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BRADISH
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 01:57pm - Edited by: BRADISH
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Well I figured some of us (me) may be suffering from those mid winter blues, so I thought I'd post about a little project I'm working on. Not quite done, but far enough along to post some progress.
I have a year round water source approx 3000ft from my cabin build site. In preparation for my cabin completion (hopefully) this coming summer, I figured I needed to devise a way to haul some water to the cabin. Not wanting to fiddle with multiple 5 gallon jugs, I started looking into Poly drums.
I figure I'll typically haul about 30 gallons for the average weekend, which is well within the tolerances of my drum (55 gal) and a trailer I could build.
My brother in law spotted an ATV trailer posted for free on a local marketplace so I ran over and grabbed it right away. It was in ROUGH shape (first photo) but I was namely after the axle and rims. Turns out the axle is slightly bent but I think I can work with it. It actually has roller bearings that are in great shape too! The tires are shot, and I looked into replacements but wanting to keep this in budget and given my low use case for the trailer I opted to simply tube the tires for now. If they give way I'll end up replacing them eventually.
So after hacking the trailer down to the frame I discovered it had been modified multiple times and was made mostly of uni-strut so I scrapped it too. Fortunately I have a gob of 2.5" angle iron left over from my cabin foundation that I got a screaming deal on so I opted to build a new frame from that.
It is a bit heavier gauge of metal than I need or would prefer, so I am attempting to put on as little as I can get away with, while still supporting potentially 500lbs of water. The barrel with ride between two channels and get a strap over the top to keep it in place.
I still need to tack on some stops on the front and back so the drum doesn't slide out, but I am nearing completion of the building phase. Then onto cleaning up the rust & welds and it's time for paint and testing.
Hope you enjoy the photos. I'll update as I go.
Stay warm friends.
(Edit for the photos rotating. Not sure why it decided to flip them.)
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 02:01pm - Edited by: BRADISH
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Attempt to fix photos.
(Edit: Unsuccessful. Sorry folks. Not sure why the site keeps flipping the photos.)
(Edit 2: Last attempt.)
GAHHHHH
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 03:09pm
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Nice build! Here was my winter water hauler build thread... skis instead of tires! https://www.small-cabin.com/forum/6_10029_0.html
Here are the skis I built for or big water trailer ... https://www.small-cabin.com/forum/6_10935_0.html ....used them a few times this winter but now with just under 4' of snow I could do no more than pull the 55 gallon tank empty with the Tracker... turned around before we got to the spring, figured no way I could pull it full.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 03:17pm
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Yeah! That turned out great. I was following along with it for awhile but missed the end.
Unfortunately I think I have built mine too heavy for convertible snow use (even with skis). Flat land would be fine, but I have a very large hill to climb immediately after I fill the drum which makes this a tricky balance of strength/weight.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 03:21pm
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I want to do the same thing, called a water buffalo. I want to park trailer by solar well, fill up, transfer it for shower, camp trailers, fire watch. Like to have a hose reel for the side, a gas discharge pump for fires and a water drain too.
I'm thinking 100 gallons or so, but steel prices, I'm going to hold back longer. I will do this.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 04:41pm - Edited by: BRADISH
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech I want to do the same thing, called a water buffalo. I want to park trailer by solar well, fill up, transfer it for shower, camp trailers, fire watch. Like to have a hose reel for the side, a gas discharge pump for fires and a water drain too. I'm thinking 100 gallons or so, but steel prices, I'm going to hold back longer. I will do this.
Have you considered an ICB Tote? We get them for free from work, but I see them come up for sale on Craigslist for ~$100 from time to time as well. I believe they are 200~ gallons, but you could always fill less. They have an integrated valve, etc and are on a 40"x48" standard pallet footprint. A little large, but could be a cheap way to fit the bill until you find/make the tank you want.
I may set one up eventually as a rain catch off my cabin to avoid hauling in the summer altogether. We will see how things shake out.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 29 Dec 2021 05:12pm
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Quoting: BRADISH Yeah! That turned out great.
Thanks.... except, - mjangler - had suggested I put a skid under it to keep it from dragging in the snow. Hadn't been a problem until today. We have gotten ~4' of snow since just before Christmas. I pack my trail but haven't for two days and there is nearly a foot of new snow... the tank was dragging snow with it on the way down the hill. Got to the main road and it hasn't been plowed or packed. Ended up turning around without getting water. We too have a really steep climb up from the spring, short but steep. I knew there was no way I was going to pull 55 gallons of water up that hill.
If you made skis wide enough for those tires and 3' -4' long I bet it would "float" that drum. Oh and add a skid!
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 30 Dec 2021 01:43am
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Well I made a bit more progress tonight. Most of the welding is done. Just need to attach the axle and give it a coat of paint now. Without having much of a plan I'm pretty happy with how it came out. A strap will go over the drum to hold it down as well.
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paulz
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# Posted: 30 Dec 2021 05:27am
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Came out great. If you put the drum on the other way, maybe you could tilt it up when you get back with the water, pull the trailer out and go fill another one.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 30 Dec 2021 10:14am
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If one strap is adequate two would be better? Ive seen far too many broken straps along the road and I double up on em when I trailer a motorcycle.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:04pm
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Added some fenders or sorts to hopefully keep the mud off the drum. A bit of grinding to go to pretty things up, and then it will get a coat of rattle can paint to keep the rust at bay (for awhile anyway)..
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neb
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:55pm
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Quoting: BRADISH Added some fenders or sorts to hopefully keep the mud off the drum. A bit of grinding to go to pretty things up, and then it will get a coat of rattle can paint to keep the rust at bay (for awhile anyway).. 20220227_183158.jpg
Very nice!! I like it.
I have access to 3 sources of water also but like you I need to haul water to newly planted trees.
I took advantage of an old steel wheel and axle. I will mount a 350 gal plastic tote on to the pallet. I worked on this a week or so ago to get ready. I don't have any money into it, and I have two totes that had molasses in bulk. Safe to use no chemical in them. I won't have to worry about flat tires on this trailer. Lol
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2022 03:12pm
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Quoting: neb I won't have to worry about flat tires on this trailer. Lol
Wow that is an old timer! I don't know if my 4 wheeler would like pulling that up the hill though! 
Free is a great price though. I think I've got about $120 into mine, with the tongue, jack and tubes for the tires. And a couple $2 rattle cans yet to be applied..
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neb
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:27pm - Edited by: neb
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^ Lol! I will pull it with my pickup and the tote has a 2 inch valve shut off. It is plumbed for a garden hose so I can drive beside trees and water a good share of them with about 4 stops. The crick where I will fill tote is only 100 feet from trees.
That will be a great trailer for you. Mine is something I can use around the ranch hauling and will work great for watering trees. No one will steal it. Lol
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:53pm
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Fwiw, a lot of the 4 and 5 lug nut/bolt wheel hubs for trailers will take those compact spares for cars. Ive found the bolt circles to match but you have to also watch the center hole size.
Ive got them free.
For heavy weight they are stronger than a lot of trailer tires but the narrow thread wont have the 'floatation' of the wider tires.
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KRG
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 08:30am
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Looks great. I have IBC totes under my evestrough to collect rain, good for showers, dish and fires. The totes I get for 80-100$, 250 gallon capacity. They would be a little tough to pull waters about 8lbs a gallon.
The trailer and 50 looks great.
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neb
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 09:45am
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^ I did a few years gig on a research farm where we had to water trees with small trailers using 350 gal totes.
We pulled them with 4-wheeler, and they had no problem and no issues. Didn't want to drive overly fast but handled them well.
Where the problem could occur was the weight on the trailers for axles and tires etc..
We would fill too the 250/275 marking on tote and would be fine.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 11:05am
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Well I had a couple cheap rattle cans so I figured I'd give it a coat and try to keep the rust off for a bit. Turned out to be far brighter red than what the cap indicated, but I suppose that's what you get for buying $2 spray paint 😆
Turned out decent overall, I'm happy for what I've got into it. $120 for the hitch, tubes for tires, Jack and a few pvc fittings.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 11:52am
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Looks good, and strong; you will probably be glad every time you use it. I also like that it can be multi purpose, like to haul a pallet of bricks/blocks.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 11:57am
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Quoting: gcrank1 I also like that it can be multi purpose, like to haul a pallet of bricks/blocks.
Yeah I thought about making a removable deck for it, but it's been taking up shop space for so long I decided I need to just finish it for now. So I may make a little 4'x4' deck for it eventually that I can bolt on, but that will be a ways down the road.
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neb
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2022 12:49pm
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Great looking rig! Well done.
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 25 May 2022 11:05am
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Not a whole lot of developments here, but I finally got the last touches done on the trailer the other day. A friend cautioned me that they had a similar trailer and the frame wore holes in the barrel after just a short time. So I took an old garden hose and used it as a buffer on all of the contact surfaces with the barrel. Threw a couple straps on the drum to keep it in place. And got the valve out on the back for flow control. Hopefully the trails get firmed up soon from the mud and I get to put it into use!
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 25 May 2022 12:21pm
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Sweet 
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DaveBell
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# Posted: 25 May 2022 04:47pm
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Brad,
If I need one of those could you make me one, and how much would you charge for it?
Dave
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BRADISH
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# Posted: 25 May 2022 05:24pm
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Quoting: DaveBell Brad, If I need one of those could you make me one, and how much would you charge for it? Dave
I'm not sure if we are close in proximity or not - that would be the main consideration.
Other than that, the main cost would be finding a suitable axle and tires. I was fortunate to rob this set off a junk trailer that I got for free .
I also got the barrel and the metal for free, so that left having to purchase the receiver hitch, jack, and tubes for the tires (they were in rough shape). So with all that said I've probably got about $120 into this.
I think if I, (or someone else) were to make you one it would be $500+, and that would be very dependent on finding a good deal on the wheels and axle.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 25 May 2022 05:34pm
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Dave, Harbor Freight used to have a small trailer, the size suitable to put a car-top carrier on, that would be about right. Make a cradle for the barrel from blocking and strap it all down, good to go.
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