How Did You Hook Up Your Aux Fuel Tank.

[sdalton]

I just bought an aux fuel tank/tool box combo(60 gallon model from Northern Tools) from a fellow TDR member, BARRY. I need advise from anyone who has hooked up an aux tank into your existing tank. How did you do it and what parts did you use??



SCOTT

 

[DennyDay]

Aux Fuel Tank

I've got the same aux fuel tank, now in the third diesel pick up, and never a problen.

Hook up as follows:



1. Cut 3/4"vapor line on truck and inserted aluminum 'T'. Hooked vapor line from aux tank vapor fitting to 'T'



2. Pulled out fuel filler assembly from body, drilled and welded a 3/8" bulkhead fitting to filler neck about 4" below the plastic insert that the cap screws into. Used wet rag to keep insert from getting hot.



3. Ran 3/8" line from aux. tank thru a NAPA fuel pump and an AutoZone pickup truck fuel change over valve (plugged un-used side of valve)



4. Power to pump and valve is supplied from a 30 minute line voltage timer (Home Depot)



5. Put valve in after I found tank would siphon fuel to main tank



6. Used timer so I wouldn't forget and over fill main tank.



Primary reason for hook up of this system was so I wouldn't have to modify OEM fuel system.



Good Luck, Denny

 

[danandamy]

When I get an aux. tank, I haven't decided whether to hook it up like C. D. 's, save my pennies and get a transfer flow with that nifty computerized system, or just put an agricultural electric pump/nozzel. With the ag pump, I could help out a fellow TDR guy in a jam for fuel, if I had to. Not to mention always having access to a little fuel to prime the filter during filter change. Decisions, decisions.

 

[JSchooley]

It has been a while since I put mine in, and my recollection of some of the sizes may not be correct, but I made a dual T fitting out of 5/8 brass fittings available at home depot. Two F-F-F T's coupled with a close nipple. The ends used 5/8 pipe to 5/8 tubing and the two branches used 5/8 pipe to 3/8 tubing.



I cut the rubber vent line on the fuel filler and inserted the double T in line using good quality hose clamps.



I ran one of the branches directly to the vent on the auxillary tank.



I ran the output from the fuel tank through an in line filter to a fuel pump and through a solenoid valve to the other branch on the double T. The solenoid valve is probably not necessary but will prevent siphoning if the fuel pump doesn't.



If I forget to turn off the switch, the overflow is pumped back into the aux tank through it's vent line.



My brother did it much simpler. He uses a gravity flow through a manual petcock. He has a 20 Gal tank and connects it through a quick disconnect suitable for fuel so he can easily remove the tank when not in use.



Hope this wasn't too confusing.



John

 

[moparguy]

OK, where's the flaw in my logic here?

Why can't you connect the new tank to the existing tank's vent. Make sure the new tank has a vent that can't get plugged. When the stock tank's fuel level drops, the aux tank should automatically siphon over. Just need to make sure the fuel cap is tight on the OEM tank.



No pumps, valves, etc. . This is to simple, gotta be overlooking something important.

 

[sdalton]

C. D. DAY, I planed to do a similar setup. Cant I just splice my aux fuel line into the existing tanks 3/4 vapor line, and just dump the fuel in through there?? I could then run a vent line to the aux tank via another 3/4 "T" hookup in the same 3/4 vapor line, just several inches upstream(higher). Or would that srew things up??

I was looking at the two boltdown brackets that come welded to the bottom of the tank. Is this enough to secure the load or did you rig a more secure system .

Also, did you run seperate switches to turn off the aux fuel pump and change over valve, or can you use one to actuate them both at the same time????

This is either fun, or a headache, I havent figured it out yet.



Signed, Confused in Occupied Kingwood(if you live in Houston you will get the joke)



SCOTT

 

[SLVRBLT]

sdalton-

I have an American Tank and Tool combo. It is plumbed into the pickup line going to the stock tank and uses the Dodge fuel pump to pull fuel from that tank when you are switched to it. The sending unit from the aux. tank is also spliced into the system at a valve and switch combo under the truck. I'm pretty sure all of this is available from American even if you don't have their tank.



You end up with a toggle switch in the truck to switch between tanks and your fuel gauge reads the tank you are switched to.



Works for me.



Dave

 

[SmokinGator]

SLVRBLT is correct, you can get a kit and instructions for setting your tank up the same way as he described from American Tank (says Ford kit's about $300!!). Look under Tech Tips on their website http://www.auxtank.com/auxtank/home.asp[/URL].



I really like American's combos but the tool boxes are so small. I think I read the box is 9" deep -- has anybody seen a combo with a larger box?

 

[SLVRBLT]

9" deep is correct

The American Combo has a tool box that is only 9" deep. I think it's about 18" or so wide. They have to hold it to that small on a 90 gal. to be able to hold 90 gal. and still fit in front of the wheel wells and not protrude above the bed. The tank ends up being an "L" shape.



I sometimes wish it was deeper, but it holds about everything I need to carry such as tools, floor jack, etc. However, when you are used to a full sized box they seem awfully small.



Dave

 

[DennyDay]

sdalton -- Yes you can do that, but you will be filling the vapor space with fuel when level is high, and could back up to fuel pump. This could add pressure to tank that wasn't designed for pressure. Didn't want to take a chance of pushing out 'O' ring like I did on a Chevy a few years ago. Yes you can run both the pump and valve from the same switch. On my '94 I also pushed the fuel through aa extra filter before it went in to the main tank.

An aside - - - I don't live in Texas anymore, but I thought Kingswood Confusion was over during the last flooding, and Exxon bailed out!

Denny

 

[Ninearrow]

I did it just like moparguy said. Tapped into the vent line and let it feed gravity flow. Like he said, all you got to do is make sure your aux tank is vented and the fuel cap is on tight.



I did put a valve in-line just in case there should ever be a leak.



I've had this setup on for over a year and it works great. Cheap, simple.

 

[sdalton]

It's Hooked-Up and Running

I just finished with the installation. It was somewhat time consuming, since I decided to do it myself. Most of the work was in lo9cating the proper t fitting to hook into the vapor line. I did some research and spoke with several mechanics who install the high dollar ones on trucks. they said it was fine to plumb the fuel line into the vapor lines, so I did. I didnt need to cut a hole into the bed of my truck for the lines, I used the existing holes that access the bolts that hold the bed down, towards the cab end. The lines snake easily through these openings. I ran only one line from the tanks output line, not the input line. I did this because the output line picks up fuel at a higher level, and doesnt suck up anything from the bottom, only an inch or so from the bottom.

the fuel was then filtered through a screen type of fuel filter, then through an electric seperator valve(to shut the fuel off completely). I then ran it through an electric fuel pump. From there it went to an easy splice into the vapor line. I used a 3/4 outer diameter t-elbow to do this. I found this to be the easiest way for me and the least sloppy and time consuming. The electrics were very easy also. The fuel pump and fuel selector valve ran off the same switch. I used a lighted one so I could see it in the dark, and see if it was running. This setup worked without a flaw I filled the aux tank with fuel and it easily dumped it into the main tank. I ran the electricity through an accessory cigarette lighter wire so that if i forgot to turn the switch off, the shutting down of the engine would stop it.



If anyone is thinking of this settup, locating the t-elbow was the most time consuming. I had to go to 4 auto parts stores an ACE Hardware store, and two Home Depots. I found it at the Home Dept.



If you would like the exact list of all parts needed, let me know. It is fewer than you think. Only spent about $70 or so in parts to hook it up this way. Total investment??? Around $550.



BTW, the NORTHERN TOOLS tool boxes are as high a quality as the $1100 combo boxes I looked at.