Aluminum water tank question

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I need to fab. a 4' wide by 5' tall by 3' deep tank to hold water. This tank will be mounted inside a box truck for supply to a concrete cutting saw on site.My question is, what material ( I am assuming 6061) and what thickness do I need.I do plan on at least one baffle, maybe for support on long side as well as slosh dampening.ANY info is greatly appreciatedThanks,.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Part of the answer will have to do with how you design this. The baffels will help stiffen the box sides which in turn will let you use thinner material than you could if you didn't have the support.I figure that at 60 cu ft. Thats about 450 gal 100% full or 3600lbs. Thats a lot of weight and when 1/2 full, when it gets moving it's goint to F things up BIG TIME! I'd do several baffels to limit the water hammer effect of the sloshing as well as support the side walls. Also with all that weight high and on one side of the truck most likely, I can see the posibility of handleing issues driving if it can move much..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yep, 450 max. 400 working.The truck is a big box truck, guessing 4 ton cap.These tanks are used alot here.  I can do the work, just not sure on the material specs.Would two baffles on the long sides be enough?Thanks.Tim Beeker.
Reply:I'm not so sure. 400 gal even divided into 3 sections is still more than my 100 gal diesel transfer tank holds.  It's got 4 baffels in it, one every foot. Breaking 400gal down into 25 gal increments isn't practical, but I'd probably do one foot between the baffels on the longs side and try to do a center one the other way if posible.How you lay out the baffels can make a big difference in how the tank is supported and braced. My biggest concern is the large unsupported sides and the force that the water will apply to the baffels flexing them in the center..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by tnjindI need to fab. a 4' wide by 5' tall by 3' deep tank to hold water. This tank will be mounted inside a box truck for supply to a concrete cutting saw on site.My question is, what material ( I am assuming 6061) and what thickness do I need.I do plan on at least one baffle, maybe for support on long side as well as slosh dampening.ANY info is greatly appreciatedThanks,.
Reply:last time i looked 5086 in sheet form was only a few buxx more than 6061 with more corrosion resistance......... just a thought.i notice that no one has answered on your question about what thickness so im going to throw out an idea just to get things going.id guess that if you used 1/4" then you would need baffles every 12" vertically and horizontally with small flow holes at the bottom of the vertical ones.the horizontal baffles are more to tie the sides/ ends in so could have large holes it or be from narrower stock.Fire AwayG