best in-bed combo toolbox/aux fuel tank?
I'm pulling a 5'er with an 8' bed crewcab. I've been thinking a diamond plate aux tank/toolbox might be handy to have and not compromise towing and backing the coach. Lots of US made brands availab...
Forum Discussion
I towed for several years a 38' 5th wheel with an F350 with a 26,000# GCVWR.
I had a combo tank/box from American Tank in Frisco Texas put in. 60 gallons (IIRC) with a nice tool area. Worked fine until the truck was stolen.
For me, it was worth it whether or not the cost penciled out (IIRC, $1100 installed):
- Direct plumb to the manufacturer's tank and wired to the fuel guage with an aux switch
- With the factory tank, I had enough, even towing heavy for a 1200 mile run before needing fuel;...never came close to that
- With the aux tank, we could go to wherever we were going, drop the 5ver, drive the truck into town for dinner and fill up wherever the right combo of cost / convenience struck us
- The aux tank meant that I never ran out of fuel (or got so low that I was concerned) in the middle of San Antonio and had to drop the trailer in an HEB lot while I ran the truck across the street to fill up (don't ask me why this is a concern).....
- The aux tank meant I never had to stop somewhere and fill from the 8 five-gallon cans that were my previous backup. I've been filling cars, trucks, airplanes, and snowmachines from 5 gallon cans for 45 years and still can't do it without getting a drop or two of fuel on my hands or shoes
Bottom line, I'm not sure I could justify the cost nor the "need" (which can be avoided with careful planning) of an aux tank or combo tool box /tank....but the convenience factor trumped everything else for me.
I had a combo tank/box from American Tank in Frisco Texas put in. 60 gallons (IIRC) with a nice tool area. Worked fine until the truck was stolen.
For me, it was worth it whether or not the cost penciled out (IIRC, $1100 installed):
- Direct plumb to the manufacturer's tank and wired to the fuel guage with an aux switch
- With the factory tank, I had enough, even towing heavy for a 1200 mile run before needing fuel;...never came close to that
- With the aux tank, we could go to wherever we were going, drop the 5ver, drive the truck into town for dinner and fill up wherever the right combo of cost / convenience struck us
- The aux tank meant that I never ran out of fuel (or got so low that I was concerned) in the middle of San Antonio and had to drop the trailer in an HEB lot while I ran the truck across the street to fill up (don't ask me why this is a concern).....
- The aux tank meant I never had to stop somewhere and fill from the 8 five-gallon cans that were my previous backup. I've been filling cars, trucks, airplanes, and snowmachines from 5 gallon cans for 45 years and still can't do it without getting a drop or two of fuel on my hands or shoes
Bottom line, I'm not sure I could justify the cost nor the "need" (which can be avoided with careful planning) of an aux tank or combo tool box /tank....but the convenience factor trumped everything else for me.
