Aux fuel tank idea

[DaveK98]

I like MRector's idea, Get a used big rig tank, build a wooden cradle for it, paint it the color of your bed (I might have it line-xed), if the tank doesn't have anything to "strap it to the bed" get a u kinda bracket welded to both sides and use a heay duty ratchet strap. I'd just use a pump and pump it into my gas tank then, no hard connections.



I think this would be a great idea for the 2 times a year I have need for more fuel than stock.



Can you get a pic of your dad's setup????

 

[XJSuperman]

I like MRector's idea, Get a used big rig tank, build a wooden cradle for it, paint it the color of your bed (I might have it line-xed), if the tank doesn't have anything to "strap it to the bed" get a u kinda bracket welded to both sides and use a heay duty ratchet strap. I'd just use a pump and pump it into my gas tank then, no hard connections.



I think this would be a great idea for the 2 times a year I have need for more fuel than stock.



Can you get a pic of your dad's setup????

I like it as well. Be neat to either linex it OR chrome the whole thing! But that's what I want... totally self contained (other than the electricl connection for the pump).

 

[MRector]

Im Pretty Sure My Dad Has His Pump Wired To Plug Into The Power Outlet(cig Lighter) When He Needs It. Ill Be Up His Way In The Next Few Days--ill See If I Cant Get You Some Pics.

 

[EB]

I have a 40 gal reefer tank mounted in the bed of my truck. Cost me $50 at a truck salvage yard. It's connected directly to my original tank with a ball valve in between. I fill up in my top tank and the fuel drains down into the original tank, the fuel gauge stays at full until I start running off the main tank. Only thing is to be sure to run your return to the top tank if you rig it like I did or you will have a fuel leak where it comes out of the engine. To much head pressure.

 

[Gifford]

Why couldnt we mount an aux tank in the same position as the OEM tank but on the opposite side? THeres lots of room and that way you would'nt have to lose the spare or waste space in the cargo area. Thats what Ford does with their dual tank setup. I wonder if a stock dodge polyethylene tank could mouted on the passenger side?



Another idea: What about buying a used Semi tank? I bet you could get one fairly cheap from a truck dismantler (I assume that Semi's eventually end up at junkyards too someday, though I've never seen a truck junkyard. .



Custom build might be the only answer;WHen I was in high schoool I worked partime at a flatbed trailer/tank manufacuterer that occasionally built custom fuel tanks. They helped me build an aluminum 12 gallon aux tank for my Diesel Rabbit (47MPG in 1983- who needs a hybrid!?!?!) which gravity fed via a manual valve from under the rear hatch to the OEM tank. They also built twin 60 gallon tanks for a guy who took his SUburban to Baja on vacation every year.



To those who say, why buy a tank you have to stop and transfer fuel with, why not stop and BUY fuel? Well, there are times when fuel is not availible (ever had to search for a place that sells diesel in an unfamiliar area? I have!).



We have seen recently that social unrest is only slightly hidden behind a thin veneer of polite society- it doesnt take much to cause shortages, rationing and violence and it is my belief that our country is headed for MORE not less of that sort of thing (Riots, martial law,rationing). I'd feel much better carrying an extra 35 gallons or so of fuel at any given time enough to "bug-out" in CTD style!...

 

[Sled Dog]

Just found a rectangular semi tank, aluminum, 160 gal. Just fits inside the bed against the cab,lwb, $75. Will use the hangers to mount it to the bed and gravity feed the OEM tank. Before the install will buff it until it looks like chrome.

 

[blacksheep4x4]

For those of us who have the short bed trucks we have the issue of either replacing the stock tank... which it seems no one really makes a 'big' (say 80 gallons) tank to do so( I blieve the new tank shown in TDR this month is in fact only available for the 4x4 SWB trucks)... . and anyone who would make such a tank would want big bucks based on the current prices of them.



So I have the same issues with installing an aux tank in the bed... not enough bed. So far I Just carry a couple 5 gallon cans or so of diesel when I drive and when I am at my destination I fill up and can usually make it home without having to stop and refill. BUT carrying an extra 40-50 gallons instead of 15 or so would make things even better... especially if when I got home I could simply remove the tank and have full use of the bed until I needed it again.



What does everyone think of a removable (easily) 40-50 gallon aux tank? Essentially it would just be one giant gas can... and would require some sort of pump to get the fuel from it to the main tank. BUT I have seen 50 gallon boat tanks run less than $200 new and some sort of electric pump shouldn;t be that expensive.

Have the mounting setup where you undo the straps (or whatever) and just remove the tank when not in use. Obviously it couldn;t be full or 1 person would not be able to move it... but in my case anyway it would be empty or close to empty when I was to remove it... so for me this is not an issue.



Just kicking around ideas for not only a more feasable option for SWB trucks BUT it seems it would also be much less expensinve than buying a pre-made tank specifically for the truck.



Thoughts... is it a dumb idea... ???

There is a company that makes auxillary tanks for the short box. They mount over the wheel wells and are a plastic material with a stainless steel covering. I can't think of the name of the company, but when I get home I'll look for it and post it.

 

[Crunch]

I have a 40 gal reefer tank mounted in the bed of my truck. Cost me $50 at a truck salvage yard. It's connected directly to my original tank with a ball valve in between.

Just found a rectangular semi tank, aluminum, 160 gal. Just fits inside the bed against the cab,lwb, $75. Will use the hangers to mount it to the bed and gravity feed the OEM tank. Before the install will buff it until it looks like chrome.

I've heard that it is illegal to gravity feed an auxillary tank directly to the main tank, hence the need for a pump.

 

[XJSuperman]

There is a company that makes auxillary tanks for the short box. They mount over the wheel wells and are a plastic material with a stainless steel covering. I can't think of the name of the company, but when I get home I'll look for it and post it.

That would be cool... but I bet it's big $$.

 

[Sled Dog]

I've heard that it is illegal to gravity feed an auxillary tank directly to the main tank, hence the need for a pump.

Your source?

 

[Crunch]

Your source?

I think it's been discussed several times on this board. But hey, just because it's the law doesn't mean you have to obey it. I'm a pedal to the metal guy myself...

 

[EB]

I haul for a living and go through scales all the time with a gravity fed auxiliary tank. No problems. All the semi's have their saddle tanks connected by a crossover line. The fuel is pulled from one tank, basically the same thing.

 

[Sled Dog]

I've heard that it is illegal to gravity feed an auxillary tank directly to the main tank, hence the need for a pump.

My question is,"What's your source"?.



As everyone here has Heard Ford owns Cummins

'

 

[RMcKinney]

XJSuperman,

Looks like a person shoud be able to pick up a intank fuel pump an auto parts store and then just turn on the pump going done the road. (15. 00-25. 00 dollars)

Keep a eye on the orginal fuel gauge and then turn it off when it gets close to full.

You wouldn't have to worry about or modify the orginal Fuel Tank Vent.

The Extra fuel would be nice on the long haul because you would always have good clean fuel.

Rex McKinney

 

[rweis]

I would add,



Be SURE to keep free water OUT of the fuel (condensation). Circulate the whole fuel load through a really GOOD filter system constantly.



In all the "Why did my Vp44 die" type threads, it eventually comes around to poor fuel (particulates, water damage) or poor input pressures (too low or too high) or heat related (but that is another tangent).



Keeping the aux tank completely clean and water free is one of the major reasons I have not done an aux tank. You just about have to constantly recirculate that tank through a filter system like you do on the main tank (VP44 cooling fuel goes back to the tank (30gph at cruise) then it gets recirculated through the filter back to the VP44).



Bob Weis

 

[XJSuperman]

I would add,



Be SURE to keep free water OUT of the fuel (condensation). Circulate the whole fuel load through a really GOOD filter system constantly.



In all the "Why did my Vp44 die" type threads, it eventually comes around to poor fuel (particulates, water damage) or poor input pressures (too low or too high) or heat related (but that is another tangent).



Keeping the aux tank completely clean and water free is one of the major reasons I have not done an aux tank. You just about have to constantly recirculate that tank through a filter system like you do on the main tank (VP44 cooling fuel goes back to the tank (30gph at cruise) then it gets recirculated through the filter back to the VP44).



Bob Weis

Hey Bob... how have you been??



I had thought of adding a water fuel separator into the mix as well as running a fuel additive even in the aux tank to prevent the water issue. PLUS for my use the tank would only have fuel in it when in the truck... meaning when I got home from making a run I would empty the tank (most liekly into the main tank and then remove the tank from the truck (and clean it every so often as well)

 

[rweis]

Oh, fine, been fighting fuel temperatures going into the Vp44. I dumped a VP44 last year on vacation and vowed it would not happen again. Electronics cooked, :{ . I just about have the fuel temp figuered out, one or two more little tweaks.



The tank, you will get LESS condensation if the tank is slap brim FULL. No air, no condensation. If you want to store it empty, what about one of those "DampRid" from Home Depot. We use them in the RV refridgerator to keep the mold from growing. You have to make sure no condensation.



On my CTD I do the RACOR 690 T before it ever gets to the first fuel system component. Super clean and no free water. It also recirculates ALL the fuel through the RACOR about 3 - 4 times / hour. I put a RASP on mine since we spoke last. The RASP recirculates A LOT of fuel (bypass back to the tank) and the VP44 recirculates A LOT of fuel at cruise (30 gph). Between the two of them a really minor amount actually goes to the injectors. I also took out the OEM ff and put in a AN-12 Canton HUGE racing filter (no line insertation pressure loss) at 8um to make sure the VP gets as perfect a fuel as is humanly possible (still use Stanadyne PF too). I thought I had the fuel system figuered out, and I think I do for cleanlyness, but did not for temperature, but do now



Anyway, I just wanted to throw in and say "aux tank is great, but it is still fuel and you HAVE to really clean it and take care of it. I would run a small pump on the aux tank full time or at least pretty often (something simple) that recirculates the aux tank through something like the RACOR 690 for continuous cleaning with a ball valve that I could shuttle off the flow to the main tank when I wanted. Keeps the aux tank really clean and also provides a way to fill the main tank fairly quickly.



We'll have to get together and swap beverages



Bob Weis

 

[XJSuperman]

Sounds good Bob If I run a filter/water separator in line with my fill hose... can I just pump the fuel back into the tank? Granted it's still going back into unfiltered fuel but it sounds like it does that anyway right?

 

[Nate]

If a person would just run a line right to the main fuel tank, would that work? So you'd have 2 tanks making 1 large tank? I'm guessing fuel would pour out of the filler neck?



I was thinking of building a small tank that would fit until my toolbox and span the width of the truck. Maybe 20 gallons or so. Or maybe getting a plastic on from Tempo if the price isn't too bad. http://www.tempoproducts.com/2004/bd_fuel_tanks2.html

 

[GPangrle]

I saw in a Warshawsky? spelling? catalog a number of different sized replacement tanks for suburbans with diesel engins. These tanks were reasonable and fit where the spare is. You could make a holder for your spare below it on a 4x4 maybe even on a 2x4. Just an idea