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.

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Permalink Reply by robert roth on January 1, 2009 at 11:05am
350 or more is fine for the amount of water you will haul, but you do not need a stick with curves and hills.
Permalink Reply by paul le blanc on January 2, 2009 at 7:35pm
Wekk driving a tanker is not like going to the races. You are usually 2nd or 3 rd in apparatus.So in my mind speed is not a big factor.Most apparatus engineer's can go a calculation re weight of apparatus & water load. Slow and easy get's to the fire in one piece.
Permalink Reply by Michael on January 2, 2009 at 9:22pm
Thanks guys. We ended up buying the truck. Hope to have pictures up in a week or two. We will have to see what happens I guess. Thanks for helping guys. Your thoughts were shown to our Captain (my Dad) who forwarded them on to our Chief. Sure is nice having people like you all to help out!
Permalink Reply by matt on January 3, 2009 at 2:43am
haaha i think you should rephrase that a stick is alot better if you have an auto you get any guy in there driving that has no fricken idea you have a stick it takes awhile to get used to but you have alot more respect for what your doing..... that just my point on that
Permalink Reply by Marvin Hawk on January 7, 2009 at 5:31pm
Well for starters you have the weight of the apparatus it's self. then add 30,000 pounds for the water (3,500gal x 8.5 lbs). While motors like everything else is subject to likes and dislikes, IE Allison, International, Cummings, Detroit Diesels. I would take into consideration the weight from above and then ask your local haulers, such as construction and over the road truckers what they use for an engine. They are the ones who live not only in your area but in the vehicles every day, all day. I would not go with anything under a 350 H.P. and I'm in a rural somewhat hilly area. but the best guide would be get the biggest and best you can afford. Another guide can be what your other apparatus has for engines and what the in station opinion of them is on your roadways. Another possible source of wisdom would be a heavy duty (truck) repair garage in the area they may be willing to sit down with you and offer suggestions as far as an engine tranny combo that best suits your area.

And last but not least, as friendly has they may seem the reps from the manufacturers are just car salesmen with a bigger vehicle, trust them accordingly.
Permalink Reply by Trainer on January 8, 2009 at 1:11pm
I got 200hp in my 22 ton dozer, wanna hook em up and pull?? Sorry I couldn’t help myself :)
Permalink Reply by Michael on January 8, 2009 at 1:12pm
Sure. (you cover the insurance though) :)

Sounds exciting! ;)
Permalink Reply by Trainer on January 8, 2009 at 2:59pm
Made me think of something funny; I have a 1in cable to pull trees out of streams, it’s a little aged, been pulled so many times that its just stays coiled, anyways I drug it out of the back of my truck one day and hooked it to the dozer, then started to where I was pulling trees, about ½ mile, when I got there I was dragging my truck, it had wrapped around the hitch and I didn’t see it, the funny thing was I couldn’t tell I was pulling it, and it was in park.
Permalink Reply by Marvin Hawk on January 8, 2009 at 6:59pm
Just another thought, I talked to one of my departments mutaul aid chief's whos dept has a 3,300 gal tanker it is on a Kenworth t-300 chasis tandem axel with a 300 H.P. Cummins engine. No complaints about giddy up and git. It also has a 500 GPM pto pump. Basically it takes care of it self. It was made by Fouts Fire.
As I like to say I ain't got a dime in it and aint gettin a dime from it. Their price seems to be really nice for what you get. The chief told me that this company will not go higher than 3,000 gal on this chasis so you would have to go to the Kenworth T-700 chasis with tandem axel. My M/A dept got the extra 300 gal by going with no compartments. Here's the web site. http://www.foutsfire.com/index.html
Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on January 31, 2009 at 12:54pm
You want a 3116 0r a 3126 Cat in YOUR 3500 gallon tanker? I don't.The responder sais "Stay away from 31xx series Cat." I would regard that as GOOD advice. Now a C13 or C15 would be fine. NO MOUSE MOTORS!
Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on January 31, 2009 at 12:59pm
3500 on a GAS 427 is like kicking a flat football down the road PARTICULALY if you have hills which we do.I have two gassers left and one's going bye bye once the Tower is delivered in April.I WON'T miss 'em
Permalink Reply by Matt Mason on February 4, 2009 at 9:26pm
My dept has a 2300 gallon mack with a 350hp Mack diesel in it and its a little under power when loaded but when its empty look out. but with that size I would look atleast of getting a 400 to 500hp.

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