FRANCIS, Sask. – Blaine Muhr’s water truck earns its keep.
He uses it to haul his Willmar sprayer to and from jobs and during summer it acts as a tender truck for the local fire department.
He also built an attachment to water down roads and recreational areas and control dust for parades and other community events.
One of the unique features on Muhr’s truck is how he fills it.
“We picked up a used pump from a truck wrecker,” said Muhr, who farms near Francis.
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“It mounts onto the frame with a p.t.o. shaft that plumbs into the transmission. Just slip the p.t.o. on and away it goes.”
The truck is a 1981 Mack tandem that was bought used off a lot. It came without a box, so Muhr found a used 380 gallon water tank and mounted it on the frame.
He had seen p.t.o. water pumps used on trucks in the oil patch and thought it was a good idea. His unit is a three-inch, self-priming pump.
“We suck out of a dugout. It doesn’t matter about distance. It doesn’t have to be primed because it’s a gear pump. The pump will fill that 90 barrel tank in approximately 18 minutes.”
With no hoist on the truck, the p.t.o off the transmission only has to operate the water intake pump. However, Muhr doesn’t use the p.t.o. pump to fill his sprayer.
“We use it for spraying, hauling water, we service the local fire department in the summer. And if anyone has a fire, we look after them here, too.”
