Aux Fuel Tanks

[RClark]

I was talking to an installer the other day. I wanted to put another tank in the bed-Tool box, Cross bed, or transfer. i was told the following.

1. The tank could not be a gravity drain type.

2. The tank could not have a pump and feed the tank with a hose into the fill-wihile parked.

3. the tank could not pump into the main tank without wsome control system to prevent overfilling the main tank, like TransferFlo offers.



These are supposed to be Federal Laws but I still see tanks offered as in bed tanks with plain pump kits.



Anybody heard anything about this? It would sure be nice to be able to carry 30-50 gal more.

 

[snowracer69]

Um, no comment on the 50 gal. aux tank that doesn't reside in the bed of my pickup, and that hasn't been there for 3 years. It also is not now equipped with a transfer pump so it can be more useful to me.







Josh

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I don't know if those are laws or not. Commercial vehicles have more chance of being stopped, but it could happen to anyone. Be careful picking a brand of transfer tank (the ones you seem to be looking at are designed to carry fuel for backhoes, etc. ). I had one whose brd name started with a W and it rusted continually, requiring a separate filter and also many changes of the engine's fuel filter. It later developed a stress crack. The company refused to warranty it, citing bogus reasons based on a non-existent electronic fuel feedback system being tampered with.



I am now running the Transfer Flow 54 gallon rplacement tank, and the 98 gallon in-bed tank. No rust, no leaks, no problems. Quality shows and far outlasts any concern about a higher price.

 

[Paychk]

Here is the DOT take on fuel tanks:



http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov//rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/393.65.htm



I know of a company in Canada that makes a real cool gravity feed system into the main tank. The gravity feed is controlled by the aux tank air vent being plumbed into the main tank. But they won't sell to the US per DOT regs.

 

[RClark]

thanks. I went to 393. 65 and read it. It says no gravity feed to a carb but doesn't seem to prohibit a pump.

 

[RClark]

Joe, I agree with you. On my 86 Ford I had the 19gal rear tank replaced with a 45 gal on form a supposedly reputable manufactured. The other end of the alphabet from yours. It developed rust and could not be internally coated because the holes in the baffles were too small. I ended up using an old Chev truck fuel filter because it had a replacable cartridge. It was changed about every 4th tank.

the company I bought from has since relocated about 25 mi East but i still would not buy from them.

Quality is worth the price.



By the way, when they installed the tank they had to cut off my exhaust pipes and reinstalled the trailer hitch using stove bolts. I was fortunate to recovet the original grade 5 and shims. I knew about this because I had originally installed the hitch

 

[boater]

Aux Tanks

Originally posted by Paychk

Here is the DOT take on fuel tanks:



http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov//rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/393.65.htm



Paychk ,you have made my day ! Getting this info is

what I've been trying to get for a week . Looks like my hand

valve controlled aux tank is as legal as it can get.





Thanks again , boater

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You might visit transferflow.com or call them at 800-442-0056. Their catalog has the applicable regulations described in it.

 

[rweis]

Transfer flow just came out with a new transfer tank. It transfers from the bed tank when the OEM gets to 1/4 and transfers till the OEM is 1/2 then stops automatically.



It is somewhat cheaper than the one with the LCD full unit.



Check their website.



Bob Weis

 

[Okie-Go]

I know it sure is a good feling to have a 100 gallons of fuel on a trip. On mine I just flip a switch to change tanks. No gravity feed. It is separate from the oem tank. My gauge still works on both tanks also.