Interest in Bigger Gas Tank for '97+ XJ
- Thread starter DaJudge
- Start date
jomobco
Now Decanter
Hi guys, new to this forum. I wanted to chime in on a YJ. I'm using a 28 gallon Aero tank.
http://www.aerotanks.com/
It's 28 gallons for a YJ and I can drop in a stock bottle pump of my choice. It's worked out well for me.
John
http://www.aerotanks.com/
It's 28 gallons for a YJ and I can drop in a stock bottle pump of my choice. It's worked out well for me.
John
over2land
Observer
jomobco said:
How did you get it?
I live down the freeway from them. Tried to get a tank for my YJ when I moved here, they were significantly less than interested. Tried again to get one for my TJ, same story. The people there were so uninterested in Jeeps they came off as being rude and made it clear all I was doing was wasting their time.
5-10 years ago was another story however. My experiance is all in the last 3 years or so.
over2land
Observer
xj_mike said:
Well this is just a prototype. There will be at least one more iteration, possibly more before this tank is ready to go to market...
I've not hit my XJ skid on anything either, but for me, it isn't the rockcrawler my YJ or TJ is. I like it well enough, I just don't think the unibody is ready for that without extensive plating and reinforcement. Maybe even then... But I digress. There are definately XJ guys that beat the snot out their XJs on short runs who I could see wanting the clearance. Like I said before, Gen-Right isn't sure what the market will bear... I mean, are there enough XJ guys (and face it, we tend to like to save a buck, by and large) who will pony up for both tanks to make it worth the company developing both? I'm thinking not, but what do I know I'm just a Jeep guy, and don't work at that level.
4 extra gallons? How do you figure? Do you get 20 gallons into your tank now? I never put more than 18.5 or so in my XJ's stock tank... and that was to the brim of the filler hose, right under the gas cap. I'm already seeing a 6 gallon increase in daily usage.
The Gen-Right guys can calculate what additional I really got over stock, but the problem is, the depth of the fuel pump, the vent and other factors come into what you actually see day to day. For example, the tank for my YJ they estimate to be stock size (they actually fill them with water and count gallons...) but I've lost 3-4 gallons per fill up. and that is coasting the Jeep in on fumes occasionally. I think its cause my pump doesn't get to the bottom of the tank... but I'm not in a huge hurry to drop the tank and try to figure it out.
Just saying... to me, my 6 gallon gain in daily usage is huge. I agree, I'd like more. My XJ is now my vehicle of choice for desert runs or longer distance road trips. In my YJ I get 150 mile range, in the TJ, 220 or so... I'm always worrying where the next gas stop might be with those Jeeps, I'm usually the guy who needs gas first. With the XJ... not so much. Typically now, other people in the group are going to need gas before me, aside from Dave with his 80 gallon capacity or whatever it is... lol... I'm doing pretty good.
BTW, to the OP... sorry for the quasi-hijack. Just since I spoke up in this thread initially I figured I'd keep this discussion here.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
As for the 4 gallon remark, I was using the specs (IIRC) that Jeep put out that the stock tank is 21 gallons. You say the new one you have is 25 so I did the math. It most likely is true that an empty tank may be 21 gallons but the pump never would pick up the last of it so 18-19 might be the realistic amount you could actually use. Until you actually drive and run out of fuel, then fill up, everything is an assumption. Angles of the road you're on will also affect total useage but we are splitting hairs.
For me, only adding roughly a gas can worth of gas relating to the cost of the tank is just not worth the cost. I know price has not been figured out but I have yet to see one that was not some universal tank that was under $700. $700 for approx 5 gallons = way too expsensive. Now if I can get close to 10 gallons for that cost, the benefits start to become better.
As for my mileage, I can drive from San Diego to our friends in Vegas (337 miles) on one tank. When I just towed my Kamparoo I made it to Primm (Stateline 276 miles) on one tank with the light coming on about 10 miles out from there. Towing the trailer across the Mojave Road (100 miles) it was showing just under a half tank put in my two cans (10 gallons) and was just under the full mark. It would be nice to not carry the extra weight on the trailer so a larger tank would be nicer but cost always comes into play.
Personally I think the market is for more capacity not clearance because for the cost, no additional fuel makes no sense. Those who would really want the clearance can buy a fuel cell for much less money and put it inside (or cut an opening in the floor, etc.).
For me, only adding roughly a gas can worth of gas relating to the cost of the tank is just not worth the cost. I know price has not been figured out but I have yet to see one that was not some universal tank that was under $700. $700 for approx 5 gallons = way too expsensive. Now if I can get close to 10 gallons for that cost, the benefits start to become better.
As for my mileage, I can drive from San Diego to our friends in Vegas (337 miles) on one tank. When I just towed my Kamparoo I made it to Primm (Stateline 276 miles) on one tank with the light coming on about 10 miles out from there. Towing the trailer across the Mojave Road (100 miles) it was showing just under a half tank put in my two cans (10 gallons) and was just under the full mark. It would be nice to not carry the extra weight on the trailer so a larger tank would be nicer but cost always comes into play.
Personally I think the market is for more capacity not clearance because for the cost, no additional fuel makes no sense. Those who would really want the clearance can buy a fuel cell for much less money and put it inside (or cut an opening in the floor, etc.).
over2land
Observer
xj_mike said:
How many miles on your XJ? Manual or auto trans? Mine has 208K on the original motor and AW4 auto trans. I've got 30 inch Goodyear MT/Rs and I would never have gotten 337 out of a tank stock (3.55 gears). I think my 88 MJ got better mileage with the same tires, manual trans (3.07 gears), and 80K less miles. I guess speed factors in too. I lose about 3 miles per gallon by going from 65 to 75 mph. That trip to vegas I'm usually 8mph over the limit, and still getting passed. So, 72-73 to 82-83mph depending on which stretch of road... that takes its toll, I'm sure.
Ya know, I would think more XJ guys would go to fuel cells too. But, I've not seen many XJs with fuel cells, unless they were cut up and tubed out. Most of them with full bodies are still running the stock tanks. I always just figured it was cause they didn't want the fuel inside the station wagon... smell, mess, etc etc.
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
I think the addition of more tank forward to get a couple more gallons out of it would be ideal for the price.
It's hard for anyone to drop the amount of coin it costs for a tank if they only get a few more gallons out of it. Like Mike said, most people will just carry a couple gas cans and call it a day.
They treated me the same way when i asked them to do a custom aux tank for my landcruiser. They acted like i was wasting their time too. I went elsewhere. Almost like they're too big for their britches.
It's hard for anyone to drop the amount of coin it costs for a tank if they only get a few more gallons out of it. Like Mike said, most people will just carry a couple gas cans and call it a day.
over2land said:
They treated me the same way when i asked them to do a custom aux tank for my landcruiser. They acted like i was wasting their time too. I went elsewhere. Almost like they're too big for their britches.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
over2land said:
I have 95,000, it's an AW4 auto, on 31" tires, geared with 4.10's. Speed is a major factor. It really eats away at mileage on an XJ, more so then most other vehicles I have owned. I am actually getting the same highway mileage as I did bone stock and 1-2mpg less city driving. I did gears when I did my lift so I never drove with 31's on the 3.55 gears. Without towing I get 21mpg highway but again, try not to cruise past 70mph. I even got 20 coming from San Diego to Borrego Springs and that's mountain driving.
On my Mojave trip, we got 16.4 going to Primm and 17.6 coming back. That was towing and using 3rd gear on most of the hills. I set the cruise control at 65mph (which is 10 over the limit for towing) with the occational 70-75 to pass truck without holding up the fast lane.
Heck, my old SC Xterra didn't get that good when not towing. I love this XJ.
IXNAYXJ
Adventurer
It was unrelated to your tank, but Robert was teling me about them. I was down there with the CRAWL magazine guys (I write for them, too) and the red YJ that was at the Gen-Right booth Saturday.over2land said:
I don't really care about the clearance (within reason) as long as it's sufficiently armored. I'd love a few extra gallons because with my 35's and 4.88s I rarely see more than 250 miles out of a tank, and that's highway mileage. On the trails it's tough to get more than 150 miles per tank.
In any event, I'd be very interested in an upgraded tank of some kind.
-----Matt-----
jomobco
Now Decanter
over2land said:
I agree. They act like they have too much business but their price is right and at the time there wasn't another option for that sized tank. It's a simple bolt in and I've banged the snot out of it. Since I'm running a 5.7 vortec I can drop the correct pump in without issue so that makes life easy for me.
XJxplorer
Adventurer
ExpoMike
Well-known member
XJxplorer said:
Actually I did inquire about this unit and had gotten a reply back as follows,
"Hi Mike
Thanks for your email
Yes the tank is 130Litres and that is a usable litreage
The tank is a replacement of your original and it will normally
get the graeter capacity from removing spare tyre if it does not it will get it from
filling all spare area .The line from the bottom of diff to bumper is the shape
of the tank and will not affect departure angle. This tank is $891.00 Ex Tax.
If You have any more question please email "
Still have to ship it over so it's not going to be a cheape rmethod if we can get something local to the US.
DaJudge
Explorer
KINGSIZE said:
If they give us 5 more gallons and 2 inches more clearance. I would rather have the factory clearance and 10 more gallons.
For expedition type travel range is more important then more clearance. I have never landed my tank on anything.
Retaining departure angle would be important though!
Glen
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