I could put this in with the other thread about carrying extra fuel, but that would be stealing the post. I have a tray top ute, and under the tray, I would have room to install a 60 litre diesel tank. I don't want to have to carry jerry cans, as diesel fuel is smelly and messy at its best. Perth a while ago was out of fuel because of water contamination, also we have had vehicles at work with water contamination and that comes with a heft bill as it puts the fuel pump out of action.
Our intension is to be on the road permanently. I am going to bolt a canopy in place. So its install the tank now, or forget. The rota-mold tank costs about $400 plus fittings and my labour.
I will be installing a pre filter as well.
Any comments would be appreciated.
-- Edited by iana on Sunday 4th of September 2016 10:43:48 AM
-- Edited by iana on Sunday 4th of September 2016 10:44:55 AM
Have large fuel tank added to our RV . In my case weight is not an issue . Being capable of traveling 1500 or so Kls before thinking of re-fueling is great .. Also the thought of having plenty of diesel when free camping ..
Have large fuel tank added to our RV . In my case weight is not an issue . Being capable of traveling 1500 or so Kls before thinking of re-fueling is great .. Also the thought of having plenty of diesel when free camping ..
Bloody hell I would have to save for a year to fill up
Neil . $200 to top it up . But can drive through 3 states before filling .. Yes can fill when I see budget price fuel . Out back it can be as high as 1.75 .. A few years ago over $2.00 .. Any way it doesn't need to be filled to top ...
I have a 100ltr extra fuel capacity, 245ltr in total, great for long outback journeys like across the Nullabor, I can do Norseman - Ceduna without top ups at rip off prices.
If you have the weight carrying capacity, go for it, then when the price is right fill her up.
While I have not taken the vehicles over a weigh bridge, I am certain that we are close to CVM. My aim is to get my weight on the ute, and as far forward as possible to get the front wheels doing more load sharing. I don't like the idea of 20 lt. jerry cans hung off the back, not to mention the security risk. By putting the fuel tank under the tray, it is as far forward as it can go, is secure and the spillage or fumes won't effect anything.
However it is extra work, as I will have to do, but if the long term benefits are there, then I have to do it now, or else forget about it.
Iana - you have a MUX don't you? If yes, they are expensive if you get an Isuzu dealer to fit it. It will take you 12 months at least to recover the outlay. If you are going to do it yourself or have a mate who is competent that's different, but remember any insurance issues you may get involved in, if its not Dealer fitted.
May van came with two 20 litre jerry can holders fitted onto the top of the rear bumper and I keep them filled. As you know diesel is not explosive or highly flammable like petrol, so insurance co's don't mind them being there. Super Cheap sells universal holders if you consider going down that track
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
I too have a long range tank fitted, it certainly makes for certainty re having enough fuel for the long yards. I say fit it you will not regret your decision.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
We have a patrol ute so it came standard with two tanks about 180 L from memory wouldn't be without it for peace of mind, mostly only use the one tank but if something comes up and I have to go to town for something I know I have the capacity to just go.
Peace of mind far outweighs cost recovery for me .
Like Nike just do it.
Woody
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When the power of Love becomes greater than the love of power the World will see peace ! 24ft Trailblazer 5th wheeler n 05 Patrol ute and Black Series Dominator camper trailer ( for the rough stuff)
The extra tank will give me about 130lt all up, 140 if you believe the book. But one of the reasons that I had for installing the extra tank was if one got a tank of contaminated fuel, then by switching tanks and the use of a pre-filter, the journey could continue at least to a suitable garage. As with the other fuel query thread, there is fuel within the fuel range of the vehicle anyway. It is only when strange and unusal circumstances arise that the extra fuel may be needed. My vehicle is a BT50, to install I will need to dismantle some of the tray, make up some supports out of RHS, and take it from there as to the plumbing required.
-- Edited by iana on Sunday 4th of September 2016 08:10:20 PM
I fitted a Long Ranger 126 ltr to our PK Ranger and would have to say its one of the best decisions I have made, with this I can travel 700 klms + without having to fuel, so I can look for the best price before being forced to buy at the dearest.
I am the first to admit I fitted 2 tanks to my car so that I could carry 200ltrs. The 1st issue you really have to ask is why do you need to carry extra fuel? Sure you can travel the nullabour and not pay the high prices but the possible mechanical damage and stress to your car not to mention the extra weight you carry is it worth it? You use more fuel to carry the extra weight, and how long does it take to pay back the saving in fuel cost for a $1000+ lr tank? I soon found out the penalty for carrying that weight on very rough roads. The shocks even though better than oem just could not take the weight. As soon as I got lighter the car was fine. Loaded up I had issues. But when doing the Canning Stock Route, where petrol is 1000kms away and you are using 16- 18 ltrs per 100, you need to carry it. Cars are designed to carry some load. They are also designed in some way that makes sure you load them up for an even weight distribution. Many lr tanks are fitted behind the rear diff area. So what does that do? Make the car arse heavy. Then we load it up inside and make the matter worse. Out of sight out of mind? Some cars come with big tanks ie Prado with 150ltr as stock. If engineers designed a car to be able to carry more fuel, especially 4wds, then why dont they sell them as an accessory? Just like there are special ADRs for towing, I think there should be for tank fitments. I do understand that we have vast distances to travel. But unless you are doing remote 4wding there is usually a petrol station within a normal cars fuel range. My new 4wd only has an 84 ltr tank, and thats all it will have. If I have to need more, then I will carry a jerry can or 2 on the back bar. Thats ok for diesel cars but not for petrol in some states. Some states I understand say petrol is a volatile fluid and should your car get rear ended,the jerry cans could get fractured, leak and cause a fire. Petrol must be carried within the confines of the original vertical dimensions of the car. That makes it only ok to carry on the roof. I find it hard just to put chairs in the pod up there leave alone a 20ltr can.
Just my 2 bobs worth. Off my soap box now!!
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
Diggings, the points you raise are very valid, and I would not be considering this project if I was to spend $1000 or more on a tank installation. In my case the 60lt. tank is $200, filler about $50, valve and fittings maybe another $50, so $300 all up. As opposed to two Jerry cans $90, plus fixtures. Probably by the time one gets the jerry cans secured we are getting up around the same cost.
My thoughts on having the extra tank in case of fuel contamination won't work, as I need a fuel pump and extra valves, way too complicated. By installing the tank, the extra weight I carry will be mid chassis between the wheels F&R, rather than hung off the back. I really only need 40 litres as piece of mind, and the extra is there if the need arises that I need to fill the tank right up.
A point that no-one has brought up yet, is that with the common rail diesel fuel systems, the fuel is used to cool the injectors. While the book may quote a fuel tank quantity of say 80 lt. It is advised not to run it down past the last 1/4 (20 lt.). The excess fuel is returned too the tank, and in my case it passes through a fuel cooler before returning to the tank.
So with that in mind the range is cut back. We have had two utes recently that have had leaking fuel from the injectors, and it is my guess the cause is cooked "O" rings.
An interesting point further on this , is the discussion on extra fuel filters, and it advised to be very careful what or how one fits the fuel filters especially the post fuel filter, as not to restrict the flow of diesel used for cooling.
Getting back to the tank install, It sounds like work which I am getting allergic to, but it may be necessary, all taken into consideration.
If things were so simple then as I said LR tanks would be a dealer accessory. I have seen too many split/broken leaking tanks on 4wds to know that all tanks are not equal. Even ones made by "reputable" and "known Brands" fail. one only needs to look at 4wd forums or ask Dave at Mt Dare and I am sure you might start to understand my position. The simple fact is that there are often penalties that people are unaware of when carrying extra fuel, and my comments were only to highlight some issues that need to be considered. If that makes me a "simpleton" then so be it but in my opinion a long range tank is often and "accessory" that is not warranted and on a cost/ benefit basis a complete waste of money.
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
Some people can damage a tank . Even seen damaged sumps when fitted with std sump guards . Bent axles etc .. Just cruising with van or motorhome you won't have troubles . In most cases they are double std tanks anyway . Plus they don't have to be full when cruising around home ..
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 10:04:40 PM
We have a 120 litre second tank under the tray that was already fitted when we bought the vehicle, and we find it is great. We don't fill right up verry often but its good to have the capacity when you need it. We pulled into william Creek a couple of years back and the price on the pump was $2.40 P/L so we were glad to have the extra tank to turn on
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In life it is important to know when to stop arguing with people
and simply let them be wrong.
Iana , I think you answered your own question , before you asked it . I think you might as well fit a tank .
All I'm going to say , is every 4x4 I have owned , I have fitted a Longrange tank , replacement or extra tank depending on the vehicle .
That was until I bought the current Ute a Isuzu Dmax Extra Cab , alloy tray . apart from a couple of Simpson trips in the other vehicles , I realised I was only carting all that fuel and extra weight because I could .
We have just returned from a trip of just over 18600K , SA , NT , WA and home to Vic , nothing very remote , we did the Great Central Road and a few other out of the way places in WA , fuel was never a problem .
We were towing for the first time a Tvan , I will never say never but at this stage I have no plan to fit a bigger tank .
my concern with fitting and filling a LRT would be the weight of the unit and fuel, and how that impacts your overall loading capacity. I say this as I thought you were going on the road full time, and so load capacity must be carefully considered with all things that you need to carry.
My own observation suggests that if you are on the road, sticking to major highways around the circumference of this country, or the major inland roads, then the availability of fuel is not an issue. This would tend to make a LRT unnecessary in those areas. I would really only see it being a consideration for significant remote travel where fuel is not necessarily easily available, or quality may be questionable.
In your position I would ask myself how often am I going to be so remote the issue of quality or availability is going to come up. I would be surprised if it warrants an LRT to be fitted, and it could not be covered by a couple of jerry cans, filled especially for that leg of the trip. This would not only save weight, but also safe capital being invested in what may be a "nice" to have unused accessory on your vehicle. I personally would err on the side of saving the capital and weight, using jerry cans for the few times I might need the extra range.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Thursday 8th of September 2016 07:23:11 AM
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
I agree the points that David Irvine and Ian raise, they are issues I am chewing over. As I have understood it, the weight distribution on the tow vehicle is all about tire profile on the road, and the ability of being able to tow safely is that (tire profile (foot print on the road)) plus the weight of the tow vehicle over the weight of the unit being towed.
Now I can hear the orchestra tuning up in the back ground, but I am thinking a properly load distributed rig, will be safe to tow. Now most utes are four door, and the SUVs really can only carry weight as do those utes, beyond the rear axle (maybe some over it). Where those of you that have a single cab ute can place the load between the axles (except for the ball weight). This is the ideal.
I have an extra cab ute so the load while still forward, is now just over or just forward of the rear axle. I am trying to avoid adding any weight to the rear of the tray. This is why I am looking at adding the tank, it is well forward, out of the way, secure and protected from the sun. I have been also thinking about just having jerry cans, but that will go against everything I have written above.
At the moment I am considering not installing, as I have too much else to be doing, yet If I don't do it now it will never be done. That is once the canopy is mounted on the tray, it ain't commin off again.
