Build diary - 55 gallon drum watering system

HaltCatchFire

New member

Equipment
BX23S
Feb 19, 2021
6
8
3
Oregon
I have some trees that need watering in remote areas of the yard, and nothing on the market was simple and cheap enough for my needs, so I built this system for my BX. It worked so well I figure someone else might want to use it as a starting point for their project so here's how I built it.

BOM:
1 MGHT to dual 1/2" FNPT + 3/4 MNPT adapter
1 FGHT to 1/2" barb adapter
1 MGHT to 1/2" barb adapter
1 1/2" x 36" threaded pipe nipple
1 55 gal poly drum
1 set drum bungs with 3/4" NPT knockouts
1 RV auto-start water pump (I used a Vevor 3.5GPM pump off Amazon)
1 "SAE" style sidewall connector
1 3ft "SAE" style wire lead with connector
Male and female 0.156" crimp bullets
10ft or so 1/2" hose
1 Garden hose nozzle
2 cat1 lift pins
6 ft 2x2x1/8 angle iron
24 ft or so 1.5x1.5x1/8 angle iron
A few feet of 1/8" steel sheet ~1" wide to make a support band.

The total cost all-in was under $250.

It took be a bit to figure out how to make a 55gal drum pickup I was happy with - the key was the dual adapter. Three sets of threads on one piece - female threads for the dipper, male threads for the bung and hose.

Pickup assembly.
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Pipe nipple trimmed to length and notched for water pickup.
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I cut an opening in the SMV sign bracket for the power socket. It sits right where the spare loom is and is a part I don't mind mangling a bit.
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SAE sidewall connector with some wire extension, split loom, and crimped bullets.
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On the bracket.
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All mounted up. It's plumbed into the always-on loom tucked behind the fender that Kubota uses for work lights. Nice of them to have it there with a 20A fuse ready for anyone to use. With wrapped split loom and ties and it almost looks factory.
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Steel cut list.
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Weld drawing.
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Continuing in part 2...
 
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HaltCatchFire

New member

Equipment
BX23S
Feb 19, 2021
6
8
3
Oregon
Some of the worst welding you will have seen. You might wonder if I welded the diagonal supports upside-down, and you would be correct. I am far too lazy to change it now, it'll do.
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Prototyping the plumbing and electrical.
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All mounted up and working! Holds about 400lb of water just fine.
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These little pumps have great power!
Clipboard15.jpg
 
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GrizBota

Well-known member

Equipment
L3830HST/LA724, B2601/LA435/RCK54-32, RCR1872, CDI 66”grapple, pallet forks
Apr 26, 2023
1,153
736
113
Oregon
Looks like that should work well for you. Good figuring out and making it so. I note that it sort of plays into your user name as well.
 
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D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,816
5,559
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Some of the worst welding you will have seen. You might wonder if I welded the diagonal supports upside-down, and you would be correct. I am far too lazy to change it now, it'll do.
View attachment 105993

Prototyping the plumbing and electrical.
View attachment 105994

All mounted up and working! Holds about 400lb of water just fine.
View attachment 105995

These little pumps have great power!
View attachment 105996
The supports are only up side down if you say so! You're the inventor so how can it be wrong? ;)

It does what you want.... Nice job.
 
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Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,421
2,785
113
Michigan
Thats a pretty cool idea, and nice write up.
 
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tsp159

Member

Equipment
B7100D
Feb 8, 2023
98
50
18
Fort Bend Texas
Wow, this is a handy little setup. I bet a simple boom could be rigged up to make a cheap sprayer as well. I've been looking for something with a 40-60g capacity and they're well over $750 new and the quality doesn't seem to be great from what I read.
 
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Warrior67

New member
Sep 22, 2019
10
5
3
Ohio
I built something extremely similar, but I was lazy and used a carry-all to transport it. 55-gallon drum with a 5.5 gpm 12v pump. Your custom fabricated carrier looks nicer.
 
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leveraddict

Well-known member

Equipment
2017 BX23S 60" LP BoxBlade 54" mower 60" BackBlade EA 12" 1 bottom plow & Forks
Apr 1, 2019
907
589
93
NEPA
Nice build! I would be extremely careful driving around with 400 lbs of weight on the rear and nothing up front!
Edit! I just noticed its a BX23S so you have a FEL for counter balance!
 
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HaltCatchFire

New member

Equipment
BX23S
Feb 19, 2021
6
8
3
Oregon
Nice build! I would be extremely careful driving around with 400 lbs of weight on the rear and nothing up front!
Edit! I just noticed its a BX23S so you have a FEL for counter balance!
Yep, either the loader or MMM counter balance it well enough to stay planted. It's definitely a "take your time" sort of load on the back!
 

jyoutz

Well-known member

Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Jan 14, 2019
2,974
2,018
113
Edgewood, New Mexico
A 500’ roll of 1/2” PE drip tubing is less than $100 at Home Depot. Unless you are needing to water a much further distance from a hydrant, it seems to me like a simpler solution.
 

HaltCatchFire

New member

Equipment
BX23S
Feb 19, 2021
6
8
3
Oregon
A 500’ roll of 1/2” PE drip tubing is less than $100 at Home Depot. Unless you are needing to water a much further distance from a hydrant, it seems to me like a simpler solution.
You'll have to take my word that simply laying tubing isn't an option. It would be over 1000' across a driveway, through a creek, over a mowed field, and finally along an elk/deer path.