DIY Scuba Tank Rack

[Silverback784]

WOW Now thats a nice Rack. Sooo How much you gonna sell em for? No joke I would like to buy one I know that.
Now thats a really Nice CNC very good job there.

 

[deepwater]

Dude...you have mad skills with the wood. That's what my kids would say anyway. How much is probibly the only question I can ask.

 

[HenrikBP]

That's a fantastic idea and a *very* nice job on the design and cutting. Any chance you'd publish some basic plans for us mere mortals with just a jigsaw in our tool kit?

Henrik

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Don't like it much at all. How do you place the tanks in it? Looks like it would kill your back unless you do a lot of extra work in loading and unloading the tanks.

Also, is the tank rack going to be placed in the location shown?
How will the rack be secured?

In a front end collison that entire rack is going to flying toward the cab of the truck. If the intent of a tank rack is to hold tanks securely in a safe and convienent manner, that is not it. Sorry.

 

[klick]

Well I was going to say wow look at all nice responses, dumpsterDiver put a stop to that.... I'm not sure what extra work you are referring too, I built the rack for a few reasons, one primary reason is because I have a bad back, i'm recovering from back surgery and it wasn't successful, and i'm scheduling to go back for another surgery. The rack slides back when you open the back of the truck, that way i don't lean over, the tanks are easily accessible. Yes, you have to pickup the scuba tanks, i'm not sure what rack you have that allows the tanks to float, i'll buy one of those though. Perhaps there is a better way to make a tank rack, i don't know. I searched for other truck bed tank racks, most extended above the bed of the truck. I have an aluminum rolling/locking cover, i wanted the tanks under so I could lock them in. The tanks are obviously secured, my securing methods would break no sooner then the other tank racks I looked at in the event of a collision.

To everyone else...

Thanks for all your comments, I'll attach the DXF's to anyone who's interested.

I did have some others at the quarry ask me how much I would charge to make em one, i don't know really, i'd have to make a few more and really see how long they take to make. The wood I used alone was $40, but i'm sure I could use more cost effective plywood, plus use it more efficiently. I don't know what a fair price would be, it's be hard to compete with the mass manufactured stuff.

I based my design on the tanks I had, which were AL80's, I did make it so I thought it would fit most 7 1/4" tanks. I could make the bottom brace (in the zip attachment) have multiple positions for the main cross sections. That would allow for easy length modification. The big thing you have to avoid is a tank boot. Also, perhaps i should just design it for 8" tanks, and then of course 7 1/4" tanks would fit, just not as snugly. With the straps though, it wouldn't really matter, they would be very secure. I did think about doing 8 inch cutouts, and then have adapters to make 7 1/4" inch tanks fit the 8 inch spots.

What would be the best size? 2, 3, 4 tanks? I think if i did another set, i would do twin tanks, and then have an optional connector to join 2 twin racks, making a quad rack. 2 tanks most of the time is probably going to work for me, making it modular would allow me to easily add another twin rack to get 4 total. Two twin racks would still fit in a truck the standard way.

drydiver:
Yes, the cutouts on the side where for tiedown options, i wasn't sure what would line up properly. It turned out to be a good idea, allows for more places to secure the tanks as well. It is like a 3d puzzle, i like making things that fit together in that fashion, kinda fun

 

[DIWdiver]

Not only mad skills, but artistic as well. It's very pleasing to look at. So's the tank rack ;-)

I do think that the tanks shouldn't be against the taligate with nothing else in the bed. If the bed is otherwise empty, slide the rack up against the cab and secure there. If the bed is full of scuba gear like mine usually is, no worries.

I also think the bungies are unnecessary (though the cutouts are gorgeous). I have only a 2x3 (wide side down) separating tanks in my rack, and tanks don't roll over them. Tie-DOWNs aren't the thing, you need to tie FRONT TO BACK.

Love the part that slides over the valves. That's the only problem with my rack - some tanks slide off when I accelerate if they aren't strapped in. IMHO your design eliminates any need to strap the tanks.

If you went to make them for sale, you'd definitely want to accomodate gennie 80's (short and slender) to 120's (tall) and 8" tanks as well, with or without boots. Or maybe only go for a subset of the market and simplify. Trying to please everybody can make you crazy...

D

 

[DaleC]

Dude, there's no comparison between your DIY tank rack and mine... no comparison

 

[merxlin]

........ Yes, you have to pickup the scuba tanks, I'm not sure what rack you have that allows the tanks to float, I'll buy one of those though. ..........

One of the best replies ever.

 

[mike_s]

Mad skillz indeed. pretty awesome build.

 

[HenrikBP]

Thanks for the schematics. They open fine in Illustrator.

I like all the cut-outs. I'd probably thread one or two ratchet tie-downs though the cut-outs across the tanks. As for keeping the tanks in place during braking: a dive buddy has a 2x10 sitting across the bed so it "butts" up against the wheel wells. Don't know if that'd leave you enough room for the tanks, but I'm sure something similar could be made while giving you enough length.

I think a rack is more important for single tanks to keep them from rolling around. I just strap my doubles down and further secure them with gear bags and such. Although, if you can tweak the tank spacing to fit either singles and doubles then I'd say go for it.

Good job and thanks for sharing.

Henrik