part time fire truck

[Celticlady]

Good morning from the Ozarks.

I have a 1999 M1078 with a dump conversion for working my ranch were everything is 4WD. I would like to put a tank and pump on a pallet that could be dropped on to the bed for a fire.

I already have a very portable gas "firepump" on a big hand dolly. It has 300 ft of 1 1/2 in hose. The idea is to drop the pallet from a stand on the bed. Strap the " firepump" to brackets installed on the pallet. Head to the creek fill the tank and head out.

I have several 1500 gal tanks that catch gutter rain water off the house. I have modified the pump suction side hose with camlock fittings for quick change from the pump suction hose strainer to direct take from the bottom of the tanks. That's great for any fires around the house. I was thinking do the same for the tank on the pallet.

I see several nice LMTV firetruck conversions pictures but I don't see any pictures of the tank/ plumbing set up.

If you all think I’m nuts, I’m not easily offended. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel or do something inadvertently dangerous or dumb.

Suggestions?

 

[simp5782]

In a fire time is everything. So if you didn't have the unit in the truck you would have to get the tractor/forklift then load it then fill with water. If you have a wrecker or forklift that could lift that much weight when the tank was full of water that is one thing but most people don't

would be better to Set something up on a offroad/ground clearance trailer that way you can hook and go. The M1082 trailers are cheap enough And match well with the LMTV. They Have the same carry capacity of your 1078 and has ground clearance. Trailer can fit anywhere a truck can really. Pallet unit could be swapped to the truck if need be.

Most water trucks simply use 2, 3 of 4 in trash pumps to supply water to the hoses. Simple enough to use and maintain.

You could add a gravity feed sprayer bar to the back of the trailer on a splitter valve for driving over places you need to get damp before the fire gets to it.

 

[Celticlady]

In a fire time is everything. So if you didn't have the unit in the truck you would have to get the tractor/forklift then load it then fill with water. If you have a wrecker or forklift that could lift that much weight when the tank was full of water that is one thing but most people don't

would be better to Set something up on a offroad/ground clearance trailer that way you can hook and go. The M1082 trailers are cheap enough And match well with the LMTV. They Have the same carry capacity of your 1078 and has ground clearance. Trailer can fit anywhere a truck can really.

Most water trucks simply use 2, 3 of 4 in trash pumps to supply water to the hoses. Simple enough to use and maintain.

You could add a gravity feed sprayer bar to the back of the trailer on a splitter valve for driving over places you need to get damp before the fire gets to it.

All good points.

The terrain is very wooded and sometimes vertical. I got the LMTV for the mobility in tight spaces vs a FMTV or a Deuce. So not sure trailer is the answer. I do like the idea. Yes I have looked at them for just the utility of them. They are pretty cheap. The spray bar would be great in either set up.

As to time, most fires around here are not the wild out of hell fires of out west. There was a fire my neighbor started burning trash several years ago. I had plenty of time to go see what was going on. Then pitch in. My biggest concern now are "the firebugs" and all the other craziness going on. I just retired from the Tulsa OK area, moved here full time. Last year the news there stopped posting fire ban warnings as all that did was get all the firebugs excited. 99% of all grass fires around Tulsa are arson. The rest are planned burns.

Most times I would need the LMTV I can plan it. A plastic 500 gal lofting tank empty is not that heavy for a wooden frame to hold it. The pump fits real nice in my loader. I have used it several times around the place for other things besides fire fighting. So my thoughts would be set the LMTV up loaded beginning of the dry season. Its about 3 months. Then late sept it has to be unloaded due to cold weather. Any time it would be needed for a fire I can set the tank from the frame and fill from the creek or the rain water tanks.

500 gal is load limit for the LMTV I believe (5000lbs/8.5 =58 I would probably have to refill several times. By that time the other help should be there. I am involved with the local VFD.

Anyway those are my thoughts. I appreciate any suggestions as I am not a trained "fire fighter" I have some fire training from my aircraft overhaul career, but that is not the same.

 

[simp5782]

The m1082 trailer is decent on trails and can go anywhere the truck can go. This has been shown at several of the military rally events on trail rides.

The truck and trailer are rated for 2.5 tons offroad each. So by its rating you can only have a 550 gallon tanker and you are exceeding the trucks capacity per unit when you factor in the tank and the pumps/etc.

Since 550 gal isn't much water. You could also look at a m989a1 as a staging tanker since they can handle alot more weight. Can handle a 2500 gal tank easily. The LMTV won't really like dragging it but it will. They are cheap as well from auction. The m989a1 is low to the ground and has air ride so it will keep the center of gravity low to the ground

I have pulled 36,000lbs almost 300 miles with a 1078a0. It Was slow on anything taller than a grassy knoll but it handled it

 

[snowtrac nome]

i would go with a lower trailer like a generator trailer or the 989 trailer . As im a tanker truck cdl holder i have to ask your tank is baffled, if you are running off road with a liquid load and a nonbaffled ASME tank, the slosh will likely flip your load over, this would be even worse in an lmtv or on a fmtv trailer. you have a good idea look for a dot spec tank and a lower trailer to move it you will be much safer that way

 

[Celticlady]

i would go with a lower trailer like a generator trailer or the 989 trailer . As im a tanker truck cdl holder i have to ask your tank is baffled, if you are running off road with a liquid load and a nonbaffled ASME tank, the slosh will likely flip your load over, this would be even worse in an lmtv or on a fmtv trailer. you have a good idea look for a dot spec tank and a lower trailer to move it you will be much safer that way

This is what I was thinking of using. Low profile baffled 500 gal transport tank

https://www.plasticwatertanks.com/tech_drawings/norwesco_43843_500_loaf_tank.pdf

 

[Celticlady]

This is what I was thinking of using. Low profile baffled 500 gal transport tank

https://www.plasticwatertanks.com/tech_drawings/norwesco_43843_500_loaf_tank.pdf

OK a correction. The tank is not baffled. I put "baffle Balls" in the tank. I would like to know what tank the VFD are using with their LMTVs

 

[snowtrac nome]

i dont know what baffle balls are but i would imagine they will take up a lot of space dropping your quantity quite a bit. I would go with a couple 600 gallon fuel podds they are baffled and having multiple compartments will let you keep one podd full until the other one is empty limiting the slosh factor. It may cost a little bit of money but i believe your safety is worth it especially if you are working off road in rough terrain .

 

[Celticlady]

i dont know what baffle balls are but i would imagine they will take up a lot of space dropping your quantity quite a bit. I would go with a couple 600 gallon fuel podds they are baffled and having multiple compartments will let you keep one podd full until the other one is empty limiting the slosh factor. It may cost a little bit of money but i believe your safety is worth it especially if you are working off road in rough terrain .

Baffle balls see link: https://www.plasticwatertanks.com/c/qh67n/baffle-balls-surgebusters Think of a wiffle ball but 14 " in Dia.

I am load maxed with 500 gallon tank on the LMTV 500 g water x 8.3 = 4150 lbs plus the weight of the tank (189lbs empty) pump, hose and plumbing in a max load weight of 5000 for this truck. A "loaf" tank is low profile 29"Tx48x92. Comes with one 2in fitting. The baffle balls do take some volume. So will baffling. The formula says I need 50, 14" @ $12 ea. That is a little over doubling the cost of the tank. I like a plastic tank. They are light and don't rust. There are baffled plastic tanks in the UK but the biggest is 313 gal plus shipping.

I maybe using it for other water needs.. So a used fuel pod creates issues.

Don't stop making suggestion please.

I am considering all options. There is no hurry to build this now.

 

[snowtrac nome]

the fuel pods are baffled and aluminum dot mc- 406 spec tanks one of those on the truck and one on a trailer should work fine for you but you aren't going to be responding very fast you are right that 5 to 600 gallons will be a heavy load for an lmtv and even one fuel pod in the back may cause off road stability issues. as said though the truck will be much more stable with full tanks rather than half full tanks which makes multiple compartments or tanks a good idea.

 

[Celticlady]

the fuel pods are baffled and aluminum dot mc- 406 spec tanks one of those on the truck and one on a trailer should work fine for you but you aren't going to be responding very fast you are right that 5 to 600 gallons will be a heavy load for an lmtv and even one fuel pod in the back may cause off road stability issues. as said though the truck will be much more stable with full tanks rather than half full tanks which makes multiple compartments or tanks a good idea.

I have tried to google fuel pods and get a million hits of everything but what I want. Can you give me a spec or part number so I can narrow the result?

 

[Celticlady]

I have tried to google fuel pods and get a million hits of everything but what I want. Can you give me a spec or part number so I can narrow the result?

OK changed the wording and found them. They are too tall. I need a low profile tank.

 

[tot74]

Our trucks use custom made poly tanks designed for fire service.

 

[tktsales]

Are you sure you don't want to do something inadvertently dumb? I have a PTO driven Fire pump but it would probably take allot more than your PTO could handle. This ran off a Chelsea 855 PTO which is pretty large. Not sure the capacity of this pump but with that roof turret nozzle you sure could put on a show.. I also have the 1300 gal fiberglass tank from this truck but I don't think its baffled, its also molded to fit the truck body like a glove.

 

[Celticlady]

Are you sure you don't want to do something inadvertently dumb? I have a PTO driven Fire pump but it would probably take allot more than your PTO could handle. This ran off a Chelsea 855 PTO which is pretty large. Not sure the capacity of this pump but with that roof turret nozzle you sure could put on a show.. I also have the 1300 gal fiberglass tank from this truck but I don't think its baffled, its also molded to fit the truck body like a glove.

Its a LMTV with a 5000 load limit. Water is heavy. I have to keep everything else light as possible. I use the truck for other chores around the ranch. A skid mounted fire accessory is just that an "accessory" as needed part time.

Your note did give me some ideas.

Do you have a 1" hose reel with good hose and nozzle? How about good 1 1/2 collapsible hose?

I appreciate the offer.

 

[tktsales]

Its a LMTV with a 5000 load limit. Water is heavy. I have to keep everything else light as possible. I use the truck for other chores around the ranch. A skid mounted fire accessory is just that an "accessory" as needed part time.

Your note did give me some ideas.

Do you have a 1" hose reel with good hose and nozzle? How about good 1 1/2 collapsible hose?

I appreciate the offer.

I probably have a thousand foot of hoses around but the smallest is 2" and the largest is 4" I do think I Have a few extra smaller nozzles. I will try and bring one in tomorrow and send a photo..

 

[simp5782]

I have tried to google fuel pods and get a million hits of everything but what I want. Can you give me a spec or part number so I can narrow the result?

Aluminum Liquid Storage Tank 600 GAL

Military Diesel Fuel Aluminum Liquid Storage Tank A receptacle or structure of sturdy construction and of various shapes, the top of which may be open or - Military Surplus Items, Surplus Military Equipment

surplusmilitarydepot.com

 

[SausageGuy]

What about M149 "water buffalos" they are made just for water. they are pretty cheap and the LMTV would haul no problem. Mine is stainless interior so no rust.

 

[fasttruck]

Remember the NFPA has reported the major cause of LODD in apparatus is tanker roll overs. If you operate on extreme terrain some thought should be given to rollover prevention and protection.

 

[tktsales]

I probably have a thousand foot of hoses around but the smallest is 2" and the largest is 4" I do think I Have a few extra smaller nozzles. I will try and bring one in tomorrow and send a photo..

So these are the hoses I have laying around.. I currently have a use for the Blue 2" lay-flat hoses but that may change this fall. I would love to clean up some of this excess hose if anyone has a need for anything.. I have 2", 3" and 4" hoses.. The 3" stuff has odd type locking connectors, not std cam locks. I cut those off and put on cam locks for my use. Also I only have this one nozzle, I was going to attempt to make a pond fountain from it. Its a 2" inlet but you can get these in different sizes.