The Norwesco 500 Gallon Black Loaf Tank (SKU 43843B) is a low-profile polyethylene transport and storage tank built for stable hauling and tight-clearance installs. Oriented 92 inches long by 48 inches wide and only 31 inches tall, it carries 500 gallons without the high center of gravity of an upright tank, which is exactly what you want for a skid-mounted or truck-bed water hauler. The black polyethylene shell blocks light to discourage algae growth in stored water, and the tank is rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, so it handles standard water service with substantial margin.
Will it work for your application?
Filled with water, this 500 gallon tank holds roughly 4,170 pounds of contents, and its 1.5 specific gravity rating allows a maximum rated contents weight of up to 6,255 pounds. Water itself uses only about two-thirds of that rated capacity, which leaves real headroom for heavier mixed loads. That weight is the number that drives your hauling and support decisions: a loaded loaf tank is over two tons, so the trailer, truck bed, or skid carrying it has to be rated accordingly, and the tank needs continuous bottom support across the full 92 x 48 inch footprint. The squat 31 inch profile keeps the load low and cuts sloshing-induced rollover risk compared to a vertical tank of the same capacity. If you are deciding between sizes or confirming that a 500 gallon loaf fits your trailer and payload, run the numbers through our Tank Sizing Calculator and review the Tank Sizing Guide.
Fittings and outlet configuration
Fitting and outlet placement, exact dimensions, and wall detail are shown on the technical drawing on this page; review it before you plumb the tank so suction and fill points line up with your pump and hose runs. If you need the outlet layout confirmed for your build, call 866-418-1777 and we will read the configuration off the drawing with you.
Mounting and use considerations
Loaf-style tanks are the workhorse of portable utility and farm-fleet water hauling, and the rules around that use matter. If you are running this tank on agricultural equipment, our guide to Norwesco loaf-style portable utility tanks and the 49 CFR 173.5 agricultural exemption walks through the DOT classification picture for farm use. For stationary placement, support the full footprint on a level, continuous surface; loaf tanks are not built to span gaps or sit on point supports. If you are setting one on a pad rather than a skid, our breakdown of concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks covers the ACI framework. The most common mistake to avoid: undersizing the support structure for the full 6,255 pound rated load, or assuming the low profile means it can ride unsecured. Strap it down and carry the contents weight you actually plan to haul.
Water-storage applications
Beyond mobile hauling, a 500 gallon loaf works for low-clearance rainwater capture, fire-water reserve at remote sites, and reuse staging. For rural fire reserve sizing, see our fire-water reservoir tank design guide, and for grey-water, rainwater, and HVAC condensate aggregation, our industrial water reuse tank topology guide maps where banded storage fits.
This 500 gallon loaf tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP from the nearest stocking plant among Albertville, AL; Hanford, CA; and Sheldon, IA. Get an exact freight number with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it and confirm availability from the closest plant to you.
