Going to build a fire engine

SVcummins · Apr 23, 2020

Got a 1500 gallon tank and a ten horse power motor been looking at pumps found one that looks like it will work

Larry EC-OH · Apr 23, 2020

Now all you need are lights and a siren.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 23, 2020

And Laurel and Hardy to man the pump.

Richard G. · Apr 23, 2020

I always thought that would be good to have on the farm.
We are about a mile from a rural fire station here, but a couple of minutes can mean a big difference.
Richard in NW SC

coshoo · Apr 23, 2020

Note that the pump requires a 3450 RPM motor- I assume your usinga gas engine, so you'll have to step up the pulleys to get enough revs.

SVcummins · Apr 23, 2020

I figure if a guy has it he?ll never need it

RWK in WI · Apr 23, 2020

I think that may be a transfer pump. No high pressure for fire fighting. You may need to look for a high pressure pump.

Bill(Wis) · Apr 23, 2020

I bought that same Pacer pump about a year ago for $247.00. For pumping liquid fertilizer. Works great, but wouldn't a pressure washer work better for your intended use?

Bill(Wis) · Apr 23, 2020

Sorry, I didn't mention that the pump I bought included a B&S engine.

Russ from MN · Apr 23, 2020

Most all modern engines are governed at 3600, direct couple the pump with the appropriate Lovejoy coupling, but align it as close as you can, within .005.

marloweg · Apr 23, 2020

just go to Harbor fright and get your self the 3 inch pump they sell and you will have all the water you want and them some we have three pumps on our grass trucks and tankers in our dept they have 100 pressure is about right for one person to handle the hose

VicS · Apr 23, 2020

Easiest and quickest I have saw is a tote and a car wash pump. Most come with a needle like tip. They was burning in the pan handle. Everybody had one in the back of their truck or 2 or 3 totes on a trailer. They give the totes away at most farm supply places.

SVcummins · Apr 23, 2020

They want 500$ for one with an engine . I have a good engine. I want a big pump to move some water

SVcummins · Apr 23, 2020

Kinda what I was wondering but I think if you neck it down they flow a lot I think they would work pretty good

Dan in North Houston · Apr 23, 2020

Some years ago I had a brush pile that was a little too close to the woods, so I wanted to have some water on hand when I burnt it. I have a 235 gallon tote tank that I filled and kept handy on a trailer in case I needed it. I was also curious how well the pressure washer would work in such a situation. Well, it doesn't work for squat. The spray is so fine, it doesn't make much of an impact on the fire, it is almost evaporated by the time it hits. To make things worse, the velocity of the water is so high that it draws a lot of air along with it, so it fans the flames around the small area that gets the water. If you remove the spray tip, you get such a small narrow stream that it is pretty well useless. I didn't think it would work very well, but I was surprised at how poorly it did.
I did have a 120v transfer type pump that I use to load the sprayer, so I loaded the generator on the trailer to power that pump. If I would have needed it, it would have been fine for the application.

Pete in Holland MI · Apr 23, 2020

Keep the engine in "instant-startable" condition. Store the engine without gas, but keep a gas can of RV gas as part of the system. Use that gas elsewhere once in a while and refill with fresh RV gas. Having the engine sit around without use will slowly gum up the carb, and lead to frustration trying to start it as your property burns.

Chain your hitch pin to it so it doesn't get borrowed & not returned.

Hope all your efforts to build the unit.......go unused. : )

dpendzic · Apr 23, 2020

I have a pacer pump i bought years ago--use it to jet in piling and sheet piling for bulkheads--works great!!

RoadsideGeo · Apr 23, 2020

Or the Keystone Cops?

No offense to Stan and Ollie...

SVcummins · Apr 23, 2020

I think I?ll weld the hitch pin to the tongue that way it can?t go anywhere . Maybe keep that gas that comes sealed in a can

Wheat47 · Apr 23, 2020

I have a similar setup I use when I burn ditches. One of those liquid totes
250 gals or so on a small trailer that I pull with my 25 HP Kubota. I didn't want the
hassle of a pump motor that would or would not start in an urgent situation,
so I scarfed up a PTO roller pump. I ran a suction hose from the tank train to the pump,
and hung a garden hose rack on the side of the tank. With the trailer, I can also
carry a shovel or two, a fork, a couple fire flappers and a couple 5 gal buckets for
a few bottles of water and an extra nozzle and any thing else I might need.
For the suction hose I use those Cam-Loc couplers for easy hook up.

WNYBill · Apr 24, 2020

It will be the cheapest fire insurance you ever bought! In the 10 years since I bought a generator, we haven't had more than a 10 minute outage!

buickanddeere · Apr 24, 2020

(quoted from post at 12:22:00 04/23/20) I think that may be a transfer pump. No high pressure for fire fighting. You may need to look for a high pressure pump.

Thinking that too, need more pressure than a single stage high volume pump can develop. The low suction head will help flow and pressure but won't be enough. Need pressure to be able to stand back from something hot.
I like those Akron Turbo Jets. 1-1/2" fog to straight stream adjustable . Up to 125gpm at 100psi.
The header pressure one day was dialed up to 165psi and had 2x50' of Red Skin Fire Chief hose. Had the gallonage set to max and was on a Power Cone setting . Hose Team Members 2,3 & 4 let go of the hose to see what would happen.
I was wearing full Bunker Gear that was wet and a 40 minute ISI SCBA so nearly 300lbs. Was able to hold the nozzle on target but the force was slowly skidding me back even through my boots were two ruts in the gravel. It was like trying to hold back a determined 500lb calf.

Going to build a fire engine

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads