hayden
Veteran Member
Here's my latest fuel storage & fill up solution. Others have done the same thing, but I thought pictures and details might be usefull.
It's a 30 gal drum with hand pump. 55 Gal drums are more common, but I went for the smaller one so it would fit in the back of my Pathfinder and still be movable by hand (though not easily) when full. For me, 30 gallons will last probably 6 months.
To fill it up, I put the drum in the back of my car, drove to the local heating/fuel oil dealer, and filled up with #2 off-road diesel. This is the red stuff that is not burdoned with state and federal highway taxes. It cost $1.29/gal as opposed to $1.69 for diesel at the gas stations.
Once home, I installed the pump and cranked out some fuel to test. This weekend I'll haul the whole thing to my other place where the tractor currently lives and I'll have fuel for several months. I've been shuttling 5 gal cans back and forth every trip and it's getting old. Now I can pull up to the pump and fill up.
The pump is a Teel 10 GPM hand rotary pump. I got it at the local hardware/everything store (I love those stores) along with 10ft of 3/4" tubing and fittings. I've got a gas ball valve that I'll put on the end of the hose to shut off and prevent dripping. It cost $90 for the pump. I've seen similar looking pumps advertised for closer to $50, so if you can take the time to shop around you can probably do better. This one was expensive, but it's built real well.
The drum I bought new from a local manufacturer for $30. I could have gotten a used 55gal from the local fuel supplier, but it needed cleaning. The manufacturer also offered a used, clean 55 gal for $20. I went for new because I wanted 30 gal, not 55, but this is another opportunity to save $$ if you want.
Two pictures are included, one attached to this post, the other to the next post.
Peter
It's a 30 gal drum with hand pump. 55 Gal drums are more common, but I went for the smaller one so it would fit in the back of my Pathfinder and still be movable by hand (though not easily) when full. For me, 30 gallons will last probably 6 months.
To fill it up, I put the drum in the back of my car, drove to the local heating/fuel oil dealer, and filled up with #2 off-road diesel. This is the red stuff that is not burdoned with state and federal highway taxes. It cost $1.29/gal as opposed to $1.69 for diesel at the gas stations.
Once home, I installed the pump and cranked out some fuel to test. This weekend I'll haul the whole thing to my other place where the tractor currently lives and I'll have fuel for several months. I've been shuttling 5 gal cans back and forth every trip and it's getting old. Now I can pull up to the pump and fill up.
The pump is a Teel 10 GPM hand rotary pump. I got it at the local hardware/everything store (I love those stores) along with 10ft of 3/4" tubing and fittings. I've got a gas ball valve that I'll put on the end of the hose to shut off and prevent dripping. It cost $90 for the pump. I've seen similar looking pumps advertised for closer to $50, so if you can take the time to shop around you can probably do better. This one was expensive, but it's built real well.
The drum I bought new from a local manufacturer for $30. I could have gotten a used 55gal from the local fuel supplier, but it needed cleaning. The manufacturer also offered a used, clean 55 gal for $20. I went for new because I wanted 30 gal, not 55, but this is another opportunity to save $$ if you want.
Two pictures are included, one attached to this post, the other to the next post.
Peter
