Aux gas tanks?

Bill55AZ · February 28, 2005

My 02 1500 with 5.3 and 3.7 axle gets about 19MPG on trips between Phoenix and Logan, Utah. That is with around a half ton of load each time. With the 26 gallon tank, I could make it all the way without stopping for gas if I added about a 15 gallon auxiliary tank. Gas at each end of the trip is usually a lot cheaper than most places in between.

Any recommendations on tanks? I think one that fits into the side of the bed in front of the wheel well would be the least intrusive to my load carrying ability.

redvett · February 28, 2005

A gallon of gas weighs 8.66lbs and 15 gallons weighs 130lbs. This will add to the GVW of you vehicle and you will have to add the weight & cost of the larger tank. I dont believe ther is enough of a savings to pay for it. I would imagine a custom tank would cost $500 or more not including labor. This tank would have to be EPA approved and work with the emissions system in your truck.

hvac1000 · March 1, 2005

Installed a short bed tank in my truck . It only holds 50 gallon. When the main tank in my truck gets low I stop and fill up from the tank in the bed of the truck. This prevents all the problems associated with the emissions hoses/controls etc. While it is not as fancy as having a bigger tank under the truck it works and was cheap.

gds194 · March 2, 2005

Try Transfer Flow...

http://www.transferflow.com/html/gm_tank_0.html

Daubs · March 2, 2005

Yep, check out transferflow tanks. They run about $1,000 installed.

az'03Silverado · March 2, 2005

Go to Home Depot and get 3 or 4 of those red 5-gallon gas cans and fill 'em up before you leave. Eight bucks each. Just don't fill them while they're in the bed. I don't want to see your burning truck on 'Good Evening Arizona'.

redimpss5 · March 3, 2005

Go to transfer flow and get a bigger tank. If you have to, they have dealers all around the country. They have fitments that fit in the stock location, and that way you can drive the truck a few miles without having to stop all the time for fuel!

Shawn T · March 3, 2005

A few weeks ago my friend fabed a tank for his powerstroke. He just built it in his shop. He added baffles and a wheer in the bottom. The shop he works in builds aux tanks for the oil rig companies out here. After he puts them together with 1/8 steel he sends them across the street to have them rhino lined. The way he ties it into the system is fairly simple. I don't know how it affects anything on the truck. I checked it out and it seems to be fine. All the rig pickups out here are 04 and up 2500 HD Chevys with the 6.0L. He just pops a 1 inch hole in the bed and cuts into the filler neck. Installs a tee that has a line connected to the tank. He just puts a ball valve on the tank side. During a stop or lunch break, when the truck is not running of course, he just opens the ball valve and adds 15 or so gallons to the tank. I know it is kind of crude, but heah it works perfect when you are out in the field. As for diesel pickups, out here, if you carry an aux tank the truck is considered a "farm truck" and you can get a permit to run dyed diesel. It is a heck of alot cheaper. He also adds a vent to the top of the tank, so when it is draining it does not create a vacuum inside the tank. I was thinking of having him build me a 50 gallon tank that I could just throw in for the hunting season. I would not have to haul the plastic cans and the fuel would be in the truck the whole time. I probably would not go with the hole in the bed, but just buy a hand pump and spout to fill it up with.

redvett · March 4, 2005

You cannot put a larger tank on a 1500 because of the vapor emissions test. It would require a new PCM program to allow for the vapor test on gas vehicles. Not doing so would be like leaving the gas cap off and setting the SES.