Fuel trailer

[bhstovall]

I have a small 30 gallon fuel tank off of an old reefer truck that is in pristine condition & here's what I am thinking of doing with it. I have a very well made small motorcycle trailer which I want to make a pair of wooden rests that fit the tanks contour, place them in the bottom of the trailer & bolt them in. Next I would place the reefer tank inside the trailer and secure it with some kind of strapping. Perhaps a couple of runs of rubber with plumbing strap to secure it down. Once that is done, I will attach shelf to mount the pump and a small motorcycle battery to. I would now have the ability to run to the local convince store which sells off road diesel, in my Subaru Outback instead of having to haul 2 or 3 cans of diesel in my truck. I will probably have to cut a hole under the tank so I can drain any water that accumulates in the bottom, I'll just put a rubber plug in the hole, or I could weld in a larger bung from the top of a metal 55 gallon barrel. There are a couple of things I'm not sure about, like how to get enough flow using the three 1/4" tapped holes in the top of the tank, & the big question is....is this even legal? I'll try to post a couple of pictures of the tank and trailer tomorrow. Thanks from GA!

 

[3Ts]

Next I would place the reefer tank inside the trailer and secure it with some kind of strapping. Perhaps a couple of runs of rubber with plumbing strap to secure it down.

Keep in mind that the trailer will be bouncing down the road with each pothole the tires hit. That's a lot of impact force and 30 gallons of fuel and the weight of the tank - - - I don't think plumbing strap is strong enough to hold it for very long. I'd get a band of thin steel for the straps.

I will probably have to cut a hole under the tank so I can drain any water that accumulates in the bottom,

I don't understand this. Are you expecting to get water in the fuel tank? I assume from condensation, so I'd use a water block filter instead.

or I could weld in a larger bung from the top of a metal 55 gallon barrel. There are a couple of things I'm not sure about, like how to get enough flow using the three 1/4" tapped holes in the top of the tank,

There are weldable bungs for any size hole you want. Do a google search for "weldable bungs"

As for being legal - depends on state law. In Texas I'm registered as a farm so I can haul 1000 gallons of fuel without hazmat or cdl requirements. BUT, a homebuilt fuel trailer will probably be stopped, I've never seen one on the road. They've all been commercially built tanks for that purpose, some were tanks on a separate trailer, some were permanently designed as the trailer.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I would definitely check your local laws before towing fuel on a small trailer. It isn't legal in my state so I did something different.

Originally, I strapped an old 26 gal. sprayer tank with hand pump to a small pallet and loaded it in my pickup with the tractor FEL forks. It's a fairly long drive to the truck stop for off road diesel otherwise, I'd just drive the tractor down there with the tank in the FEL bucket.

Since then, I made up a crude cart from scrap I had around and strapped the tank to it. It's easily moved around the property this way. I can load it in the pickup with forks or the FEL bucket. It isn't pretty but it cost almost nothing and has worked fine for just about 20 years.



Last year, I replaced the hand pump with a 110V diesel transfer pump. I have electric service to my shop and barns so a 12V portable pump isn't necessary. A portable DC pump and battery would certainly work though as you plan to do.

 

[3Ts]

I also used a tank on a pallet in the back of my pickup for awhile. In many years of hauling fuel in spare cans, tanks, etc. I have run into one problem and it was only the one time. The fuel station attendant insisted and required that any fuel container had to be taken out of the truck and set on the ground unless it was permanently attached to the truck. That's a problem for a 60 gallon tank unless the gas station has a fork lift. I went to a different station.

 

[Streetcar]

I also used a tank on a pallet in the back of my pickup for awhile. In many years of hauling fuel in spare cans, tanks, etc. I have run into one problem and it was only the one time. The fuel station attendant insisted and required that any fuel container had to be taken out of the truck and set on the ground unless it was permanently attached to the truck. That's a problem for a 60 gallon tank unless the gas station has a fork lift. I went to a different station.

3ts
Unless the tank is connected to truck and grounded there can be static electric buildup during fueling

 

[ns_in_tex]

3ts
Unless the tank is connected to truck and grounded there can be static electric buildup during fueling

And how is the truck grounded?

 

[hslogger]

I don't see the point in a thirty gallon tank and trailer.
Fifty seems the minimum and a "code" set up is safer although higher cost.

 

[Big Barn]

I don't see the point in a thirty gallon tank and trailer.
Fifty seems the minimum and a "code" set up is safer although higher cost.]

I agree.

 

[newbury]

<snip>I would now have the ability to run to the local convince store which sells off road diesel, in my Subaru Outback instead of having to haul 2 or 3 cans of diesel in my truck.<snip>

So instead of 15 gallons of diesel (3 cans which you could strap in the trailer) you are going to this effort for 30 gallons of diesel?

Seems a bit of effort for an extra 15 gallons.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve got a 50 gallon tank strapped on a heavy duty pallet that I set in the back of the truck. I’d like to have a bigger tank because diesel is about $1 or more a gallon cheaper in the winter but besides that the setup works way better than 5 gallon cans.