Do-it-yourself Auxillary Fuel Tank

[David Pendleton]

Hello all.



I've recently come across a 50-gallon, aluminum diesel fuel tank for sale.



This is a barrel type tank like you would see on a semi tractor or as an auxillary under a trailer.



It's four years old, has all the fittings and a built-in gauge on the end. It's in really nice condition.



The first thing that popped in to my mind when I saw it was using it as an auxillary in my bed for my 03 CTD. I really can't afford a TransferFlow or other commercial product right now, and I figured I might be able to roll my own.



What I'd like is for you to help me brainstorm a bit on how I could pull this off.



First off, I need a way to mount it in the bed; then there's all the plumbing issues.



What do you guys think? Can I make something useful out of this?



#ad




Thanks all.



Dave

 

[kenny61]

Kinda redneck but that aint always a bad thing. Mounting would be easy by fabricating brackets (or getting a set off of a rig)and using the straps they mount the tank to the rig with. plumbing is just an electric pump and teeing it into the fuel return line maybe with a check valve. Might have problems with the DOT but I dont see why you couldn't make it work

 

[R C Cola]

Adapt a tank

Have seen this done many times, RV toters etc. I use an electric fuel pump from autozone about $ 50 and tap into the fill pipe with a 3/8 inch line (do not reccomend fueling while going down the road). Have also used a hand crank pump (faster) which costs about $ 30 at Harbor freight with a 5/8 inch hose into the filler neck while stopped at rest area etc. You can also siphon using just a piece of water hose ( I did not like the taste of diesel) You can fabricate the mounts using wood or metal which can be bolted to the bed securely (probably the most important detail, you don't want it coming loose in case of accident) Dot wants a secure mount and fueling while stopped. Unless you are commercial that is probably all they will care about. I have been running for 4 years with mine and no problems. I did get dipped one time at the canadian border checking for farm fuel.

 

[chuckwilson]

The tank you are showing is called a refer tank, it is used for fuel for refrigeration units on the front of refer trailers. it is a DOT tank, the easy way to mount it is to get brackets from a salvage yard off an old refer trailer. they use electric fuel pumps to pump the fuel to the unit, (in your case tank) nice find, great idea!!!!

 

[Matt400]

Just curious. . what is the length and height of that tank?

 

[WDixon27]

my guess would be real close to a 55 gallon drum by the capacity and shape

Just curious. . what is the length and height of that tank?

 

[Kubotaorange76]

My steel Reefer tank is 30 gallons... looks the same but it fills from the top and is made of steel. I ran it for years in my rock crawler before i switched it to propane. . I too have been toying with putting it on my truck as an aux. tank

 

[msperos]

I'm doing the same thing with a 50 gallon tank off one of my Mitsubishi's at work. I was planing on using the saddle mounts off the truck to mount it accross the back of the bed. For the plumbing I'm thinking of pulling the bed off and spin welding a 1/2" pe tank bulkhead on my fuel tank and running a line up to the spare tank. On the tank I will mount a solinoid valve to the line and run a switch inside the truck. Turn on the switch the valve opens watch the fuel gauge and shut off when close to full.

 

[David Pendleton]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm going to look at it this weekend.



As far as the dimensions, you could guestimate based on the tire that's underneath it. I figure it's a passenger car-sized tire.



And thanks for the extra knowledge, chuck! I always wondered what those tanks were for...



Dave

 

[cksh8me]

A friend of mine runs that tank in his 7. 3 ferd. He did it for under a hundred bucks and that included the tank.



I need my bed so in bed stuff won't work for me.

 

[steved]

I had one of those and sold it... I was in the same boat as cksh8me and decided bed space was more valuable.

Hooking it up will be easy... IIRC, a piece of 1. 5" pipe will slide right into our filler neck hose... drill and tap for the hose fitting of your choice.

Mounting... I was either going to build one out of steel or treated lumber (for the cradle) and SS straps.

 

[DennyDay]

Thats a good looking tank, if the whole thing looks that good grab it! I would suggest giving the inside a good cleaning, even if you can't do it yourself. If you make brackets be sure to use aluminum or stainless steel, not mild steel, so you won't have a corrosion problem. Also I would suggest tying into the filler pipe with a fuel transfer line, and use the vapor line for vapor, just put a plastic "T" in the vapor line and as you transfer fuel to the main tank, vapor will go int the aux. tank and you won't build up pressure when you transfer fuel.



Denny

 

[Grizzly]

It's nice, however a rectangular would fit better in the bed of the truck, especially if you tow a 5er.



Do any 18 wheeler's use a rectangular tank?

 

[steved]

Do any 18 wheeler's use a rectangular tank?

Most city trucks have a 50-ish gallon rectangular tank... usually with a step.

 

[WDaniels]

I did this same thing with my 96 duelly except it was a 95 gallon tank. I removed the fill top that had a spring in it for venting and I was able to put 108 gallons in it. I was able to go from here in Fairbanks all the way to Seattle without filling up in Canada. I now have a new tank that is 65" long and just leaves about 2 inches between the tank and the sides of the truck. Its aprox 130 gallons. Then I plumb it in to my present system so I don't get taxed going through British Canada. I have lent it to several of my friends so they don't have to stop in Canada. Now I have a problem keeping track of it. Everyone wants to keep it.

WD