The Norwesco 45-gallon portable flat-bottom utility tank is a compact black polyethylene tank built for hauling and dispensing water on a truck bed, trailer, or skid. Listed at 45 gallons, it measures 22" high with an 18" x 38" flat-bottom footprint. At only 22 inches tall over that wide 18" x 38" base, the loaded center of gravity stays low, which helps the tank ride steady and resist tipping when you brake or corner during transport. The polyethylene body carries a 1.5 specific gravity rating, meaning the wall is built to hold contents up to 1.5 times the weight of water. As a black tank, it blocks light to discourage algae growth in stored water, which is why these black Norwesco utility tanks turn up so often in field water and general fleet use.
Will it work for your setup?
Filled with plain water, this tank weighs about 375 lb, and its structure is rated to carry contents up to 563 lb. That gap is the 1.5 specific gravity rating in physical terms: 563 lb is roughly 1.5 times the 375 lb a full water load weighs. To sanity-check your own liquid, multiply gallons by 8.34 by its specific gravity and confirm the result lands under 563 lb. Plan your mount, straps, and vehicle payload around the loaded figure, not the empty shell. The 18" x 38" flat bottom spreads that weight evenly for spot watering, field transport, and general utility duty. If you are deciding between this size and a larger one, run the numbers through the Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide before you commit, since an overfilled tank that exceeds your trailer's rating is the most common and most expensive mistake here.
One thing to confirm first
Fitting and outlet configuration is not specified in our data for this SKU, so do not assume an outlet size or thread type. Confirm size, thread, and placement against the technical drawing on this page, or call us, before you order gaskets or bulkhead fittings. The 1.5 specific gravity rating gives headroom over plain water, but this tank is sized for water-type service, not heavy chemical loads, so keep your liquid's weight inside the 563 lb contents rating. If you are running this on a farm fleet, the guide on portable utility tanks and the agricultural exemption and DOT classification covers how these tanks are classified for road use.
Freight and ordering
This tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP code. Norwesco molds it at seven plants nationwide, including Fairfield, TX; Griffin, GA; Hanford, CA; Shawnee, OK; Sheldon, IA; St. Bonifacius, MN; and Washington Court House, OH, and we quote freight from the stocking location that serves your ZIP to keep transit short. Get a freight quote to your ZIP with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call us at 866-418-1777 and we will dial in the size, quantity, and shipping for your portable water setup.
