[Airy]

I'd like to fabricate over the wheel well water tanks while I wait for delivery of my 2022 148" non-extended cargo van, but before doing so I'd like to get some accurate dimensions of the wheel well. I found this picture online but I'm not sure how thick the floor is and thus question the "10in" and "2in" measurement. Would someone measure their wheel well from the metal floor up and verify the measurements? If I could also get the measurement from the rear part of the wheel well to the back pillar, it would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a sketchup model of the left tank. It will hold 20.5 gallons of water and I'm thinking of welding it up out of 1/4" thick black HDPE plastic sheets. Any comments on the design would be appreciated!

 

[orton]

Suggest you go to a Ford dealer to get dimensions. That way you will know how the measurements were taken.

I had a 14 ga. 304 SS tank fabricated to fit over the passenger side wheel well.

Pictures and drawing of the tank:

Tanks | Orton Travel Transit (ortontransit.info)

 

[Airy]

Suggest you go to a Ford dealer to get dimensions. That way you will know how the measurements were taken.

I had a 14 ga. 304 SS tank fabricated to fit over the passenger side wheel well.

Pictures and drawing of the tank:

Tanks | Orton Travel Transit (ortontransit.info)

Thanks for the suggestion to visit a Ford dealer, unfortunately there isn't a cargo van on any of the lots within 250 miles of me.

 

[jondrums]

how about this 20gal tank?

https://www.nwconversions.com/product/van-wheel-well-20-gallon-water-tank-sp-l/

 

[Airy]

how about this 20gal tank?

https://www.nwconversions.com/product/van-wheel-well-20-gallon-water-tank-sp-l/

Thanks jondrums, I have checked that tank out but it is really designed for a Sprinter so there is a lot of wasted space around wheel well. Also, I think I can save some money building it myself since my labor is free

 

[phil]

labor is free

when or if you sell the van do you factor in your labor cost or just material?

 

[jondrums]

I'd be interested to learn more from you about welding plastic. I have a project in the back of my mind I've been dreaming about along these lines. What material are you planning to source and what thickness? Do you already have the plastic welder? Which one?

 

[Airy]

I'd be interested to learn more from you about welding plastic. I have a project in the back of my mind I've been dreaming about along these lines. What material are you planning to source and what thickness? Do you already have the plastic welder? Which one?

My plan is to use black HDPE plastic sheets (48" x 96") that are 1/4" thick and FDA compliant and food safe. The black color is used to inhibit light which in turn inhibits algae growth. I don't have the welder yet but I'm about to pull the trigger on a Weldy Energy HT1600D (https://www.amazon.com/Digitally-Co...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==). There are cheaper welders out there but his one has digital temperature control, which is important for setting and maintaining consistent welds. I'm also going to get additional nozzles (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PQ22P7...olid=18E89URNIKLV0&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) as I'll need the tacking and triangular nozzles for this project. My inspiration for this DIY project comes from Ladi and Margaret (

). I'd also recommend this pdf file for the principals of plastic welding (https://laramyplasticwelders.com/wp-content/uploads/Making-Even-Better-Plastic-Welds-book.pdf).

I've never welded plastic before, but neither had Ladi and Margaret and it appears all turned out well for them. If the inside water tanks go well, I'll also fabricate some under body waste tanks to fit exactly as needed.

 

[SLOFO]

Thought I wanted an over the wheel well tank, yet after spending time here decided an 18 gal tank under the driver's side was a better use of space. Ronco plastics makes them.

 

[Hein]

We custom designed the black and grey water tanks for our Sprinter. I CNC'd the parts but did have a professional do the welding. I would be willing to design your tank and CNC the parts so you can weld them up. I have access to the 3D fender geometry so could make the tank fit perfectly. Please reach out if you would like us to help with your project. We have 1/4" HDPE material on hand.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

 

[Brandon]

My plan is to use black HDPE plastic sheets (48" x 96") that are 1/4" thick and FDA compliant and food safe. The black color is used to inhibit light which in turn inhibits algae growth. I don't have the welder yet but I'm about to pull the trigger on a Weldy Energy HT1600D (https://www.amazon.com/Digitally-Controlled-Heating-Plastic-Flooring/dp/B07T8LLLY6/ref=sr_1_26_sspa?crid=20SRJT5ARV80B&keywords=weldy+digital&qid=1641957606&sprefix=weldy+digital,aps,134&sr=8-26-spons&psc=1&smid=A140HZI9P1116E&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyT1I1SUZHUElGN0gxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI4MDczMTVGUkhISUxBOVNaUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDQzMTc5U0I5SjJHUjVGU1JEJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==). There are cheaper welders out there but his one has digital temperature control, which is important for setting and maintaining consistent welds. I'm also going to get additional nozzles (Amazon.com) as I'll need the tacking and triangular nozzles for this project. My inspiration for this DIY project comes from Ladi and Margaret (

). I'd also recommend this pdf file for the principals of plastic welding (https://laramyplasticwelders.com/wp-content/uploads/Making-Even-Better-Plastic-Welds-book.pdf).

I've never welded plastic before, but neither had Ladi and Margaret and it appears all turned out well for them. If the inside water tanks go well, I'll also fabricate some under body waste tanks to fit exactly as needed.

Watching that video makes me think about making my own grey water tanks for the outside. If I develop a leak in one of those it is not an issue. Inside fresh water I’m not sure about. Going to have to research more.

 

[Brandon]

We custom designed the black and grey water tanks for our Sprinter. I CNC'd the parts but did have a professional do the welding. I would be willing to design your tank and CNC the parts so you can weld them up. I have access to the 3D fender geometry so could make the tank fit perfectly. Please reach out if you would like us to help with your project. We have 1/4" HDPE material on hand.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

Hein do you make any grey tanks for under a Transit? I will be building out an extended high roof model.

 

[Airy]

We custom designed the black and grey water tanks for our Sprinter. I CNC'd the parts but did have a professional do the welding. I would be willing to design your tank and CNC the parts so you can weld them up. I have access to the 3D fender geometry so could make the tank fit perfectly. Please reach out if you would like us to help with your project. We have 1/4" HDPE material on hand.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

Hein, thanks for the offer but I have some spare time and looking forward to developing a new skill in welding plastic. I would however greatly appreciate if you could share the wheel well dimensions relative to the metal floor.

 

[Gallaher]

Thanks jondrums, I have checked that tank out but it is really designed for a Sprinter so there is a lot of wasted space around wheel well. Also, I think I can save some money building it myself since my labor is free

I have a larger version of the NW Conversion tank. Super high quality but as you note LOTS of wasted space. I probably would not purchase again.
Good to try something else.

 

[Brandon]

I have a larger version of the NW Conversion tank. Super high quality but as you note LOTS of wasted space. I probably would not purchase again.
Good to try something else.

Would this fit over the wheel well of a DRW van? Or not enough space for that?

 

[Gallaher]

I think it would fit over DRW transit. You end up with lots of space above and inside the wheel well.
Inside the wheel well as in, you shove it against the wall and you still have plenty of width in there.
Clearly designed for taller wider wheels.

 

[Gallaher]

Picture of the tank sort of mocked up. Memory is fuzzy but I believe this is a 30 gallon tank.
Nice design, high quality. Just not a good fit for transit.

 

[Janus9]

Picture of the tank sort of mocked up. Memory is fuzzy but I believe this is a 30 gallon tank.
Nice design, high quality. Just not a good fit for transit.

Thanks for the pic.

That is a lot of wasted space for sure.

 

[gregoryx]

Keep in mind the wasted space goes up after a sizeable floor is installed - and you don't want the tank touching the cold metal, so you do want it on top of the raised / finished floor, most likely. If the goal is to have the most usable space, I'd wait until the floor and walls are ready, then build the fit.

Or... consider that the total wasted space with the relatively small Transit wheel wells (compared to a Sprinter) can be worked-around in other ways with a fairly small amount of space wasted. Even on the Sprinter, we mounted a 20-gallon tank on top of one wheel well with no additional protrusion into the garage (saving 6" of usable space between wheel-wells) and simply a couple inches higher. Even more space-useful than the "shaped" tank.

 

[jondrums]

At least you can run some water lines through that space, but yeah in a small van wasted space is precious. I wonder if NW customs could make a Transit specific version. I should have asked before I bought mine. This thread has been golden realizing the welder is $300 and not too hard to use