Water Truck Frequently Asked Questions

Learn to operate your Ledwell Water Truck correctly to extend the life of your equipment by following the How To Operate A Water Truck Guide or watching this operation video.

Walk around the entire truck to perform a pre-trip inspection. Be sure to check the following: Wheels & tires, PTO for leaks, Driveline for connection, Pump bolts are tightened, and has slow drip at packing.

Primer Tank Valve to be closed if filling via fire hydrant or top fill

 

To fill tank: Fire Hydrant

Connect the hose with cam lock to fill the pipe at the rear of the tank.

Connect the other end of the hose to a fire hydrant.

Turn hydrant on to begin filling.

While filling the tank, beware of the Road Limit gauge at the tank’s front driver side.

 

To fill tank: Top Fill

Open manway lid at the top of the tank, if applicable.

Center opening of the tank with the opening of water source

 

To fill tank: Suction Hose

Close 4″ butterfly valve on the suction side of the pump.

Remove cam lock from suction pipe and attach fill hose.

Open the primer tank valve and allow water to fill the system.

Pull the bleeder valve to allow air to escape.

Engage PTO Set RPM to 1,800 – 2,000 to begin filling the tank.

Once the tank is full, Disengage PTO.

Shut primer tank valve.

Remove the fill hose and replace the camlock cap.

Open 4″ butterfly on suction.

 

To begin spraying:

Attach side spray, if desired Engage PTO and put the truck in gear.

Pull valves in the cab to activate nozzles – Front/Rear/Side.

Drive as needed to perform spray – being mindful of water movement in the tank

CAUTION: At high engine RPM, do not close all spray valves at once.

Disengage PTO

 

To spray via Hose Reel:

Engage PTO.

Manually open the gate valve at the rear passenger side of the tank.

Adjust nozzle as needed.

Disengage PTO

The pump on a Ledwell water tanker is set up to pump around 400GPM at 2000RPM engine speed with about 55PSI at the spray heads.

At this engine speed, you should receive a spray pattern of 55′ wide by 30′ deep and a side spray 65′ to 75’out.

Most PTOs are in the 111% to 126% range. The pump will peak at 2400-2500RPM (pump speed).

Drive lines vary in length depending on the truck and water tank size.

Measure from the pump yoke’s tip to the PTO yoke’s tip. This measurement will be the most accurate for a new drive line.

The cables on a manual water truck stretch some initially after use. If leaking occurs at outlets, you might need to adjust the cables.

Follow these steps to adjust water truck cables:

Remove the clevis pin in the cable connection to the valve. Ensure that the valve is free of debris.

Close the valve completely with a wrench.

Shift in-cab handle to the closed position.

Adjust the cable housing using the two jam nuts on the mounting bracket until the pinhole in the clevis lines up with the hole in the valve lever.

Install the pin.

Check for closure by opening and closing. Fine-tune adjust as needed.

The air valves on the 4000 Gallon Water Trucks require air to close. If the air supply going to the valve is obtruded or leaking, the valve may not close.

There could also be debris stuck holding the valve open.

On automatic transmission PTOs, the PTO clutch-pack is supplied oil under pressure from the transmission when 12 volts is applied to a solenoid valve mounted at the PTO.

On 2000-gallon water trucks, this power comes from the switch through an inline fuse between the switch and the battery.

4000-gallon water trucks with air controls in the cab, the 12v comes from an air contact switch at the battery with an inline fuse.

The air control in the cab closes the contact switch supplying 12v to the PTO.

In both cases, you must adequately ground the solenoid ground wire. The contact that turns on the PTO light is a grounding switch that closes when oil pressure is present, turning on the light.

If the light is on, the solenoid is working.

On trucks equipped with automatic transmissions such as Allison 2500RDS, the PTO gear drives from the torque converter side of the transmission, and it stops when placed in drive at idle.

You must add RPMs to lock the torque converter, usually 1000 to 1100 RPM engine speed, and the PTO will turn the pump again.

The centrifugal pumps on your water truck are rugged and reliable industry standard pumps, but any part can break.

Impacting derbies in the intake can jam or break the impeller.

Also, sudden start-ups under load, such as manual clutch transmission PTO, can shear the impeller shaft key and retaining nut allowing the impeller to spin freely on the shaft.

To check for this condition, close the main intake valve, open the cap on the suction intake and visually inspect the impeller. Look for signs of damage or broken retaining bolts.

Our tanks are lined with Lifelast coating to protect the tank from corrosion. This coating is tolerant of most chemicals with the exception of strong acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones and chlorinated solvents. Always check the content before loading your tank with water mixed products.

The most common problem is the foot valve on the end of the suction hose. If this valve is not holding and all the priming water runs out of the pump, the pump will not prime. When priming the pump from the primer tank you must fill the suction hose and pump and bleed the air from the pump with the air valve at the top of the pump before you start up.

These slide valve knobs are aluminum in construction with ball detents released by the button on top and over time they can be damaged by dirt and rough handling. Slapping the spools down to close them will cause the ball detents to bend the spools causing a leak. Dirt and contaminates can enter the valve from the top and scratch the spools also if not keep clean.

The pump is designed to leak in order to wet the packing and keep it cool. It should drip 40 to 60 drops a minute. It’s adjustable with the packing gland ring and the two threaded studs holding it. When all the adjustment is taken up, then it is time to replace the packing.

The most common cause is debris in the tank obstructing the pump intake. The pump will pump all the water in the lines then the intake flow slows or stops. There is a screen in the bottom of the tank at the outlet and when filling from a pond or canal, it can become obstructed with debris . Clean this screen and proper pump flow should return.

PTO is short for power take-off.

We offer multiple PTO options. To ensure you order the correct size for your equipment, please contact our Parts Department.

If equipment is mounted on a truck, any extra fuses will be placed in the battery box.

The PTO should be checked during the pre-operation inspection. Bolts on the PTO should be tightened monthly according to the Capscrew Marking and Torque Values Chart.

Yes, we do offer a warranty on Ledwell equipment.

No, we do not have any distributors or dealers. Our main manufacturing facility is located in Texarkana, Texas and we have a second location in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

We have operation videos and operation manuals. If you would like a digital copy of an operation manual, please contact our Service Department.

A CDL, commercial driver’s license, is required for any equipment weighing over 26,000 pounds. Additional endorsements might be needed depending on what items are being transported.

Yes, please contact our Parts Department to receive a quote on parts for any piece of Ledwell truck bodies or trailers.

If you need a VIN tag replaced, contact our Parts Department to request one.

We have decal kits for every piece of equipment we manufacture. Reach out to our Parts Department to request decals specific to your unit.

Browse our Used Inventory. If you do not see what you’re looking for, contact us. Our inventory changes regularly – we might have what you need.

We are currently hiring for multiple positions. Come by our main office at 3300 Waco St, Texarkana, TX, fill out an application, or fill one out electronically.