In bed tank AUX gasoline gravity fed opinions?

Skinhyfish

Observer
I have a an 8ft bed and am purchasing a 6.5 camper. Long term I am going to putting on a custom tray with a garage and tool boxes.

For the time being the manufacturer is making a box that will sit on bed rails 22in wide in between the camper and cab. Make it like a 8ft camper and provide extra storage.

Under the custom box will be some dead space. Thinking about a hatch in bottom box to reach a in bed gasoline tank for my 7.3 gas ford. Add 36 gallons.

Can I use a in line gravity fill like a diesel set up. There will be a valve to shut off fuel feed.

Curious if anyone has done it? Or negatives
 

Kingsize24

Well-known member
I imagine it could be done. Gravity feed systems can overflow the stock tank however due to its location, so you will have to keep an eye on it. I would also link them in a common vent line that is higher than both tanks. I'd use both an automatic and a manual shut of valve as well. This way if the auto valve fails you have a manual backup.
 

IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
FYI, due to safety, gravity feeding gas is illegal.
Still A-okay for diesel though, but may vary based upon location.

You can run an aux tank for gas, but it must be pumped, not gravity fed.
 

Kingsize24

Well-known member
FYI, due to safety, gravity feeding gas is illegal.
Still A-okay for diesel though, but may vary based upon location.

You can run an aux tank for gas, but it must be pumped, not gravity fed.

Yes this would never be DOT due to the fuel, but I'd take my chances for the availability of fuel depending on my tank size, mpg, and destination requirements. If proper tank grounding is used, proper venting, etc; it shouldn't be a problem. Static accumulation and vapor off gassing are issues however.
 

1stDeuce

Explorer
Anything that ties your aux tank to your factory tank is going to be an issue for newer emissions systems. Specifically, you're going to have to tie the vents together and otherwise seal the aux tank so the leak detection pump can pressurize and check both tanks. Ie, the aux tank vent MUST tie into the main tank vent. Then you have to hope that the combined volume when both tanks are low doesn't mess with the system's leak detection parameters.

In short, it is no where near as easy to do as on a diesel truck. What might work better is having some way to easily pump fuel out of it when you're stopped. A small pump and nozzle that you externally fill your main tank with would be fine, and I think would be less hassle than trying to get it to work as a gravity tank w/o tripping the check engine light...
 

IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
Our aux tank has its own fuel filler and also has the ability to transfer from aux to main in motion, simply by pumping into the main tanks filler neck. I also added a fuel switch that allows you to transfer fuel via a fuel filler from aux tank to gas can or other vehicle.

The truck is a 2011 Superduty (6.2) and the tank is complete with a vent that is integrated into the factory evap. In more than 40k miles, no problems. And only once did the setup trip a CEL, which turned out to be a faulty/loose gas cap.
 

FordGuy1

Adventurer
I think it will work fine as long as it is filled with the key off and you do not disrupt the evap pressure monitoring. Once it is filled, you just need to make sure that what ever valve system you use is 100% sealed.
 

IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
From over here....




My 6.2 supeduty came with a 32 gallon tank, and rolling loaded with the camper just didnt give me the range I was willing to live with.
Larger "direct fit" tanks hang WAY too low, and cost a small fortune.

My solution was a second tank, mounted within the custom bed I built, giving me a total of 47 gallons.
Complete with its own fuel pump, fuel filler, and manual selector that controls flow from transfer (aux tank to main),
hose (acts as a fuel station to fuel generator or moto) or OFF
I have a switch in the cab to control the pump as well as a fuel gauge for the aux tank.
We routinely use it as a transfer tank, and do it while moving.
Typically run the main tank down to 1/2, then transfer from aux to main.

The tank is a 15 gallon Jeep CJ tank, with CJ fuel sender, tipover valve, and the breather is tied to the OEM vapor recovery system.
No CEL or errors. The CJ tank was the most square plastic tank i could find, and was very cheap.
Pump is a very inexpensive solid state pump, rated at 3-5 GPM as I recall.

Pics to follow, it is located between the wheel wells, right above the diff.

47209781712_81fb81a635_b.jpg


48165002071_5cf9f012da_b.jpg



48515866166_05ab8c22b3_b.jpg
 

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