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Horsepower for tanker?
I'm new here and I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this question so if its not, let me know. My question is: how much HP is needed for a tanker with 3500 gallons? Our dept. is looking into custom building one and we're getting all kinds of HP numbers thrown at us. Anywhere from 200-500+ is what we're getting. We have some hills, curves, and major hwys. to deal with so overkill is ok, just want to make sure we get enough. Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bill Muehsam on
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I sell and repair apparatus when I'm not on duty. So here's my best "advice" for your Department. Start at 450 bhp and then work up form there. With the amount of weight (3500 gal of water plus equipment) and the terrain you described, you'll need at least that. Also, I would highly recommend a tandem rear. That much weight on a single rear axle is " a recipe for disaster!!!" If you under power this tanker, it will cause more strain on the power train resulting in some huge Maint. bills. A local department did just that, to much weight on the wrong chassis......they will be replacing front-ends every two years or so because the Rig can't pull the weight.
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Permalink Reply by Engineer k7 on
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Being an old truckdriver I've drien alot of trucks with various engines, Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Mack etc. With the exception of the old mack engines Cat has the best lowend torque, Cats power range starts lower than alot of the others.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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KME 2500 gallon pumper-tanker: 515 HP Cummins. REAL NICE POWER!
Whatever you do, do NOT save money on an undersized motor... unless you want to nickname it "The Turtle"
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Permalink Reply by Trainer on
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I’m guessing you at about 60,000 gross. You talking new or used chassis? Anyways 400hp will do nicely, but gearing and shift points play a roll. New; Cummins with an allision is the only choice, if used; Detroit is ok but stay away from the 31xx series Cat, they are considered throw away motors. Don’t worry about speed, just add a governor, or program in the top speed.
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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if you have alot of hills i would get a nice big engine to pull up them hills we just got a new tanker peterbuilt in 05 thats got 4000 gallons aboard and we pull the hills at 25-30 mph i will get the hp it has......
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Let me justify my response. As an owner operator of heavy equipment for over 30 years, I look at things a little differently. Main thing is longevity and cost of repairs, Cummins is by far the leader here. The Cat 13xx series is too costly to rebuild, hence its throw-a-way status. As for the Detroit, I got a couple old rice burners and if you can get these babies started, they run forever, I have not been around the newer ones but according to industry standers, they were miles ahead of everyone in new technology, but makes me wonder why they dropped out of the truck market, NASCAR must be costing Penske to much money. International/Navistar have been around the truck market forever, however don’t have a high HP motor.
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Permalink Reply by Wayne West on
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We have a 427 gasoline in our 92 GMC Top Kick, with a 6 speed trans, and low ratio rearend. We are in a very hilly curvy area and many bridges that is limited to a single axle. But we are happy with that setup, just with gasoline after time it becomes dead and really we need to run high test which is hard to get in our area!
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Permalink Reply by Michael on
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Thanks guys for ALL your input. It has really helped a ton! Ok, so another question, we're looking at a 96' T600 with 3400 gallon tank. It has air-ride on it. How much hassle will that be? We want spring ride to help deal with our small rough roads however, we have several major highways where speed will be needed just to keep up. So, how much trouble are we looking at with air-ride on a 3400 gal. tank?
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Actually that’s a good question; however ride is not the problem. I went from leaf to air some years back in my semi, but you will see the same problems. When you get on an uneven surface, the air system has a leveling device that tries to keep the tires in contact with the surface, as with the leaf sprung, but the air is not as fast. My big problem is the crown in the road when I’m backing into a driveway or gate hole, even with the dif-lock engaged, you’ll spinout. You have to move slowly and allow the system to compensate, tough to do in a fire truck. Now most of these have a dump valve that drops the axel down on the overloads, but with the high center of gravity found on a tanker, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I like the air; you just have to think a little different, lot less parts to break. 600 KW is a good choice, probably the most popular truck on the road, what’s it got for a motor?
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It has a 3406B Cat with a 15 speed. It has the eight bag air-ride as well which we have been told to stay away from. The tank is fiberglass and holds around 3800-4000 gallons. Has anyone ever driven a eight bag system? We drove it and seemed like a good tight truck. We believe the truck has around one-million miles but only about 250,000 on a overhaul. Any input on this one? Thanks again guys!
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I have not driven a tanker with an airbag system, but have been around a construction water truck with 3000 and air ride. It was hoorible to drive on the road, everytime you went around a turn it felt like it was going to tip over. I would not go with less than a 400 hundred horsepower. You can always limit the road speed with the computer, that way you are never short power
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I carry 25 tons on my Pete, but it only has 6 bags, 2 front 4 rears, and I can’t tell the difference in handling from the older spring type. We always figure an engine minor at 300,000, top end, pistons, sleeves, valves. At 1mil it gets a major, everything from minor plus main and rod bearings, injectors and pump.
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