New 54 gallon replacement tank

[Joseph Donnelly]

The Transfer Flow is 2" lower than stock at the front strap. That places it at the level of the stock 97 skidplate in front. It is 3" lower than stock in the rear. It is about level with the bottom of the axle tubes in the rear with a lightly loaded truck. It is higher than the driveshaft back there. I don't think it is any problem for offroading. One "might" high center on it but it would be a pretty far-fetched scenario. Any rock that could get under the pumpkin on the left side would be too small to present a problem unless it was at the crest of a V shaped hill so steep on each side that the truck would probably high center on other parts anyway. I go on some gnarly stuff when hunting and I'm not afraid of the tank presenting a problem. Additionally it is 12 gauge (0. 11" thick) steel so won't puncture easily. I made up a skid plate extension about 3" long the width of the tank so if I ever scrape a rock on the skidplate, it can't get between the skidplate and the tank and hit the front of the tank. Again, far fetched scenario and "some" compromise must be made for the added capacity. I think TF's compromise was a very minimal impact if any on any use of the truck.

A friend who has a "competitive" replacement tank from another vendor stopped by today to look at mine. We agreed there is no comparison. Quality, design, fit, welds are far, far superior on the Transfer Flow. Additionally, he took 10-12 hours to install his and it was very hard to fit. Mine took 2-3 hours including time wasted finding tools, etc.

 

[John]

Thank you very much Joe and BPINE. Transfer Flow products are superior to anything else I've seen on the market... looks like I'll probably go for it.

Thanks!

 

[Andy Perreault]

I have Transfer Flow's 38 gallon auxiliary fuel tank under my bed where the spare tire once was. I agree with the above comments about Transfer Flow's quality and attention to detail. I've been wondering for a long time as to why Transfer Flow didn't make a replacement tank for Dodges. When I saw this topic, I thought, "Well, it's about time!" Even though I already carry 38 extra gallons, I wouldn't mind having more capacity.
BPine, let us know what you find out. I have a Gear Vendors overdrive behind my transfer case. I'd like to know how much farther forward is the front end of the Transfer Flow tank, compared to the stock tank. Based on Joe Donnelly's comments about extending the skid plate, I guess I can assume that the Transfer Flow tank's front end is about 3" behind the transfer case skid plate?
Thanks, Andy

 

[BPINE]

No luck Andy Transfer Flow will not modify there tanks from there original design.

 

[Andy Perreault]

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[Joseph Donnelly]

On my 97 club cab 4x4, the skid plate ends about 2. 3-2. 5" before the front of the tank. There is a flattened boss a couple inches in diameter on the back of my NV241HD with radial wings to reinforce it. The tank starts about 8. 3" behind the surface of that boss. I know the skidplates are different in 1995 so I thought the transfer case measurement might be more reproducible over the model years.

 

[John]

Andy, I'll modify it for you... 'sept it's gonna cost ya, say, to the tune of one custom Rickord (sp?) rear bumper. #ad

 

[willyslover]

oh no ya don't John. . AUCTION was the loud and clear call last time about the bumper. . got ya #ad
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[John]

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[John Fisher]

Just got back form Calif. . While there I had a 60 gal. tank installed by Aero Tanks in Corona. Back in Santa Fe and still havent fuled. Took 56 gal. after install. Seems to be a good tank.

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2001. 5 Silver 2500QC LB,4x4,5. 9L HO Cummins Diesel (ETH), 6-Speed HD Manual (DEE), SLT, 3. 54 Anti-Spin Axle, Camper Special Group, Trailer Tow Group, Snow Plow Group, Clearance lights, most options, no leather. EGT,Boost,Westin side bars, Linex spray liner,(more to come)NRA Life Member. .

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Hey andy howz it fit between the framerails back where the spare once lived (running 33" rubber on the dual and the 235 just won't hack it. I thought about bedmounting the spare but needed an excuse. How far down does it hang and does the hitch reciever stay in its "factory" location?

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Y2K+1 <font color=white>3500 4X4 Quad Cab</font> Powerpacked , Jakit's Front End Leveling Kit with 255/85R16 BFG M/T's Custom Rhino Liner (as seen on website under tool man's truck feature) DeeZee Goodies, Hadley air systems 150 psi comp and air storage.
Keeping the rubber side down 'n' shiny side up Will Bring a smile at the end of each day (hopefully) #ad



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[This message has been edited by ToolManTimTaylor1 (edited 03-16-2001). ]

 

[Andy Perreault]

Tim, if it's not raining, I'll try to remember to pull out my measuring tape from the toolbox when I get to the parking lot at work tomorrow (actually, tomorrow's already today), and do some measuring for you. Doing it at work beats squatting down in the mud where I live! Life without a garage sucks!
Andy

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Heard that one loud and clear. since new tires and leveling it out... ..... i need a bigger garage. Many Thanx

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Y2K+1 <font color=white>3500 4X4 Quad Cab</font> Powerpacked , Jakit's Front End Leveling Kit with 255/85R16 BFG M/T's Custom Rhino Liner (as seen on website under tool man's truck feature) DeeZee Goodies, Hadley air systems 150 psi comp and air storage.
Keeping the rubber side down 'n' shiny side up Will Bring a smile at the end of each day (hopefully)

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[This message has been edited by ToolManTimTaylor1 (edited 03-16-2001). ]

 

[David_VT]

RE: the DOT guestion, ...
If I were to go to a junk yard and find a nice Kenworth saddle tank... Clearly that tank must have met some rules somewhere??

Can't I strap that (using the original straps from that twisted Kenworth)to some kind of skid and mount it in my bed??

I am asking because a guy in town did just that and loves it, especially for the low $ invested.

His 5th wheel does not get anywhere near it and every so often some gas station is real happy when he pulls in. #ad

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I don't know a lot about gov't regs on tanks, but the Transfer Flow catalog gives us some tips. There are diggerent regs for under and over 10K lb. trucks. Tanks over 100 gallons have different regs from 50-100 gallons for which Transfe Flow has an exemption.
As a practical matter, "no one" seems to bother pickup trucks much so long as no obvious problem is taking place. As another issue, if the Kenworth tank is very large, you will be placing a lot of weight fairly high up, affecting stability. Is the tank baffled? Let's say it holds 100 gallons. That is over 700 lb of fuel. If the tank is half or 2/3 full and unbaffled, a lot of weight will shift around every time you turn or stop. Not much weight, percentage-wise, in a semi, but a lot in a pickup truck.

All that aside, I wouldn't mind a medium sized semi-tank for Sickly, but they are hard to come across.

 

[Andy Perreault]

Sorry, Tim, I ended up having to start work early. If the weather's good tomorrow, I'll lay out a tarp and do some measurements. I wrote myself a reminder this time!
Andy

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Thanx much for the trouble. This would be the answer to the long trips to loudon and poccano raceways.

_____________________________________________

Y2K+1 <font color=#2F4F4F>3500 4X4 Quad Cab</font> Powerpacked , Jakit's Front End Leveling Kit with 255/85R16 <A HREF="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/" TARGET=_blank><font color=1569c7>BFG</font></A> <A HREF="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/catalog/radial_mud_terrain_ta.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=ff0000>M/T's</font></A> Custom Rhino Liner (as seen on website under tool man's truck feature) DeeZee Goodies, Hadley air systems 150 psi comp and air storage.
Keeping the rubber side down 'n' shiny side up Will Bring a smile at the end of each day (hopefully) <A HREF="https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001793.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=#E02020>See The Rig Here</A>

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many thanx... . Tool Man

 

[Andy Perreault]

Here are the measurements you wanted on the Transfer Flow auxiliary fuel tank, Tim:

Dimensions of the tank: 29-3/4" long, 26-1/4" wide, 13-3/4" deep. Capacity is 38 gallons.
The tank hangs 12" below the lower edge of the frame rail flange. My truck is a ’97 2500 4X4 (longbed) without suspension mods, and if I eyeball along the bottom of the tank, it’s exactly level with the centerline of the rear axle.
Clearance between the frame rails: Right side: 2-3/4", Left side: 3-3/8". The tank sits a bit to the right because there is a shock absorber on the left side.
7" of the right front corner of the tank is chopped off at a 45 degree angle to clear the exhaust system. I have a 4" stainless steel exhaust system done by Jim Leonard in SoCal (909-681-5406), and it clears no problem.
The front end of the tank is just about in line with the rear edge of the anti-sway bar. It looks close, but they won’t contact each other. There is 1-3/4" clearance between the front edge of the tank and my Mag-Hytec differential cover.
The rear of the tank ends about 5" before the very end of the frame rails. I don’t have a stock bumper on my truck, so this is the best measurement I can give you. There will be no clearance problems with a trailer hitch assembly.
The bottom rear of the tank is angled to improve departure angle clearance. If you drew an imaginary line between the bottom of the tires and the bottom of the bumper, the tank would be "inside" that line. Of course, there again, I don’t have a stock rear bumper, but I think it’s still within that imaginary line on a stock truck.
The tank does not fit right up against the bottom of the bed. When I installed the tank, I thought it was rather strange that there were "feet" welded on the top of the tank to space the tank down about 1-1/2" to 2" (that measurement may not be accurate, I’m just trying to visualize what it looked like back when I installed it in ‘97). However, this increases clearance for the filler neck, and I believe the reason for this design is to increase the slope for the filler tube.
Something I think is cool about this tank is that the filler neck runs up to the stock filler cap location. Open up the fuel door, and you will have two filler caps. You can buy a matched set of locking filler caps from Transfer Flow. Part of the installation kit includes a new mount for the filler necks which positions the front and rear filler caps side by side. I have used the fat high volume fuel nozzles at truck stops, and they will work okay, but it’s a little tight getting the nozzle into the front filler neck. Normal sized gas station nozzles fit no problem.
My observations and opinions: I think this is a great accessory to add to our trucks. I can drive from Seattle to L. A. without stopping for fuel. Although it’s a bit pricey, I was impressed by the quality and fit and finish when I installed this tank. I didn’t have to modify any parts or drill new holes to get parts to fit right. Remember, you get what you pay for. The only negative I can think of, and it’s no big deal, is that if I want to fill the tanks all the way up to the very end of the filler necks, I have to slowly add fuel after the tank is full, because of all the foam in the long filler neck that runs to the tank. But that’s just me. If I see a good price, I like to fill them up to the very last drop!
Note: I do remember when ordering my tank that there a different model number that is designed for use in trucks that have 5th wheel hitches. Apparently there is some kind of added clearance at the front of the tank, but I don’t know any specific details.
This isn't the best picture to show off the tank, but you can see its profile and the gray mounting straps in this picture.

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Any questions, fire away. Looks like I finished up doing my measurements just in time, because it’s pouring out there, now!
Andy

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Andy I noticed (love the rig more and more everytime I see it B. T. W) That being it hangs down a little low, and being I do some decent wheelin' in Vt or a freshly chewed construction site loaded, my concern would be departure angle probs off road. I crawled under mine and did the corresponding math. and my other q would be my bank's (i think) might come close to the 7" allowence. Maybe a quirky change somewhere in a hangar or something for '01. Will keep ya posted on decision. Which would be the alternative under existing tool box 32 gal unit from american. either way I loose bedspace because of somewhere to put the spare or somewhere for the tank to share.
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<font color=#E02020><font size=3>Truck Bio:</font>================================================================
Y2K+1 <font color=#2F4F4F>3500 4X4 Quad Cab</font> Powerpacked , Jakit's Front End Leveling Kit with 255/85R16 <A HREF="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/" TARGET=_blank><font color=#2F4F4F>BFG</font></A> <A HREF="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/catalog/radial_mud_terrain_ta.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=ff0000>M/T's</font></A> Custom Rhino Liner (as seen on website under tool man's truck feature) DeeZee Goodies, Hadley air systems 150 psi comp and air storage. Keeping the rubber side down 'n' shiny side up Will Bring a smile at the end of each day (hopefully)<A HREF="https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001793.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=#E02020>See The Rig Here</A>
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[Andy Perreault]

Tim, I agree about not wanting to give up bed space. I use my truck for camping, and I have a carpet kit in the bed that I sleep on. I like to keep all the camping gear, tools, supplies, etc. , under the carpet kit. That's why I had the bumper made, so I wouldn't have to carry the spare tire in the bed.
As for the low hanging appearance of the tank, I agree, it looks a little low. I haven't done much "hard core" four wheeling other than backing through muddy ground covered with downed tree branches while pulling and dragging around tree stumps.
If I wasn't forcing myself to save every penny to buy a house, I would be very interested in Transfer Flow's 54 gallon replacement tank. That would give me 92 gallons without loosing any bed space.
People have told me that I'm getting less fuel mileage by carrying the weight of all that extra fuel around. My reply is: "I don't think this truck knows the difference when a few extra hundred pounds is added. "
Andy