The Chem-Tainer 550 Gallon Plastic Horizontal Leg Tank (SKU TC5476LA) is a self-supporting horizontal leg tank built for haul and stationary storage where the load needs to sit low and stay put. Molded from polyethylene in natural white, it carries a 550-gallon working volume in a 74-inch-long by 48-inch-wide by 50-inch-tall body, and the integrated legs cradle the cylinder so it rests flat on a trailer deck or pad without a separate saddle. It is rated to 1.9 specific gravity - the higher-density wall rating - which is the spec that decides whether it holds your product or not.
Will it work for your job
Footprint is 48.0 x 74.0 inches, so plan your deck or containment area around that 74-inch length. The weights that matter for hauling: filled with water this tank runs about 4,587 lb, and at its full 1.9 specific gravity rating it can carry contents up to roughly 8,715 lb. Here is the practical tradeoff - because 1.9 SG is a wall-strength limit, a denser product means you cannot fill all 550 gallons by volume without pushing past the structural rating, so size your trailer, axles, and tie-downs to the heavier figure and back off the fill line for anything well above water density. If you are matching tank size to a fill schedule or route, run the figures through our Tank Sizing Calculator and the Tank Sizing Guide. For dimensioned fittings, port locations, and leg spacing, see the technical drawing on this page.
Chemical compatibility
This tank is molded in polyethylene with a 1.9 specific gravity rating, the higher-density rating that lets it carry heavier liquids than a standard 1.5 SG tank. The exact resin shows as HDLPE in our data but is not fully confirmed, so confirm HDLPE versus XLPE with us before committing it to chemical service - the two resins behave differently against certain oxidizers. Compatibility below is drawn from the OEM chemical-resistance data and is concentration- and temperature-specific; verify your actual conditions against that chart before ordering.
For ag and fleet buyers, this is a workable DEF tank at 32.5% - note that DEF needs 316 stainless fittings with EPDM, not PVC. Acids handled at the listed strengths include acetic acid (60%, PP/PVC fittings, EPDM gaskets), hydrochloric acid (37%, PVC, Viton), hydrofluoric acid (48%, PP/PVC, Viton), hydrofluosilicic acid (26%, PP/PVC, Viton), phosphoric acid (85%, PVC, Viton), peracetic acid (30%, 316SS, Aflas), and sulfuric acid (98%, CPVC, Viton). Salts and metal solutions include aluminum sulfate (50%), calcium chloride (40%), ferric chloride (50%), ferric sulfate (60%), ferrous sulfate (20%), magnesium chloride (30%), sodium thiosulfate (40%), zinc orthophosphate, and polyaluminum chloride, most on PVC fittings with EPDM gaskets. Bases and bisulfites include potassium carbonate (50%), potassium hydroxide (saturated), sodium carbonate (30%), sodium bisulfate, and sodium bisulfite. Oxidizers run on Viton: hydrogen peroxide (50%) and sodium hypochlorite (under 16.5%) - watch your bleach strength, because over-concentrated hypochlorite can degrade a polyethylene chemical tank. Glycols and fluid stocks include ethylene glycol (100%), propylene glycol, and urea solution (50%). Ozonated water up to 10 PPM runs on PVC with EPDM. Match the fitting and gasket material to your specific chemical, and cross-check every choice against the OEM chemical-resistance chart and our chemical compatibility reference.
The mistake to avoid
Do not order this by gallons alone. The 1.9 SG rating is the wall-strength spec, and pairing it with the wrong fitting and gasket is what causes premature failure - DEF and peracetic acid need 316SS, the strong acids and oxidizers need Viton, sulfuric needs CPVC, and most salts run EPDM. Confirm the resin (HDLPE versus XLPE) and your fill density before you buy, especially if your load runs near the 8,715 lb rated ceiling.
This tank ships LTL freight from the nearest plant in our network, with cost quoted live to your ZIP through the Freight Cost Estimator. For fertilizer and applicator hauling context, the leg-tank fertilizer guide and the portable utility tank DOT classification guide walk through trailer and exemption rules, while the blend-tank stratification guide covers keeping dense solutions mixed. For resin confirmation, fittings, or a freight quote, call 866-418-1777.
