My weekend project. Gas bottle rack for my work van

[triggerman]

Here is my latest welding project. Thought I'd share it with y'all in hopes of getting some feedback.

I started with 1/2" X 3" strap and slices of 8" schedule 40 pipe for a heavy, solid base. The top rails are made of 3/4" stainless square tube (because that's what I had) and the clamps are made from 8" pipe hangers, 1/2" cold rolled rod, 1/2" threaded rod and OTS knobs from Grainger.

[triggerman]

More pics......

There slots for 4 bottles so that I can add a nitrogen cylinder when I get my 375 X-treme . The clamps can be hung from the top or bottom of the rack and the knobs make a great place to hang leads. Any comments welcome.

[ronnielyons]

Bottle bracket

I like it, cool idea.
Ronnie

[calweld]

I think it's a great setup, BUT, i'd hate to think of what could happen if one of those things wasn't tightened up properly; not quite square, you hit a bump, that bracket falls right out, being held in only by friction. I, personally, would consider wrapping a safety chain around each bottle . . . especially any that don't have the cap on.

[garth]

Hi there triggerman those look good but I would be cautious about that kind of weigth on the 1/4 screws that hold the top of that adrian bulk head to the 22gage roof bose of that van they are known to tear out if there is a lot of verticle push at the top . we do these at the day job all the time. if there is room between the seats at the area that should be the swing door If it was me I would try to put in a brace from that to the floor. I would hate to see that big bottle go through the front window if you were to get into an accident. other wise that is one great looking rack. take care and thanks for sharing.

[triggerman]

Thanks......

i'd hate to think of what could happen if one of those things wasn't tightened up properly

A keen eye you have. Part of the design of the clamps is even the ones inserted from the bottom will stay if loose. Even so, there is a backup. I have leads and extension cords, etc. hung from the tightening bolts and the straps securing them go around the bottles.

I would be cautious about that kind of weigth on the 1/4 screws that hold the top of that adrian bulk head to the 22gage roof

I appreciate the info. The next phase of this project will be to reinforce the bulkhead. I will post those pics next. To pull the bulkhead down, the roof of the van will have to be collapsed at two different ribs. I think that will be sufficient.

And thanks for the kudos, y'all.

[Darmik]

bottles

pretty cool I really like the idea but if this is on a truck what happens if god forbid you tip over? as you know sh!t happens.

[tommyj3]

I have always been told it is against DOT Regulations to carry cylinders in a inclosed vehicle, is this the case or not.

[triggerman]

Wow, what a question.....

I really don't know. However, every van on on the road for refrigeration, air conditioning, or plumbing service (and there are litterally millions of them) has gas cylinders. I will do some research and find out. Thanks for the heads up!

[Darmik]

Bottle Encloser

I built a welding truck for Alberta about 3 months ago and I asked that very same question so I asked my manager and about 2 day's later he said you can as long as you take all the electrical out of the cabinet and plug up all the holes and put a vent at the bottom of the bin.here is a pic of the truck the bin is right behined the passenger the tall one.

[tommyj3]

Darmik thats a nice looking setup and looks very safe. The trouble I see with Triggermans setup is the inclosed van. The driver is in the same compartment as the cylinders. If by chance there was a leak in a gas or co2 cylinder the driver could black out while driving down the road causing a accident or even death to himself or someone else. I think it would be a great setup if the driver was isolated from the cylinders. Maybe I'am thinking to negative here.

[Darmik]

Gas

Darmik thats a nice looking setup and looks very safe. The trouble I see with Triggermans setup is the inclosed van. The driver is in the same compartment as the cylinders. If by chance there was a leak in a gas or co2 cylinder the driver could black out while driving down the road causing a accident or even death to himself or someone else. I think it would be a great setup if the driver was isolated from the cylinders. Maybe I'am thinking to negative here.

Your right thats what could happen however the box that you saw is are you sitting down yet$ 6800.00 bare when I finished this welding truck the bill came to just about $145,000.00 that was labour, toys and tax.and it was over weight by 900 lbs.I just hope trigger is carefull in transit.

OOPs that was 12,700.00 for the body

[Blondie_486]

I have always been told it is against DOT Regulations to carry cylinders in a inclosed vehicle, is this the case or not.

Yes that is the case!!!
My welding supplier wouldn't even let the tanks off the loading dock knowing they were going to be transported in a closed vehicle. There are many horror pictures of people carrying tanks in enclosed vehicles, some you can't even identify what it was before it blew up. My welding supplier refused to allow me to take my tanks away until I took the cap off my pickup truck (even though I had the side windows open and didn't close the back window), I realize that some suppliers are more strict than others but common sense goes a long way, one should never mix a flamable gas with an oxidizer in an enclosed container whether it has wheels or not. As far as the Argon bottle if it had a defective valve on it and leaked enough it could even suffocate you as Argon is heavier than air and would settle to the bottom of your lungs and fill them up preventing you from getting any oxygen.

The idea and design however is a great idea and would be an excellent way to transport your cylinders in a pickup truck.

I don't mean to sound negative but I'd hate to see anyone get hurt because of unsafe handling of cylinders.

Blondie

[paulrbrown]

Triggerman, it looks like your just gonna have to drive with the window open all the time. It never gets hot or cold in Dallas, Does It? Anyway, it is a great design, I like the 'Nylon'? spacers between the screw. Nice to see someone standing their acetelyne bottle upright instead of laying them down like the morons I used to work with......Jealous in Florida, Paul

[triggerman]

As a matter of fact......

Triggerman, it looks like your just gonna have to drive with the window open all the time. It never gets hot or cold in Dallas, Does It? Anyway, it is a great design, I like the 'Nylon'? spacers between the screw.

I always have a rear window unlatched and almaost always have a front window cracked. No, it NEVER gets hot or cold here. Tonight is supposed to be 18° (a little on the coolish side) and in the summer we don't even really start counting until about the 40th consecutive 100+° ( a little on the warmish side) day.

Oh, well. I was working in a -20° freezer today (we do systems that operate as low as -100° and provide the primary loop for some systems that maintain -450°) and the engine rooms we work in run 20-25° hotter than ambient, so cracking a window is no big deal.

The spacers between the threaded rod and the bottle are pieces of the same schedule 40 pipe the rings of the base are from.

Thanks for the kudos,