Long range fuel tanks

[nuthermug]

I am thinking of fitting a longrange tank (125ltr) the cost will be $1460 and do those of you who have longrange tanks recon it,s worth it or would it be smarter to just fill the tank more often. I am heading to the Kimberley up through Kalgoorlie then up to willuna short cut up Neds creek rd the through to Pt Hedland the n up to Derby Gibbriver road and the usual stuff. I don't recon I will have trouble getting fuel but is it better to be safe than sorry

Thanks in advance Henry

[nbd73]

Is your vehicle diesel? If so, I would say no, depending on the size of your standard tank. You can carry diesel more safely (ie on back of CT etc) due its less explosive properties than petrol, you use less of it, and its readily available.  All depends on the distances between garages on your intended routes. It's a hell of a lot of $. On the other hand, for petrol it may be an option, particularly if the vehicles requires premium ULP to run properly. My previous rig was in this category and I found PULP difficult to get + std tank was a puny 76l which for an auto V8 towing a 1.5t loaded CT is just plain ludicrous. Had a 69l auxiliary tank fitted ($2000!!) but was appreciated on many occasions. Don't really get that back come selling time though. But for the 200, 93l std tank is fine, and I have 2x20l jerry cans that go on the CT (haven't used them in almost 12 months).

[SteveandViv]

SO - a few years ago Mt Barnett ran out of fuel up the Gibb (Diesel)  and many were stranded. Also, if you want to go off the beaten track you may want that extra range or not want to carry Gerry cans. For us it was about the longer trips like the Simpson but it is still nice to have that extra with trips like the Gibb and then the price may help you make up your mind. You won't get big savings by not needing t fill up at Drysdale eg but it feels better

[nuthermug]

Thanks SteveandViv, so a long range tank is like a security blanket you feel safer, also one of the things I was tossing around in my mind .

  Thanks Henry

[patroldude]

Hi Henry, great idea mate - long range tanks lower your centre of gravity - gives you heaps more options of how long and where you want to travel to. Fill them up if you want, or not, at least you have the option to. I have a 145L main tank and a 70L aux tank - total 215L. This allows me to - for example - fill up at Jervois Station on the Plenty Hwy travel down the Hay River Track - head across the Simpson, taking any route i choose, have a swim at Dalhousie springs and put some fuel back in at Mt Dare, without having to drop back into Birdsville at the base of the Hay River. Just gives you lots of options mate. In addition you can carry other “stuff” if required and not more gerry cans of diesel.  If you have the money ……  go – for –it. Cheers 

[nuthermug]

Thanks patroldude I think Imay take your advice, they are going to relplace my tank with a 125ltr it looks pretty small alongside yours.

nbd73I have replyed twice to to your reply but nothing is happening sorry.

[Barry G]

Cost is relative...
$2000 for a long range tank or $7000 for LPG system.  ($6000 after gov't rebate)
After thinking about it, the long range tank is preferable for the following reasons:
1/.  LPG not readily available outback;
2/.  LPG gives lower kilometres to the litre than does petrol; and
3/.  The LPG conversion would require a smaller petrol tank to be fitted.  Lol!

Bottom line is that the long range tank is about 1/3 of the price of the LPG conversion and gives much better range, and ... A hell of a lot of petrol,can be purchased using the $4000 difference in cost between the 2 alternatives!   ! 

[SteveandViv]

Thanks SteveandViv, so a long range tank is like a security blanket you feel safer, also one of the things I was tossing around in my mind .

  Thanks Henry

Yes, a little bit it is. As I have to pump fuel from the Aux to the main I tend to load balance the fuel. I suppose if I was to get a hole in one I would then have at least some fuel after I patch up a leak. That has never happened but you never know. There aren't many places where you can't get fuel these days but I't nice not to have to stop as often to fuel up.

[crackacoldie]

Cost is relative...
$2000 for a long range tank or $7000 for LPG system.  ($6000 after gov't rebate)
After thinking about it, the long range tank is preferable for the following reasons:
1/.  LPG not readily available outback;
2/.  LPG gives lower kilometres to the litre than does petrol; and
3/.  The LPG conversion would require a smaller petrol tank to be fitted.  Lol!

Bottom line is that the long range tank is about 1/3 of the price of the LPG conversion and gives much better range, and ... A hell of a lot of petrol,can be purchased using the $4000 difference in cost between the 2 alternatives!   !

Can't fill gas from a jerry can either.

[nbd73]

Thanks patroldude I think Imay take your advice, they are going to relplace my tank with a 125ltr it looks pretty small alongside yours.

nbd73I have replyed twice to to your reply but nothing is happening sorry.

Don't concern yourself, it appears as though my stance is in the vast minority. All of the above points are very valid, but the last rings truest: if you can afford it why the hell not?!! Alas, personally I no longer have that luxury and must choose accessories wisely, if at all. If going for one a direct replacement would be preferable to a second tank as the majority of these also have an electric pump to return fuel to the main tank. This introduces another item which may or may not fail, adds cost to the purchase price & install costs (unless DIY) and the one I had was noisy & notoriously slow. The stipulated capacity was 69l but the empty light would start flashing with 20l left, and the pump would cut out (to stop running dry which is a no no for electric pumps so I am told) with over 10l still in it, so I never truly got the full 69l out of it. TJM supplied it (long ranger from memory) so wasn't a cheap dodgy brand.

[nuthermug]

Thanks nbd73 , The people at ARB are going to replace the existing tank with the long rang tank so I shouldn't have any pump problems, witch I never thought of.

Thanks Henry

[Barry G]

Nbd, I totally agree with you about the limitations of the secondary tank pump and the fact that it adds an additional weak point.  Also agree with frugal solutions, whatever the impetus.  And didn't mean to imply that a couple of thousand $$$ is inconsequential.
As with camper trailers, the 'art' is in defining how to do what you want within your budget.
Also, for the OP to consider, often the best way to increase vehicle range is to minimise weight, especially on the c/t.

[cyberess]

I have been the road of the Auxiliary tank  -- and made the mistake of a $2000 then swapped it out later for a much better solution of a poly under tray tank that cost less than $400..  about $120 of fittings -- I had the transfer pump  -- pull it all out, and swapped that to a gravity feed setup.. I am now very happy with the setup.

The 80 Litre  DPRV80S-MK Under tray poly tank


To see more pictures of the setup goto my Mahindra Pik-up UTE build thread
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=17679.msg430288#msg430288

I am not sure what sort of vehicle that you have -- if you have a standard tub setup on a ute maybe have a look at slimline setup on the tub


 

[sablesoft]

Hi,

I was considering replacing the 74L tank on my Challenger with a 120L tank. but then I purchased my Cub Escape with 3 Jerry can holders (upgraded from the standard one), and I now have 3 x good quality steel jerry cans for the holders, so now I have capacity for 134L of petrol and the larger tank plan is scrapped.

Ray

   

[Fozzle]

I was always of the thought you can buy alot of fuel for the cost of a long range tank.. Which you can..

But its one of the favourite things I have fitted to my vehicle after finally convincing myself to get it.. I got a good deal and fitted it myself so the cost wasnt to bad in the end.

[shanegtr]

I was thinking about a long range tank for years to put into my 80 series. But in reality I dont think its really required for me. I have 2 jerry's stored on my camper and using those I have a road Hwy range of around 1000km which I think is plenty.
Depends on what your car is for your situation. How big are your standard tanks and whats your fuel range like with them?

[achjimmy]

I had a long range tank on the Pajero and it was great for a lot of the reasons made above. It also protected the fragile rear bumper on the Paj and was convienent just in every day city driving meaning less visits to the servo and the waiting in queue for the only avaiable diesel pump.

[Barry G]

I had a long range tank on the Pajero and it was great for a lot of the reasons made above. It also protected the fragile rear bumper on the Paj and was convienent just in every day city driving meaning less visits to the servo and the waiting in queue for the only avaiable diesel pump.

Fuel tank as bumper protector....   

[achjimmy]

Fuel tank as bumper protector....   

Yep awesome protector, braced 2 mm steel. You can option a 6mm steel bottom on cruiser tanks for the same reason. 

[SteveandViv]

Thanks nbd73 , The people at ARB are going to replace the existing tank with the long rang tank so I shouldn't have any pump problems, witch I never thought of.

Thanks Henry

I wouldn't get to concerned about pump problems. They run for years and years. I've had mine 10 years now and all good. I'll stand by my reasons that I don't want all my eggs in one basket. I've seen a few who have punctured their tanks and were stranded, waiting to be towed. I have a manual drain plug on the rear tank so in a pinch I can decant into a small Gerry and refill the main.

[scarps]

I put the LRA extra tank on my WK2 Jeep GC Deisel.  Possibly didn't really need it (averaging between 8l/100km and 12l/100km) but money was burning a hole in my pocket and was waiting for other aftermarket access to be designed and built. Cost me under $2k installed and I use my monthly Coles or Woolies 15c or 18c or occasionally 30c off a litre vouchers to fill up to 150l's.  Save between $30 and $50 a month on fill up's.

As said, possibly didn't really need it, but at this rate, including a once a year big trip, will have it paid off in fuel discount vouchers between 4 and 5 years and then put the money back into my pocket.  Also coming up to tax time and will see if the accountant can claim it for me as a vehicle maintenance expense??  No biggie if not, but a bonus if yes.

[trekkn]

i had a lra 150l tank fitted to my bt50 and its the best mod i have done

longer touring range less stops for fuel and can take detours and see all the other sites of the main track in remote areas

and i now only fill up every 10 days compared to every 2-3 days in the falcon ute

[fuji]

I have a 90 litre tank and 4 jerry holders on the CT so that gives me 170 litres

[Rumpig]

I have a 90 litre tank and 4 jerry holders on the CT so that gives me 170 litres

that's 15ltrs less then my sub tank alone....lol

[muzza01]

My brother had a 180 lt tank installed on his 100s yesterday.  Now he has 270lt capacity.  He is getting his suspension order in shortly but we are going to fit it at my place to save $$.  His arse dropped around 25mm at the back wheels and 30mm at the tow hitch after the mod and the tank was filled.