truck tanks...stand alone or w/ a toolbox

[jimg]

Anyone use the sort of tank that rides in a PU bed? Some are just tanks and others are combined w/ a toolbox. It seems a mobile tank would be most flexible and I could bring fuel to the tractor. Since my tractor has a tank cap of about 25 gals I was thinking along the lines of a 75 gal tank. Anyone use this sort of setup and how is it configured (pump etc)?

 

[Ductape]

I have an aluminum tank / box combo in my bed, made by RDS in Florida. Mine holds 97 gallons. My pump is an electric Fil-Rite. Honestly, i don't have alot of gallons through it, so i can't really report on longevity/reliability. So far i'm plenty pleased though. One thing i thought was strange.... there are only two tabs on the rear of the tank for mounting(only two bolts through the bed floor hold the unit in). I would have expected four at an absolute minimum, but i suppose it would probably only matter in a roll-over situation, where the tank coming out of the bed would be the least of my worries. Anyway... i'm sure it was engineered that way, as perhaps they would want the tank to seperate from the truck in a rollover? Most of the steel tanks i looked at didn't stay looking good very long, which is why i sought an aluminum unit. I've not weighed my truck since it was installed, but i recall reading somewhere that my tank, full of fuel, would add about 900 lbs to my truck. Not a concern with my F-350, but it might be if it were a half ton.

 

[dmccarty]

Jim,

I dont have one of the tanks in the PU but the boxes I have never where big enough. I always needed more space. The combo units I have seen seem to low on the storage area. I have seen some tanks that are L shaped with most of the fuel being held on the low side down on the bed. This kept the center of gravity low and allowed one to put in a full size box on top of the fuel tank. That seemed like a good way to go if storage was a big concern.

I think the most fuel one can carry in an external tank is something like 109 gallons. Its a strange number of gallons. Hopefully someone who knows for sure will mention the number. The other question is do the tanks have to be DOT approved?

Later,
Dan

 

[jimg]

Thanx for the replies. I was going to use this setup so I wouldnt have to keep a tank in the barn or go there to get fuel. I dont think Ill go thru enough fuel at one time to make a bigger tank needful...at least not right away. It would be kind of nice to be able to remove it from the bed when not in use.

I figured all had to be DOT approved if that was necessary.

I also hadnt decided on whether to get an electric delivery system or go w/ a hand pump.

 

[Ductape]

For what its worth, i had intended to use a hand pump, since i didn't intend to fuel my tractor terribly frequently, but the price difference was about a hundred dollars +/-, so i went electric. Plus.... in my case my tank is under a contractors style cap. In the end i didn' tfigure i'd want to under there in 90 degree heat cranking or pumping manually. If bed space is a concern, obviously the tank-only set up would be better for you. Not only do i have an 8' bed, i also have a small dump trailer i use to haul the stuff most people have to put in their pickup bed. The bed of my truck is usually reserved for tools, chainsaws & whatever.

 

[PSDStu]

Like others have mentioned I have an aluminum combo setup, around 100 gal tank and Fil Rite electric pump. The toolbox part is plenty large and deep enough for what I put in there. I bought the combo tank used and got a **** of a good deal on it and figured with what I saved buying used to go ahead and get the 12v dc electric pump. It's worked out great for my needs.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I have no idea how I lived without mine.
105 gallon (white steel, I'm cheap and it's a white truck) L shaped tank, with the regular tool box on top.
Still fits in the gooseneck no problem (8' bed of course)
Has things (?) so the fuel doesn't slosh around and it's great
Got an electric pump because the wife is a wimp and to be honest, i like it a lot, you're tired, you've been working hard, it's hot, just flow some diesel.
BTW, diesel lasts pretty much forever, doesn't go bad like gasoline, having extra is no big deal.
I fill the truck occasionally with it (I don't buy dyed fuel) and when I get down a bit and I find a deal I fill everything up.
For like $300 plus dollars

But it's great
Get a gallon meter on it, so you know how much you have run thru it (I just guess) and put a fuel filter on it, that would be my only two changes.

 

[jimg]

Good info...those of you who have the electric pump...is that hooked to the trucks system? If so where did you route the wiring?

 

[PSDStu]

Good info...those of you who have the electric pump...is that hooked to the trucks system? If so where did you route the wiring?

Wiring is supplied with the pump, Fil-Rite, and is pretty straight forward. If you have a steel tank then the pump threaded into the tank top provides the ground. My aluminum combo tank required a seperate ground wire to the truck. The pump motor is wired directly to one of the truck batterys with a fuse in the line.

Pretty simple install.

 

[EddieWalker]

I can't comment on the tanks, but I do have a 12 volt pump from Tractor Supply. They had two models to choose from, and I bought the cheaper one. The big difference from what I remember is the more expensive one had auto shut off on the handle. I have the cheaper one and have to hold the handle while fueling.

I've had it about three years without any problems. It's kept outside 24/7 without any protection on a trailer that I mounted two 100 gallon saddle fuel tanks off of semi trucks.

I put a Napa inline Fuel filter on it that I have to change about once a year. Just because the filter needs changing, I know it's doing something, so I'd highly recomend putting on a filter system to whatever pump you buy.

Eddie