Extra fuel in bed

[Bickford]

Hello,



I would like to ask for a few pointers on how to route the fuel lines through a stock mopar bed liner in a eight foot bed. I bought four new Semi Truck ( take off ) fifty gallon fuel tanks for $160. 00.



1. Any pointers on the fuel line routing. Do I need to drill through the new Mopar bed liner? 2. How do I connect to the stock fuel tank? 3. Should I mount four drain petcocks for water draining. 4. What type of fuel filter should I use, Racor? 5. What type of fuel pump should I use? I have a spare blue Holley fuel pump and a spare Facet pump. 6. What about connecting all four tanks to one pump for transfer to the stock fuel tank? 7. Any Canadian Customs pointers with the extra fuel? I know the big rigs carry up to three hundred plus gallons of fuel tax / duty free?



The above tanks will be mounted in a welded steel frame then secured to the truck bed. My wife and I are going on a fifteen thousand mile Canadian road trip in July / August. Where the fuel cost is eighty cents a liter.

God Bless,

Earl

2003 3500 SLT CTD SRW LWB HO six speed black four door

 

[mr plow]

80 cents per litre?

up here in toronto, i fill up for 59. 8 cents per litre, have been for some time now.



regards.



oren.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Installing a fuel tank on top of a plastic bed liner could be dangerous. I would strongly recommend adding a grounding strap between the tank and the frame of the truck. But, given the insulate properties of modern tires, you may still be at risk.

If you go ahead and do this then it would be safer for you to be in the bed rather than standing on the ground when fueling.

The very safest thing to do would be to remove the bed liner.



Take care,

Scotty

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

Installing a fuel tank on top of a plastic bed liner could be dangerous

If he was hauling gasoline.

 

[Bickford]

Hello,



Thank you for the Canadian fuel price updates. I estimated my diesel quote from the web site www.gaspricewatch.com . My quote is right in the middle of the quoted high and lows. When I fill up in Georgia at the Flying J truck stop, www.flyingj.com/fuel today’s diesel fuel price is $1. 20 US a gallon. I will be traveling on many hundreds of miles of gravel back roads, some in the Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island areas to list just a few. Being able to pop back into the US and top off at the many tax free American Indian Reservation fuel stops, I hope to keep my out of pocket fuel costs down.



Seeing that the fuel light came on this week on a road trip. I pulled right over and was able to pump in 34. 8 gallons of fuel to top it off. Being loaded with a travel trailer, a full size BMW motorcycle, firewood and two or three 17-foot kayaks plus four adult bicycles. And Clothing and food for four adults, plus our dog, the last thing I want to worry about is finding fuel at unfriendly (make that non US) prices.

I have been retired from active duty service for the US Coast Guard for more than two years. So I have a lot of free time on my hands. I worked as an enlisted electrician and I now like to weld and do fabrication work as a Hobby. I’m not Fishing here or looking to make I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER chat. I ‘m grateful for any and all suggestions. Such as the grounding strap information?, or future fuel price updates.



Good Night God Bless,



Earl

 

[nickleinonen]

Re: 80 cents per litre?

Originally posted by mr plow

up here in toronto, i fill up for 59. 8 cents per litre, have been for some time now.



regards.



oren.

being just north of toronto, i have been seeing anywhere from $0. 599 to $0. 675 a liter for diesel fuel...

 

[RDHamill]

Food for thought

i'm here on the New Brunswick - Nova Scotia border right in the middle of where you're going.

Current fuel price is at 69. 9 / litre, ( 3. 8L per US gallon) Cdn $

will be higher in newfoundland.

you might not want to " pop back into the US " for fuel, from here it is a 3 1/2 hr drive just to get to the border.

From Newfoundland you'll find it will take 10hours of driving and a 6 hr boat ride to get to the US.



you mentioned that the big rigs enter canada with hundreds of gallons on board, remember that they are part of ITFA ( International fuel tax agreement) this program pro rates where fuel is consumed and shares the tax $$$, so customs is not consurned if the truck has the IFTA sticker.

As a Canadian returning to canada, fuel carried outside of the stock tank is subject to federal excise tax, you as a tourist will most likely get away with it, however you might get laughed at. :-laf We are used to having friends from the US show up looking for snow in July.



I travel all over atlantic canada ( 145,000 MILES in 3 years) my truck has not yet been on a gravel road , for that you'll have to go to labrador. but the side roads have enough broken pavement you'll wish they were gravel ( luke's links live here, stock track bars and ball joints don't)



Send me a PM when you head this way!!!

 

[Bickford]

Spare fuel in bed

Hello,



I have been working on my fuel depot. I have the four tanks mounted in the steel frame work and have started on the fuel pump and filter.

I could use some help on how to route the fuel line to the stock fuel system.



The below note is from some one who just returned from the same trip north. >>> This is why I built the four fuel tanks.



If you are camping or using an RV there are lots of places to pull off to rest,camp,fish and enjoy the wilderness. The only section on my complete trip where there is a lack of services is between Baie Comeau and Lab City. Top your tanks in Baie Comeau,and if necessary carry a spare can of gas so that you can complete this portion without refuelling . The BANDITS at Riel Gabriel wanted 98. 9 for diesel. THIS IS A RIPOFF. Sure they have the added expense of the fuel being trucked in from the South but then again so do the gas stations in Lab City,Churchill Falls and Goose Bay. Funny thing though--the price of diesel in these places was between . 84 and . 87. Regular fuel is a bit more expensive.

 

[Boonieman]

Are you planning to tie into your actual fuel lines on the truck, or just use your external tanks as a reservoir and fill your truck tank with a pump? I had heard, and I don't know if this is true, that the reason they are going to one large fuel tank vs two tanks is the susceptibility of getting air in the fuel system when switching tanks. I don't know how the 03's react to that, but for diesels in general it's not a good thing. Also, I have always heard that if you have more than 95 gallons in an external tank it kicks you into a different DOT regulation class, including some sort of environmental issues. But your system sounds like a super idea for the type of trip you're looking at. It would be great to see some pictures when you got your system hooked up.



Danny

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Bickford

Hello,



I would like to ask for a few pointers on how to route the fuel lines through a stock mopar bed liner in a eight foot bed. I bought four new Semi Truck ( take off ) fifty gallon fuel tanks for $160. 00.



1. Any pointers on the fuel line routing. Do I need to drill through the new Mopar bed liner?

2. How do I connect to the stock fuel tank?

3. Should I mount four drain petcocks for water draining.

4. What type of fuel filter should I use, Racor?

5. What type of fuel pump should I use? I have a spare blue Holley fuel pump and a spare Facet pump.

6. What about connecting all four tanks to one pump for transfer to the stock fuel tank?

7. Any Canadian Customs pointers with the extra fuel? I know the big rigs carry up to three hundred plus gallons of fuel tax / duty free?



The above tanks will be mounted in a welded steel frame then secured to the truck bed. My wife and I are going on a fifteen thousand mile Canadian road trip in July / August. Where the fuel cost is eighty cents a liter.

God Bless,

Earl

2003 3500 SLT CTD SRW LWB HO six speed black four door

Earl, this is just my opinion. I'm not familiar with how the 03 look underneath. To answer your questions:



#1 I would put a valve on each tank to be able to isolate a problem. I would then hook them into one common fuel line, add one more valve there(manual or electric... your choice), then to the OEM tank. You'll have to drill.

#2 On the 2nd gen trucks, there is a spare hookup on the fuel sender. I'd use this if yours has it.

#3 It would be easier to put in petcocks while the tanks are empty. Yes!! Cheap insurance.

#4 I wouldnt bother. Let the stock fuel filter do the filtering. If you filled up at a pump, of from the tanks, you'd still be running the same fuel anyway.

#5 Dont need one. The system I described will "gravity feed" your stock tank. You could use an electric valve, but I like the manual valves. (I work in a steam plant):-laf

#6 See #5 answer, and refer to #1's answer.

#7 I have no idea. Just a thought... . would a tonneau cover fit over these tanks?:-laf Out of sight, out of mind.

Eric

 

[Peter Campbell]

I do know that at around 135 gallons the vehicle will have to be placarded. This is fuel in excess of what the stock tanks carry. Combustible liquids- placarding not required for quantities less than 1001Lbs exclusive of the vehicles fuel system. That is why the biggest tanks the tank makers produce are 135 gallon. 135Gallons * 7 Lbm/gallon = 945 Lbm. So really with 200 gallons of product you should screw one of those red "1993" red diamonds with the little picture of a fire on your tailgate. They are only about 11 1/2" on a side.

 

[Bickford]

Here is a picture,



I needed to make it much smaller than its original 72 k size.



Earl

 

[The patriot]

Earl, I havent been to Canada in a long time, but as I remember it, the hassles werent in going TO Canada, it was when you were re entering the USA. Several times I didnt think they were going to let me back in. I'm serious.

By then maybe you'll use up all that fuel. :-laf

BTW, I dont think a tonneau cover will help much. Those suckers are BIG!!

Eric

 

[Bickford]

Well,



Sorry for the poor picture. It was 72,000 pixels, until I learn how to edit a little better, well you know what I mean.



I have read through all of the past years TDR extra fuel in bed posts.



I think I can remove one of the 2003 truck bed liner cleats and just maybe >>> I can get around drilling the bed liner or truck bed. If I remove the one cleat near the fuel door I might just have to open up the hole up a little to route the fuel hose.



Thank You for the many posts. The four tanks are actual Semi tanks and they are DOT approved and are made of steel. The finished product will be of good quality. I can tell you they are much stronger than the stock poly tank. They will be bolted in the frame work then covered with plywood just a few inches above the bed rail. I checked the load / carrying rating for a 2003 SRW LWB 3500 CTD HO truck it looks like I can carry 3180 pounds. Off hand I look great as far as the loaded weight goes.



I have read the U. S. Department of Transportation regulations 393. 65. Federal and State Regulations plus information about what is a legal fuel system.



I have spoke with seven different Canadian Customs officials at five different Canadian phone numbers in two different providences. Until I was able to ask for the bringing fuel into Canada rules in writing. They sent a small folder labeled Customs information for visitors to Canada and seasonal Residents # RC4161 G295. With a business card of the Program Support Officer.



I would have preferred to buy a complete drop in fuel tank... but it seems I'm still in the 1970's money mind set... make that (cheap).



My total out of pocket so far is:



1. $160. 00 for the four tanks.

2. $70. 00 for the 2" by 2" steel.

3. Spool of . 023 Welding wire and Co2 / mixed gas.

4. My time is free and my welders and all of the other needed tools are paid for. Being retired at 45 years old, I need to stay busy. ( if I had to buy all of my fuel at the sometimes outrageous Canadian prices my portable fuel farm will more than pay for itself the first trip) Any other pointers?



Thank You, God Bless, our great Country.

Earl

 

[juicedcummins]

Don't be surprised if CdN customs charges you GST {Gouge+Screw tax} on all extra fuel over the factory capacity of your rig. This is a 7% tax. A setup like that is bound to attract some attention and get you busted.



While fishing in the north a couple of weeks ago some fellow fishermen from Minnesota were upset that they were charged GST on the 15gl of boat gas they brought into CAN.



Take this as a heads up because our screwed up government will try just about anything for extra revenue.

 

[Boonieman]

Hey Earl... thanks for the picture. That is as original and ingenious setup as I've seen in awhile!