[NWH]

How can the pump be sucking in air if the join from tank is at the bottom of the tank,normally the tank has a fluid out or elbow joint at the base of the tank,can`t see how it`ll be sucking in air unless it`s empty.

[Spruce]

I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry

Hi Terry

Have already nearly emptied the tank without problems. The Shurflo pump will suck water up to 12' above it's level if I remember correctly.

Spruce

[wizard]

What dimention is the steel of those straps holding the tank.

[Ian Lancaster]

I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry

Hi Terry

Have already nearly emptied the tank without problems. The Shurflo pump will suck water up to 12' above it's level if I remember correctly.
Spruce

It will, but beware of allowing it to run dry, once the pump has had a bit of wear, it can be a b*****d to get it to re-prime

[Spruce]

Hi

Update.

We replaced the pumps inlet filter with a later one that can be fitted the correct way round. We have regularily unscrewed the filter bowl and pumped the water out of the pump and pipes on really cold nights incase of freezing even although the van has a frost heater installed on these nights. So far he has had no bother priming the pump the following day. It takes a few moments and he doesn't even turn up the pump speed on his Varistream to speed up the process.  So the pump is getting on for 2 and a half years old, so I guess we should expect to have to replace it sometime.

We also had to fit a third metal strap over the width of the tank to stop it moving sideways. These were bolted down in the floor with nutserts as I didn't want to drop the fuel tank.

Otherwise he has had good service from our installation, with just maintenance done on the usual stuff ie hose reel connectors, hoses and fittings, brushes and poles.

Spruce

[Spruce]

What dimention is the steel of those straps holding the tank.

25mm x 5mm

[Ian Rochester]

Spruce,

Lot of negatives and critisisms coming out of this post, personnally I think you've done a cracking job, space is well utilised and if it earns you money then that's all that matters.

[TonyD]

Looks great that.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

serious bit of kit that mate will the van take the weight of the water ad a citreon berlingo mine was a bit asthmatic though couldnt pull me and me missus without spluttering what size engine

[luther1]

Looks a proper job. I've a lay flat in a Berlingo and space is very limited. I didn't realise there was space under the seat! (only had it 6 years ha ha).

[Spruce]

Hi A & J Owen Window Cleaning,

It's an 800LX so has an 800kg payload with a drivers average weight of 75kgs included. With a full tank of 485kg of water, tank weight say 30kgs, step ladder, a hose reel and a couple of poles and brushes, he is well within the vans payload. It starts to get borderline if I get in (which is very seldom) and he has a full tank of diesel.
Engine is the Hdi turbo diesel so pulls well even with a full load. The 1.9 normally aspirated engines can be a tad bit sluggish.

I still stick with my original feelings that the Partner/Berlingo size is too small for a WFP setup, but he manages alright, and his van is more economical to run than the Relay Hdi that I use.

Hi Ian

Thanks. The van has worked well for him and cost him very little maintenance wise apart for tyres and routine servicing. Because space is limited he only carries what he needs, ie., 2 poles and 2 brushes, whereas I cater for any breakdowns 'on site' with a variety of parts that I carry on the van. I also keep my old ali Unger poles on the van for 1 clean we do every 6 weeks where the flex or bendiness of the ali pole is better suited to the job than the stiff SLX's we have.

Hi Luther1.

Not all models had the space under the seat - it was just the LX models with the foldup front seat.

A local window cleaner just down the road once had 2 old Vauxhall Combo vans, 1 had an upright tank and the other a layflat tank. His experience was that he preferred the van with the upright tank as he had a more secure space to store his hose reel etc behind the tank. He wasn't happy with putting stuff ontop of the layflat tank as he felt more vunerable should there be an accident with no secure bulkhead between him and the load.

Spruce

[Spruce]

I thought I would resurrect this out of interest and give a progress report.

My lad has had his van 4 years now and this setup has served him well to date.

Since 2009 he has had to do all the brakes of his van and he has had the cambelt changed. He has had to replace the van battery and I bought him a new leisure battery about 10 months ago. We have also replaced his split charge relay to an intelligent type as the first one blew one of the tracks on the circuit board. We have also done a few touchups to the van floor as some of the protector coat had worn off. We have also replaced a few hozelock and quite a number of Rectus 21 couplings. The Teleplus Unger pole has gone and he has an SLX as well as a fishing pole conversion that he carries around with him. The other Unger pole has a bolt through the bottom hole to open gates. His clutch is getting heavy at 106k and he will need to do a couple of tyres shortly.

The 500 litre tank is more than enough for him as he also has adopted my backpack. Water consumption went down when I fitted an Aqua-dapter to his SLX pole. Mostly he uses just over half a tank.

Spruce

[GB Window Cleaning]

nice van set up that well done mate you should be proud of yourself sir!  similar to mine and my strainer is the same way up and mine was fitted professionaly! heres a pic of mine...

[Spruce]

That strainer bugged me so much I changed it for the one with wingnut fittings so you can fit the strainer the 'correct' way up.

[red star]

nice van set up that well done mate you should be proud of yourself sir!  similar to mine and my strainer is the same way up and mine was fitted professionaly! heres a pic of mine...

what size tank you got in there

[CraigBlues]

Nice! Roof rack every time in my opinion.

I can't decide between a Belingo, Transit Connect or a Viavro. As insurance is the same on all of them.  :

[GB Window Cleaning]

@ red star. 350 lt tank mate

[red star]

@ red star. 350 lt tank mate

thanks