How to Mount ANY Tank UNDERNEATH Your Bus (or Van!) | Conversion Guide

I haven't seen a comprehensive video explaining all the steps it takes to mount a tank under a bus (or van!). I wanted to put them all in one place, with some tips, tricks, and of course, tools along the way!
My name's Chuck, I've been professionally converting buses for the last 7 years and was director of operations for a charter bus company before that but it's time for a change.....
IN THIS SERIES, follow along as I build a skoolie for myself, sharing my knowledge of buses and off-grid bus conversions along the way.
Follow me on instagram for more info
/ chuck.cassady
For paid consults, skoolie advice, solar help, and more, email
[e-mail]
Check out my shop
www.chromeyell...
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#skoolie #offgridliving #busconversion

[@HandyKindaGuyUK]

This is so much better than others I've seen (plumbers strapping, unistrut etc) The only thing I'd say as a stranger on the internet is to insulate the tank to.

[@REGRETLYSS1]

Chuck does it again. Informative, digestible (even for someone like myself who has limited experience), and a fun cameo with the Lost Renegades. Loved it! Keep ‘em coming!!

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Thank you alyssa 💓

[@dockledoo]

Since when do you have limited experience? Your helped build you bus and it is Gorgeous!!!!!

[@moptop85]

Instead of putting the bolt on tabs on the bottom, you can put them on the side. Just add gussets and angle iron for the drop downs. That will give a little extra clearance

[@johnnylightning1491]

My thoughts exactly. If you hit something it won't have a much to grab onto.

[@2AZSUN]

Charlie for the win on showing how to get it done and done well. If you have a few tools, there's no question, this channel shows how to get it built.

[@StasiManser]

Love the “pro tip” Chuck! You’re a wealth of really helpful information. So empowering to watch your videos. Please don’t stop sharing!

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

You got it

[@jasonbecker4974]

Your videos assure me that I can make anything I want. Your step by steps are so spot on. Grateful.

[@kenknaell1290]

You make things sound and look so easy - and the video is as nice as the installation. Way to go.

[@nancycook3733]

That is the most secured tank set up other than putting inside lol, and as for the galvanized a scratch or cut sides rust the fastest so always prime the cut edges and if u see a scratch then prime it cause that'll rust completely just wonder about a rigid foam wrap on sides sorry from canaduh lol it gets super cold up this way lol thanks for the vids love them please keep them coming

[@wanderlusttheshuttlebus]

Thanks so much for sharing your hard earned experience & design Chuck!

[@mariemedina257]

Hello from Denver. Glad to see you.!

[@lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

Just my perspective, but bleeding out on the shop floor would be a bad outcome. :) Love your sense of humor, Chuck!

[@cam-bo11]

You are a true artisan, Chuck! 👏

[@captsam54]

I know this is old, but going thru van builds and find your channel very informative... and I am a retired Boat Capt. turned RV tech, so this adds to my knowledge base.. Also will keep in mind if I build one... OR have to modify one...

[@TheHummingbirdBus]

Thank you this was informative. This is a good direction. I have watched a lot of your videos. Gotta say some get negative. This was good. I know there a lot of bad builders out there but you can win by raising the bar and staying positive. This was exactly that. Keep up the amazing work. ✌️

[@KelsAndJay]

Chuck and a VAN?!? I can't believe what I'm seeing right now

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Hahaha I couldn't help it

[@Beautifulone05]

Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️

[@karylm23]

Enjoying the video quality! Thanks, Charlie :D

[@HomesteadDad]

Love the pro tip. Thanks.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@moustachemike7128]

cool info as always good job Chuck....

[@LacroixCruiser]

As always great engineering and craftsmanship.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Truly appreciate that 🙏

[@RollinHomies]

You’re growing fast ! Good work👍🏼

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Thank you!

[@garykreutzer1239]

Here's a little tip for you. Cut a 90° on ONE leg of your angle, with the point on the corner. Simply BEND the four corners (might have to heat them to get tight 90°). This produces a one piece frame with much less effort. Nice job overall, especially using the holesaw for the vents-nice professional results.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

they make a notching tool for this. you also have to cut 90* triangles out of the inside flange of the angle iron so it can bend around the other 3 corners. no need to heat. ive used this method in the past but since i have a miter saw always setup for 45* cuts, this method is about as fast and easy for me. Check out the Roper-Whitney #4 angle iron cutter, notcher, and bender. its bad ass! thanks for watchin

[@justindavis1546]

You do excellent work, and the videos are great too.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Glad you like them!

[@johnnylightning1491]

I like your robust mounts but they to take away some CCC. If they were aluminum they would be lighter but then you get corrosion issues so I guess everything has it's issues. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@jimross7648]

Wish I'd seen this years ago, Used what was basically a metal strap basket. More work and not near as neat.

[@chrisdaniel1339]

This is totally unrelated to this video, but I figured you are the person with the answers: Have you guys ever done a roof lift on a van? Ever widened the rear of a van for conversion to a full time camper? I was just thinking that the Promaster has 10" more width than the Sprinter and the Sprinter needs more height to add several inches of foam insulation, could a Sprinter body be widened 12" so people could heavily insulate the walls with spray foam and still allow them to sleep widthwise in the van? As the Sprinter is stock there is 70" max across the width of the van, once several inches of insulation is added to each wall only the shortest people will be able to sleep across the width of the van. You may be ask why go through all the hassle enlarging a Sprinter, the sprinter is available in 4WD so in slippery, snowy, muddy, sandy or offroad situations you are more likely to get to your intended destination. Thank you in advance

[@timklassen421]

Excellent well done .

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

thank you!

[@larrywebb8309]

Can I cut 8th inch thick sheet metal using those Harbor Frieght shears ? I'm copying your design but I gotta use metal bed rails , I think the bed rails will be good but there kinda hard to drill holes through . Mines a 64x22x9. 50 gallon going under a 16 foot Fedex van

[@ruthpeet2350]

Hi . I was wondering if you would be interested in doing another Skoolie like Alyssa's? I love her floor plan. About how much would it cost? I am getting ready to retire.

[@favorflavor707]

Outstanding AR ‼️ Clean Heavy-duty Professional Your hard work, due diligence, quality, and sacrifice, good job 👍impressive ‼️In a abstract way you are demonstrating The Life of Christ Sacrificing your life for others and their quality of life. Your day is in route for some quality R&R✌👍

[@shiprock79]

Great info your my mentor sir ! Where what size heat pad for tanks ect. Plz . I’ve learned so much from your channel. Mainly how to spend tons of money on mandatory, essential cool overlooked items

[@shiprock79]

Asked before end of video. Just male dna here lol . Love the router/ tool , any info on product ? Thanks again

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

the ones ive found are for tanks up to 65 gallons

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

a company called vintage trailer supply sells them

[@cycleoflife7331]

Do you recommend encasing the exterior tanks in foam board for subzero weather locations. Of course you have limited space under vans but say a skoolie. Was thinking to do that since, I’ll be high in the Rockies, no pun intended. And where do you buy your stock iron for best price. I get the best prices from metal fabricators at about half of Home Depot. You might get nice lengths of their scrap for free or close to it.

[@bobdart8373]

great fab work

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Thank you!

[@nmartin5551]

Sweet video!!! And one I needed! I haven’t checked the video notes yet. But if it doesn’t say, what guage steel did you use for the frame up?

[@dockledoo]

I notice you said this was for any plastic tank you mount under the bus. Including grey or Black even? So, you would still use a heating pad for both under the bus?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Heating pads are fine on plastic tanks

[@vanlfemini120]

Way to go.

[@kentkurt9065]

I like the way you supported the tank .I have two 50 gal tanks in the front of my fith wheel it measures 32"/ 64" flange down the two longe sides of the tank . One belly strap that didn't touch even when the tank was full . So I tempt fix the tank till I can get the new tank . I also raised the belly strap and 1/8" away from the tank when tank is empty . As it gets 1/3 full it touches the tank to support it . I did that to both grey and black water tanks 32" wide I feel that's way to far with out a support on the bottom. What are your feeling on that ??

[@garbagegang5139]

Chuck, are those flanges (I beam style) under the bus strong enough to hold 100 gallons? Or should I attempt to mount it to the frame as well? We bought a Skoolie and they mounted their age battery’s in the tool box using just bolts, the 5 of the 10 flanges broke where they were bolted. No rust, clean breaks. It’s made me nervous to mount any weight on those.

[@Danielily1]

I live in Canada. I thought it would be better to lift the roof and mount the floor to put the water tank so it doesn’t freeze. What do you think?

[@rockford5016]

Number 11 to hit the like button

[@EffieG-ez9tf]

Chuck, I love your videos, but need to ask if you could leave out the extra music you have added to fill the space, such as when you are welding the water tank mounting apparatus but not talking. Also, you have the music playing in the background when you start talking again. It is difficult for some viewers who have hearing loss problems-like me and other older viewers-the music is irritating. Sorry if this bothers anyone, but I really love your videos as they were before, just the intro music and the ending music. Thanks, Chuck.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

This video is quite old, I appreciate the comment and have been more careful to make it easier to hear my voice on newer videos!

[@anniewisecarver744]

That's a very nice frame. If you don't have a shop and all of those tools are there places to go that I can pay to have this built for me? In other words, what type of business would I look for that might provide that service? Thanks!

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

a metal fabrication shop

[@CNormanHocker]

What happens if the the washer gets below zero, or in the negative?

[@ericmiller6804]

What are those things you use to hold the corners of the frame while welding??? Thanks for taking the time to share your experience...

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

They're magnetic squares for welding

[@ericmiller6804]

@@ChuckCassadyYT Cool, thanks Chuck. I have caught the Skokie bug and have been doing research and gathering data.... I may see you next summer to have you do a solar install similar to what you did for Alyssa.. Take care, thanks for helping all of us out!!

[@alvisjenkins1305]

How would you hang a 55 gallon steel or plastic round tank ?

[@KenCarroll-g6u]

Hey Chuck, how did you vent that tank?

[@annettepierson6130]

What is the heat pad for???

[@kirtbaab6424]

Say, when spinning a fitting in, would it be useful to use a shop vac to pull all shavings out right after cutting the hole?

[@rufelestrada9791]

Great vid as always! Which welder do you use in this vid? (Make and model)

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Millermatic 211

[@tj7935]

You may have mentioned this and I missed it. But how do you keep it from freezing in cold weather?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

heat pad. i showed it a lot in the vido

[@tj7935]

@@ChuckCassadyYT Thanks! Ill watch back through again. Sounds like I missed it.

[@christophercanty6287]

Charlie, do you recomend water tanks in a bus under the bed or under the truck?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

under the bed!

[@kaleidiatrikos]

Can tanks like these be used for holding vegetable oil for conversion from diesel to biofuel?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Of course

[@MrZyptuous]

This is probably a stupid question, but are those four bolts and four welded straps strong enough. with overtime of road bumps and varying levels of water in the tank sloshing around. That is the way they are done, but just for peace of mind. 20 gal of water is right at 167 lbs plus the weight of the bottom frame. Just to settle my nerves for my future build. Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

take a look at the tensile strength of steel! it will blow your mind

[@dsmoke1972]

Wouldn't it be better to angle the bottom bolt mount points 90-degrees to the outside, so they don't hang down lower than the frame?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

not really sure, maybe you should do that and report back!

[@cycleoflife7331]

Since the longer length bottom is above the lower level the mount it shouldn’t extend much below the lowest point.

[@CruxFab]

Hey chuck what size angle iron are you using for this tank? Thanks!

[@garykreutzer1239]

Did you use chassis saver paint?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

sometimes i do, this is just regular old rustoleum

[@donlancaster8943]

Sure wish you could tell me where I can get a black tank for my mci bus

[@donlancaster8943]

I live in ridgway Colorado

[@cadillacchad7711]

why dont you weld to the bus vs bolting it in

[@TheShadowVortX]

Appreciate your work! But... It seems too heavy for a van! Vans have strictly weight limits, as such, even as this build is very good protecting the tank, I think it's too much for a van. Keep up showing your magic!!

[@alanhat5252]

the frame weighs what? 2 pounds? four? 20 gallons of water weighs 177 pounds. The payload of a van this size is at least a ton.

[@robwithrow3967]

What would be the best type of welding to start with? Stick or mig? I need to learn to weld

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Stick will teach you more, but mig is going to get you welding faster.

[@alanhat5252]

Cheap stick welders are extremely frustrating, get a MIG first then when you're ready to progress you'll probably have read around enough to know what you want next. I still have my cheap MIG plus a quality stick welder. The cheap stick welder I started with (much cheaper than MIG) I passed on years ago & I was glad to be rid of it.

[@robwithrow3967]

@@alanhat5252 Hey thanks for the advice!

[@rtmsound1877]

I need to do this on my skoolie. What size angle iron did you use?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

1.5 x 1/8" angle

[@aprilranew1216]

Does it need to be primed and painted or can the metal be left raw?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

It’s steel. You should paint it

[@r8edrv4fun65]

Please tell me you found a better way to run the fill for the tank. Having it in the wheel well?!?! Wth??

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

This is what the customer wanted! They’ve put many thousands of miles on it at this point with no issues. I thought it was pretty cool,m

[@Istandby666]

If that's like picking your nose, you definitely need to wear a mack....lol

[@wesm3915]

What was name of the company that you did the overview on the questionable quality.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

epic skoolies

[@davidgrenis638]

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STUPID TO PUT THE FILLER END OF THE WHEEL WELL SHOULD JUST GO ON BACK UP THROUGH THE FLOOR AND THEN THROUGH THE SIDEWALL ON THE DRIVER SIDE I CAN'T THINK OF MORE CONTAMINATING SPOT TO STICK A FILLER DAVID ADAM GRENIS MAPLETON AVENUE BOULDER COLORADO USA

[@tommynoble678]

😵‍💫🤦🏻 harbor freight.

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

they have some great tools

[@ONWOTE]

hello,we are looking for partener to make a review video on our 4K security camera system,so any chance for us to work together? we willing to sposnor the whole system to your channel.i had emailed and DM you the details and waiting for your reply

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

sorry, i dont do collabs unless you pay and ive used the product before

[@dockledoo]

I notice you said this was for any plastic tank you mount under the bus. Including grey or Black even? So, you would still use a heating pad for both under the bus?

[@ChuckCassadyYT]

Yes, those pads do not get too hot