Oil & Fuel Best way to handle fuel for equipment

[94BULLITT]

We had been getting bulk diesel from a local distributor with a 150 gallon minimum which between me and B-I-L we would exceed that easily. NOW called today and it is 250 gallon minimum or $50 surcharge for delivery. Good news is his farm diesel price is $3.38 per gallon. I guess now I will have to load up my 105 gallon tank and my brother-in-law's 105 gallon tank in the truck and take it in to his business for fuel. Likely some transportation regulation about hauling 200 gallons of fuel to have to hassle with signage or something.

I never checked about delivery. I know I don't use enough. I got a fleet card from the oil company. I can go there 24/7 and get offroad diesel. It is usually 30-40 cents cheaper than the 1 gas station in the area that has it.

 

[Todd727]

I used a 100 gal pickup truck tank for a long time. Works great. Even made a battery and solar charger set up so I could set it off the truck and still use it. Eventually moved that whole setup to a landscape trailer.

 

[Xfaxman]

I use gravity from my 100 gallon saddle tank. Found it on craigslist. It came off of a Dump truck.

 

[SageBrush]

I like the bed tank approach, I just fill it up when I'm in town. Our newest truck has a tool box / tank combo in diamond plate aluminum with the red fillright pump and filter. Many stations have off road fuel here in central AL. You can always use a metal 55 gallon drum with a hand pump at the work area and fill it with the truck tank. I've done that many times, even made containment boxes for them to be legal. Look around Craigs List for a 150 gallon or bigger L tank, a few pop up fairly cheap with a 12 volt pump ready to go. Unless you need a pretty tank, used can be a great deal. My uncle only payed $100 for his set up, a large white steel rectangle type that actually was pretty clean. I've found I rather get the L tank style with a regular over the rail shallow tool box that has a single lid.

I could get fuel delivered but, the trip charge is not worth it. I rather just have my own fuel truck, you can get the square tanks and stack them as needed in a truck bed. But, I still use 5 gallon metal cans for gasoline since I usually carry the fuel to the small equipment anyway.

 

[Beltzington]

Like Sagebrush, I keep a 55-gal metal drum in my shed I fill from a 50-gallon metal tank I have mounted on a pallet and can easily take in or out of my truck bed. Very flexible setup, I can buy diesel when it is cheap and transport as needed and if required I can increase my storage capacity buy purchasing more 55-gal barrels at $30 a pop.

 

[suprnova]

I have a 45 gal aux tank mounted where my spare used to be with the filler neck right at the tail gate. It feeds into the main tank, if I need to fill equipment though I just use a hand cranked transfer pump. 80gal between the two tanks.

 

[tessiers]

I used a 100 gal pickup truck tank for a long time. Works great. Even made a battery and solar charger set up so I could set it off the truck and still use it. Eventually moved that whole setup to a landscape trailer.

We use an old side saddle truck tank with 12v pump, when its off the truck I just use the battery from whatever I am filling to power it.

 

[AGRIMAN]

We have a buck tank, but here is what we use to transport fuel to the field or go pick up fuel when needed.


www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build.../270061-fuel-trailer.html

 

[wmonroe]

I am in the process of finding a clean 55 gal drum to use as a portable fuel tank. Saw the idea in one of 4short's threads and want to try to duplicate it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Thanks for everyone's ideas and creative thinking. Talked with a "dealer/jobber" today and just like Gary mentioned, a minimum of 200 gallons and a surcharge is what I'm dealing with, with a tank. Talking with dealer and listening to advice above (cowski), seems like danger of dirt, algae, water, etc. might come into play if I got a big tank with my usage level. Looks like I need to go with 60-70 gallon unit for truck/trailer. Probably go with a unit similar to what 94BULLITT pointed out and mount on skid and remove with forks when empty or only slightly full. Northern Tool has a 25, 55, 75 or 100 gal unit that has pump, hose, electrical lead with battery clips...as self contained unit. A little pricey but I'm thinking it might be worth it. When I come up with my exact solution, I'll let everyone know.
Thanks again for ALL the very helpful comments.

Check out your local craigslist. I bought the 2 -105 gallon tanks we use with 15 gpm pumps, filter, hose and nozzle for $350 and $300. The one I gave $300 for even had 20 foot hose with auto-shut off nozzle. Pump, hose and nozzle is much more than $300 without the tank. I had to repaint that tank due to exterior rust, then I put on roller wheels on the bottom so I can move it around on my shop floor as needed,
There seems to be tanks on there for sale most times. Your location may vary, but Houston was always good.

As for dirt, water , algae- I have never had a problem and we have had our fuel tanks for over 4 years now. Usually fill up about once a year now, but was filling up twice a year. I keep mine inside my enclosed shop, but my brother in law has his just inside his open shed. Neither have had any problems.