Thread: starting from scratch on my rural block

Spent Saturday night at the local pub making sure the beer still tastes OK, home about 12.30, woke up to this Sunday morning surprise, a burnt out late model BMW, 3k's of deserted country rd to choose from, and it ended up in my bloody drive way!

A few pic's of the DIY watercart for you Jase

Thanks harry, strike, think I'll have to give my trailer a coat of paint before I post some pic's! I like how the trailer allows the tank to be directly over the axle's, I assume you have set it up so you can draw water from the dam / tank to fill the shuttle tank, shut a ball valve then draw from the shuttle tank to run the fire hose? I have my fire pump at the back of the trailer, took your advise and allowed for a return line on the out let side. I'm waiting on one more fitting to do this, then I'll work on fine turning the inlet side. I don’t have a secure place to keep the trailer at the moment so the fire pump comes out every time, its not in use.

The shuttle sits 50mm forward of the axle, gets to tippy if centered even with it being forward I must still be carefull when unhitching it if the water is still slopping about it can lift the draw bar, so as a rule I run the shuttle down under 300ltrs.
I would like to extend the rear adding another shuttle and another axle, but this time with suspension and electric brakes so I can register it... Come in handy as a backup fire unit.

This is my water cart, Ive used a 3 way Type A claw fitting for the out let, the side with the ball valve is the return line to the tank, also handy when filling. The out let on the tank is pool hose, It separates in the middle and I can attach the suction hose to draw water from another tank or the dam. The pump sit loose at the back with still some room for other bits. It works quite well. Everything's removable, so when the carts not in use, I can use the trailer on the quad. Its cost a few bucks to put it all together, but its an essential part of kit. Thanks for the advise harry.

Those claw fitting are what we use on air hoses(jackhammers and portable burners)at work, minisup is the name we use?

How heavy is it loading up the car when full, looks pretty front heavy with the shuttle that far forward?

"I assume you have set it up so you can draw water from the dam / tank to fill the shuttle tank, shut a ball valve then draw from the shuttle tank to run the fire hose?"

Yep the quick connect coupling connects to the tanks(2x5600gal) via the T piece on the inlet of the pump, the other side of the T runs to the bottom shuttle outlet. This way I can fill the shuttle by either siphon from the tanks or by the pump(plus the added bonus of running the garden hoses at the same time), once the rain water tanks get down under half full I use the pump to fill the shuttle(the grey 40mm pipe and valve at the top of the pump).

Pump only needs to idle to run the garden hoses and fill the tank at the same time, to up the pressure if needed I screw in the pressure regulator on the blue hose.
Its actually been a bit of a learning curve for me, cost over 2K so far not surprisingly theres nearly $500 on fittings alone not counting the hoses. I priced out buying a pro made watercart wasnt going to get much change from $4k so im well in front if not counting my time making the HD trailer.

Yep minsup fitting, our company sell them + other pipe, valve and fittings to the mines up here. Come's in handy for this project. My cart including the fire pump + tank and fittings came in around 1k, but the trailer was a freebie. As you can see its not built to last like yours. But its fit for purpose. Yes there is plenty of slosh factor, I've only filled it about half way, watered the drive way until empty, watching it when filling up not to over load it. Once empty it easy to lift on and off , I did try and wrestle it once when it had about 200ltrs in it, not recommended!

240kg is not light weight to move, first time I put water in(bout 600) I had the tank centered and she flipped up lifting me off the ground, lucky the trailer is lower than a normal trailer just touched the rear rail on the ground... getting it back on the tow ball was the tricky bit

Hi All, we have a clothes line! Wanted something that was a feature, rather than the boring old hill hoist, or a swing out from the wall, plus SWMBO is a little shorter than me, so many discussions about the height of the line, we settled on this crucifix type, the line can swing out of everyone's way. The arms are about 3 mtrs wide and span just over 6 mtrs apart. The other project has been the start of garden beds with some big logs off the property, our back ho has struggled with a few of them, but we wrestled them into them into place.
Our drive way has started to grow some grass after 6 weeks of show no sign at all. A little fresh out here this morning 6 deg!

Just be aware those 1000l bulky bins are not really UV stable. You do need to keep them out of the sunlight whenever they are not in use.

I had one that was completely encased in metal, but it has a series of cutout circles down one side to read the level. That's where it collapsed in the end.

Regards
Paul

Hi all, I've completed the storm water drainage along the front of the house, should take care of any major down pours. we have had ongoing issues with the house builder and leaking drainage, they have recently repaired 3 major holes, that now sends more water to the tanks ! But the problem persisted, water with still pooling near the septic system ( lowest point in the yard ). They came back with the camera this time and found another hole. It looks like when Ive put the screw pier in, Ive missed by that much ( as max smart would say ). Quick repair, hoping it’s the last hole, I've not had much luck with PVC pipe. But on the plus side I now have a new boys toy, we got this last week giving it a good work out on a clearing near the river. It got a good bath afterward but I resisted shampooing the mudflaps! Bushmiller thanks for the advise I'll get a tarp over the tank. cheers Jason

Hello all, very exciting weekend, a start was made on the frame of the shed! We are fabricating on site, with the frames welded together and to be stood in place. Early in the thread I described the shed I'm building. But for a reminder, it’s a 10mtrs x 17mtrs, 3.3mtrs high, the front section of the shed has a step down for the first 6mts to accommodate a timber floor for the work shop area ( 10x6 ), I'll extend the timber floor out to make a 3 meter veranda. This will make the overall length 20mtrs! The walls, I have salvaged pre-cast concrete panels that will run both sides of the shed, with a gap on the side for a rola door.
The far end will have a left over concrete panel and a rola door. The floor, apart from the timber section, will have second hand pavers I've been saving up and collecting. Attached photos show the set out of the trusses cutting and welding. The journey continues...

A few progress shots, no work done on the week end too wet. The trusses were stacked so they'd all be the same. The back ho couldn't lift it of the ground, 4.7mts to the peak! Once welded
They are almost indestructible, they'll be moved over to the shed site and stood up. Hoping they be fully welded this week end.