Towing and Hauling / RV Discuss towing and hauling here. Share your tips and tricks. RV and camping discussion welcome.

Auxiliary Fuel Tanks what do you think? Worth the money or not?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-09-2010, 05:30 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
nascar-co's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Red face Auxiliary Fuel Tanks what do you think? Worth the money or not?

I have my truck right where I want it and am thinking about installing an additional fuel tank in the bed. Not certain if it would be one that feeds directly via a switch or perhaps a transfer pump into the stock tank? For certain it needs to have a toolbox built in.
I am not certain if the cost ( 600 to 900 dollars) is worth the cost for an additional 50 to 60 gallons.
Any experiences or opinions good or bad?
Old 03-09-2010, 05:35 PM
  #2  
Administrator / Scooter Bum
 
Shovelhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central VA
Posts: 9,076
Received 47 Likes on 33 Posts
My "Poor Man's Aux Fuel tank" is five 5 gallon fuel cans that I put in the bed when I go on long trips.
I fill them up where fuel is cheaper, and take them out to save space and weight when I don't need them.
Yes I have to stop to refuel, but I'm not out 600 - 700 bucks and losing 2 feet of bed space either.
Old 03-09-2010, 05:59 PM
  #3  
Registered User
 
rebal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Yuba city Kalifornia
Posts: 3,899
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
I used a weather guard chest box and made my own steel tank that is bolted in and uses a holly pump to xfer the fuel. it is only 15gal I could of made it bigger but with both tanks full it gives me a 450 mile range with my 17,000 lbs 5er after that, or sooner the wife is giving me the i gota pee sign anyways and it left me lots of room in the box. you could also use a plastic fuel tank for a boat there cheap and would last forever out of the sun..
Old 03-09-2010, 07:34 PM
  #4  
Urban Legend
 
bigfoot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Cleburne TX
Posts: 365
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
If you are trying to save money by filling up where the fuel is cheap don’t even bother, you will never break even. If you need the extended range that an auxiliary fuel tank allows then go for it.
I bought one from Northern tools( 60 gal with toolbox, if I had it to do over I’d get the 50 gal due to the bigger toolbox) with the adapter for gravity flow into the factory tank. Works real well I have never had a problem but still watch it like a hawk.
The reason I bought mine is I pull a 36’ 5ver and a 35’ gooseneck and sometimes am unable to get into the fuel station that is available, so by having the auxiliary tank I can fill up at places that can accommodate my rig.
Old 03-09-2010, 08:03 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
stock03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Shovelhead
My "Poor Man's Aux Fuel tank" is five 5 gallon fuel cans that I put in the bed when I go on long trips.
I fill them up where fuel is cheaper, and take them out to save space and weight when I don't need them.
Yes I have to stop to refuel, but I'm not out 600 - 700 bucks and losing 2 feet of bed space either.
I do the same thing (but with three 5-gallon tanks). They really come in handy when diesel fuel is almost double in some of the small towns.
Old 03-10-2010, 02:14 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
Jaxom's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: S.E Michigan
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I like being able to fuel my truck when I want to rather than when I have to.
Old 03-10-2010, 02:55 AM
  #7  
Registered User
 
HMX-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 966
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I run the Titan Fuel tank in my '08 and was surprised that the DTE actually was accurate. The only thing that threw me was the fuel gauge took a LONG time to come down. It's nice not having to pull over for 700 miles, unless someone starts hollering for food or bathroom breaks.
Old 03-10-2010, 03:16 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
WhiteMule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With what you are pulling, I would get an auxillary tank. That rig is way long to try to manuever in and out of a lot of places, and backing up with the boat behind you is nearly impossible. I had a 15 gallon plastic aux tank on mine for a while before I got the 36 gal I have now. I can usually run all day with my rig and wait until I park for the night to go fill up the truck if I want to. To me, my aux tank is more of a convenience item than a way to save money, although it does allow me to do that also sometimes. The rest of the year, it allows me to go all over the state to the areas I normally travel and refill when I get back home at the station that I normally use.
Old 03-10-2010, 08:12 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
2006Mega's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 307
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i installed a KSH 50 gallon in bed auxiliary fuel tank that sits below the bed rails so i can still use a bed cover. the main reason i got it was the same as those above, so i could pick and choose when i had to fuel up, when i had my 35 ft fiver behind us it makes it interesting to get into some of those small gas stations in small towns. the only time it has really saved us money was when we were out west 2 summers ago and were getting low on fuel. i had just enough left in the aux tank to make it to the next state, where fuel was 4.00 per gallon instead of 5.00.
Old 03-10-2010, 08:18 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
nwflyoda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Aledo, Tx
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i actually converted an old air craft hyrdaulic tank from the 1950 to a bed tank for mine. it just gravity feeds to my stock tank. i've got a total of 69 gallons to use now but i plan to build a bigger tank in the bed for more fuel range.
Old 03-10-2010, 10:16 AM
  #11  
Registered User
 
rebal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Yuba city Kalifornia
Posts: 3,899
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
the reason I only put the 15 gal. tank in is, a lot of times its hard to find diesel going through big cities and this is just a reserve or emergency like going through LA to San Diego on 5 I can just blow by till the next easy to get in spot
Old 03-10-2010, 10:32 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
SuperGewl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Posts: 1,915
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by nascar-co
I have my truck right where I want it and am thinking about installing an additional fuel tank in the bed. Not certain if it would be one that feeds directly via a switch or perhaps a transfer pump into the stock tank? For certain it needs to have a toolbox built in.
I am not certain if the cost ( 600 to 900 dollars) is worth the cost for an additional 50 to 60 gallons.
Any experiences or opinions good or bad?
If you tow and plan on doing distance runs then the tank is well worth it. I now have a range of about 800 miles when towing my 5vr. It's well worht it to have enough fuel to travel all day and get to the campgorund, setup then go fillup if needed prior to a good nights sleep. Also I now fillup when I want to and not when I have to at the next most expensive place
Old 03-10-2010, 11:02 AM
  #13  
Registered User
 
PCarnathan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Auxiliary Fuel Tanks what do you think? Worth the money or not?

I've had an Aerotanks replacement tank for six years. It replaced the stock 35-gallon fuel tank and now I hold 60 gallons and I didn't lose any bed space. Transfer Flow puts out a great product but they're awfully proud of their stuff. Aerotanks aren't pretty, and they've been slammed on this forum for not being attractive, but mine's been just fine for a long time. It was a pretty easy installation, too.

Pat in Sun City, CA
Old 03-10-2010, 01:20 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
RowJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Texas/Oklahoma Border
Posts: 8,234
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
When I travel, I take one or more 55g drums.
I invested in a 12v DC bung pump with a 6' hose and gas station type nozzle on it ($300.00), instead of a permanent tank.
12 gpm and can use other places. Drums are free.... just have to look around a bit.
Could be done with a Hand Crank pump for under $100.00.

Do so only because OK has 1st or 2nd lowest diesel price in the country (by $.10-.20) and I usually go west.
My last fill up, on Saturday, was $2.779 a gal. Last time in Calif.... station signs said over $3.00.

RJ
Old 03-10-2010, 09:02 PM
  #15  
Proprietor of Fiver's Inn and Hospitality Center
 
FiverBob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 2,506
Received 22 Likes on 15 Posts
Another RDS tank from Northern Tools here. 50gallon with the tool box. Fed with gravity and manual shut off valve. Excellent quality tank and less than 1/2 the expense of the Transfer flow and no pumps, no electric valves, easy to use and so handy. Very valuable tool for traveling with a big fiver as stated when being able to pick and choose where to fuel up. Sure nice in the middle of Yukon or Newfoundland or Mexico too.

Bob


Quick Reply: Auxiliary Fuel Tanks what do you think? Worth the money or not?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:20 PM.