Modifying IBC tote for collecting sap

[Birdland Sugarbush]

Just picked up an IBC tote for collecting sap.

I will put this on my trailer and tow it with my tractor. It’s going to be a bit of a reach to dump the buckets into the tote so I’m looking to modify it so that I can get the sap in more easily without wasting any.

Any suggestions?

Chris

[littleTapper]

Some people cut out the top to fit a 5-gallon bucket in the hole and it seals ok.

I have some I wanted to get more access to this year, so I grabbed gamma seal lids for 5-galon bucket. Stuck the ring of the lid on with SS screws, then sealed around it with silicone. Then just unthread the sealing cap. Tons more room than the normal opening.

Can see them a bit here.

https://www.isaacolson.com/web/maple/20241124_113544.jpg

I also have a big "funnel" for IBC totes. Cut a 15-gallon drum lengthwise, and a 90 degree pipe fitting on one end; and a board or whatever to level the back of it. Laid on its side, you can then get (depending on how you cut it) about 10 gallons in that which will run nicely into the tote's opening.

https://www.isaacolson.com/web/maple/IMG_20220314_151704862_HDR.jpg

[AlRock]

20gal tote and a boat bilge pump works wonders.

[Birdland Sugarbush]

Thanks for the pictures, that helps a lot.

I was definitely thinking the big funnel route. The cut barrel brings my dumping point closer to the edge of the trailer which will make things much easier.

[Bucket Head]

I second the bilge pump plan. I used one for years with a cut-down/shortened plastic barrel. I also cut out the small, round opening to a 16' or so square. It was easier to clean with the more user-friendly opening.

Steve

[Andy VT]

Woah, how on earth did you get those pictures on here?

[therealtreehugger]

20gal tote and a boat bilge pump works wonders.

Are marine (boat) bilge pumps considered “food safe” enough?

[AlRock]

That I don't know, but used them for 12yrs.

[UB29]

Modified my totes with one of the covers they use on bob houses. Work great and cover snaps in place.
Bill

https://catchcover.com/categories/Hole-Covers/

[buckeye gold]

Get a pump rated for RV water use. They are bilge pumps but usually have stainless steel parts.. They are 12 volt, but you can get a 115 to 12v transformer for very reasonable. I have one and I can even wire a line and plug straight off my tractor battery to run it. This is the one I use. https://www.amazon.com/Amarine-Made-Automatic-Discharge-Industrial/dp/B01GNQA35G/ref=sr_1_27?crid=3T1O9STEK2T9N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gNpo4I5TyvhiHPl0oUqPAgH9skOCF_Ny4 yjOqeqsAGplyrLJNV0VFIrK5VjWJQYOWkJs3C-KTsVsVzUKqGq_U5fsXpgKJgHjzN4FG5MMpthNzJqor_XDBYl9v pWNaxi70Jc-iil6FKikWgF-kCHa4vSwimrZ-OOdBm7uqAhMg2bVlIAXm4hr1_6NmVU4D4c8meszvwQ9kk9M9Ht pAKg5Em5H1X2o89KTbcsRbdZnPHO8P_aF-9iswEQDwN9UHRWIRcFLrRlEAtsOUtXyRG14WQ0j7BmVnFgZJC7 l_PZYg562A1JCTYtp6BdcO4B1Qqc3JA_xuYLIK1iFDIrf-7JPhic463vDabnkCay-gsmuLceQ4KhsG2Lysh7vNTqblV_R0dfJ77ifBV52QIBLX-5-En5vuuXHTGlPX7qLPyW-dMQTnPpaNLMUHXeJt-EtQmaW.29tnZJsrIAsLIHwXxx2ydZNhJR3aXc92-TzYQdDqkrY&dib_tag=se&keywords=rv+bilge+pump&qid=1739797223&sprefix=rv+bilge+pump%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-27 I bought it in 2017 and it still runs fine. Get Stainless steel shaft.

[Birdland Sugarbush]

I have a pump to transfer out of the tote, I was looking for a more convenient way to dump my buckets into the tote.

[ADK_XJ]

You could use what we would call a stainless “milk funnel” that has an extra wide mouth and a larger port that should fit well in the ibc top (you might want to measure to be sure)…here’s one but they make different styles and sizes: https://www.lehmans.com/product/large-stainless-steel-milk-strainer

[buckeye gold]

We gathered with one of those for years when we hung buckets, you can put a piece of prefilter in it as well

[PeddlerLakeSapper]

Here is mine on the back of my tractor. My first version was to put a 30 gal. barrel on the back platform. It was low enough for my kids to dump in. Then I had a small gas powered pump to pump it into my tote tank. After my kids were grown and moved out, I started just slinging the buckets directly in to the top of the tote tank. This works well, except for when my wife helps collect. Full 5 gal. buckets are hard for most to sling over the top of a tote. What would happen, was full buckets would be waiting at the tank for me dump when I returned with mine. Last year I made this bucket dump system so that anyone could get full 5 gal. buckets up over the top. The design allows me to dump over the top of it while it is attached.
Its been 15yrs. using this tote. There is a pretty big opening in mine. This make it easier to dump freestyle, and I sometime crawl in mine to clean it. It does get some debris in it, but my sap goes through a sap filter into a bulk tank, then an inline filter to the head tank. Also, I rinse it out after gathering.
https://youtube.com/shorts/kq-jYWNszoU?si=9uWOcSfNGCZ9SbgU

[AlRock]

Now that is geniuses!!!

[Pdiamond]

That is a super cool invention. You should patent that and make a fortune.