Aluminum VS Stainless?

[Boo Boo]

Looking at slide in units (200/400) from Best Enterprises (Stainless) and Kee Vac (Aluminum) both have the same pump and engine combos what do you prefer and why?

[KPToilets]

I have a Stainless tank on my c5500, and you can't beat stainless, it will last a life time. But if I was going to buy a slide in unit I would buy a Aluminum one. The main reason is the weight. Aluminum is so much lighter. You could run a lighter Truck under it. But reallize that a tank that size SHOULD to 20 to 30 toilets a day, if you lucky. When I bought My tank I figured 7 gallon per toilet fresh, and 10-15 waste. 200 gallon will then service 28 toilet, and 300 gallon waste will do only 30-20. If you grow this tank might not be the right size. I don't have a slide-unit but wish for one. I have a Older truck for a spare and a pick-up, if I had a slide-in unit I could get down to a 1 pick-up-spare and have less insurance. But I own the other two truck out right and the payment on the slide-in unit doesn't justified the expence.

[Allstar Sanitation]

I have a Stainless tank on my c5500, and you can't beat stainless, it will last a life time. But if I was going to buy a slide in unit I would buy a Aluminum one. The main reason is the weight. Aluminum is so much lighter. You could run a lighter Truck under it. But reallize that a tank that size SHOULD to 20 to 30 toilets a day, if you lucky. When I bought My tank I figured 7 gallon per toilet fresh, and 10-15 waste. 200 gallon will then service 28 toilet, and 300 gallon waste will do only 30-20. If you grow this tank might not be the right size. I don't have a slide-unit but wish for one. I have a Older truck for a spare and a pick-up, if I had a slide-in unit I could get down to a 1 pick-up-spare and have less insurance. But I own the other two truck out right and the payment on the slide-in unit doesn't justified the expence.

Agreed with Aluminum, consider the less wear n tear(cuz less stress on truck), less fuel, more capacity it makes great sense.

[pshed]

i would go stainless, buddie of mine welds aluminum on other types of trucks ive seen 2 many repairs. but if your truck stays on the street go aluminum

[Trent]

I have a 1999 slide in from Best. It's still in great shape. It's been bounced around alot off road and not problems yet.

[kenjh]

hey trent , what do you do to clean the stainless tank? I just bought a used Best slide in and it needs cleaning ,i'v tried some of the "green" cleaners no luck so far ,I am seting up for marine pump outs .so that is why I have stainless,the other problem is I have no idea what i am getting into,I am setting up a small tug for the job ,but I still don't know a dam thing about what to charge ,how much time to invest in a week .you know all the thing that seem to be important..so right now ..I am trying to clean up the equipment..

[Trent]

I don't polish the tank up if that is what you are asking. I just wash it with regular car wash soap.

Years ago I found some stuff called Alumagchrome that cleaned aluminum really well, it may work for stainless. I found it at a truck stop.

Good luck in your pumping venture. Keep us posted how it goes!

[pshed]

clean with bulk tank acid -it's what dairy farmers use to clean bulk tank and pipe lines,or ask a semi tanker driver

[kenjh]

thank's I haddn't thought of that ,to simple.thanks!!

[Argyll 1st]

I have 3 stainless tanks and tey could all do with proper clean, but thats not the question I have on a lets say 300/100 slide in unit what would the weight saveing be ? How much lighter is the ali option ?