mmccurdy
Adventurer
Background
Wanting to extend the amount of time I can be completely self-sufficient on expedition-style trips, I was finding that fresh water was a major limiting factor. More importantly, my old method of carrying water relied on NATO-style jerry cans which were occupying space on the bumper and roof that I wanted to use for fuel.
I found this tank at Equipt, it's from Front Runner, a South African company who also makes auxiliary fuel tanks for several vehicles (though sadly not mine). I liked that it would carry lots of water -- about 14 gallons -- and that it would keep the load centered and relatively low, while not impinging too much on my cargo space.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The tank arrived via FedEx after just a few days (thanks Paul!) and the box showed some signs of wear, but the contents were just fine. It is a very stout tank. Before it arrived, I was worried about cargo sliding around and possibly damaging it, but it's constructed of thick food-grade polyethylene, and I'm not concerned about this anymore. The tank is bundled with a drain tube, and a bung with a 90-degree bend, a valve, and a strap for securing the valve end of the tube.
Materials / Tools
(all materials can be sourced from a common hardware store -- I went to Lowes)
- 4x Spring Toggle Bolts (make sure you search for the larger ones -- these are rated to 380lbs. of tension and 1200lbs. of shear)
- 4x 1/4x20x5" bolts
- 4x thumb screws
- 2x flat aluminum bar, 1 1/2" wide and long enough to extend the height of the tank
- Something to make a 3/4" hole in the sheet metal of the back seats. I used a hole saw.
Installation
1. Prepare the mounting hardware -- I removed the spring toggles from the bolts that came with them and threaded the 5" bolts in the reverse direction so they would create a stud when I inserted them into the back of the seats:
2. Mark and drill for the holes. I chose to use the outer four (the tank has five total) and found that in my 4-door JK there are some pre-exisitng holes almost perfectly aligned to where I needed the top studs to be. I cut back the carpet and was able to push the spring toggles right through:
For the lower holes, I did have to drill:
The studs installed:
3. Cut and shape the aluminum straps. I got the rough shape with a cutoff wheel and finished it up with a grinder. Aluminum was nice and soft. "Dry fit" the tank to make sure everything lines up, retain the straps with the thumb screws:
4. I painted the straps black to give them a little more finished look:
5. My first test of the tank, it leaked around the bottom fitting. I wrapped with several turns of teflon tape, and it seems to be holding now:
Wanting to extend the amount of time I can be completely self-sufficient on expedition-style trips, I was finding that fresh water was a major limiting factor. More importantly, my old method of carrying water relied on NATO-style jerry cans which were occupying space on the bumper and roof that I wanted to use for fuel.
I found this tank at Equipt, it's from Front Runner, a South African company who also makes auxiliary fuel tanks for several vehicles (though sadly not mine). I liked that it would carry lots of water -- about 14 gallons -- and that it would keep the load centered and relatively low, while not impinging too much on my cargo space.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The tank arrived via FedEx after just a few days (thanks Paul!) and the box showed some signs of wear, but the contents were just fine. It is a very stout tank. Before it arrived, I was worried about cargo sliding around and possibly damaging it, but it's constructed of thick food-grade polyethylene, and I'm not concerned about this anymore. The tank is bundled with a drain tube, and a bung with a 90-degree bend, a valve, and a strap for securing the valve end of the tube.
Materials / Tools
(all materials can be sourced from a common hardware store -- I went to Lowes)
- 4x Spring Toggle Bolts (make sure you search for the larger ones -- these are rated to 380lbs. of tension and 1200lbs. of shear)
- 4x 1/4x20x5" bolts
- 4x thumb screws
- 2x flat aluminum bar, 1 1/2" wide and long enough to extend the height of the tank
- Something to make a 3/4" hole in the sheet metal of the back seats. I used a hole saw.
Installation
1. Prepare the mounting hardware -- I removed the spring toggles from the bolts that came with them and threaded the 5" bolts in the reverse direction so they would create a stud when I inserted them into the back of the seats:
2. Mark and drill for the holes. I chose to use the outer four (the tank has five total) and found that in my 4-door JK there are some pre-exisitng holes almost perfectly aligned to where I needed the top studs to be. I cut back the carpet and was able to push the spring toggles right through:
For the lower holes, I did have to drill:
The studs installed:
3. Cut and shape the aluminum straps. I got the rough shape with a cutoff wheel and finished it up with a grinder. Aluminum was nice and soft. "Dry fit" the tank to make sure everything lines up, retain the straps with the thumb screws:
4. I painted the straps black to give them a little more finished look:
5. My first test of the tank, it leaked around the bottom fitting. I wrapped with several turns of teflon tape, and it seems to be holding now:
