They Made A Business Out Of Converting Old Fuel Tanks
If you need storage, an old fuel tank may be just the thing. Gary Witter in Thomas, Penn., sells old fuel tanks for every kind of storage from root cellars to flush tanks, fertilizer to feed. They make great storm shelters, hunting blinds and even covered footbridges over small streams. He has even repurposed them for grain trailers and grain bins.
“We’ve made grain hauling tankers to be pulled by tractors or trucks,” says Witter. “They can be pulled down the road at 55 mph and trail like a regular trailer.”
He and his brother, Danny, turn tanks into grain bins by cutting off a portion of the top. He then installs a hopper on the bottom or a funnel. Many of the old tanks get flushed or steamed out, if needed and then sandblasted, primed and repainted, notes Witter.
Depending on the intended use, they cut doors and other openings into them. “We weld pieces of 4 by 6-in. tubing onto old tanks for fork pockets,” explains Witter. “Add a chain to hold it to the forks, and you can quickly dump the contents, whether they are ashes from a firebox or junk metal that has been collected.”
Turning a tank into walk-in or drive-in shelters for small vehicles is easy. Doors can be cut out of one or both ends. Plywood sheets or gravel can be laid down for a level floor. The tank can be left above ground or buried.
“It is easy to weld pipes or pins on the sides of the tank for hanging items off the floor,” says Witter. “Tanks can be used for storage sheds, even if they were damaged and had holes in them. Cover them over with dirt and they stay at 50 degrees summer or winter.”
Witter explains that the size of the tank determines how long it is likely to last, whether above or below ground. Larger tanks can be 3/8-in. thick, while smaller tanks can range down to 1/4 or 1/8 in. thick.
“We’ve had used tanks in the ground for 25 years,” says Witter.
The Witters now sell new poly, steel and fiberglass storage tanks as well as recycled older tanks. He notes that vertical tanks are priced higher than horizontal ones.
Price varies by size, condition and thickness of the metal. As an example, a good 10,000-gal. tank can range from $2,500 to $4,500.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wit-Lane, 10520 Lincoln Way West, St. Thomas, Penn. 17252 (ph 717 369-5319; sales@witlane.com; www.witlane.com).
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They Made A Business Out Of Converting Old Fuel Tanks SPECIALTY/SERVICES If you need storage an old fuel tank may be just the thing Gary Witter in Thomas Penn sells old fuel tanks for every kind of storage from root cellars to flush tanks fertilizer to feed They make great storm shelters hunting blinds and even covered footbridges over small streams He has even repurposed them for grain trailers and grain bins “We’ve made grain hauling tankers to be pulled by tractors or trucks ” says Witter “They can be pulled down the road at 55 mph and trail like a regular trailer ” He and his brother Danny turn tanks into grain bins by cutting off a portion of the top He then installs a hopper on the bottom or a funnel Many of the old tanks get flushed or steamed out if needed and then sandblasted primed and repainted notes Witter Depending on the intended use they cut doors and other openings into them “We weld pieces of 4 by 6-in tubing onto old tanks for fork pockets ” explains Witter “Add a chain to hold it to the forks and you can quickly dump the contents whether they are ashes from a firebox or junk metal that has been collected ” Turning a tank into walk-in or drive-in shelters for small vehicles is easy Doors can be cut out of one or both ends Plywood sheets or gravel can be laid down for a level floor The tank can be left above ground or buried “It is easy to weld pipes or pins on the sides of the tank for hanging items off the floor ” says Witter “Tanks can be used for storage sheds even if they were damaged and had holes in them Cover them over with dirt and they stay at 50 degrees summer or winter ” Witter explains that the size of the tank determines how long it is likely to last whether above or below ground Larger tanks can be 3/8-in thick while smaller tanks can range down to 1/4 or 1/8 in thick “We’ve had used tanks in the ground for 25 years ” says Witter The Witters now sell new poly steel and fiberglass storage tanks as well as recycled older tanks He notes that vertical tanks are priced higher than horizontal ones Price varies by size condition and thickness of the metal As an example a good 10 000-gal tank can range from $2 500 to $4 500 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Wit-Lane 10520 Lincoln Way West St Thomas Penn 17252 ph 717 369-5319; sales@witlane com; www witlane com
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