Archived Hole in gas tank

[Ver Hey]

Dropped off my brand (325 mi) new 2004. 5 2500 this morning to have a 5th wheel hitch put in it. They drilled a hole (probably 1/2 in) through the gas tank and plan on keeping my truck at their shop till a new gas tank can be installed. I need my truck and would like to know if some kind of temporary patch can be safely applied till my tank comes in. My Dodge dealer says NO and so does the hitch installer. Does pressure/or vacuum build up in there or am I just concerned with fuel sloshing out? Any ideas. Thanks Bernie.

 

[guava]

Its supposed to be a sealed tank. All the emissions stuff and ecm would probably go nuts trying to make it work with all the faulty sensor data... .



You 'could' probably fasion a patch that would work just fine with an epoxy but I don't think there is a chance in the world the hitch place would give you back the truck. Way to much liability.



They should however rent you a similarly capable vehicle in my opinion. This would be a good time to go for one of the larger gas tanks as long as someone else is footing the bill.

 

[Scot]

The putty fuel tank sealer works well. Might want to use a small metal disk so you do not have to use such a large wad.

 

[robertyoke]

Originally posted by Ver Hey

Dropped off my brand (325 mi) new 2004. 5 2500 this morning to have a 5th wheel hitch put in it. They drilled a hole (probably 1/2 in) through the gas tank and plan on keeping my truck at their shop till a new gas tank can be installed. I need my truck and would like to know if some kind of temporary patch can be safely applied till my tank comes in. My Dodge dealer says NO and so does the hitch installer. Does pressure/or vacuum build up in there or am I just concerned with fuel sloshing out? Any ideas. Thanks Bernie.

who is they... ... 'cause I don't want to end up getting work there!!

 

[EBottema]

Hey- Don't risk getting anything in the tank and ruining the engine. Small chance but its possible... Make the trailer place give you a rental truck...



erik

 

[Ver Hey]

Originally posted by robertyoke

who is they... ... 'cause I don't want to end up getting work there!!

Robert, at this stage, I really don't want to bad mouth this place. Accidents do happen. So far, I am well satisfied on how they are handling it. They are located in the St. Louis area and have a web site on the internet. It is a quite large trailer place. If I don't get adequate compensation, after all they have put me through, then I will let every one know.

 

[Ver Hey]

Robert,as I said if the outcome is not to my satisfaction, I will give you the details. The place that installed my hitch and drilled through the gas tank is Bropfs Supply Center in St. Charles,Mo. On the web, they are etrailer.com. After Zeiser Motors in St. Peters,Mo installed the new gas tank (they special ordered a gas tank out of Wisconsin and over nighted it here) I went over to Bropfs to pay the balance on my bill. When I asked for compensation for the mess they put me through, Graig the manager/owner, told me that they gave me a discount on the labor, which was an outright lie since I had allready paid it about two weeks earlier and the labor charge did not change. They gave me a wopping $49 off and no car rental. He could not explain to me how the slider hitch worked. The bed had a bunch of metal shavings from the drilling in it and three days later both rubber bumpers on the hitch fell off. I do not recommend this place to any one.

 

[EBottema]

I'd call them and talk to the owner and tell him you want all of your money refunded or you will call the BBB. . If you have time, go out in front of the place and hold up a sign and tell people the problems. That will kill business. He will also do anything to get you to stop. . Also, if you paid by CC, you can contest the charges





Just trying to help

erik