Conclusions and Recommendations

Field testing proved that the overall concept of the prototype vehicle washer was sound. Most vehicles were washed in about 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the vehicle's size and the amount of dirt. The underbody washer did a good job under most circumstances. Unless very muddy vehicles were being washed, all of the mechanical components (pumps, tanks, nozzles, and generators) performed as planned. The filters collected seeds of various sizes and from many different plant species.

The original prototype vehicle washer was redesigned to make operation easier and to compensate for several problems, notably when it was used to wash vehicles that were particularly muddy. However, at times the mud may be so excessive that it is not possible or practical to filter the used wash water. In these cases, we recommend using two 1,500- to 5,000-gallon portable, soft-sided Fol-Da-Tanks (figure 18).

Figure 18—When vehicles are so muddy that it is impractical to
reuse wash water, portable, soft-sided Fol-Da-Tanks could be used
to store supply water and used water.

One tank will be used for the supply water and the other for storing used water collected from the mat. The 1,500 to 5,000 gallons of water should be enough for several days of washing, depending on the number of vehicles.

The pump will need to draw water from one of the softsided tanks rather than from the 550-gallon holding tank on the trailer. Also, the tubing coming from the sump pump on the mat should be directed into the other soft-sided holding tank rather than to the settling tanks on the trailer. A sewage pump truck or similar type of truck will probably be needed to dispose of the used water.

Fabrication drawings (MTDC-1020) are available by contacting Deb Mucci at MTDC (phone: 406-329-3999, fax: 406-329-3719, or e-mail: dmucci@fs.fed.us). An operator's manual (0434-2826-MTDC) is also available from MTDC by contacting pubs distribution, Cailen Hegman (phone: 406-329-3978, fax: 406-329-3719, or e-mail: cahegman@fs.fed.us).