Forum Discussion
dannydimitt
Dec 16, 2014Explorer
Having driven the Alcan back in 1970 "much different now" and sweating in anticipation that we would make it to the next gas pump after all the cans were empty and the last tank showing empty on the gauge, I opted to get and install a RDS Vertical Diesel Fuel Transfer/Auxiliary Tank — 90-Gallon, Model# 72118 from Amazon "from northern tool , but the shipping is about half of what it is ordering from northern tool direct ??? and an install kit to hook it directly into the fuel filler hose , and I added a valve inline to let me control when and where I wanted the fuel to gravity feed from the 90 gallon tank in the bed. This works wonderfully with no problems whatsoever and only takes a minimum amount of floorspace as it sits upright ahead of the wheel wells and is below eye level while seated in the cab. Ours is a short bed 4 door 3/4 ton Dodge and it fits like a glove. The Cummins coupled to the 5 spd gear box can easily travel over 1800 miles between fuel stops pulling the Airstream trailer , allowing us to pick and choose where to get fuel and not have to pay incredibly inflated prices in remote and resort places that are notoriously over priced . On our trip to Alaska and back in 2013 we filled the tanks in Bastrop Texas , then again in Cheyenne , Wyoming "Lowest price on the trip" . then topped off in Helena Mt. and again in White Fish before crossing into Canada. Drove to Grande Prairie Alberta "low price fuel" and filled up the tanks. Headed over to Dawson creek and up the Alaskan highway , with a side trip to Skagway , back to White Horse ,up to Dawson in the Klondike, top of the world to Chicken Ak , then to Tok , AK and took on enough fuel there to cruise into Fairbanks and fuel up there. Topped off in Eagle before doing a week or so out on to Homer and all sorts of nifty places then topped of again in Eagle , filled up in Tok , then down the Alkan to the Cassier , South to Hyder and Stewart , south through Smithers ,prince George , then took on enough fuel in Quisnel British Columbia to get into Washington State. Got enough there to get into Montana , Filled up then again in Greely Colordo . Got Home with over 800 miles left in the tanks . Will it ever pay back the 600 buck investment ??? But being able to travel for days without worrying over where to get fuel , the price , will it be open , Etc. And driving past the super high dollar places without slowing down , is priceless. The extra pounds of weight are not even noticed in the bed of the Dodge and does not detract from the mileage in any discernible way .
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