Norwesco 52 Gallon Portable Flat Bottom Utility Tank in White

Where it goes

Seventeen inches tall is the reason to pick this tank over the taller ones beside it. It slides under a closed tonneau or a bed cap, sits in the box of a side by side without blocking the view, and goes under a shelf in a van. The trade is footprint: 43 by 24 inches takes more floor than a loaf tank of the same capacity, so measure the space before you order. Full of water it weighs about 434 lb, which is a load for the vehicle rather than for a person, so strap it across the body, never over the lid, and give the outlet room so a hose does not kink against the wall. The farm fleet DOT classification guide covers how small utility tanks on a farm vehicle are treated under the agricultural exemption. On a pad between jobs, the tank wants a flat, continuous surface under the whole floor; our guide to concrete pad sizing for above ground polyethylene tanks covers a permanent pad, though a tank this size is usually happy on pavers.

What goes in it

Water, spray mixes, liquid fertilizer and the common chemicals that polyethylene handles. Check anything unusual in our chemical compatibility guide before you fill it, and ask us if the liquid is not one you have put in polyethylene before. White lets you see the level through the wall. A 52 gallon tank suits a job that empties it in a day or two; a small tank that sits half full in the sun grows algae faster than a big one. For reuse and collection systems, our water reuse tank topology guide shows where a small day tank fits, and our fire water reservoir design guide covers how much water a rural fire reserve actually needs before you count on a small tank for it. For the volume, use the tank sizing calculator and tank sizing guide.

Openings and fittings

1. Outlet. A 1 inch polypropylene female NPT bulkhead fitting, factory installed. A 1 inch ball valve or a hose barb threads straight into it. That size feeds a small pump or a gravity hose well; it is not a fast drain.
2. Lid. A 5 inch threaded vented lid on top: wide enough to fill from a hose and to drop a small suction line through, not wide enough for a hand, so the tank is rinsed from the top with a wand. The vent lets air in as the pump draws down; keep it clear.
3. Drawing. Norwesco's drawing for this tank, linked under Technical Drawing on this page, shows the outlet position and the lid position.

Sizes nearby

Nearly the same capacity in a taller, narrower loaf body with a bigger lid: the 50 gallon portable loaf utility tank. One size up: the 55 gallon portable flat bottom utility tank.

Shipping and receiving

The tank ships by UPS at 32 lb in a 43 by 24 by 17 inch carton from the nearest of Norwesco's plants, which include Fairfield, Texas; Griffin, Georgia; Hanford, California; Lancaster, Ohio; Shawnee, Oklahoma; Sheldon, Iowa; and St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. The listed price is before freight; the freight cost estimator gives the cost to your ZIP, and a parcel to a home address needs no dock or forklift. When it arrives, check the part number against 43839, look at the outlet fitting for a cracked nut, and fill it with water the first time before it carries anything else.

Questions before you order? Call 866-418-1777.