I’m looking into getting a fire‑skid for my UTV to improve fire safety around our property, but I’m not sure if it’s really worth the investment. I’ve come across a few options that seem well‑built, like those from BLZ, with durable tanks and pumps designed for rough terrain. They’re a decent size, around 75‑100 gallons, and are meant to be mounted on a side‑by‑side.
The question is, how practical is this for homesteading? Will I actually get enough use out of it to justify the cost, or is it something that will end up sitting unused? If anyone here has one, how often do you actually rely on it for fire protection, and what kind of maintenance does it require to stay ready?
by huy1003
6 Comments
I don’t know a single person that has a dedicated fire rig. A water truck for delivering water to remote fields, sure. But thats 500-1000 gallons minimum.
75-100 gallons wouldn’t do much if a fire gets going. I used more than that putting out a bonfire that caught again during a windy night. There was a retired firefighter in CA that hooked a massive pump up to his pool. He had a sprinkler system around and on top of his home and a 2 inch hose. I think he used 40k gals of water saving his home.
I don’t know how much property you have but renting a ditchwitch and installing water lines might be more economical in $ (not time) and be more effective.
Waste of money. The only place utvs with skids are actually useful for actual firefighting in grasslands. But if you don’t know the tactics and how to use it, you’re just riding around on an expensive toy. In timber 150 gallons of water is useless. You might as well be pissing on it.
I was a wildland firefighter for a decade and now I live in extreme fire danger areas. In normal conditions, if you’ve done your work to clear everything out and keep everything park like you can stop a fire with a chainsaw and a shovel.
In extreme conditions, low humidities and winds, you want a s*** ton of water. 2500 gallon minimum 5 to 10,000 would be better. And then hoses enough to reach all the way around your house from your water source and have a couple nozzles. Large hoses inch and a half fire. You’re going to want a pretty high GPM pump that can pump all that water. Mine is a little mobile unit. I could throw it in the back of a UTV but it also has wheels of its own. It’s not bad. It was cost efficient. Ideally, I’d like to have a second pump to run roof sprinklers independently. Don’t cheap out on the pumps. I only buy Honda.
I don’t care if my property Burns. In fact I’d encourage it but I don’t want my house going.
Am firefighter,
Do you know what you’re doing? How to fight wildland fires? Are you prepared to maintain this equipment? How often do you experience wild fires? How close is your nearer fire department?
You’d likely be better off with a tractor and a plow.
Beyond even the practicality of ever using this or it being effective as others have mentioned…
You could DIY a tank and battery pump for probably 10-20% of this cost easily.
Winds blow sparks for a long way. Onto your roof. Etc.
Fire protection might be better than a measly 100 gallons of water.
A sprinkler system on your roof might be worth considering.