Original tank update and other misc. ramblings
Hey Gents, I have been following this thread with great interest. Not only did I build the first tank (or, more correctly, deployed Shane on the project) I live in Bend and have had numerous projects, big and small, done by Shane and his crew.
To start, I want to express how impressed I am with your approach to the issues you have encountered, Scot. Clearly you were dealing with a major bummer (with associated major bummer costs) and your rational and thoughtful approach and willingness to share what you have learned are in the best traditions of this portal. Well done and thank you.
There is a ton of great information and points of view that have been expressed. I guess the one that most reflects how I feel about this process is that everyone who bought one of these tanks was part of an ongoing R&D process. I may have built the first one, but anyone who has done a modification this significant and this unproven knows (or should know) that it will be a learning experience. I feel for Scot as he learned, the hard way, about what appears to be a rust issue (will be interesting to hear the verdict on the fuel pump once Shane does the mechanical autopsy). Pictures don’t lie and clearly there was rust. There have been a number of hiccups, although none this significant, which through trial and error have been addressed. You nailed it again, Scot: this is a process of innovation. I have confidence that Shane is going to address this issue. In my conversations with him he is already exploring possibilities for a fix. I intend to do a pre-emptive fix as soon as he has this figured out (for what it is worth, early during the build of my tank, it was pointed out by one Portal member that an internal coating might eventually be required to prevent rust---guess we shoulda’ listened).
I have also been interested, and at times amused, by the discussion of potential liability. It is hard to know whether any of the experts in this discussion are lawyers, but I am. Simply having a custom tank that is not certified does not, itself, create liability if there is a problem. At the same time, you probably could NOT put this tank into mass production and sell it, particularly in Calif. without getting the necessary certifications and licenses. Producing a one-off, for off road only tank is another thing altogether, however. The question for all of us that purchased tanks is whether we used reasonable care in the tanks construction, maintenance and use. I have checked off the construction box. Ditto use. And I am now going to address the rust issue. I feel that I have used all available information to make this tank as safe as a gasoline carrying metal box can be. And frankly, this seems a lot safer than having 5 or 10 gallons hanging off on back of my rig in harms way and vulnerable in any sort of rear end collision. Anyway, I appreciate the concern and warnings, but legally I think they are overstated.
As an aside, my insurance company knows about the tank and insures my car—and the tank. In fact, I had a recent run-in with a deer (on coming car going 50mph launched it through my front windshield when I was going 50 for a net 100mph collision. Biggest remaining part of deer was football size. Pieces traveled through the windshield, through the rear seat, through the body of the truck, through the cap roof and into the bed. Bones were stuck in most surfaces of the interior. Piece of something hit me in the face which is a another story altogether). The insurance company wanted to total the truck, but when they saw the cost of replacing all I had put on it, including the tank, they repaired it—better than new. No issues whatsoever with the tank. Moreover they added it to the list of now-insured aftermarket parts (front/ rear bumpers, suspension, winch, bed cap, etc) and my insurance, post accident, increased $25 per year.
Finally, I have not had any problems with the tank, aka Super-Tanker. Early on there were some warning light issues that Shane addressed and fixed. I was recently in Shane’s shop getting 4:54 gears put in and he did an inspection of the tank. After thousands of hard off road miles, no issues. No movement of the tank, nothing loose, no chafing, no problems at all. We did not inspect the inside for rust---waiting to see what Scot’s fuel pump shows, but that is probably next.
The tank has been one of the best modifications I have added. If your truck is a daily driver, don’t bother. But if you do serious off road travel increased range is a big deal, at least to me. In the end the process of whether to modify our rigs, and to what extent, is a personal choice. As someone noted, they all involve risk. Personally I haven’t found a risk-free way to travel off road, but again, like mods, we all make personal choices about risk. I would do this mod again in a heartbeat.
Finally, and many have also pointed this out, none of us could do any better than to have a project like this done by Shane. He is a pro. He is a perfectionist. And he stands behind his work. There are a ton of reasons not to add a tank like this. If, like me, you think the benefits outweigh the risks, see Shane.
