Sap collecting - neighborhood and the minivan

[Ntatar]

The last two years I collected sap using food grade 1 gallon containers from restaurant depot. It was easy to cruise around the neighborhood with my minivan to pick up sap. This year I'm doubling the number of trees to 30 and I'm wondering if there's a better strategy. I could go to 5 gallon buckets (40 pounds loaded) in my minivan but i'm worried about lifting and caring that kind a weight. Another thought is to use an even bigger container and then draw it off or pump it out of the minivan but that seems like a pretty big investment... thoughts or ideas?

[Maple River Sugar]

Do you have a hitch and a carry all to go in the hitch? If so that opens a lot of options.

[raptorfan85]

What about a good grade barrel in the back? Do you think it would fit? Where are you putting the sap after collection? If you can get the van higher then your storage tank you can just gravity feed it to your storage tank... I would want 2 gals per tap for collection so you would need a lot of 1 gal buckets or up to 12 five gal buckets. Depends on your situation and how much fits in the van.

[Ntatar]

I don't.... but I see where you're going. I'll poke neighbors

[USMCLtcol]

I use 5 gallon jugs from be prepared dot com. They have kids that prevent spillage and handles. If full is too heavy just don’t fill them up

[Skeller001]

So for those collecting in buckets then boiling later, do you keep it in the buckets or transfer it in to larger containers? If so what do you use for larger containers?

[Ntatar]

Here's an interesting idea for putting a 55 gallon drum in the minivan with a long input pipe. Draw off load at home for bulk storage:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ7Xv41zfv4

[Sugarmaker]

Ntatar,
Careful this is what it could develop into! Granddaughters gathering with the F250 , 325 gallon tank and sap pumping system. You could do the same thing on a smaller scale, grand kids doing the work, is optional!:)
https://i.imgur.com/OKAzQKE.jpg
Regards,
Chris

[Chickenman]

Ntatar,
Careful this is what it could develop into! Granddaughters gathering with the F250 , 325 gallon tank and sap pumping system. You could do the same thing on a smaller scale, grand kids doing the work, is optional!:)
https://i.imgur.com/OKAzQKE.jpg
Regards,
Chris
Did you put blocks on the peddles so they could drive? lol

[Ed R]

Skeller001, If your going to boil right away (Like you should) it really doesn't matter. Early in the year if it freezes hard on you its much easier to deal with 10 5 gallon buckets than a 55 gallon barrel of frozen sap. Late in the season I think sap keeps better in separate smaller containers. A little yellow sap from one tree can start bacterial action in the whole combined barrel or tank if left too long.

[Sugarmaker]

Did you put blocks on the peddles so they could drive? lol

No the truck has the pedals that come up towards the driver. A very nice feature to let them loose on the highway with a ton of sap on the truck. Amazing what to girls can get into!
That was taken last spring and it was almost 70 degrees that day. Which did not do our season and good.
Regards,
Chris

[Ntatar]

19183 Better than the alternative!

[Ntatar]

Thanks Ed R - this is the kind of info I was fishing for!

[TerraPerma]

I've been collecting in 6.5 gallon brewing buckets at each tree and dumped them into 18 gallon Sterilite totes stacked in my deep freeze, since I just had those things lying about. The totes are #5 (polypropylene) plastic and food safe.

[needmoremaples]

There are submersible pumps on amazon that are like 10-15 bucks. Buy the tubing/hose and it is powered by 12v (car battery) much easier than hauling, dumping. Good to get a boil on it right away if if you do just shut it off. Kills bacteria. If your tank is up high you can siphon it off too.

[unclejohn]

Hi- For the small number of trees, I wouldn't mess with any big thing like a 55 gallon drum. We use cooking oil totes for moving sap around. These are plastic jugs with a molded handle, a screw cap, and contain about 4.5 gallons or so. They come in a cardboard box that protects the plastic, but the cardboard no doubt will get wet and fall apart. You can get them free from anywhere chicken is fried, or French fries. (perhaps the deli at your local grocery store uses them), I know some burger joints like 5Guys use them. Its easier to move 10 of these than a 55 gallon drum, if you don't have a forklift or a team of big guys. And when you fill them, use a funnel with as wide a nozzle as possible. And the screw cap keeps them from sloshing in the minivan and is easier to open than a bucket lid that has been sealed.

The totes require complete cleaning. Drain them upside down for a few hours in a warm room to get as much shortening or oil out of them as possible. Then to clean, put a drop of Dawn detergent in, add about 2 quarts of very hot water, and shake vigorously. Let them set a while. Then shake again. Drain out the water and repeat with Dawn a few times. Then just repeat with very hot water. You can stick a finger down inside the port, and see if the inside of the tote feels greasy. If so, repeat with Dawn again. I have to do about 10 shakes to get them the way I want, but you also need to rinse with hot water to get rid of the Dawn smell.