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10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
8/7/2020 9:42pm
I'm looking into installing a sprinkler system on my private track which is about half a mile long, flat and full of jumps. I will be using a pond and water tanks. Anyone have experience installing a sprinkler system? I don't really know where to start as far as materials to buy. Not sure if my 2 inch gas pump is good enough either. My semi trucks have 3 inch gear pumps that can blow a heavy commercial hose out. I own a tanker trucking company, so I'm familiar with moving 7000 gallons of liquid at a time, but this is a little different.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
I think a 2" trash pump with a over pressure release back to the tank would be ideal. Then you can walk around to the sprinklers on posts and turn them on or off as needed per section dryness/available pressure.
Also, don't underestimate the force of gravity; keep your pump at the highest geographical spot you can. Finally, you might want to consider having a few hose bibs somewhere in line so you can spot-water.
We ended up plumbing in fire hose bibs at various spots while combining water trailers/tractors. Least amount of maintenance.so far.
You'll need a big pump. I'd go 3-4" with volume and reduce wherever needed for pressure.
The Shop
Pump $1000.00 $ 2500.00 in pipe & materials , Heads $ 15.00 up each. Trencher rental ect.
If you go this route use HDPE plastic pipe. Its tough wont shatter in the cold ect. draw back a bit more costly
& is fused together with a machine you would need to rent.
Dont forget about blowing the system out every fall.
We even drilled a well to keep pond full , used the system for 2 years.
Went to 2" outlets around track & ended up using hoses..You want to get a work out.. drag hoses...
One other think to consider with a sprinkler system is if you change track layout
you will not remember where you put the pipe & tear it out . The heads will be in the wrong spot after track changes.
We use a water truck now... However they are not maintenance free. Good Luck !
that. I've got enough invested in track related equipment that I really just need a good watering system. Not changing the layout sucks, but maybe I can reverse some sections every couple years. I already know the track is better backwards than the way it's set up. Just a couple jumps I wouldn't want to reverse for safety's sake. Time is very valuable to me.
The pump is a 4 inch volume pump that delivers into a 2 inch ring main..2 inch is too small a diameter for a big outdoor track, not enough delivery capacity....to much drag.. but a 4 inch ring main would have been massivmore expensive.
I personally don't like sprinkler set ups... never seen one that works well...all I ever see is bog holes and bulldust.
Water trucks are just never ending problems and a massive money pit...
Cannot beat hand watering with hoses that pump out good volums of water but of course there are down sides.
But our Chesney Vale ride park's popularity is based pretty much on perfect track prep and our rewatering through the day without having to stop riding...hose watering gives the best results.and is the most economical use of water if water supply is an issue....but there are down sides
We now have a 9-hole golf course... our biggest issue and upkeep... the sprinkler system. Lines break, sprinkler heads get stopped up, quit rotating, pump issues. As I'm typing this we have a sprinkler that won't shut off, will need to shut system down, replace sprinkler. In the past 30 days we have spent over $4,000.00 on replacements. Plus remember, wind is a huge issue.
My suggestion, stay with water trucks.
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Some PVC
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Pit Row
I own a irrigation company (installation from football fields, baseball fields, malls and residential), and simply slapping some pipe together and throwing some heads on rarely works...
Get a dog walker and find how much pipe you'll need (I would recommend poly). Once you established, calculate volume/minute and that will tell you how many heads you can put on per "zone"...
Plus 300 gallons doesn't do much except cutting a little dust down in the main line. Looking for a low maintenance one man watering operation. At this point we have 2 good months of riding left. I'll probably wait until after winter, or pounce on a deal on a water truck. I didn't realize sprinkler setups were that high in maintenance.
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