M49a2c into a water truck

[2deuce]

Hi guys, I bought this truck as a fire fighting tanker. I love the M35 deuce so I've been looking for a M49. This one was used by a rural fire dept as a tender so it has had a lot of water through it already. It should have the stainless tank, but I'm not in possession of it yet to confirm that. What I'd like to know is if anyone has cleaned theirs to hold potable water and how they did it? Not sure if that is possible and if anyone has tried. I'll post pictures when I go to get it next weekend.

Thanks

 

[2deuce]

I have read a little about the M49a2c and it seems it has manholes in each 600 gal tank. I bought this truck online so I rolled the dice in that I have not inspected it. I do have a water buffalo trailer that I was able to get inside and clean out and it is only 400 gal., so I should be able to get in there. I haven't found too much info online about these trucks so I'm hoping there are some guys here that use theirs for water and can tell me how they set them up. (plumbing and pumps)

Thanks

 

[cattlerepairman]

Experts will chime in but I remember reading that the M50 water tanker was stainless steel whereas the M49 fuel tanker was stainless or mild steel.

 

[snowtrac nome]

for potable water it will have to meet food safety standards. your fuel tanker wont because all plumbing also has to meet standard's for food service, so plan on replacing the internal valves with something different, all hoses reels and pumps with new ss hardware, and lastly if you have ever put a non potable product in it I don't think you can recertify it as a potable tank again. also I think all potable tanks have to be smooth bore and the fuel tanks are baffled. I do work in the tank truck industry I'm more familiar with the 406 tanks for haz mat but have had some experience with potable water delivery systems.

 

[2deuce]

I will have to see about the baffles. If they are in there then it would never get clean. I only intended to use the tank for my own use and that was to prevent fire, buy to make it clean enough to drink(if possible) would be nice.

 

[2deuce]

I intended to get these pictures posted much earlier. The truck had to stay on the trailer awhile because it would again be moved to it's new home after an oil change, compensator bypass and fuel pump fix. It starts easy now and is moved up on the forest property to continue it's job as a water tanker. It needs a pump on the back to pump the water. If anyone has a M49a2c they are using for fire suppression, I'd like to see what you used for a good pump. I need to get a picture of the back to show how my truck is plumbed and the back extended for a platform to mount a pump. All that work was done by the previous fire dept. when they used it to haul water.

Thanks

 

[cattlerepairman]

I intended to get these pictures posted much earlier. The truck had to stay on the trailer awhile because it would again be moved to it's new home after an oil change, compensator bypass and fuel pump fix. It starts easy now and is moved up on the forest property to continue it's job as a water tanker. It needs a pump on the back to pump the water. If anyone has a M49a2c they are using for fire suppression, I'd like to see what you used for a good pump. I need to get a picture of the back to show how my truck is plumbed and the back extended for a platform to mount a pump. All that work was done by the previous fire dept. when they used it to haul water.

Thanks

This looks like a well kept unit. Bumper not mangled, LED lights added, not looking like it was beat up. It will be happy with a new life!


Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

 

[snowtrac nome]

You will need a centrifagual high pressure water pump.

 

[2deuce]

I want to protect my home and surroundings. Where I will be is off grid and about 8 miles from the local FD. The land has been logged for the most part and I have a few piles to burn. The rest will rot in. I'm wondering how much pressure will I need? I know that the pumps the FD uses are crazy expensive. I have a military centrifugal fuel pump with the yanmar pull start diesel. It is built into an enclosure and portable with handles on the corners. I thought it was too small but maybe I should figure out what it will do. I have never used it, but the hose is 1.5".

It was kept in the fire station the last 8 years so it's in good shape. The in tank fuel pump rattled but didn't pump, making it harder to start. Couple of things that don't show in the pictures are seats (kenworth, not military) and air assist power steering.

 

[cattlerepairman]

I want to protect my home and surroundings. Where I will be is off grid and about 8 miles from the local FD. The land has been logged for the most part and I have a few piles to burn. The rest will rot in. I'm wondering how much pressure will I need? I know that the pumps the FD uses are crazy expensive. I have a military centrifugal fuel pump with the yanmar pull start diesel. It is built into an enclosure and portable with handles on the corners. I thought it was too small but maybe I should figure out what it will do. I have never used it, but the hose is 1.5".

It was kept in the fire station the last 8 years so it's in good shape. The in tank fuel pump rattled but didn't pump, making it harder to start. Couple of things that don't show in the pictures are seats (kenworth, not military) and air assist power steering.

You want to strike the best balance between pump output and the water that you have. The pump you describe sounds perfectly adequate. Get a hosereel with 1 inch hose or 1 1/2 inch regular firefighting hose folded beside the tank, aim at 100ft or so. If the pump can give you 100psi at max load, you are golden. That means you can flow approx. 100 gallons per minute....you have what, 1200 Gallons? 12 minutes at full uninterrupted flow. Longer, if you can reduce water flow.

That should tell you that you need a good fill site close by with a suction pipe and pump, gasoline or electric hardwired, where you can pull up and refill your tank in a reasonable time.

Get one nozzle that allows you to change the pattern...If you can get it, also one where you can reduce water flow at the nozzle. Why? Methinks you want to be set up for a one man show if needed. Like this : https://www.akronbrass.com/1-1-2-turbojetr-nozzle#product_tabs_specifications

Get a second nozzle that is a simple full bore nozzle for a round, straight stream. This is in case you need to drive the water deep into the ground or into wood piles.

1200 gallons will put out any developing fire. It may not be enough to put out a blaze but can buy you time in the early stages.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk ***edited to reflect 1200 Gallons tank size****

 

[2deuce]

I've got to investigate how it's plumbed and how fast it takes to get the other tank online. Also if I could link the tanks so I can fill them together. From what I have read the 2 600 gal tanks are separate. It would be good and easy if the truck were home to figure all this out.

 

[av8or]

Mine has 3 tanks 200, 400, & 600 gallons. It is steel with a coating factory installed. I use the 3 factory lines to the manifold in the back to unload and top load city water for drinking ( personal use only ). Cleaned it with multiple washings with bleach and soap, driving and soaking. This was satisfactory for my purposes.

 

[2deuce]

I thought mine had is 1200 gal split into 2 tanks. Since it has baffles, I can't get to most of it for washing. Mine is also coated with something. It is a tan color, going from memory. It is a steel tank, possibly stainless. Did the stainless tanks get coated? I have a water buffalo that is stainless that is not coated, but it was meant for water where the M49 was for fuel.

 

[av8or]

I thought mine had is 1200 gal split into 2 tanks. Since it has baffles, I can't get to most of it for washing. Mine is also coated with something. It is a tan color, going from memory. It is a steel tank, possibly stainless. Did the stainless tanks get coated? I have a water buffalo that is stainless that is not coated, but it was meant for water where the M49 was for fuel.

My tank has 3 hatches, 1 for each compartment making each tank accessible however the 600 gal tank does have a baffled area that I can't get to. Bleach and soap that is allowed to slosh around for a short trip should take care of it. Can not confirm that your is stainless but mine is NOT stainless. Have a 2nd tank and it is also steel not stainless.

 

[snowtrac nome]

An mc406 multi compartment tank will have a space between each head, the easy way to plumb it will be a common 3 inch pipe hooked to both internal valves feeding your pump, being as it is water and there is no need to maintain your 406 specs you could also use rigid wall rubber hose instead of steel pipe.

 

[2deuce]

I don't know how to tell if the tank is stainless steel. I guess I could look for a scratch and see if there is rust. That coating is keeping the shine from showing on the inside. I had read that the C in M49a2C meant stainless but how accurate that is I don't know.

 

[snowtrac nome]

The c means clean air kit you have a turbo, if the tank has been hauling water its going to be rusted bad on the inside, if its ss you will have no rust or pitting also take a grinder to it ss wont spark steel will.

 

[CHIEFSONN]

use a magnet,magnets do not attach them self's to stainless steel

 

[gimpyrobb]

use a magnet,magnets do not attach them self's to stainless steel

Certain stainless, not all.

301,304,310,316, etc

 

[2deuce]

My stainless steel water buffalo tank is magnetic so I would expect the M49a2c tank to be magnetic, stainless or not.