Axle weights with a 98 gallon Transfer-Flow

[Kirwin]

I posted this over in the 3rd gen forum but I thought it might be of interest to those over here also.



Well I got the 98 gallon across the bed fuel tank installed yesterday. Went up to the Flying J in Carmel Church VA and put 20. 4 gallons of diesel in the truck tank, weighed the truck then put 100 gallons of fuel in the diamond tread aluminum tank in the back and weighed it again.



With me in the truck (but otherwise empty, stock tank full) it weighed:



Front axle 4860 lbs rear axle 3500 lbs total 8360 lbs



With the in bed tank full:



Front axle 5040 lbs rear axle 4020 lbs total 9060 lbs



That's 700 lbs for 100 gallons of diesel, and only 160 lbs until I reach the front GAWR of 5200 lbs. I weighed my truck and trailer combination and front axle weight actually goes down about 275 lbs with the trailer connected. I actually think the truck rides better with the fuel in the back! Just to let you all know that front axle is never lightly loaded with a Cummins under the hood. Ken Irwin

 

[DogDiesel]

Larger tanks

I have only a 50 gallon tank in my truck, and a 36 gallon main tank. With my 5. 9 Cummins powered chevy, I fill up maximum once per day on long haul and once a month locally.



I'll have a large tank on all my future trucks.



Wayne

 

[LesStallings]

Just to let you all know that front axle is never lightly loaded with a Cummins under the hood. Ken Irwin

Makes me wonder about my choice of front tire pressures unloaded...



Thanks for the info. I might go out and add another 10 psi to the front! I'm not used to having a few months going unloaded, so I'm a rookie when not hooked up.

 

[abdiver]

Hi All

I am looking at the Transfer Flow tanks seems the easiest way to go Plus it will all be Dot legal. Sure will cost a few dollars more than going with Northern tank and then have to hassle all the misc. small stuff. I already have too many projects



I am not sure if I should get the 70 gal or the 98 gal tank. I have a SRW 3500 w 8' bed I like having as lots of fuel so I will be more able to chose the station to fill up at and save a few bucks at fill up. Though the 70 gal tank is 4 inches narrower so I would have a bit over 6' clear space in the bed. I plan to install a camper shell and place a bunk over the tank to have an emergency place to sleep if needed or rough camping.



What size tank would you recommend?



Also I have a BedMat in my bed so I am hoping to be able to just place the tank on top of the Mat (should help cushion tank). Do you see any problem with leaving BedMat in place?





Thanks, Bill

 

[Mtngoat]

Thanks for the info!! Been wondering about that big tank!

Robin

 

[Berrigan]

Are the 3rd gens heavier on the front axle than 2nd gens? My 98 see sig, dually 4wd QQ with a warn winch up front full stock tank with 35 gallons and transfer tank in bed with 50 gallons and me 199. 9 lbs weight was.



Front 4,580

Rear 3,510

Total 8,090



I also pondered my bed mat and decided to cut it. The tank is bolted directly to the bed. BTH my bed mat is the heavier style and weighed almost a hundred pound by itself.



Also I think my front axle gvwr is 4,800 lbs. I always run 80 psi up front. Bill

 

[Kirwin]

Bed mats and the Transfer Flow

I don't see an issue with the bed mat. Transfer-Flow sends a strip of 1/8" rubber to put under the tank when you mount it. I put 3 strips under the tank on three of the raised portions of the bed corrugations. The Transfer-Flow works great. I'm very happy with mine. As an added bonus its is baffled such that you can stand on it and clean the roof of the truck much easier! Ken Irwin

 

[abdiver]

Kirwin,

AS I see it with the larger 98 gallon tank I would get the upgraded electronics mainly I will know how much fuel I have in my Aux tank at all times for this conviniance it would cost $280. 03 more than the 70 gal tank With the 70 gal tank I would have a full 6' bed space left.



Being you have a 98 gallon tank if you were to do it over again would you go for the smaller 70 gal (5. 5" narrower in width) and lighter when full.



Thanks again, Bill

 

[Kirwin]

Bed length with 98 gallon

I have 70" of bed length with the 98 gallon tank. I left 1" of space between the head board and the tank for the fuel lines. I like the electronics package with the 98 gallon as it monitors both tanks and corrects the dash mounted gauge to read total capacity. The only thing I would change in my install is that I would put the LCD status panel down under the dash somewhere vice where mine is on top of the dash next to my PCMR remote. My truck is used 90% to pull my travel trailer and I mounted a 12 Kw Onan generator back there also so I have very little bed space left! I use the 97 for general hauling. Ken Irwin

 

[abdiver]

I have 70" of bed length with the 98 gallon tank. I left 1" of space between the head board and the tank for the fuel lines. I like the electronics package with the 98 gallon as it monitors both tanks and corrects the dash mounted gauge to read total capacity. The only thing I would change in my install is that I would put the LCD status panel down under the dash somewhere vice where mine is on top of the dash next to my PCMR remote. My truck is used 90% to pull my travel trailer and I mounted a 12 Kw Onan generator back there also so I have very little bed space left! I use the 97 for general hauling. Ken Irwin

Kirwin, With the genset install how is your front axle wt, or does it actually lessen it than with a aux tank only?



I assume holes need to be drilled through the bottom of bed (ouch place for rust to start)



Bill

 

[abdiver]

Kirwin, Or anyone, Did you install your Transferflow tank yourself? Do you know if the wire ends have couplings and just pull into existing connections or ARE THEY bare wire and have to be spliced into the trucks stock wires?



I am pretty anal when it comes to my equipt especially my truck, If splicing is required I would rather do it myself as I would use quality marine products to insulate the splices. I live on the coast lots of corrosion if things are not done correctly. If I did have anyone else install the tank I would go to Chico, and have them do it there as transferflow would probably do the pest job of any tank installer.



Thanks again, Bil

 

[Kirwin]

Front axle weight and install

I installed my Transfer-Flow my self. Their directions are very straight forward and complete right down to the fuel gauge sender wire color code, and how to test it to ensure you cut the correct wire prior to splicing it. I'm also pretty annal about wiring connections on my truck and I cut and soldered my connection and then heat shrank tubing over the splices. The only splice you need is the sending unit wire. I got power from my painless wiring kit vice using the provided tap a fuse. You need a 1. 25" hole saw to put two holes inside the truck box close to where you fuel filler is. They give you rubber grommets and I sealed the metal from the holes with some Rustoleum paint. You splice the Transfer-Flow fuel supply line and vent line into the rubber OEM tank vent line. The system works as advertised. The tank bolts down with four 1/2" bolts with some 4" X 4" reinforcement washers to mount under the bed to prevent the tank from pulling the bolts through the bed of the truck.



My front axle is at 5,275 lbs with me in the truck and all tanks full, and the Onan in the back. 75 lbs over GAWR. See my thread "Generator mounting question" for more info. If I knew how I put a link here but I'm computer challenged. Ken Irwin

 

[abdiver]

Kirwin, Thanks for all the great information, I recall posting my 2 Cents regarding you Genset Thread Hope you will someday post a picture or two of the install. I'm going to pack a long extension cord so if I ever run into you camping with all that electrical power. your camping buddies must love ya.



It appears that the highest part of the 98 gallon tank is a cover that I guess protects the connections.



Could you tell me how high the 98 gallon tank extends above the bed top rail, I know the filler does I am wanting to know about the rest of the tank. Now Ya have me thinking about getting a 98gal instead of the 70



As far as the weight is your tank Aluminum or Steel



Thanks for all your help, Bill

 

[Kirwin]

Weights and other stuff

I pulled out my weight slips from the Transfer-Flow install. The Transfer-Flow was installed before the Onan generator. With my aluminum diamond plate 98 gallon Transfer-Flow my weights were as follows

Front axle me, OEM tank full, Transfer-Flow installed: 4,860 lbs

Rear Axle same conditions as above: 3,500lbs

Total 8,360 lbs

With the Transfer-Flow full: (actually held 100 gallons)

Front axle, same conditions as above: 5,040 lbs

Rear axle, same conditions: 4,020 lbs



After the Onan install I had the truck and trailer weighed by the RVSEF folks. The truck had both tanks full, the normal towing stuff in the bed, my two Basset Hounds, and my wife on board with me and we weighed:

Front axle: 5,225 lbs

Rear axle: 5,075 lbs

Total 10,300 lbs

I'm working on picturers. Ken Irwin

 

[Kirwin]

Pictures

The black is the Linex bed liner on the front bed rail. The cover sticks up exactly 1" above the rail. The cover is there to protect the top of the sending unit and the 3 hose connections. You could not put it on if that is an issue for you. Its only held on with stcky back tape. The hoses could be installed without the cover in my opnion without much risk if you had a cap on your truck. Ken Irwin

 

[Kirwin]

Pictures

This is what the back of the truck looks like. Ken Irwin

 

[Kirwin]

pictures

Here's another one that shows the spacing a little better. The extra line you see in the corner by the filler is the generator fuel return line. Ken Irwin

 

[abdiver]

Kirwin, Nice Setup



Thanks for all the Aux Tank info



Now I have to chose the pro's and cons for me of the 70 or 98 gal tank



Bill

 

[Ron Bissett]

Hi All

I am looking at the Transfer Flow tanks seems the easiest way to go Plus it will all be Dot legal. Sure will cost a few dollars more than going with Northern tank and then have to hassle all the misc. small stuff. I already have too many projects



I am not sure if I should get the 70 gal or the 98 gal tank. I have a SRW 3500 w 8' bed I like having as lots of fuel so I will be more able to chose the station to fill up at and save a few bucks at fill up. Though the 70 gal tank is 4 inches narrower so I would have a bit over 6' clear space in the bed. I plan to install a camper shell and place a bunk over the tank to have an emergency place to sleep if needed or rough camping.



What size tank would you recommend?



Also I have a BedMat in my bed so I am hoping to be able to just place the tank on top of the Mat (should help cushion tank). Do you see any problem with leaving BedMat in place?





Thanks, Bill

You must by law bolt the tank down to the bed for safety . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville Ky

 

[abdiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abdiver



Also I have a BedMat in my bed so I am hoping to be able to just place the tank on top of the Mat (should help cushion tank). Do you see any problem with leaving BedMat in place?

You must by law bolt the tank down to the bed for safety . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville Ky

Ron, I appreciate your reply. I am sorry I did not do a better job of explaining I have always intended on bolting down the tank What I should have said was

- I have a BedMat in my bed so I am hoping to be able to just place the tank on top of the Mat (should help cushion tank). and not have to use the rubber strips that come with the mat unless I find they would help and JUST BOLT THE TANK DOWN THRU THE BEDMAT



Thanks again, Bill