Guys, my SAR team has recently aquired a Onan 12kw diesel generator that we installed on our trailer the other day. What we want to do is setup a 50 gallon fuel tank on the trailer with it. The only thing we've been able to come up with is a transfer tank. I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience converting one of these tanks, or is it worth it?

What do you guys recommend for us to do so we can get fuel to this beast?

 

I've seens some plastic fuel approved gravity feed tanks with gens.

Maybe check around and see if someone has those in your area.
You will probably find a whole bunch of different shapes and sizes.

Send the dog in barking at the front. You sneak in the back and run out withthe tank.

 

Use it , There has to be an opening other than the fill. Like a drain port on the bottom . Attach a filter, and then a fuel line to the generater . Does the onan have a fuel pump? If so there may be a port in the top to pull from. Try to get a filter such as Raycor that incorperates a water separator, as if it is metal tank , setting around in that humid area will most likely promote water in the tank unless it is kept full all the time .

 

The engine has a complete filtering setup on it. My confusion lies in the fact that it appears that I need a return line too. Is there anything special about this? Would you put it on top of the tank or the bottom?

We have some plastic ones too like Scotty said, for our boats. I suppose I could use them, but we have this big transfer tank sitting around doing nothing.

 

Kill two birds with on stone. Get a truck bed tool box/gas tank and mount it on the trailer. Gas and storage at the same time.

CR

 

We have a 15k diesel genset at work here. It has a 75 gallon tank mounted underneath the genset, inbetween the trailer framerails. Work real nice too.

 

I've seen some engines with the return line plumbed back to the transfer pump inlet.
Seems to work just fine.

 

Very cool. Thanks for the tips guys. I appreciate it.

 

Jack you will need a d.o.t. tank to be able to run on state rds.
most of the tanks you can buy for back of pickups are d.o.t. rated
and it is required to ensure that fuel tanks will stay on trailers or back of trucks in a accident.
i need any help email me. john@coastalpowercorp.com

 

Jack, heres a pic of the setup we have at work. I high-lighted the front of the tank in red. It goes all the way to the rear framerail of the trailer. I also highlighted the fuel filler neck in yellow. This unit is a 15 kW. The engine is a 4 cyl Kubota. The tank holds 75 gallons of diesel fuel, and it uses about 10 gal per day of continuous running.