Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Klean07 on March 27, 2025, 07:19:49 am
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Just wondered how many of you have your tank positioned in the middle of your van? I wanted to do this for my next van as this would give me access to extra space via the side doors to put my gutter vac etc.
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Watch your axle loads. If you move the tank rearwards then that increases the load on the rear axle. There should be a plate under the bonnet showing axle limits. Ideally you need to go to a weigh bridge empty and check current axle loads. That will then allow you to calculate the axle loads based on where you position the tank. Too much rear load will damage suspension but increase breaking distances not to mention being illegal if you get checked.
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It also depends on the model of the van and the size and configuration of the tank (upright)?
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Just wondered how many of you have your tank positioned in the middle of your van? I wanted to do this for my next van as this would give me access to extra space via the side doors to put my gutter vac etc.
I posted a weight distribution formula on this thread back in 2017.
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=208750.msg1857233#msg1857233
As Ched says, you need to find out the axles weight they are carrying with the van empty. Probably best at a weigh bridge. Our local scrap merchant has a weigh bridge and will weigh each axle and the full weight of the van for nothing.
Then the plate on the van inside the engine compartment, usually but not always, will tell you the maximum load weights on each axle. You then work from there.
I have a Peugeot Boxer swb 333 van with a payload of 1400kgs. My 650 litre tank can only be fitted length ways, or if I want it width ways, it needs to be further back toward the rear axle.
I have fitted my upright Wydale Tank width ways just in front of the rear axle. This gives me room between the bulkhead and tank for stuff and enough room at the rear for hose reels etc.
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Mines fitted lengthways(500L upright)but up against the bulkhead so there's room down the sides. Personally I think it's in the perfect place and not overloading either axle. Diesel heater is bolted onto the back of my tank
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Mines fitted lengthways(500L upright)but up against the bulkhead so there's room down the sides. Personally I think it's in the perfect place and not overloading either axle. Diesel heater is bolted onto the back of my tank
Smaller car derived vans tend to be easier to fit a tank in. But the o/p needed a space between the bulkhead and the tank to store equipment in.
If your tank wasn't up against the bulkhead you won't have space for the hose reel at the back.
If you stand back and look at a Vivaro size van from the side with the sliding door open, you can visually see where the tank will sit between the front and rear axles, roughly in the middle.
If you look at my Peugeot Boxer van in the same way, an upright tank width ways up against the bulkhead isn't that far back from the front axle. You can immediately see that the majority of the weight of a full 650l tank of water will be over the front axle, totally overloading it.
My son has a 500l tank in his 2002 800lx Berlingo van. The tank is right up against his bulkhead which sits perfectly between his axles for best weight distribution.