The Norwesco 55 Gallon Portable Flat Bottom Utility Tank ships without fittings, giving you a clean White polyethylene vessel to plumb exactly how your application needs. At 44 inches tall on an 18 x 18 inch footprint, this 55 gallon tank holds its capacity in a compact vertical column that fits tight equipment bays, utility trailers, and skid setups where floor space is scarce. It carries a 1.5 specific gravity rating, so it is built to handle liquids heavier than water within that limit.
Will it work for your job?
Filled with water, this tank carries roughly 459 lb of contents, and its polyethylene wall is rated to a maximum contents weight of 688 lb. Here is the rule that ties those two numbers together: 55 gallons at 8.34 lb per gallon times the 1.5 specific gravity rating works out to about 688 lb, which is the same as the rated contents ceiling. In practice, stay at or under 1.5 specific gravity and you stay at or under 688 lb. Size your stand, platform, or trailer deck for that heaviest case, not just plain water. Because the tank ships without fittings, you choose the bulkhead, outlet, and vent placement during installation, so plan your plumbing layout before you drill. If you are deciding between this and a larger or differently shaped tank, run your numbers through the Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide.
Fittings and seals are buyer-sourced
Since this is a no-fitting tank, you source the bulkhead fittings, outlets, vents, and gaskets separately. The single most common install error here is matching the seal to the tank instead of to the liquid: your gasket and fitting materials must be compatible with whatever you are storing, not just with polyethylene. Confirm those material choices before you order your fittings, and place them with the tank empty so the connections seat properly. The 1.5 specific gravity rating is what lets you run denser solutions, but keep the contents under the 688 lb ceiling whatever you plumb in.
Reading the specs and mounting it safely
The 18 x 18 inch footprint and 44 inch height make this a tall, narrow Norwesco utility tank rather than a wide low-profile loaf style. That narrow base under a 44 inch column puts the center of gravity high, so it must be strapped or framed on all four sides when transported on a trailer or set on a deck, otherwise it can tip when full or sloshing. Check the technical drawing on this page for the body dimensions and molded reference details before you build your mount. For portable and farm-fleet use, the guide on Norwesco loaf-style portable utility tanks, 49 CFR 173.5 agricultural exemption and DOT classification is worth reading if you plan to move the tank with liquid in it.
Freight and getting it to your site
At 44 inches tall, this Norwesco tank moves as an LTL freight item, not parcel or ground, so it needs a freight quote to your ZIP before checkout rather than a flat shipping rate. It ships from the Sheldon, IA plant, quoted live to your ZIP code. Get an exact number with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call us at 866-418-1777 and we will walk you through delivery options. If you are setting the tank on a concrete pad, the guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks covers the ACI 360R-10 framework, and for fire-water reservoir or water-reuse setups see our guides on fire-water reservoir tank design and industrial water reuse tank topology. Questions on fittings, mounting, or sizing before you order? Call 866-418-1777.
