How to fasten a 100 gal. fuel tank in the bed?

newbury · Sep 21, 2013

I'm thinking of getting a fuel tank (like the transfer-tank at TSC to put in the back of my F350 to transfer diesel fuel to my larger tank (IBC tote) at the retirement house. But I don't want more holes in my truck bed. And I don't want it welded either, I want it easily removable but safe. I only plan on using it for a 16 mile trip from the local diesel supplier.

I HAD planned on just using a spare IBC tote and driving carefully. However just last week I saw an F250 w/ an IBC tote full of liquid fertilizer make a circle at the end of our suburban court. Darn near on two wheels because of the slosh in the tight turn.

I don't need the pucker factor

Any recommendations for "fastening" it down?

I was thinking of bolting it to a 3/4" sheet of PT plywood cut to fit the front of the bed.

bota7800 · Sep 22, 2013

How is a 30 pound sheet of plywood going to hold down 700 pounds of diesel plus whatever the tank weighs? I do not understand

If it were me, I would follow the tank Mfg's guidelines but I don't mind putting holes in my truckbed.

powerstroke444e · Sep 22, 2013

If it was a just filling it up driving home to empty it use 2 straps should be fine. I carry a L shaped tank on the front of my trailer and just use 2" straps and it has never moved.

mrmikey · Sep 22, 2013

Can you go diagonally from corner to corner to the tie downs in the box over the top of the tank....Mike

newbury · Sep 22, 2013

bota7800 said:
How is a 30 pound sheet of plywood going to hold down 700 pounds of diesel plus whatever the tank weighs? I do not understand

If it were me, I would follow the tank Mfg's guidelines but I don't mind putting holes in my truckbed.

The plywood CUT TO FIT the front of the bed would prevent the tank bolted to it from sliding around or tipping.
A couple of straps would enhance that.

Diamondpilot · Sep 22, 2013

Strap it down.

Chris

Stimw · Sep 22, 2013

It would be a lot cheaper to use 55 gallon barrels and build a frame to keep them from moving. Might even go to 3 barrels for more capacity.
I have a frame that I use for my welding gas bottles that keeps them from rolling around. I have a 70 mile round trip to get filled.
That tank is steel and will rust over time and is going to be hard to move even when empty.

TBarD · Sep 22, 2013

I just used a ratchet strap on mine; it has never budged since, but is easy to remove.

bota7800 · Sep 23, 2013

newbury said:
The plywood CUT TO FIT the front of the bed would prevent the tank bolted to it from sliding around or tipping.
A couple of straps would enhance that.

Sorry if I offended you by my safety question. That was not my intent.

The center of gravity of the load will be well above the plywood. Cut -to-fit or not, I don't think it will keep it from tipping. The straps, opposed and above the CG will keep the tank from moving if you are careful.

Of course, I was assuming a rectangular tank. The "L" shaped tanks lower the CG so you probably would never have a problem.

crazyal · Sep 24, 2013

I agree the IBC tote would be a bad idea. First you couldn't fill it full without needing a DOT placard and CDL license. That would mean 119 gallons (or less) in a 275 gallon tank. The sloshing around would suck. Plus I think the tote would need to be DOT approved for diesel fuel.

The plywood would work fine but I would use a strap as well. Ideally it would be nice to have a couple of loops for the straps. Maybe if you could take a piece of flat steel and bend it so it gets bolted to the fuel tank and plywood and goes up one side, across the top, and down the other with rings welded to it. That would make it easy to strap down.