Farms and ranches run on stored liquids: diesel and gasoline for equipment, liquid fertilizer, and water for livestock and spraying. The tanks are often set up and maintained by the farm itself or a local welding shop. SteelFront supplies the farm tank parts that go on and around those tanks: saddles, manways, lugs, grade bands, angle iron and hardware. We make them in Hutchinson, Kansas and sell direct online with prices shown, so you can order what the job needs without a dealer markup.
Common jobs around farm tanks
- Setting a horizontal fuel or water tank on a stable base.
- Adding or replacing an access opening on a fertilizer or water tank.
- Welding lift lugs on a tank so it can be moved with a loader or forklift.
- Building stands, racks and benches in the shop.
- Containing the gravel pad around a tank.
Tank saddles for horizontal tanks
A storage tank saddle sits under a horizontal vessel and holds it in position. SteelFront saddles are built for 24″, 30″, 36″, 48″, 60″ and 72″ diameter round tanks. Use one saddle at each end of the tank, sized to the tank’s diameter. To build a taller stand, saddles can be combined with structural angle or square tube and Schedule 40 pipe. Have the stand designed for the full weight of the tank and its contents.
Lifting and mounting lugs
Tanks that get moved need proper lifting points. The lift lug (P-lug) is made for forklift or cable transport and comes welded to a 1/4″ baseplate or unwelded in raw steel. The D-ring lug and #6 triangle lug are other lifting styles. To hang a ladder, use ladder lugs and solid steel ladder rungs. The stanchion / leg support lug has an angle with an oblong hole on each side, welded to a 1/4″ baseplate. It’s a handy base for support feet, benches and tables.
Manways, heads and fittings
For larger fertilizer or water tanks, the round manway comes in 16″ to 36″ diameters with a matching cover and gasket. Check that the gasket material is compatible with what you store before ordering, and call us if you’re unsure. For smaller fuel tanks, the obround tank head (13 gauge, 44.25″ x 27.125″) is commonly used on fuel tanks. Forged steel half couplings and full couplings (3000 psi, 1/4″ to 3″) provide threaded connections for fill, vent and drain lines.
Spill prevention: what the EPA says about farms
Farm fuel storage can fall under the EPA’s Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. According to the EPA, a farm is covered if it stores, transfers, uses or consumes oil; has more than 1,320 gallons of total aboveground oil storage capacity; and could reasonably discharge oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Only containers of 55 gallons or more count, measured by shell capacity rather than how much is in them. Steel parts don’t make a site compliant, but well-supported tanks, sound openings and a contained pad are part of good spill prevention. A grade band with stakes defines and contains the tank pad.
Angle iron, pipe and tube for the farm shop
SteelFront sells steel in useful lengths:
- A36 structural angle in six profiles from 1″ x 1″ x 1/8″ to 3″ x 4″ x 1/4″, raw or hot dip galvanized, in 1′ to 20′ lengths
- Punched structural angle and roll-formed punched angle for bolt-together frames (holes for 1/2″ bolts on 2″ centers)
- C-channel, square tube and A36 Schedule 40 pipe for racks, frames, gates and railings
- Hex nut and bolt sets in 1″ or 1-1/2″ bolt lengths
Punched angle makes it easy to build shelving, chemical storage racks and tank stands without a welder. Read what A36 steel is if you’re comparing grades.
Hoses and fueling areas
The universal hose reel bracket (11 gauge, 11-1/4″ x 10-3/4″) bolts to walls and fits a wide range of standard hose reels. It’s useful at fuel islands, chemical mixing areas and wash bays.
Safe access to the top of the tank
If a tank needs regular top access, consider a short stair instead of a ladder. Our 9″ x 26″ bolt-on treads, such as the bar grating step, the bar grating top step and the walkway pan, are the same parts used on oilfield tank stairways. See Walkways & Stairways.
Browse all Storage Tank Parts or Steel Angle.
For outdoor and livestock areas, see our guide to galvanized angle iron, or shop tank manways for farm tanks.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do your tank saddles fit?
Our storage tank saddles are built for round tanks from 24″ to 72″ in diameter (24″, 30″, 36″, 48″, 60″ and 72″). Order the saddle that matches your tank’s diameter.
Does the EPA SPCC rule apply to my farm fuel tanks?
It can. According to the EPA, a farm is covered if it stores, transfers, uses or consumes oil, has more than 1,320 gallons of aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity (counting only containers of 55 gallons or more), and could reasonably discharge oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Check EPA’s guidance for farms for your situation.
Can I build my own tank stand or bench with your parts?
Yes. Many customers combine structural or punched angle with stanchion (leg support) lugs and our hex nut and bolt sets. You’re responsible for designing the stand for its load.
What is a grade band used for?
A grade band rolls around the perimeter of a tank to contain the pad or base material. Ours are 13 gauge steel, 6″ to 12″ wide, in 5′, 6′ and 10′ lengths, with optional holes for stakes.
Do you sell farm fuel tanks?
No. We sell the steel parts that go on and around tanks: saddles, manways, lugs, heads, couplings, angle and walkway parts. We don’t sell complete tanks.