Driving with tanks upright in pickup?

[Jorbar1551]

I want to build either a stand that will hold tanks upright when they are in the back up my pickup, or something else that will keep them standing upright. What do you guys think? Have any of you done something like this or do you just lay them down?

[Fish_Whisperer]

I've heard of people making racks out of PVC. Even if they are horizontal, I'm of the opinion that the less tanks slide around and bang around in the bed, the better for them, your truck, and you.

[Richesb]

Keep your tanks laying down in the bed of your truck. There is much less chance of them breaking loose, sliding around, etc.
Simple physics. Standing up there is more leverage for the tank to "want to" move around. We truck multiple tanks around town almost daily and have found simple is better. Lay them down all the way foward in the bed and wedges (of any kind) between them.

[cinder4320]

Here is what my husband responded on a similar thread. Our upright tank rack was great It allowed lots of room for the rest of our gear and was very secure. The post has a link to pictures which explain the design. We have a different car now and dive doubles but this rack is still sitting in our garage!

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/2530735-post20.html

Miranda

[mpd525]

I built a box out of 1/2" cabinet grade plywood, it holds 6 tanks, with dividers for each individual tank. Fairly cheap, and the thing is heavy, the key is to make sure you use screws and not nails. I'll take some pics today, and post them. It was a really easy build if you have a circular saw and a drill.

[marchand]

I used a few toggle bolts to bolt 2X6's to the side of my bed, and then I put a boat load of eye bolts into the 2X6's. I run a strap around at most two tanks. It holds them very well, and it had no problems with my double PST LP 120's.

[Jorbar1551]

Thanks for the help. I'm gonna design something like the rack with pictures in the upcoming week.

[Betail]

Here is a thread that has some ideas. The thread I was looking for had a very simple idea of using the perforated angle iron for top and bottom. All you had to do was bungee the tank to the angle iron and you were set.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tanks-valves-bands/108897-simple-tank-rack-pickup.html

[northen diver]

I want to build either a stand that will hold tanks upright when they are in the back up my pickup, or something else that will keep them standing upright. What do you guys think? Have any of you done something like this or do you just lay them down?



You can purchase some E track from Northern tool for 10 dollars and use bungies. Or you can purchase tank holders from Grainger, part number 4ey24 and they have padding and straps already to be mounted.

This is my trailer with e track with tanks mounted

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/fmd_2006/trl.jpg




Picture of the Grainger tank holder



http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/fmd_2006/4EY24.jpg




E track mounted in a pick up truck...This is one of our service trucks

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/fmd_2006/servicetrk.jpg

[DeepDiver36]

When I worked on an ambulance, I responded to a car accident involving and F-150 and a car. A guy had his ATV in the back along with several either scuba tanks or something similar in size. (I was working the patients and really did not have the time to check their size or contents)

Anyway, he made a left turn in front of traffic and was hit in the rear, right side causing his truck to spin and send the contents of the bed all over the intersection (yard sale). The unfortunate sole that was parked at the light having nothing to do with the wreck was the recipient of the ATV through the car window killing her. The tanks flew across the intersection. One entered a store front window (no one hurt) and the other kit a metal pole and split the tank. I have no idea if it was under pressure or empty.

IMHO, secure your gear. Even in an SUV, if you role or stop abruptly, the tank will take your head clean off. They sell tank holders all over the net. Laying them down unsecured, your just asking for a problem.

Let's DIVE! ;)

[jland800]

Someone else (I cant remember who it was) posted this link a while back.


The UbiquiRack for scuba tanks, bikes, and anything else. One rack to rule them all. (http://trucks.pcwize.com/ubiquirack.php)

[Betail]

Someone else (I cant remember who it was) posted this link a while back.


The UbiquiRack for scuba tanks, bikes, and anything else. One rack to rule them all. (http://trucks.pcwize.com/ubiquirack.php)

Thanks for the link! That is the link I refrenced but could not find for my earlier post.:dork2:

[rob from nova scotia]

Hi buddy i transport dive tanks alot and having a commercial truck for diving, the only way to transpot them is standing up against the cab. they should be tied or supported so that they cannot move. If you lay them down and have to hit the brakes really hard they will move and gear will come up against them, if you get rearended they will also move. take 2 pieces of plywood and make a rack about 5 feet long get a jigsaw and cut out the holes for the tanks, holes about 4 inches apart, then cut some 2x4 and insert between the 2 pieces if plywood on edge and also on the bottom. If you have a truck and must carry them lying down be carefull always stand up tanks when transporting.....and you also might want to check on the quantity of tanks allowed by your state cause after a certain amount you need the 1002 dangerous goods placard for hazourdous goods, bottom line if you can at all stnd them up, your valves will thank you......i know cause i been carry tanks everyday for 14 years....

[irishsquid]

Here's one I made. It'll hold 4 tanks but could've held up to 6-8.
Around $30 of material, 3-4 hrs. labor. I can take 2 nuts and bolts out and the whole thing comes out. The bottom tie downs are 2x4 covered in boat carpet from Walmart with eyebolts for cam-straps. The top piece is 1.5" x 1.5" aluminum angle drilled for U-bolts. attached to the bed with eyebolts in factory holes. Sorry I don't have more or better pics.
http://forum.scubatoys.com/attachments/diy/924d1195604819t-tank-rack-truck-suv-fh000016.jpg (http://forum.scubatoys.com/attachments/diy/924d1195604819-tank-rack-truck-suv-fh000016.jpg)

[mike_s]

Get some "Roll Control" brackets and mount them to the side of the bed of your truck. These mount in a track that you can slide them up/down on.

Then the tank mounts flip up/down when needed.

http://www.tankfill.com/images/roll%20control/adjustable.jpg http://www.tankfill.com/images/roll%20control/3stdtank.jpg

These are made by
Roll Control System - Diving, Fishing, Boating Accessories (http://www.eastcoastplastics.com/rollcontrol.htm)


If you want them more secure, then add a bunge strap, or a ratchet strap across them all. Or make a "base mount" that is a shelf with a tank hole in it to hold the bottom of them tank in place.

example as the piece holding the bottom of the tank in this pic.

http://www.tankfill.com/images/roll%20control/magroll.jpg

[offroaddiver]

I have two philosophies on the tank transport. If they are laying down... the tanks are positioned (as my instructor first taught me) if someone rearends me and the valve break... they get "instant karma". if i have alot of tanks to transport they do get transported standing up but they are secured to the point of the vehicle giving before the retaining device does.

[mike_s]

rarely to people put them with the valve facing foward in the vehicle though...

[offroaddiver]

rarely to people put them with the valve facing foward in the vehicle though...

I've not seen alot of people do this. but I've seen a tank valve get busted off and skip across a quarry's surface. I've also seen a tank shoot through a car. personally (sorry for being dark) i'd rather it not go through me or anythign like that.

[Underwater Adventures]

Find a local golf cart shop and see if they have any golf bag racks they have taken off a cart. Our local shop sells them for $5-10, they hold 2 cylinders securely and can mount to the side of a bed rail or trailer wall with ease.

Works great with any size cylinder and has the straps attached securely to the mount...