Extending your range

[Sirsea]

Built a plywood box just the right size to hold two 5-gal diesel containers, sits in front of the hitch and never moves. We usually travel around 300 miles between CG, but sometimes it stretches to 350+, the extra fuel gets put in at a rest stop and we don't have to stop to refuel before reaching our destination. Not worried about it as you need an open flame for diesel to ignite.

[Twisty]

You have;
2013 Rockwood Mini-Lite
2013 GMC 2500 Sierra/Denali
DuraMax/Allison
and you are concerned about a $700 transfer tank...?
There is no way that I would wrestle 5 gallon Jerry cans, climb in and out of the bad, deal with the drips, spills, fumes, or other hassles of fuel transfer by hand.
Saw a guy at a rest stop - he takes the nozzle from his transfer tank - tops off his truck tank - puts the nozzle back in the holder.
Worth it?
Yeah.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by fast murray

Where's the problem with carrying fuel in the back of a pickup? How do people get gas home for the lawn mower?

I went to a gas station in one town I worked in and they wouldn't let you put gas into a gas can unless you had a pickup. Sucked if you needed gas for the mower and only had a car or suv.

[rattleNsmoke]

Last summer down to Fla and back I carried a 5 gal Jerry can in the truck bed....just in case. With a 29 gal tank in my shortbed I didn't wanna chance running out. I never did need it but it was cheap 'insurance'.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by B47

Lou - I just don't think it is a good practice to carry fuel/ propane containers in a pick up truck bed, but I can't cite any laws against it.

Have you ever checked your vehicle insurance policy for any clauses against doing so?

Nothing mentioned at all. Since you asked; does yours?

[Oakman]

When I read the first post of this thread I thought for sure the OP had a gasoline engine when he talked about maneuvering in small gas stations. Then in his next post he mentioned he has a diesel engine. My question is why deal with small gas stations when truck stops have plenty of space and maneuvering room around the diesel pumps. Since buying my 2010 Ford diesel I haven’t used the auto side of the pumps more than a couple of times.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Oakman

When I read the first post of this thread I thought for sure the OP had a gasoline engine when he talked about maneuvering in small gas stations. Then in his next post he mentioned he has a diesel engine. My question is why deal with small gas stations when truck stops have plenty of space and maneuvering room around the diesel pumps. Since buying my 2010 Ford diesel I haven’t used the auto side of the pumps more than a couple of times.

This works fine on the highways; not so much off the beaten path.
Being able to drop another 100 miles in the tank at the campground can get you back to that truck stop on the highway for your next fill.

[Campingnut]

The only time that I have heard of it being a bad idea, is if the truck has a plastic bed liner, because they slide around creating lots of static electricity. Having said that I carry fuel in gerry cans in the back of the truck (no plastic bed liner) all the time for years and have never had a problem. Nor have I heard of one.

[dwaynerz]

Not having to maneuver a 40' trailer through truck stops is an added bonus.

how small are these truck stops you are using? 40' plus tow vehicle, you are not much longer than the 53 foot trailers those drivers are dragging behind them.

my 08 duramax sb has a larger tank than 18 gallons. i believe it to be 25 gal.

[fast murray]

Note to self, when getting the next TV, make darn sure it doesn't have a little fuel tank. I cant believe a 2500 series truck would ever leave the factory with anything smaller than a 30 gallon tank!

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Interesting idea to carry portable diesel fuel can...I've had my eye on this type of container for awhile, it's listed as CARB & EPA approved...any ideas what that means for a diesel fuel can?

[dwaynerz]

i couldnt believe it either. transferflow sells a replacement tank to 52 gallons for sbcc trucks, but they are nearly a grand in price.

[dwaynerz]

new epa approved cans have a pita fuel filler dispenser nozzle that sucks to operate. and no, your old filler nozzle will not work on the new fuel containers. i tried. i think they changed the thread pitch to prevent it.

[klucas]

Originally Posted by arjerram

I have been researching auxiliary fuel tanks. But learned it was not gonna be a cheap idea; usually in excess of $700. But then one of the salesmen told me I could carry extra 5 gal cans! Bingo! The light came on! So, I'm going to buy four 5 gal fuel cans, secure them at the bulkhead of the pick up and maybe not have to be concerned about maneuvering in small gas stations. I'll just fill up from them when necessary, then top off after dropping the TT. This will definitely come in handy when we finally get our 5er!

I had a tank for years when I owned a travel trailer. It was great. I had a 60 gal and my truck had a 30 gal normal tank. I could easily go 700+ between fill ups. Not only is it easier when traveling but you also can have the option of where you purchase based on price. I installed the tank with a t fitting on the filler hose. I added a electric fuel pump with a switch at the dash. When I would get to about a half a tank I switch it in for a few minutes and do this as needed. It was the best addition I made to my truck. Here is a link to give you some options other that the trans flow tanks. They are very pricey.
http://www2.northerntool.com/fuel-tr...id-tanks-2.htm

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by fast murray

Note to self, when getting the next TV, make darn sure it doesn't have a little fuel tank. I cant believe a 2500 series truck would ever leave the factory with anything smaller than a 30 gallon tank!

To be fair, only the short bed has the 18 gallon tank. The long bed version has a 28 gallon tank. There is an aftermarket 28 gallon tank for the short bed; but it is pricey.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by herk7769

To be fair, only the short bed has the 18 gallon tank. The long bed version has a 28 gallon tank. There is an aftermarket 28 gallon tank for the short bed; but it is pricey.

Even my Libby has a bigger tank. What was GM thinking?

[dwaynerz]

herk, i think you will find your tank is 26 gallons and not 18.

[dwaynerz]

gm fuel tank capacity

Fuel tank capacity - Chevy and GMC Duramax Diesel Forum

[Heldapay]

Originally Posted by dwaynerz

i couldnt believe it either. transferflow sells a replacement tank to 52 gallons for sbcc trucks, but they are nearly a grand in price.

When we bought our 3500 Duramax a couple of months ago, DH considered removing the Transfer Flow tank that came in it to make room for a toolbox. We ultimately decided that the convenience of having the extra fuel on long trips outweighed the benefit of having tools that could be carried elsewhere. They are pricey but the model that we have automatically pumps diesel into our truck's tank so we never have to manually pump any fuel. Not sure if all models of the Transfer Flow have this but it's a great feature to have. I guess we were lucky that it was already in there!

[prairiecamper]

I bought the northern tool in bed aux tank. I have a shut off valve on the tank, short hose to the inlet of the pump, a filter at the outlet end of the pump, a 10 foot hose and nozzle. I love it, it provides me security when on the road and the fuel guage is nearing empty! I have a roll n lock tonneau cover and the tank fits nicely underneath and forward of the hitch. Still some room between the hitch and the tank, short box. The fuel tank is bolted to the truck bed. With the fuel in the truck and aux tank I can go about 700 +/_ miles (approx 70 gal). Now I want to install a solenoid valve on the tank outlet to be able to drain fuel directly into the truck tank without leaving the truck seat! The hose and nozzle will still be used to fuel my diesel tractor! It's all good.