How should I set up this tank for a pressure washer?

[ckingclean]

Hi Guys, I currently have a 55 gal. buffer tank on the pw trailer. I have a 200 gal. tank that I want to put in the truck bed for a job coming up. We usually get along fine with the 55 gal. buffer but need more flexibility for this job.

My question is: How would you set up the plumbing? Water into the 200 gal. and then a hose running into the 55 gal that's already on the machine? Will it cause problems having the 200 gravity feeding to the 55?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[Ron Musgraves]

You have any photo's, an have you seen the photos of mine?

[Jim@Garagecleaning]

If the 55 is lower than the 200, it will over flow. The 55 would have to be equal or more pressure then 200 gallon if the 55 is lower. Pressure is the key here. If you had it water tight, no problem

I could be wrong, but if I remember my science classes back in the day, that is how it is.

[Christopher]

I would use at least a 1" hose so you don't starve your other tank, smaller hose might not give you the gpm's you will need by gravity.

As long as the larger tank is physically higher than the other tank and the inlet to the 55'er is about the same height or lower than the outlet of the larger tank you should not have any problems but I would have a float valve so it does not overflow.

You could always have a 12 volt delavan with a regular garden hose pumping from the larger tank to the smaller tank with a float valve so the smaller tank does not overflow.


I have done some jobs where there was no water so we had a water tank trailer bring water and pump it to a 275 gallon tote that was on the ground and that tote had a delavan pumping to the pressure washing tank with a delavan pump. The tank on the trailer had a float valve so it did not overflow.

This has worked out great, I got over 2 years use out of the 120 volt Delavan until it died the other week but I did use it for transferring water, bleach, soap, etc.... but I always rinsed it out at the end of the day or job when pumping chemicals.

[RMedbery]

Use physics. If both tanks are vented to atmosphere and your 55 has a float valve just make sure the over flow of the 200 is slightly higher than the water level your 55 shuts off at. Plumb a large hose between the two tanks towards the bottom thats easily removable. When you dont need it remove the hose and 200 tank.......everything else stays the same.

[Jim@Garagecleaning]

A shut off float valve would work. It would stop the flow from the other tank once it has filled the 55 gallon. In this case, Roger is correct. Having the 200 gallon tank will force water to the lower tank. But you need a shut off valve or a float tank valve to shut the flow off once it fills. You will be relying on the float valve to control the flow. Otherwise you must raise the tanks to equal pressure.

[ckingclean]

Alright I'm finally setting this up. Thanks for the help guys.

I've already got a float valve on the small trailer tank. Do you think the gravity feed from the higher 200 tank will be enough to force water through the float valve without a delevan?

[Ron Musgraves]

Hi Guys, I currently have a 55 gal. buffer tank on the pw trailer. I have a 200 gal. tank that I want to put in the truck bed for a job coming up. We usually get along fine with the 55 gal. buffer but need more flexibility for this job.

My question is: How would you set up the plumbing? Water into the 200 gal. and then a hose running into the 55 gal that's already on the machine? Will it cause problems having the 200 gravity feeding to the 55?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Chris how did that Tank get set up?