Portable truck bed tanks for vehicle fleets are mobile storage containers engineered for transport applications and versatility in handling liquid cargo such as water, chemicals, mixtures, and project specific commodities. We have selected the top 3 recommended portable tanks built from heavy-duty polyethylene. These tanks are ideally suited for transport and use from the truck bed of company vehicles and fleets that require product mobility to complete their day-to-day jobs and get work done.
The portable tank selections are balanced between storage capacity, tank measurements, and cost of initial investment. Portable transport tanks are considered a business asset and investment as they provide repeat use and many years of service. Each tank type features its own selective engineering that can make one option better suited for some applications, work conditions, and vehicle types over others.
Depending on the tank design and specifications, our top 3 portable tanks can be used in pickup trucks, flatbed trucks, semi-trucks, box trucks, municipal roadway and highway maintenance trucks, as well as pull-behind trailers.
The top 3 portable truck bed tanks for vehicle fleets are Leg Tanks, Low Profile Tanks, and IBC Tote Tanks.
Each of the above options can be used for water hauling, delivering water to work sites, set up for spraying applications, and for the transit of non-hazardous, non-DOT regulated chemicals, solutions, company cargo, and project materials. For the shipping of company commodities across transportation networks subject to UN/DOT regulations, IBC tote tanks are UN/DOT approved handling containers.
Specific work cases include deicing and dust control such as with calcium chloride, various water needs, construction site materials, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and a wide range of chemicals used in industrial settings, agriculture, manufacturing, processing, and direct applications.
How the Tanks are Made
The portable tank options are primarily made from high density polyethylene plastic, with stainless steel portable tanks available for IBC containers. Most portable polyethylene tanks are potable water grade made from FDA approved virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin and independently certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 requirements. Non-potable portable poly tanks are also available, but not as common, and are often yellow in color and sometimes referred to as applicator or sprayer tanks.
With the exception of the caged IBC tote, all portable poly tanks are manufactured using rotational mold fabrication methods and techniques.
Rotational molded poly tanks, also called rotomolded tanks, are uniquely fabricated to create a one-piece, seamless container from a single mold. Rotational molding allows for thicker, more durable, longer lasting plastic tanks to be built. Rotomolded tanks are physically stronger and more resilient to impacts, punctures, drops, and chemical attack.
The poly caged IBC tote is blow-mold fabricated. In comparison, this accounts for the container’s thinner, more flexible tank, lower cost, and limited reusability.
Our polyethylene portable tanks are all made with ultraviolet stabilizing compounds to inhibit the damaging effects of direct sunlight, approving the containers for a full service life and use outdoors.
Leg Tanks
Leg tanks provide high volume capacity options, improved ability to be secured, fastened or mounted during transit, versatility in placement and use, and built-in liquid slosh reduction. Leg tanks are made in two main design types ideal for truck beds and vehicle fleets: horizontal leg tanks and elliptical leg tanks. Horizontal leg tanks are the standard product option. Elliptical leg tanks feature a reduced vertical height that lowers the tank’s center of gravity to improve overall stability during transit.
Leg tanks are engineered with legs built into the container frame to provide freestanding support and allow the tank to be stored and used either in or out of a vehicle. The legs double as built in baffles to help limit liquid sloshing during movement. The baffles help with stability of both the tank and vehicle by reducing the amount of shifting weight during transport, which is ideal and even necessary when moving large volumes of liquids.
Specs and Options
Leg tank volumes range from 35 gallons up to 6025 gallons with many capacity options available in between to choose from. Size dimensions span from 29” W x 20” L x 23” H up to 193” W x 99” L x 103” H. Specific gravity options for leg tanks include 1.5 S.G., 1.7 S.G., and heavy-duty 1.9 S.G.
Available options include basic models or sump models that promote more effective, more complete drainage of tank contents. Frame upgrades are available that convert a leg tank into a skid-mounted tank to provide the best transit security by allowing the tank frame to be mounted to a vehicle through use of hardware.
Our leg tanks are all made in the USA by some of North America’s leading poly tank manufacturers. Manufacturers include Norwesco, Enduraplas, Dura-Cast, Chem-Tainer, and Ace Roto-Mold. Warranties are available for leg tank products to cover defects in tank material or workmanship and range from 3 years to 10 years depending on the manufacturer.
Advantages of Leg Tanks
- Highest volume capacity
- Wide range of volume options
- Sump option for improved discharge
- Built-in baffle, anti-slosh system
- Heavy-duty 1.9 S.G. models for high weight, corrosive cargo
- Frame or bands allow secure, hardware mounting
- Frame upgrade for easy loading/unloading
- Lifting lugs available on many larger volume models
- Multiple fitting flat locations for adding additional fittings
Price Analysis
Compared to low profile and IBC tote tanks, the portable leg tank option has the largest price range and often the greatest initial cost investment per gallon size. The increased cost can be attributed to the tank’s unique engineering design, more manufacturing material required, and an overall more durable product. Portable poly leg tank prices can range from $150+ to $20,000+.
Low Profile Tanks
Low profile tanks provide small to large transport volumes in a flat base container designed with a reduced vertical height. The low profile tank is made to improve transport stability, rearview vehicle visibility, and allow the tank to be placed and used in low clearance locations or vehicles. The tanks are free-standing with a flat, self-supporting base. Low profile tanks are also known as flat transport tanks and pickup truck bed tanks as their low height and overall size is ideal for standard pickup trucks and flatbeds.
The engineered design of the low profile tank does not require support bands or a frame to secure the container during transport. A downside to this, the tanks must be hand-lifted into vehicles often requiring them to be empty prior to loading and then filled. Most low profile tanks feature grooves molded into the container that can be used with tie-down straps for restraint during movement when additional stability is needed or to prevent small or light-load tanks from sliding.
Specs and Options
Low profile tank volumes range from 50 gallons up to 2400 gallons. Size dimensions span from 24” W x 43” L x 15” H up to 90” W x 150” L x 53” H. Specific gravity options include 1.5 S.G. and 1.7 S.G with a heavy-duty 1.9 S.G tank option available.
Our poly low profile transport tanks are USA made by industry-leading manufacturers Norwesco and Ace Roto-Mold. The tanks are supported by a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Advantages of Low Profile Tanks
- Improved clearance for both tank and vehicle
- Improved vehicle rear view visibility
- Self-supporting flat bottom
- Ideal size for pickup truck beds
- Built-in grooves for tie-down straps
Price Analysis
Compared to leg tanks and IBC tote tanks, the low profile tank option has the lowest cost-per-gallon ratio, making it an excellent choice for companies on a budget while not compromising container volume, convenience, or effectiveness. Low profile tank prices range from $250+ to $4,500+.
IBC Tote Tanks
IBC tote tanks offer low to intermediate volume handling in a standardized, palletized, Title 49 CFR UN/DOT approved shipping container. IBC tote engineering excels at organization, space-saving, modularity, integration, and maneuverability. The cube-shaped design, built-in pallet platform, and heavy-duty container with lid and release valve makes the IBC an all-in-one product ready for any application and ready to help businesses save time, space, and operation costs.
IBC containers have an internationally standardized shape and size dimensions built around the measurements and style of standard shipping pallets. The pallet-style platform of an IBC allows the tank to be easily maneuvered, loaded, and unloaded onto company vehicles using pallet jacks and forklift equipment. The box-like design allows for easier organization and better security when storing or transporting.
IBC tote tanks feature a top-located lid that ranges in size from 6” up to 21” with Wide Mouth IBCs that is ideal for jobs requiring greater access to inside the container such as for mixing. IBC lids or vent bungs automatically regulate internal pressure buildup that may occur during use from sunlight heating or cargo vapors. All IBCs include a bottom ball valve release drain that allows direct access to container contents and can be connected to pipes or hoses for application uses. The IBC ball valve is often used with a camlock coupler for streamlining worksite connections and disconnections.
Specs and Options
IBC volumes range from 120 gallons up to 793 gallons. The 275 gallon, the 330 gallon, and 550 gallon IBCs are the most used volume sizes. Base size dimensions fluctuate around 40” W x 48” L. IBC height is dependent on total storage capacity. Most IBC tote tanks have a specific gravity rating of 1.9 S.G. for handling heavy liquids and chemicals.
IBCs are available in various model options. Options include the commonly used poly caged tote, the CageBuster, the Ultratainer, the Widemouth Ultratainer, stainless steel IBCs, and the 550 gallon all-poly Megatainer.
Our IBC tote tanks are manufactured in the USA by Snyder Industries, a North American leader in providing storage tanks and intermediate bulk containers for businesses, municipalities, and industry professionals.
Advantages of IBC Tote Tanks
- Pallet-style design
- Improved maneuverability
- Direct application integration
- Modular
- Built-in ball valve
- Space-saving box-like shape
- Rugged engineering
- Reusable
- Various model options
- Title 49 CFR, UN/DOT certified
- Approved for PG II / PG III hazmat
Price Analysis
IBCs provide the best cost-to-volume-to-service ratio of all the portable tank options, especially when considering their versatility, ability to directly integrate into applications, and their approval as UN/DOT shipping containers. IBC prices range from $200+ to $5,000+.
IBC tote tanks make the best choice for large vehicle fleets that need to transport a significant quantity of commodities, especially if the occurrence is regular.
As America’s liquid tank superstore, we have the capability to provide wholesale, bulk order discounts on poly cage IBC totes for companies that use and need many IBC tote tanks. The IBCs must be purchased in full truckload quantities (FTL freight) to receive the available bulk order discount.
Takeaway | 3 Portable Truck Bed Tanks for Vehicle Fleets
Our top 3 portable truck bed tanks for vehicle fleets were selected based on an overview comparison of the different transport tanks that are available for purchase in today’s markets. Our recommendation for leg tanks, low profile tanks, and IBC tote tanks is built on the productive engineering of the tank types as well as their specifications, costs, and their overall usability for different applications.
When needing to transport water, chemical solutions, or other materials for a job, these portable tanks are the best choice. When needed to ship and handle UN/DOT regulated commodities, IBC tote tanks are the top in their class.
For more information on poly tanks or our other products, review our knowledge base. If you have specific questions or need assistance in product selection, contact us, our professional support team is standing by.