Truck fuel cell that straddles utility body

[Builder]

I want a truck mounted fuel cell to refuel my tractors & backhoe. Tired of jobsite fuel cell (PITA to load/unload). However, I don't want one that goes to the floor of truck bed (want to be able to carry 8' material).
Further complicated the problem is I have a standard 8' Reading utility body.

Does anyone make a fuel cell that straddles the boxes up top and leaves at least some room under the fuel cell for 8' material? Reading dealer has no answers.

I would want it to be all the way up front, straddle the tops of the boxes against the headache rack.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have never seen anything like that but that does not mean its not available. How many gallons are you looking for? The reason I ask is there are many boat tanks that would work made of aluminum. They are sold as surplus when the manufactures move on to a different model of boat. They are very competitively priced on EBAY and on line and could be adapted to your needs by any fabricator. In that style they usually run in the 50 to 100 gallon range.

Some are made to go on each side of the engine in high performance boats and are mounted via tabs to the sides of the hulls of the boat. These could be mounted to your headache rack easily up off the floor to give you the clearance you desire.

Another style, like my uncle has in his F-350, is one that looks like a tool box that mounts over the rail. Its 100 gallon and has a electric pump. It does not touch the floor and there is about 8" of clearance below. It does have a shallow tool box on top for tools also but its only 6" deep at most. This will probably not work for you but maybe could be adapted to your needs.

Only other option is to have a good sheet metal fabricator make you what you want out of aluminum diamond plate.

Chris

 

[sklunk]

TransferFlow makes a set of risers that their tanks sit on but they are kind of expensive:
Tank Riser Kit
(You may have to scroll to the bottom of the page)

I'm not sure about the open width in a Reading body -- just check TransferFlow's site for tank dimensions. They also have a "What's Legal?" section (I assume the risers have to meet some legal requirement and Chris's recommendation, while good, may not be street legal).

 

[schmism]

Tired of jobsite fuel cell (PITA to load/unload).

why not pick up a cheep utility trailer from CL or HF and put the existing fuel cell you have on it. then theres no loading/unloading.

 

[Builder]

why not pick up a cheep utility trailer from CL or HF and put the existing fuel cell you have on it. then theres no loading/unloading.

That kind of dovetails with my idea of putting a fuel cell on my equipment trailer up near the front bulkhead.

 

[flusher]

I want a truck mounted fuel cell to refuel my tractors & backhoe. Tired of jobsite fuel cell (PITA to load/unload). However, I don't want one that goes to the floor of truck bed (want to be able to carry 8' material).
Further complicated the problem is I have a standard 8' Reading utility body.

Does anyone make a fuel cell that straddles the boxes up top and leaves at least some room under the fuel cell for 8' material? Reading dealer has no answers.

I would want it to be all the way up front, straddle the tops of the boxes against the headache rack.

Sounds like an easy job to weld up a support stand for the fuel cell that attaches to the bed without obstructing 8-ft material. My 2001 F150 has an 8-ft bed with a tool box that straddles the bed just behind the cab. I can get 8-ft dimensioned lumber and 4x8 plywood under that box with no problem.

 

[Builder]

Yes, I may have to build a platform then set the fuel cell on the platform.

The only trouble with that is the pump is very high (7-8') in the air, making it difficult to reach the pump.

Here's a fuel cell that might work http://delaware.craigslist.org/grd/1975643081.html

What I really want is another GMC 3500 DMAX with 4WD, DRW, plow and a nice flatbed with a couple tool boxes as sides......oops, there I go again dreaming....

 

[Diamondpilot]

One other idea Builder. My farmer friend did some Backhoe work for me a few years ago. He had a F-450 and had either dual tanks or a larger single tank but I think he said it held something like 75 gallons. It was all under the bed between the frame rails. Anyway he had a reel up hose on the bed and a toggle switch that kicked on a electric fuel pump to take diesel out of the tank to fill his BH.

Chris

 

[hawkeye08]

Yes, I may have to build a platform then set the fuel cell on the platform.

The only trouble with that is the pump is very high (7-8') in the air, making it difficult to reach the pump.

....

Exactly, get that several hundred pound shifting weight as high as you can and see how that truck drives....

Seriously, the fuel storage needs to be as low as possible, not high. I would rather see a low profile tank that you could haul long items on top of, rather than the tank elevated.

 

[Builder]

Exactly, get that several hundred pound shifting weight as high as you can and see how that truck drives....

Seriously, the fuel storage needs to be as low as possible, not high. I would rather see a low profile tank that you could haul long items on top of, rather than the tank elevated.

Ever heard of tank baffles?

If I was worried about a few hundred pounds of fuel sloshing, I wouldn't put 1,000 or more pounds of framing lumber up 8' high on the lumber racks of my truck, either. That to me is more of a threat of high center of gravity than 75 gallons of fuel.