Extend my range, cheap, quick and easy?

[DaveK98]

All,



I have to go from Texas to South Carolina on thursday. Going to take 20. I'm towing my 5th wheel and with the 30-35 gallon factory tank and 12-13mpg I figure I can make it about 400 or so miles.



Worried about supply of diesel, heard people were waiting 5 hours in Jackson for gas. I was thinking of bringing 2 of those 5 gallon portable gas tanks, would bump me up another 100 miles or so?



Darn, I'm ordering that 60 gallon replacement tank as soon as I get back from this trip.



Anyone have any other suggestions????



Best wishes to anyone affected by the storm.....



Dave

 

[Todd T]

you could fill your gray water tank with fuel



I'm kidding



I have a 25 gallon saddle tank from JD 9000 series combine mounted as spare in the bed. it was free to me out of the neighbors junk pile. painted it up, mounted a nice filter under the bed and tied it into the overflow hose on the tank. I just use a ball valve to turn it on/off



you got any tractor junk yards around ya?

 

[viper700]

DaveK98

I wanted a long range capability for my 04. 5 dually also. My son being the #1 fabricator that he is made me an aluminum tank of 65 gallon capacity. high as the bed and as wide as could fit. I first used a holly "red" pump and a old style tank switch with 5/16" ports. It was plumbed directly into the main tank by silver soldering barb fittings to the filler main tank filler neck and the vent line. This way it was a closed system to the main fuel system. I would not reccomend a gravity feed from the botton of the tank as an issue with DOT and safety of fuel spill. What I found out was that the holly red pump was for gas only and would not pump Diesel when it was cold out and the 5/16 ports on the tank shut off relay restricted the fuel also. The holly at it's best in warm weather took about 45 minutes to pump about 25 gallons of fuel. In colder temps it took more than an hour or when down around 10 degrees no fuel at all. I then made a different fuel pick up that was a 1/2" and all the rest of the fuel lines were 3/8". I started looking around and found a carter pump #P4601HP speced out to pump 100 gal per hour at 18 PSI The Holy was 67 gph at 5 psi for gas. The Carter was made to pump gas or diesel. The stut off switch is a Pollak #42-159 with 3/8 ports. there are other Pollak fuel selector valves in this series but this was one that was available here. The thing with the Pollak selector valve is it a motorized valve and not a relay. it just takes another wire and a DTDP on/on switch to work. I used a marine fuel gauge and sending unit in the tank. It is not as accurate as I would like but I know how much fuel is in the tank as it is. This really pumps now and I don't expect problems again. I fill up in Anchorage and don't fuel again till Fort Nelson then again at the border in Washington. Next fuel stop is Yuma my destination. NO California fuel stops.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Two (or four) 5 gallon fuel containers secured up next to the front of the bed would be good insurance on my opinionm. The cans are cheap. bg

 

[DaveK98]

Yup, headed to Northern Tool to pick up at LEAST 2... ... .

 

[Bug Out]

91 gal toolbox,fuel combo

davek98, I had the 60 gal aux box in my old 97 CTD 1 ton. It worked good, but I just bought the 91 gal toolbox-fuel combo from northern. Its 30$ more and well worth it. You can have 60 in there or 90 gals if you like.



That puts my distance at 15MPG empty = 127 gals, 1905 approx miles. I usually get 16-17 at 2000 rpm on the freeway empty.



Loaded @ 10 MPG 1270 approx miles.





the quality of the tank ( made by RDS in Florida) is great and I love knowing I can drive a month or more without filling up again.



I hooked mine up on gravity with a ball valve from the drain plug to the vent line.

 

[EricBu12]

2, ..... 30 gallon barrels in the front of the bed. I bought 1 at a trailer supply for $35 each.

 

[DaveK98]

Thanks all, Made my trip no problem and found diesel along the way.

 

[Barry]

Another little trick is go to Tractor Supply. They have a 37 gallon tank that is only 9" wide and 19" tall. Stands verticle in the nose of the bed and only takes up 9". Plumbing and tank are less than $275. Doubles your range.



Otherwise, go RDS... ... ... ... .