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PVC tank racks for 6 tanks @ under $20
Hi all,
Here's my homemade tank rack idea. I looked at several manufactured sets at various stores and couldn't see spending the same cash to hold only 2 tanks.
Materials include:
1 20' section 1.5"PVC (irrigation) pipe.
16 1.5" PVC end caps.
1 small can of PVC pipe cement.
1 package (50') nylon rope.
1 can rubber tool handle dip.
Simple assembly:
Cut the pipe into sections about 16-18 (I use 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the tank as a rough rule) inches long. 4 pieces for a three tank rack, 3 for a two tank rack.
Drill 2 holes through each end of the cut pipes. Drill only one hole in each end of the pipes which will be used for the end pieces. Make the holes just large enough to thread the rope through (leave enough intact pipe at the end for the cap to fit).
Tie a knot in the end of the rope and feed it through the single hole of the end pipe, leaving the knot inside the pipe. Thread the rope through a hole in the next pipe, so the rope protrudes out the end of the pipe. Adjust to proper length (use a tank) and mark the rope. Pull the rope through the end of the pipe and tie a knot in it. Allow the knot to slide back into the pipe as you feed the rope out the hole on the other side of the pipe. Continue this procedure until you get to the other end pipe. Tie a knot in the end, cut the slack off, and tuck the knot into the pipe. Repeat this process for the rope at the other end of these pipes.
Glue a cap over each end of all of the pipes. Allow PVC cement to cure for about 30 minutes before the next step.
Dip each capped end of each pipe into the rubber tool handle dip. Allow to "set" for a short time before dipping again. I dipped mine 3-4 times to get a thick rubber coat covering each end cap completely.
Total time to make both sets was about 2 hours.
The finished rack looks something like this:
Compact when not in use.
No unusual materials... Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.
I built 2 sets in about 2 hours for about $20.
They don't slide around when in the back of my truck, and the tanks don't slide around in the racks.
I can carry 3 AL80s in each rack. This pic shows a AL100. I can put 2 AL100s in a rack with a AL80 or my 19cf pony between them.
I have also found that if space is limited, like the back of a smaller SUV... lay the first rack down, load with tanks, then... lay the second rack on top of those tanks and load more tanks on top of the second rack. This keeps the stacked tanks from sliding forward/backward, and keeps them from scraping each other up.
Feel free to share this with others.
I hope this works as well for you as it does for me.
They are fairly industructible.
Let me know what you think.
Scott
By the way... when you load your tanks... do you load them with the valve toward the front of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle? Why?
Food for thought.
Hi all,
Here's my homemade tank rack idea. I looked at several manufactured sets at various stores and couldn't see spending the same cash to hold only 2 tanks.
Materials include:
1 20' section 1.5"PVC (irrigation) pipe.
16 1.5" PVC end caps.
1 small can of PVC pipe cement.
1 package (50') nylon rope.
1 can rubber tool handle dip.
Simple assembly:
Cut the pipe into sections about 16-18 (I use 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the tank as a rough rule) inches long. 4 pieces for a three tank rack, 3 for a two tank rack.
Drill 2 holes through each end of the cut pipes. Drill only one hole in each end of the pipes which will be used for the end pieces. Make the holes just large enough to thread the rope through (leave enough intact pipe at the end for the cap to fit).
Tie a knot in the end of the rope and feed it through the single hole of the end pipe, leaving the knot inside the pipe. Thread the rope through a hole in the next pipe, so the rope protrudes out the end of the pipe. Adjust to proper length (use a tank) and mark the rope. Pull the rope through the end of the pipe and tie a knot in it. Allow the knot to slide back into the pipe as you feed the rope out the hole on the other side of the pipe. Continue this procedure until you get to the other end pipe. Tie a knot in the end, cut the slack off, and tuck the knot into the pipe. Repeat this process for the rope at the other end of these pipes.
Glue a cap over each end of all of the pipes. Allow PVC cement to cure for about 30 minutes before the next step.
Dip each capped end of each pipe into the rubber tool handle dip. Allow to "set" for a short time before dipping again. I dipped mine 3-4 times to get a thick rubber coat covering each end cap completely.
Total time to make both sets was about 2 hours.
The finished rack looks something like this:
Compact when not in use.
No unusual materials... Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.
I built 2 sets in about 2 hours for about $20.
They don't slide around when in the back of my truck, and the tanks don't slide around in the racks.
I can carry 3 AL80s in each rack. This pic shows a AL100. I can put 2 AL100s in a rack with a AL80 or my 19cf pony between them.
I have also found that if space is limited, like the back of a smaller SUV... lay the first rack down, load with tanks, then... lay the second rack on top of those tanks and load more tanks on top of the second rack. This keeps the stacked tanks from sliding forward/backward, and keeps them from scraping each other up.
Feel free to share this with others.
I hope this works as well for you as it does for me.
They are fairly industructible.
Let me know what you think.
Scott
By the way... when you load your tanks... do you load them with the valve toward the front of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle? Why?
Food for thought.