Larger Fuel Tank

[rickandsandi]

We have a 2009 Silverado 2500 HD Duramx Crew Cab and we love it. The luxury of having the truck always packed during the camping season allows us to be on the road in a moments notice. And we do get on the road every weekend between April and mid December. I certaihnly know more than my fair share about our beloved Airstreams but when it comes to making changes to the truck I always seek out advise. We need to add to the capacity of our desiel but we don't want to loose space in our 6 foot bed. I have seen a few advertisements for replacement tanks that fit into the space of the old tank but need some input. Has anyone replaced their existing tank with the larger 42+ gallon tanks and have been happy with the conversion? Thanks for your help.

[mistral blue]

You might get even more responses at the Diesel Place.
Folks that have the larger tanks all seem to love them. Transfer Flow and Titan appear to be the major players. The only problem I can see with your 3/4 ton is that a fuel contamination problem would be much more expensive to deal with now. I doubt the extra weight would be a problem given your 22' Safari. I wish I had more fuel capacity. Good luck!

[rickandsandi]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

You might get even more responses at the Diesel Place.
Folks that have the larger tanks all seem to love them. Transfer Flow and Titan appear to be the major players. The only problem I can see with your 3/4 ton is that a fuel contamination problem would be much more expensive to deal with now. I doubt the extra weight would be a problem given your 22' Safari. I wish I had more fuel capacity. Good luck!

Hey stranger- with the new format here wasn't sure where this would end up. With a towing capacity of over 14,000 lbs. weight is not an issue. Not sure what you mean by contamination.

[slowmover]

He means that if you purchased fuel that was contaminated that you might have drain just that much more. An AIRDOG or FASS fuel pump/double filter combination would be a worthwhile addition to your truck.

Virtually no diesel truck owner out there would turn down a larger replacement tank. The only thing that stops most of us is the price with or without labor.

If I took mine to 100-gls total I could conceivably justify the trip to the border to purchase $2 Mexican diesel. The 14-gl roundtrip price could be justified in any number of ways as the fuel cost would be but $40 as part of a $200 versus local $400 purchase.

Most importantly, IMO, we have the chance to purchase less often, seek out the freshest, highest-quality diesel, and treat it to make premium fuel (Schaeffer's 139-B2).

.

[Pahaska]

I have a Transfer-Flow in-bed 40 gallon tank. I don't have any experience with the OEM tank replacement that they make, but, based on the quality of the tank I have and their service, I would buy from them in a heartbeat.

I may install the OEM replacement to being my current 66 gallons up to near 100.

[mistral blue]

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

Not sure what you mean by contamination.

Originally Posted by REDNAX

He means that if you purchased fuel that was contaminated that you might have drain just that much more. An AIRDOG or FASS fuel pump/double filter combination would be a worthwhile addition to your truck.

Contamination can be costly. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if contamination does occur, you have to drop the tank and replace the fuel pump/filter/float gauge assembly all at once. Just something to consider. I still LOVE the idea of a larger tank.

BTW, NJ diesel today: $3.51; Danbury, CT diesel today: $3.99.

[thecatsandi]

My long bed (Ford) came with a 40 gallon tank. I have never had a fuel contamination problem. I don't need to carry more fuel as it will carry me all day if necessary.

[JimS]

I have an 08 F350 diesel, and changed out the factory 38 gallon tank for a 60 gallon tank from Transfer Flow. I had a mechanic friend of mine do the work, was not a lot of trouble, and has been great. So far, no problems. Transfer flow sent adequate directions and probably would not be that hard to do it yourself.

[JFScheck]

Titan Tank for my 2011 F-350 Short Bed - OEM type replacement from 26 gallons to 50 gallons - Complete with skid plate!

[rickandsandi]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

Titan Tank for my 2011 F-350 Short Bed - OEM type replacement from 26 gallons to 50 gallons - Complete with skid plate!

John - I like the idea of the side plates. We have the off road package which I didn't have much choice in when we purchased the truck. Trucks were few and far between. But just last month we were off the grid in upper-western Maine panning for gold and had to use the snowmobil highway network. Of cours this was the week after Irene so you can only imagine the condition of the trails.

Thanks everyone! Looks like sure-flo instalation after I install the new Fan-tastic in the AS.

[Jammer]

Transfer Flow is probably the best known maker.

As others have pointed out, most people contemplating such an upgrade reconsider once the costs are known. Due to regulatory changes these upgrades are much more costly than they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the people who buy the upgrade have compelling reasons to do so. I know people who haul fancy horses around to shows, for example, who get the tanks to avoid unnecessary stops with the attendant stress on the animals. I've also known oil field and gas field workers who have tanks because they spend the day driving around in areas where fuel isn't readily available.

[rickandsandi]

Thank you everyone for the input. $1,200 for a bigger tank is worth it considering the amount of time lost/wasted at some of the highway stops for fuel. The one thing you can not get back or purchase is wasted time.

[Chuck]

I think if I were to add a bigger fuel tank, I'd also need to install a relief tube. my vehicle range seems to be a pretty fair match for my personal holding tank.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by Chuck

I think if I were to add a bigger fuel tank, I'd also need to install a relief tube. my vehicle range seems to be a pretty fair match for my personal holding tank.

Not a matter of personal holding tank. Rather, it is a matter of range. I stop about every 1 1/2 hours for personal holding tank service, but I only stop about every other day for fuel.

I have 66 gallons of capacity and figure 60 gallons usable. At about 13 mpg, that is 780 miles. At about 300 to 325 miles most days, I can get over two days on my tanks. However, if I see a good station and plan to stop anyway I will stop during the second day.

As pilots say, one of the world's most useless things is fuel you have already burned. Right along with altitude above you and runway behind you.

[pappy19]

While the Transfer Flow is a well known tank replacement, it is made of steel and very heavy and prone to rust after a few years. If I was looking at a replacement tank for a diesel, it would be the Titan plastic tank, hands down. No rust, light, takes a hit and doesn't break, and easier to install. If titan made one for a gas rig, I would have installed it years ago. Just sayin'.

Pap