Aero Tanks' D60 Replacement Fuel Tank

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I have a '98. 5 24v QC LWB 4x4 that I would like to add the D60 (60 gallon) Aero Tanks replacement fuel tank to. Prior to doing so, I would like to hear from those that have already done so. I would like to know about the quality of the product, installation procedure, your opinions, concerns etc. Thank you in advance, John.

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, auto. , 275 hp. injectors, Glasstite Vision II "canopy", 285 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, VDO Vision gauges, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc.

 

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I put an AERO tank in my regular cab truck. 50 gallon replacement. These are my concerns-views. The kit requires drilling the bottom of the frame rail for the installation (3/8" bolts). This is strongly discouraged in the dodge service manual. The metal gas tank top I did not use , I just used the regualar one. Had to permatex the stock gasket to keep it from leaking. The metal one had an odd "o"ring and not enough holes in the top for all the factory things. The hose size for filling and the stock filler tube are different sizes. I compensated by putting the larger hose over a short piece of the stock hose. The fuel lines need to be cut and extended due to the top of the tank going up and the sender neck toward the center. I live in new york and fuel is much cheaper in NJ so I maximized my "tankage". If it seems like backyard make it fit tricks were needed you are correct. It is hard to go back when over 500$ was spent and the crossmember gas tank support bolt was just sawn off(by me it interferes) If you want capacity the transfer flow spare tire may be a more desireable better researched kit than the aero tanks. I have no direct experience with transfer flow but I do have another AERO tank in the spare tire location, Compared to the spare tire tank the main tank replacement was good. The AERO tank spare tire replacement should more say "can be made to fit if forced" Spacer blocks, sawzall work, fabricating brakets, interference with curves on the spare tire carrier. I did it I understand the butchery of what I did. I did not like it one bit, I think for a 1982 chevy they would be wonderfull additions. To put this low bid stuff on the top dollar truck still bugs me 5 months after the installation. I put them in due to my "vote with my feet" attitude for new york taxes. It is hard to justify the cost. I have 90 gallons of capacity on my truck. I do like the capacity though, I do not know if it was worth it.

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P. Campbell 1998. 5 ISB 2500 auto green/driftwood

 

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John,

I too am looking to add fuel capacity, and have been researching the products of the 3 firms I have found so far which make auxiliary fuel tanks for the Dodges: Aerotank, ATTA, and Transfer Flow.

At least from the product literature I have read, it appears that Transfer Flow is the best choice, although they do not currently offer a tank which replaces the stock one. They offer a 38 gal. tank which goes where the spare tire mounts, as well as numerous bed-mounted tanks (up to 98 or 100 gal). The one thing I like about Transfer flow is they offer an electronic fuel management computer which mounts in/on the dash, which displays the fuel level in all tanks.

I have NOT heard good things about Aerotank (like the letter above, as well as on the Ford diesel web site). ATTA is out of Texas. I saw their product line at a Super Chevy Show last year, and while they look like high quality tanks, their customer service personnel didn't seem to interested in answering my questions in a friendly manner, so I will most likely do business with Transfer Flow when I finally decide which tank I want.

I would appreciate hearing anyone else's comments with aftermarket tanks.

 

[Archive]

John,

I too am looking to add fuel capacity, and have been researching the products of the 3 firms I have found so far which make auxiliary fuel tanks for the Dodges: Aerotank, ATTA, and Transfer Flow.

At least from the product literature I have read, it appears that Transfer Flow is the best choice, although they do not currently offer a tank which replaces the stock one. They offer a 38 gal. tank which goes where the spare tire mounts, as well as numerous bed-mounted tanks (up to 98 or 100 gal). The one thing I like about Transfer flow is they offer an electronic fuel management computer which mounts in/on the dash, which displays the fuel level in all tanks.

I have NOT heard good things about Aerotank (like the letter above, as well as on the Ford diesel web site). ATTA is out of Texas. I saw their product line at a Super Chevy Show last year, and while they look like high quality tanks, their customer service personnel didn't seem to interested in answering my questions in a friendly manner, so I will most likely do business with Transfer Flow when I finally decide which tank I want.

I would appreciate hearing anyone else's comments with aftermarket tanks.

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'99 3500 QC, 24V ISB, SLT, white/agate, 4x2, Auto, 4. 10 posi, Mag-Hytec rear cover & trans. pan, Rancho step rails, Prime-Loc fuel relocation kit, Mopar bedliner & mud flaps, tow package, camper package, Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller, sliding rear window

'97 Pace American 28' "Aero-sport" race trailer

 

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I have the Transfer Flow 38 gallon aux tank under the bed. I was impressed with the fit and finish. What's cool about it is the filler hose runs up to the factory filler hose door on the side of the bed. Open up the filler door on my truck, and you'll see a pair of matched locking caps side by side. I was wondering if I would have troubles at high speed fuel pumps because of the long filler hose, but I've never had a problem. Of course, it meant carrying the spare tire in the bed. I ended up having a custom rear bumper built with a swing out spare tire carrier. I have about a 1,300 mile range now (Just a guess). I know I can fuel up in Tacoma Washington and drive to L. A. , and still have one tank on 1/4 and the other just at the point where the low fuel light has come on. That's about 1,100 miles, I think.
Andy

 

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Thanks for the info. guys. I had looked at both the Aero Tanks replacement 60 gal. tank and the Transfer Flow 38 gal. auxiliary tank which mounts in the spare tire location. I realize from posts I have read on various BBs that Aero Tanks does not have a very good reputation for quality of product or customer service (my own dealings with them bear this out... I requested installation instructions for their D60 replacement fuel tank 6 weeks ago, by telephone as well as by e-mail... I just received another catalog in the mail the other day, but no installation instructions!) My problem with the Transfer Flow auxiliary fuel tank is what to do with my 285/75R16 spare tire... I don't have a bumper mount set-up like Andy has, and carrying the spare in the bed doesn't appeal to me all that much. My only other concern is that the tank hangs down a little lower than I would like. I guess you can't have everything! I have checked out the Transfer Flow products at a stocking dealer in my area, and I can attest their products are absolutely first rate! I guess my only real bite is what to do with that spare tire? I haven't carried it since I got my new tires and wheels in February anyway (not even my OE spare). The Mag-Hytec diff. cover precludes the mounting of the 285 spare in the OE spare tire mounting location anyway (spare needs to be biased to the rear approx. 1. 5" to allow full suspension travel without diff. cover contact). Fabricating an offset mounting bracket for my 285 spare was/is on my to do list. Maybe, if someone knew of a trick (in bed, tire upright) spare tire mounting bracket, I would opt for the Transfer Flow auxiliary fuel tank. Do you have any regrets with your decision (Transfer Flow) Andy?

OBTW Pete; sorry to hear you had such a rough time with the two Areo Tanks you installed in your Ram. I too, am sick and tired of having to re-engineer every accessory I install on my Ram due to poor engineering or quality control! It's not getting any better as the years go by either!

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, auto. , 275 hp. injectors, Glasstite Vision II "canopy", 285 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, VDO Vision gauges, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc.

 

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No regrets at all, John. I know it's a pricey item, but you get what you pay for (that holds true for anything we add to our trucks). The tank, switching valve, etc. , perform like they were installed on the assembly line. To me the best products are the ones that you can install and forget about them, because they always work.
As for the spare, my truck has 285's. The guy who made my bumper may or may not have gone out of business. He moved away. Check some of the 4-wheel drive companies like 4-Wheel Parts, Dick Cepek, etc. I've seen adjustable universal mounting kits that hold the spare upright against the side of the bed. Another possibility is the J. C. Whitney mail order company.
Andy

 

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I live just south of Corona, CA, the home of Aerotanks. I recently had them install a bed tank in my 98 12v shortbed. They were quite accommodating, building a custom tank that actually wraps around the fronts of the wheelwells somewhat to get around 90 gallons.

Aesthetically, it is not real great. They build and install in one day and it shows. The baffles seem to be marginal; there is quite a lot of slosh sometimes that overcomes the backflow valve in the vented cap when full, resulting in some fuel seepage. The sender unit was crudely screwed in and epoxy sealed/globbed over with no cover (I built a cap to make it look better). The metal is not real straight with dings and waves in it.

But it works good, doesn't leak on any welds, is made of aluminized steel, and is very simple to operate with no electronics or pumps or anything that can fail. It has two valve handles under the front of the driver seat to switch the tanks, and a toggle mounted below the dash to switch the fuel gauge (with the "smart" gauge, you usually have to switch power off to get it to update the reading after you switch. )

I just got back from a two week trip to Sequoia NP and northern California towing a 28ft fifth wheel, and it sure made the fuel situation less of a concern.

If I could do over though, I'd probably try Transfer Flow, and ask them if they could give me a manual switching setup instead of their electronics stuff.

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scott Anderson (edited 09-23-1999). ]

 

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I bought an Aero Under the Seat Tool Box from them. The fit was so poor I could not put down the rear seat. I had to get out the Sawz-All and do some heavy cutting and hammering. I was disappointed to say the least. Pretty sloppy stuff... ... .

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1997, 2500 Emerald Green, SLT Larimie, Tan Leather, X-Cab, Auto, 3. 54LSD, Tow Package, Camper Package, Banks Stinger Plus, 2" Rancho Suspension Lift, Rancho RS 9000's Shocks, Bushwhacker Flares, 35" BFG Mudders, 16. 5 x 9. 75 Outlaw II Alloys, Jacobs Exhaust Brake, BD Torque-Lock, BD Valve Body, BD Torque Converter, Rhino Liner, Smittybuilt Step Bars, K&N Air Filter, Rancho RS 5000 Steering tabilizer, 5000lb. Air Bags, Aero Under Seat Tool Box, Mopar Bug Deflector, Emerald Green Century Cap.

 

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Have same underseat box. Had to bend the s--- out of the front [shaped it like this: ( to get seat down and still have heal room for passengers]. Very happy with box. wouldn't buy anything else from company though as I don't like PAYING for something, then having to custom fabricate to get it to work. Too bad 'cause I really would like a replacement tank.

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2500qc, no leather or abs
1500 bigfoot, no auto waterheater or microwave.

 

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RE: per my post on 9-19-99: I received yet another catalog from Aero Tanks the other day, but still no installation instructions as requested (at least three times). Transfer Flow on the other hand has accomodated my request for the installation instructions for their 38 gal. auxiliary aft of axle fuel tank. Very impressive installation instructions; they must actually have engineers that know what the heck they are doing! Very professionally done!

Tanks (pun intended) for the tip Andy! I will probably add the previously described Transfer Flow tank in the near future. And thanks to all respondants to my original post.

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, auto. , 275 hp. injectors, Glasstite Vision II "canopy", 285 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, VDO Vision gauges, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc.