Fuel tank in place of my spare tire???

[jaross]

Like a round Rotapax would be perfect. I have found a few options which are way too expensive. I don't need anything fancy, just a doughnut shaped tank I can lower and use to fill my vehicles tank in an emergency. 5-10 gallons would probably be okay. My van is a ford transit. I have a set of 5 oversized tires so I can no longer fit my spare in the spare spot anyway. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[mep1811]

If you have a 2" receiver hitch you could get Wilco hitch mounted spare tire carrier that can accommodate two 5 gallon gas cans.

 

[jaross]

I do have a 2" hitch mount, but im trying to make use of the no longer used space from the spare underneath. I also have other uses for my hitch. I know that the Wilco can have another hitch receiver installed on it too. I might consider that, but a company called Owl Vans is supposed to be coming out with a nice spare mount which installs on the rear hinges of one of the rear doors, leaving my hitch open for other things

 

[mep1811]

I do have a 2" hitch mount, but im trying to make use of the no longer used space from the spare underneath. I also have other uses for my hitch. I know that the Wilco can have another hitch receiver installed on it too. I might consider that, but a company called Owl Vans is supposed to be coming out with a nice spare mount which installs on the rear hinges of one of the rear doors, leaving my hitch open for other things

The Wilco has a second hitch built into the carrier so there is nothing to add. I'd rather have all that weight on a frame mounted hitch than on body mounted door hinges.

 

[mep1811]

You can see if a spare tire well gas tank from the Sprinter Store fits or put in a Worthington spare tire propane tank. The Internet is full of options.

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

Not exactly where you thinking of putting a tank. But betting some one with skills could mode this to fit a rear tire carrier for a van.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/product/fuel-caddy/

 

[shenrie]

A buddy has one of these in the spare tire spot on his racecar. Might be able to make something like it work??

ATL Well Cell Series Fuel Cell - 12 Gallon - 22" Diameter x 9.0" Height - FIA FT3 WC112

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[jaross]

I googled before posting for sure.. most of these options are way more expensive then I could justify. I feel like a plastic, doughnut-shaped tank shouldn't be more then $200. I don't need a system to feed the fuel. It would just be for emergency. If I need it, I would lower it like a spare and then use a spout to empty it into my vehicle fuel tank. I may go with another option (such as that fuel caddy) but the point in posting this question was to figure out something to do with the empty space where my stock spare tire was. In all likelihood, I will probably just do two 3.5g Fuelpax in that spot and call it good

That spare wheel replacement propane fuel tank is pretty neat, (although pretty pricey). I wish I had known about that before I mounted my manchester underneath, although I still may have gone with the manchester. I also wonder how you get it filled. Do you have to figure out some sort of remote fill port?

 

[jaross]

The Wilco has a second hitch built into the carrier so there is nothing to add. I'd rather have all that weight on a frame mounted hitch than on body mounted door hinges.

This might be a good option. One hesitation I have is sticking out too far interfering with approach angles but I understand you can get an adapter to raise the hitch point

 

[jaross]

If you are not cycling your spare fuel, that fuel will spoil at some point.. sooner or later...keep that in mind when considering the cheap option workload to maintain spare fuel that actually is useful when you need it...

As well, the moment impact of the weight of fuel increases the farther you place the arm rear of the axle... adds up fast... check tires, wheels, and axle rating as you go along

What is your current range of fuel on board?

I realize that about spare fuel, thanks.

Current range is about 400mi, conservatively. Its not a huge tank..

 

[mep1811]

This might be a good option. One hesitation I have is sticking out too far interfering with approach angles but I understand you can get an adapter to raise the hitch point

Rock crawling ? I doubt you will hit it with a van unless you are where you might not want to be in the first place.

 

[LRNAD90]

I realize this is a really old thread, but came across it while searching for similar options. OP mentions lowering the tank, so assuming he has a vehicle that has an underside spare that lowers similar to pick-up trucks and many SUVs. Anyway, thought it may be useful to someone that comes across this thread in the future..

These are designed as water storage, but have found quite a few people online using them for fuel (go figure). The manufacturer does not rate them for fuel storage (liability most likely), so do your own research and make your own life decisions, but they are available in 6 gallon and 14 gallon versions. Not sure how viable the 14 gallon is to 'take down and use a spout to fill' as it would weigh over a 100 lbs.

The 6 gallon tank may be more manageable and you can apparently 'stack' them for 12 gallons total though.

Also realize they are quite a bit more than the OP feels they should be, but what isn't these days? Two 12's or one 14 is about the same price...

Two 12's and a 14 pictured below.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I realize this is a really old thread, but came across it while searching for similar options. OP mentions lowering the tank, so assuming he has a vehicle that has an underside spare that lowers similar to pick-up trucks and many SUVs. Anyway, thought it may be useful to someone that comes across this thread in the future..

These are designed as water storage, but have found quite a few people online using them for fuel (go figure). The manufacturer does not rate them for fuel storage (liability most likely), so do your own research and make your own life decisions, but they are available in 6 gallon and 14 gallon versions. Not sure how viable the 14 gallon is to 'take down and use a spout to fill' as it would weigh over a 100 lbs.

The 6 gallon tank may be more manageable and you can apparently 'stack' them for 12 gallons total though.

Also realize they are quite a bit more than the OP feels they should be, but what isn't these days? Two 12's or one 14 is about the same price...

Two 12's and a 14 pictured below.

Pretty cool. We had this question when we had a Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ but the spare was located in a well, accessed from INSIDE and under the rear cargo floor. With larger wheels and tires, a similar sized spare would not fit. I just put tools and stuff in that well but these would have been cool to increase range or for more camp water.

Only problems are 1) as mentioned, it is only rated for water. This means the plastic compound isnt designed to stand up long term to the corrosive effects of the fuel. It would eat away at the compound, leaving particulate in your fuel and even leaking. and 2) imagine a rear end collision. Especially if the plastic was weakened due to the corrosive effect of the fuel. Likely the seams would leak before anything else. Yes, there is protection from a tow hitch installation IF you have one. I'm sure most people on this forum do, but it would be concerning to me for any debris on the road getting kicked up and gouging the unprotected tank, or if there was that rear ender.

That's why its only for water, I would think

 

[Christian P.]

Thanks - I also have an empty space there on my Ford Transit and was looking for an option.

 

[Christian P.]

Good write-up here: https://trailtacoma.com/3rd-gen/traild-spare-gas-tank-review-install-on-3rd-gen-tacoma/