Topic: Auxiliary fuel transfer tank

[HenryJ]

Sawzall in hand the first step to the tank install:



I had to cut the fill tube and add a few inches of height. I did not have enough filler hose at the shop, so I grabbed a piece when I returned home for dinner.

Crossmembers made:



Tank has been in and out more times than can be counted now.



Lots of drilling , painting and welding...



The tank is bolted in place. It hangs just below the frame rails. I now have two filler caps under the door-



All plumbed to the tank-



Pump line tee'd into the main tank fill vent line and the tank vent tied into the main tank vent line-



Another shot of the tank in place that gives a bit better perspective on how far up it hides. Well out of harm's way-



It is up far enough that I decided to go ahead and hang the spare back underneath. It is a bit lower than before, but not terrible.



A little lower than the hitch. It is above the bottom of the axle. 11" at the lowest point and 12" across the tire. While it may be too low for rougher trails, it is high enough for moderate trails and road duty. I can always drop it and toss it on top in the rough stuff , if I need to. As soon as the fuel gauge arrives I'll wire it all up and finish the project.

[oHIobellboy]

Now that's a first. I've never seen anyone do that before.  That spare tire bracket looks like the one that was on my 91 F150.

[HenryJ]

It is probably exactly the same spare tire bracket. The tank is listed as the same rear tank from 1990-1997.

My inspiration came from the install on my last truck where I installed a marine tank in the toolbox. Thunder II fuel tanks
The second tank was inspired by this install- Expeditions West Tacoma

The spare tank was one thing I really missed about my old truck. I'll soon have it online. The tank is listed at 18.1 gallons. That adds another 234 miles to my range. That puts me comfortably around the 600 miles mark. That seems to be the sweet spot for me.

[bluedevil]

Oh man that's too cool.   My uncle had a Furd custom van that had duals. Way cool. 


Like oob said, that's the first time i've heard of one doing this.  You rock dude.

[Flint 4X4]

I like it but as I have 34,000 on my '04 and only drove the '02 13,000 in three years,.. I question the need for extended range. It would be nice to have when I go to Canada an hour drive east, gas is expensive other side of the border. I drink coffee alot but passengers have to beg me to stop during extended road trips,
...my OEM bladder has a longer range than the OEM gas tank     

I've been known to hide in the woods camping, I could remain in seclusion and avoid civilization quite a while with 50 gallons of gas in the truck though and hope to retire soon, hmmmmmm 

[HenryJ]

I don't "need" the extra fuel all the time, but it sure is nice having the flexibility to choose when I want to fuel up. I never need to fuel on that busy price gouging holiday fuel. I can pass that out of the way , middle of no where gas pump to buy less expensive fuel.
I keep the main tank above 1/4 tank all the time. My hope is that helps prolong pump life. I fill probably once a month most of the time. That means less trips to town for gas.
It really has been a nice convenience and comfort. If I need to bug out, I am ready to go. If I need to bug in I have fifty gallons of fuel that can run the generator, or fill the motorcycles.

A trip over the border might be an issue if they question the second tank install. It looks pretty close to a factory job, but a suspicious border patrol might find issue with it? I am told that you can not transport portable fuel containers over the borders ,  full sometimes? Tax free fuel in this country is frowned upon. If the tank is built into the vehicle that does not apply.
That may just be Mexico where the diesels run across the border packing a 100+ gallon transfer tank and fill up on cheap Mexican diesel to bring over the border.

[Main One]

Nice Mod!  Thanks for sharing!!!

[bluedevil]

I think is great. Im going to promote this thread in the front page.

[Flint 4X4]

I don't "need" the extra fuel all the time, but it sure is nice having the flexibility,...

That's what I like about it, mods aren't always about need and I lean toward the functional/useful ones. I don't "need" an Avalanche but the thing is so versatile it sure is nice to have available when I do.     

[Richie_Rich]

Very cool.

This will have to go on my list of mods "to do some day".