Inexpensive diesel fuel tranfer tanks

[enterprisebbc]

Looking to buy or make a gravity flow system with a fuel handle like the gas stations have with maybe a 12 -15 gal. size that I can maybe put in the back of the truck with maybe with my forks on a skid and then put it on a bench of some kind. The ones I have seen are way to much money and the smaller caddie reviews for $100 or so are terrible considering kinking and flow rates. Anyone have any ideas. The 5 gal thing is getting very old and so am I.

 

[medic0648]

You could try a 15gal poly drum. They can usually be had for $10-15.

 

[SDiver40]

I'll be keeping an eye on this one. I'm looking for ideas too.

 

[schmism]

I have one of these

the nosel on it sucks so i just took it off and used the ball valve on the tank side. I put it up on a high shelf with my bucket as it weighs like 130lbs full.

i got mine on CL for like $40

 

[NHmitch]

There are quite a few places in CT where you can buy the 15 gallon Poly, or steel barrels for under $20. I am not sure where in CT you are, but just look on craigslist under, IBC totes, or 15 gallon poly barrel. They look like the photos below, and these are the links that I found:Water Storage tanks+ drums barrels 275 Black or white 1x/use,
275 Gallon Tote Tank In black or white, food drums

 

[kebdvm]

55 gallon poly drum from a dairy farm that had teat dip in it----- free. 12 volt pump from tractor supply. Strap the drum to a pallet with ratchet straps, fill up in the back of the pickup, use the forks to put it in the garage. Treat it with diesel medic. Less than 3 minutes to fill the Kubota, no fuss or mess. Use the tractor battery to run the pump.

 

[Stimw]

I have a 30 gallon blue drum like pictured that I use during hurricane season to have gas for my generator. They are DOT rated, have large and small bungs. The small bung is pipe thread so it is easy to attach a fitting and hose to.
To be legal they should be painted I guess but I haven't had a problem.

 

[enterprisebbc]

Where would I get such a thing? Do you think that the walls are thick enough for fittings for a 1" hose at the bottom?

 

[Soundguy]

good price from CL!

 

[enterprisebbc]

Great idea I thnk. Thanks for thr info

 

[enterprisebbc]

Whats better than this. Some grea ideas here..Thanks to all....... Randy

 

[medic0648]

For gravity feed, put a fuel rated valve in 1 of the bung holes, fill up using the other, and open the other partially to allow air in while fueling. Also you can get stick on DOT plackards that are 4" square and place on both sides and the top to be legal. Just FYI, anything that takes the vehicle's capacity over 100gal is technically hazmat and MUST be labeled so. and there are different labels for gas and diesel so make sure it is labeled correctly. Flammable 1203 is gas and 1202 and 1993 are diesel. So make sure those of you with the 275gal totes have them labeled all 4 sides to PYA.

 

[SDiver40]

That red fuel station is pretty much what i'm looking for. But not having any luck finding one. Any idea who makes it?
Thanks Tom

 

[Soundguy]

bet you could make one from an 'air up' tank.. and be in it for 1/3 the price.

 

[SDiver40]

I found the red tank at northern tool for $144.00
I also found a 50gal steel transfer tank on Craigslist. Going to look at it after work.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. commercially they are pricey.

 

[jenrow33]

I use four 15 gallon poly barrels I got for free from a dairy farmer. Painted them yellow and stenciled on diesel on the side. Then bought a rotary tuthill hand pump and a transfer hose from Amazon. This allows me to have up to 60 gallons of fuel on hand for my pto generator in case of emergency and refill them independently.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you go the 55 gallon drum, they make a caddy for them that fastens on to the rim of the steel barrels and allow one man to tilt it on its side and then upright it if needed. They have 2 wheels on the edge so you can upright it, roll it to wherever you want and then lay it on its side. THE 1" and larger 2" bung accepts standard pipe threads so you can insert a pipe nipple and a threaded valve in one of the bungs and use the other to vent. McMaster Carr would carry them, but you would still need to build a stand for it to set higher than your tractor so that might not be practical.
Simpliest is just the get a drum of the size that you want, fill it at a station and use a hand pump that fits in the 2" bung. For a few $$$ more you can get a 12 volt fuel pump and power it off your tractor battery.
My fuel station is a 105 gallon rectangular tank that I mounted swivel rollers on and a 12v 15 gpm Filrite pump. I power it with a standard sized battery (650 CCA) that I keep charged with a battery minder. The pump has a 15 micron filter installed on it, then a 25 foot hose with auto-shut off nozzle just like the service stations so I never spill any fuel. I have $350 invested in the tank, hose set up from a Craigslist post and $68 for the battery to power it +$10 for the battery charger. IT is worth the $78 for me not to have to raise the hood of the tractor each time I fill. I drilled and tapped the post to permanently attach the pigtail leads for the charger but still use the alligator clips to hook up the pump. I can roll the tank easily even when full if needed. I used to keep it in back of my shop and then roll it to front for filling but now I have an addition on my shop for my boat, lawnmowers and fueling station right by the door so I just pull up, raise the garage door, fuel and go.

Bulk fuel is delivered straight to my tank from my local distributor. I have to have 150 gallons minimum but he is happy to split the delivery with me and my brother in law. I could just make it to the total by myself if both tractors were empty and my lawnmower and I used a couple of plastic containers.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

I have used a hose threaded into the 1" bung of a horizontal poly drum for gravity-fed watering, but I wouldn't trust it with a solvent which would make a serious mess if it leaked.

 

[SDiver40]

Well after work I went and looked at the steel transfer tank. It appears to be around a 50 gal tank. I was able to get it for $125.00 VS. the $144.00 for the red 15 gal tank. Now I need to get it plumbed up and a hose with ball valve. Put some 4 in tubing under it for my forks and i'll be all set.
Thanks for every ones help and ideas.