Auxiliary fuel tank for gasoline

[Mr. 68 Hundred]

Anyone know of a gasoline fuel/transfer tank that could be added to a 2015/16 Ram 2500 Mega? Something that mounts under the bed rather than in the bed? Relocating the spare is no problem.

We have not purchased the truck yet and are hoping to find a way to ~double the gasoline capacity. If we could get more fuel capacity (without resorting to a bed mounted tank or gerry cans), we could avoid getting the Cummins. It appears there are a few options for auxiliary diesel tanks but not gasoline. Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.

 

[pappawheely]

I just did a lot of research on this. Because of government regulations, there are many diesel options but none for gas if you are looking to purchase something.

 

[HenryJ]

Some ideas:
Expeditions West Tacoma
S-10 Aux Tanks
BLT Offroad Avalanche

The tank in my Avalanche gives me a comfortable range of 500 miles between fill ups.

One of the best mods

 

[Mr. 68 Hundred]

Pappawheely, I was wondering that was the reason.

HenryJ, Thank you for the links.

 

[HenryJ]

Some of the resistance is due to the emissions system. In my last two the emission systems are tied together. My research showed that the stock system would handle up to a 100 gallon system. No real difference in longevity as the exposure to fuel vapors in dependent upon time exposed. That can vary depending upon personal driving habits and over filling.
The other would be crash zones. On some vehicles the spare tire mounted firmly in its storage location is part of the vehicles integrity. The Corvette is one example. I have no idea if that might be the case in other vehicles.
For the "Part Deux S-10" install, Scott Brady's Tacoma and my Avalanche the rear bumper and tow hitch serve as a barrier to the rear mounted fuel tank. Those fuel tanks were mounted in a very similar position on the donor vehicles. I am confident that the risk is much less that a Pinto

 

[Martinjmpr]

I was looking through some old magazines from the 70's and noticed how common aux fuel tanks were. My guess is that between emissions requirements and liability concerns, most manufacturers don't figure it's worth the expense, sad to say.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Lots of discussion of this on the Power Wagon Forum. No good solutions. Titan Tanks makes an aux tank for Ram diesels, but won't even answer questions about fitting to a gasser.

 

[dnellans]

Are you stuck on the a Ram? I've got a reasonably new F-150 (ecoboost) that comes with a 36 gallon tank and i've seen some options for aux 20 gallon tanks in the past. i can count on 400 miles range as a certainty regardless of towing/slow driving. ~550 is typical, 600+ on the highway is no problem. while i'm not really in the market to need more than that, another 20 gallons would add over 50% increase in range

 

[BPD53]

ATI tank built me a custom fuel cell for my Chevy Colorado. I mounted mine in the bed, but they can build just about anything (as long as you have money). They have a DOT certification for gasoline tanks. I plumbed mine into the factory fuel filler neck and ran a dirt cheap electric fuel pump. I've had it for 30,000+ miles with no issues. I can fuel up while traveling down the road. I have a 600+ mile range now.

 

[pappawheely]

I had a long conversation with a manufacturer who told me it's only because of a mish-mash of regulations that make it too risky for them to put anything on the market. I don't recall the exact numbers but the regulations cover tanks from 3-13 gallons, then it jumps from 13 to 18 or so, it's crazy. Anything gravity fed is also a no go. The regulations are aimed at sellers/manufacturers so I designed my own system using marine components. There are plenty of factory tanks you could use as long as they fit. A popular upgrade on OBS fords is to swap the 37 gallon single rear tank in place of the dual tank systems rear 18 gallon.


https://www.transferflow.com/regulations

 

[1stDeuce]

I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that any of the aftermarket oversize fuel tanks would work with gas, as well as diesel. You just put your gasser pump unit in and go. I never thought to see if they were sold for gas trucks or not though... ??

All of the HD truck evap systems I've looked at said they're good for 100 gallons... Not sure why that is, but it's not a bad thing...

Given that everyone is putting more and more fuel capacity in, I would have assumed your new Dodge would have a freakishly large tank... Sometimes that requires the longbed, but as I'm fond of saying, when you need a big truck, you need a BIG truck.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

My Dodge shortbed has a 34 gallon factory tank. More would be better, but not at the expense of bed space. If one is willing to trickle in gas after the pump shuts off, it will take about 37 gallons, but that fills up the expansion chamber. Only prudent if you fill up at the base of the onramp and then hit the road.

 

[glock7018]

What about something like this? Would only take up 9" of bed depth. Sure you would would have to pull over to fill up the main tank, but it may be a good time to pull over and stretch your legs. I know my bladder cannot last more 300 miles.

http://www.jmesales.com/product/dot...sfer-tank-with-gpi-150sem-pump,11277,7660.htm

 

[rayra]

I was looking through some old magazines from the 70's and noticed how common aux fuel tanks were. My guess is that between emissions requirements and liability concerns, most manufacturers don't figure it's worth the expense, sad to say.

I'd say no small part of the issue was the false reporting done by Dateline NBC re the twin tanks in the mid-80s GM pickups. They're outside the frame, nothing but body sheetmetal between them and the cruel, cruel world. They had to rig the things with igniters to get the fireballs they wanted for the "news story". Turned into a big class action suit. Got a rebate / discount coupon in the mail out of that, unsolicited by me, since I own such a vehicle. Those were twin 16gal tanks with a dash switch activating a solenoid valve to change which tank my manual fuel pump drew from. And I would say that all the newer computerized emission and other controls complicates it all too.

Just seems at this point that the choices are direct replacement with a larger tank, or a transfer tank that isn't tied into all the sensors / controls.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I'd say no small part of the issue was the false reporting done by Dateline NBC re the twin tanks in the mid-80s GM pickups.

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Yes, I'll bet that's a big part of it. I think there are other factors as well: Lack of demand is one other factor. Many of the Jeeps, LC's and similar vehicles in the 60's - 70's had woefully inadequate gas tanks especially considering that these vehicles were lucky to get 12 mpg on a good day. With the better MPG that vehicles get nowadays, people don't need to carry as much fuel to go the same distance.
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Urbanization/development is another factor, I'm guessing. That is, there are not as many "No Gas Next 100 miles" stretches of highway as there used to be, and the 24-hour gas station and pay-at-the-pump with your CC means that you don't have the anxiety of making it the only gas station for a hundred miles and finding it closed. Even in places like Death Valley or the Mojave Preserve, you're never really more than 40-50 miles from an open gas station.
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All of these factors combined together mean that the market for auxiliary fuel tanks for ordinary 4 wheelers or campers has dwindled to almost nothing. Most of us can get by on our factory tanks and, at most, maybe a jerry can or two.