with a short trip coming up heading out west up toward dubbo and gunnedah, I'd been keen to stretch the fuel range on the Paj over the 90L standard tank.
I've previously stuck with a couple of Jerry cans over the back but spotted this flexitank 55L diesel bladder on gumtree from the same fella I got the solar screens from and the water tank.
Having confidence that ol mates stuff was always in kept in good condition and it worked in his Paj, I knew I was onto a good thing from that perspective.
I also knew that these things retailed (when they were still made) up around the 8-900 mark.
Whilst I wouldn't have paid that price, I was more than happy to shell out 150 for his asking price without even haggling.
Luckily there were no cries of he wonaggle from the seller (yes thats a monty python reference)
This thing is solid as and very well made. With all joins and mountings being top notch
The tank itself has an inlet and outlet with the latter being the smaller of the 2 . All connections are fitted with cam lock type fittings which make for a positive join avoiding leaks
It also has a servo type nozzle for filling the car and a small but large volume inline pump making the job easy
Whilst I only went to 40L on the fill due to its first run and some improvements required from my technique. It went quite well.
The owner had made a fill extension from some pvc that made getting the fuel in that bit easier and cleaner.
I'll store the filler in the front of the caravan as leaving this in the Paj meant the smell of diesel stuck around in the car.
If I'd left that out, I don't think there would have been any smell issues at all.
I still need to work out the speed to fill it, as it tends to get an air lock and when you stop the flow, the air backs out the filler pipe. The first time it spat out a bit of diesel but I learned the lesson there.
This what it looked like behind the front seats with 40L in it.
I had to remove the busted inline switch from the pump and chose to use my DIY remote anderson plug switch box, which allowed me to control it from outside the vehicle.
All in all, I would say my experience with it was positive one for sure but there is room for improvements.
I was unable to get the last of the fuel out but will work on that next time.
Emptying was pretty quick and under 4 minutes for the 40L
I think I'll also build a box to stick it in for some additional security and protection at a later date.
The little pump can also be used to stick in a jerry can and pull fuel that way.
This would make it so much easier than lifting the can up to empty.
If anyone has some suggestions on techniques for emptying or filling such bladders, even water ones, I'd be interesting in hearing your tips.
A lot of paraphernalia to carry for a desired 40 litres though. I mean why would you want a flexible bag that can not have any thing on top of it? And one drop in a vehicle would smell out the whole truck. And how do you get it into your truck? Lifting 40 litres in a flex bag wouldn't be much fun. Filling the thing in situ would be a problem as well.
All the pipes and connections would also have to be bagged and would not be nice inside a vehicle.
A mate did a desert crossing in our group years ago to do the CSR, and carried 6 Jerry cans in his truck. I tell you, you better love diesel to do that.
I suggest as an alternative for only 40 litres, to use 4 half sizes plastic Jerry cans, 10 litres each. I only say this as you probably are not as anti diesel smell as we are. For a start they are better suited for storage and they are light to lift and pour out of.
I would still be filing carefully and wash them down prior to packing though.
I am not trying to be critical and just saying....
I fitted a long ranger in situ tank but realise it is not suitable in cost for every one. My wife simply can not tolerate diesel fumes and very quickly gets a head ache from the odor.
I'm from the generation where others can have a differing opinion to mine and I don't take it personally. Heck, I might even learn something new .
The smell of diesel is a non issue for me. The only thing I found that left the smell in the car was me leaving the filler pipe in there for a few hours.
This will be stored in the boot of the van or outside the vehicle somehow for future usage.
When I was a young fella, my old man used to drive trucks and always smelt like diesel . so the smell of it for me has fond memories Reminds me of dad .
Plus it didn't really leave much of a smell at all that I noticed.
Even if it was going to be jerrys I'd still have them stored in the rear of the vehicle, so I wouldn't be any better off from an odour perspective.
What you wont see in the pics but I covered in the video (i think) was the flap that comes down and hangs out the door you have open and stops any stray diesel getting in the car if you spill some.
A quick wipe down would sort that out easily enough.
A leak would be another matter but that's going to be the same regardless of the container type.
The bladder will hold 55L so that's an equivalent of all but 3 jerrys. I think this is easier for me to store and tie down than 3 of those.
It's also easier to empty than 3 jerrys as I can do it in one shot.
If I had the means to store jerrys on the outside, I think I would have went that way myself.
I checked the long range tank option for the paj but it only gives an additional 40L at over the $3000 mark and they sit lower than the standard one which would impede on my ability to do 4wding tracks.
So 150 and removable helped me make the decision.
All that said, I'm still in the 'testing' see if we can get along phase of our relationship.
I reckon that fancy fuel station like nozzle is a non necessity. Me - I'd ditch it and just shove the hose right down into the bladder and eliminate the air lock issue. Easier to carry and store then too without that bulky part. I like the KISS approach.
Also a box with a hard lid type setup will allow other stuff to be carried over it.
And you may not be able to get much more than the 40 ltrs into it without it being in a box that makes it 'sit up'. Still 40 ltrs gives you a fair bit extra range which is always handy on outback jaunts. It's not a nice feeling when you expect to run out of go juice at any moment and the servo is not yet in sight. Been there, done that
If, as you state you are carrying this bladder to stretch the tank capacity of your Pajero for a trip out around Dubbo and Gunnedah then wouldnt it be a lot cheaper and a lot less inconvenience just to refuel at a servo and pay the difference in fuel prices. Quite often the difference in cost between a fill at one servo over a fill at another servo is only a matter of a few dollars.
The situation is different if you need to extend the range because of lack of refuelling outlets in your area of travel.
I cannot find any written information to support or refute my next question but years ago I was setting up spray tanks for chemicals that would be mixed or diluted with diesel and at that time we had to use aluminium camlocks as we were told that the black plastic ones were for water only. The seals as well needed to be Viton and not the standard rubber. Fuel delivery trucks use aluminium cam locks.
My question is; Are those camlocks approved for use with diesel?
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Thursday 11th of October 2018 08:05:41 AM
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
I reckon if you only use the fitting for a short while and in a transfer use, who cares if they are approved or not. They are obviously made from Polyethylene so would be as tough as they come.
I mean would you doubt the use of a funnel made of plastic? As we are talking gravity fed here, it would matter little.
I reckon most o rings would take diesel pretty well and if they do leak, next time get some better ones as replacements.
We used to use elcheapo clear plastic to siphon petrol which has 10 times the solvent capacity of diesel. I can not remember ever being asked if it was a safe hose.
Moose, I think a low profile box of some sort is in my future.
As you said, it would allow me to put stuff on it and keep it protected.
and yeah, I've been on the bones of my A$$ for fuel before hoping for a servo and I didn't like that at all
Dicko,
I considered it from a cost benefit perspective. wondered how much extra fuel I would have to buy at a slightly higher price to justify the $150 I spent on this.
It would have to be quite a bit.
However it also gives me the option to skip a dodgey looking servo ( I don't have a secondary fuel filter fitted yet) .
Plus one I'd spent the extra money on fuel I'd have nothing to show for it. Now I have a big grey hand bag once the fuel is gone.
I'm also planning on doing fraser next year with a mate and the extra fuel will be a big help there.
Re the cams. I guess so. This is a retail unit and flexitank make fuel storage bladders for all manner of applications.
I'd have no reason to see how they wouldn't be.
Do the trucks use the aluminum locks due to the fuel type or because of their constant use due to their application?
Either way, I don't know but know jerry cans and some long range fuel tanks are plastic based, so I reckon I'm ok here.
Having a 'long-range' tank fitted is definitely personal preference.
However, just a thought Brett. You mentioned you were "planning on doing fraser next year". I assume you would come from either Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach/Tin Can Bay.
So if you refuel at either boarding point, tow ya camper/van over on the ferry, drive around Fraser, one would assume without the camper/van most of the time, and then go back to mainland on the ferry ...... just how many Km do you reckon yo are going to do on Fraser that would justify a 'long range tank'?
You say you have a 90Ltr standard tank - let's say usable capacity is 85Ltr. Surely that would give you a MINIMUM of 450Km range - even if towing the whole time. Ya'd have to be driving everyday on every track to use that many Km I reckon.
There is also fuel at Kingfisher Bay Resort so it isn't like ya gonna be anywhere even remotely remote.
As I said, it is always personal preference - but unless you are going REALLY outback away from any sealed roads for long periods - I reckon ya don't need extra tanks - or even a jerry can. It is very rare for servos to be more than 200Km apart where there are sealed roads.
In all my travels over the past 10 years the longest between fuel stations I have encountered was 365Km between Winton and Boulia ... and I get 450Km towing my van from my 82Ltr tank.
Jest sayin'
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Sorry mate if you think my comments were negative.
I see the reasoning behind your purchase and use of the tank if you are in remote areas where fuel outlets are a problem.
I considered that you bought the unit second hand it may have been modified.
I noted that the unit involves the use of a pump so not really just gravity as dieseltojo suggested.
If I consider the purchase price of diesel in the country as opposed to the city and for example only use a variance of 10 cpl and assume a price of $1.50 per litre city and $1.60 country with a tank capacity of 90 litres then one would be required to pay an extra $9.00 per tank.
That amounts to approx 16.5 tank fulls of fuel at the country price to recover the purchase price.
This figure would be a lot more tank fills if for example you were filling up with 20 litres remaining in the vehicle tank. In this scenario you would only pay $7.00 per tank extra and this would equate to approx 21.5 tank fills.
During my working life I fitted long range tanks to my vehicles for travelling in the country and the cost of a fixed tank took a few years of use and saving to recover the costs.
The only advantage in my working situation was that an operator could do more work before he was looking for somewhere to fuel up resulting in better time management.
It became a bit more advantageous when that operator could fill up in a larger regional centre where diesel was cheaper or fill up in our own yard where we purchased fuel at a favourable price.
My thoughts are that if fuel is available during your travels then the convenience of filling at a fuel outlet in some cases may outweigh the inconvenience of a bladder on the rear floor.
Good luck with the fit up and enjoy your travels.
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"Seek the truth or bury you head in the sand, both require some digging"
it's all good fellas, I've not been offended by anyone's comments here at all, nor taken them as negative. Happy to take it all on board. strokes and folks and that.
Rock, Ive not been to fraser and at this point it's just at a stage where we said we would go. Not organizing just yet. I have no idea where we would 'come from' as such. But my friend who I'm going with went a few years back and ended up having to purchase fuel on the island at $2.40L. He said tanks would be advantageous, so that helped me with this purchase. I also went to byong 4wd park this year and needed additional fuel onsite there as well. I often like to explore in a 4wd capacity whilst in the area, so that can take up fuel that might otherwise be used to get me the next servo. I also travel with 2 guys who have Toyotas with standard 160+ tanks. This would allow me to keep up with them a little better on long runs. Chances are I won't need it but I'd much prefer to have it and not need it and all that.
Dicko, from the pics I've been able to source ,I believe the bladder appears to be original. The other I've seen use the same cam locks etc. So I think it's just the filler pvc pipe that's an add on.
My thoughts are that if fuel is available during your travels then the convenience of filling at a fuel outlet in some cases may outweigh the inconvenience of a bladder on the rear floor.
This exactly. I'll only used it if it is required. Ultimately, I'd like to pull into home with it still full and not to have used it at all.
Like you said, its much simpler to fill the vehicle tank than the bladder. So it won't be getting cycled at all during a normal fill.
Hi Denmonkey,
A few comments here trying to get you to justify your purchase of the bladder.
A while back I did some outback travel and carried a few jerries, never neede them.
The next trip I had fitted two long ranger tanks and was able to cover 900km between fills with no option available.
Have since purchased a new 4x4 and a long range tank was a no brainer.
Jerries is ok, bladder beats jerries, long range tank beats bladder, two long range tanks is better. Enjoy your great value purchase.
1st thing I thought of is static electricity dangers, ... when filling and how it would / would not be different from a metal petrol tank in a vehicle?
