. I think you could do it stacked if your technique is good, but a truck would be better. Trailers are a mixed bag- some of them have little to no suspension travel and can bang around pretty good depending on the roads. If you use one, pad the tank well. Also remember that cold weather can make straps tighten and loosen. Strap tank right before leaving- and unstrap immediately when you arrive.

01/30/2014, 09:41 PM	#1
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Transporting a tank Question for you guy could I move and empty tank on the stand in a truck my truck isn't wide enough to put them side by side and I'm also picking up some other stuff so I need the room my thinking is if the stand can carry a loaded tank it should be ok strapped down right? I might just have to rent a trailer what do you think Last edited by NastyZ; 01/30/2014 at 09:49 PM.

01/31/2014, 12:59 PM	#11
Redman88 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Artesia, NM Posts: 649	i fit a 125 tank and stand in my wife mini van and have several times put a 55g in my honda fit __________________ -Robert- 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100

01/31/2014, 01:10 PM	#13
Redman88 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Artesia, NM Posts: 649	best bet would be to rent a trailer or uhal type moving tuck __________________ -Robert- 01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100

01/31/2014, 02:02 PM	#14
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	what if you put the tank on the bottom and the stand on top? that way the center of gravity would be much lower, and it would make it easier to secure. renting a trailer or van large enough to fit both is probably the best plan, but inverting them could be an option. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

01/31/2014, 02:05 PM	#15
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	MAN UP!!! __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

01/30/2014, 09:51 PM	#2
CRJ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 304	uh, can it be done? sure! but i cant promise you the tank will arrive in one piece. could i manage it, probably, as i have a good supply of straps and know how to hold something down thats akward or tall. in your case you have to trust yourself to be sure it wont move at all. if its a $20 tank, sure. if its expensive, rent a trailer or make two trips. or rent a uhaul truck

01/30/2014, 10:04 PM	#3
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Yea two trips isn't gonna happen driving 4hrs to pick up this tank and yes it's expensive I trust myself to be able to strap it down but I think I might rent a trailer for peace of mind

01/30/2014, 10:33 PM	#4
apexkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central, NJ Posts: 297	Personally, it wouldn't bother me one bit to move a tank on the stand. But I move heavy awkward machinery all the time so I have the proper straps, gear, and experience to be confident in doing something like that. If you question yourself for a second, go with the trailer. You can rent a 5x8 trailer for a day for less than 100 bucks, sometimes alot less. That's chump change compared to a broken tank and a lawsuit for an aquarium causing a 10 car pileup on the highway...

01/30/2014, 10:41 PM	#5
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Yea I have confidence in being able to strap down a tank I strap down my motor cross bike all the time can't be too hard I have a ton of straps i have a week and a half to decide but I might go with a uhaul since I'm going to be picking up live rock as well

01/30/2014, 10:45 PM	#6
apexkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central, NJ Posts: 297	Out of curiosity how big is the tank?

01/30/2014, 10:57 PM	#7
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	It's a 90 tank is 48Lx24Wx20H stand is 50Lx26Wx30H

01/31/2014, 06:25 AM	#8
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Yes I would think it can be done. Bring an old blanket to help pad the tank from the straps. I would strap the tank to the stand, the stand to the truck, then toss a few more straps over the tank, and around the side of the tank and stand. Strap everything carefully, make sure everything is tight, wiggle it by hand, if it can shift tighten it a bit more. Be careful while driving, avoid potholes, take turns slower than normal, and avoid hard braking/accelerating. Personally I'd rent/borrow a trailer for it. The tank will have a high center of gravity.

01/31/2014, 06:29 AM	#9
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	If anything scrap the stand and build a new one.

01/31/2014, 01:07 PM	#12
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	I'm going to have to measure out my Cherokee and my trooper see if I can make it work

01/31/2014, 05:01 PM	#16
AndysReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Sylvan Lake, MI Posts: 260	Oh my __________________ Reefing... Current Tank Info: 55g reef with 30g sump and refugium.

01/31/2014, 10:03 PM	#17
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I had the best car for carrying tanks- believe it or not a late 80s subaru 4 door sedan- I could put a 90 in the back seat! But back to the original post. I think you could do it stacked if your technique is good, but a truck would be better. Trailers are a mixed bag- some of them have little to no suspension travel and can bang around pretty good depending on the roads. If you use one, pad the tank well. Also remember that cold weather can make straps tighten and loosen. Strap tank right before leaving- and unstrap immediately when you arrive. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.