Transporting acrylic tank via pickup: tips?

[jstavis]

Ok, so I made the bold/moronic decision to purchase a 5'x3'x20" 190 gallon acrylic tank. Why moronic? The tank is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I'm about 350 miles away in Wisconsin. I've arranged to borrow my buddy's pickup truck to pick up the tank, but I have a few questions from those who have done anything like this:
- how can I minimize scratching to the tank? Is there anyt good protective material to coat the tank in? Is bubble wrap perfect or a really bad idea?
- how have you secured large tanks to pickups?-- I've actually never driven one, so I"m a little hazy on the logistics

- any other tips to make this trip go as smoothly as possible?

Thanks everyone.

 

[cdc]

I used soft towels when I transported my 300 but it was also already wrapped in plastic as well, I secured it with ratchet straps to the truck to make sure it did not move around. I picked mine up only 60 miles from my house though you have quite a bit more distance to go.

I still think I scratched mine alittle bit but it is really hard not to.

 

[jtalley]

I drove a similar distance to pick up my acrylic tank. I also used ratchet straps, but put white t-shirts under the strap contact points to minimize scratching.

 

[jstavis]

What kind of plastic was it wrapped in?

 

[jstavis]

I just had the thought... is cold weather something I should be worried about in terms of the tank's integrity?

 

[FishNCash]

i used plenty of soft blankets to wrap it around the tank and added a carboard on the truck bed so the tank would slide in without scratching. I secure it with ratchet straps. You should be fine as long as you make sure you take your turns slow and avoid braking excessively hard.