AUXILiARY FUEL TANK

[woodworker414]

Good afternoon from chilly central FL.
I know I have asked this question before. I have entered the words in the search box, but no results.
Those of you that have added a AUXILiARY FUEL TANK.
Which one did you purchase?
Did you do the install yourself?
I am giving serious thought of putting one on the tuck this spring.
Your thoughts both pro and con.

[woodworker414]

Thank you Wood Chip

[Wood_chip]

TimnJo wrote:
There's a 'roll-over' valve where it feeds into the fill tube that prevents leaking.
I did have some dripping once, I think because of bouncing down the road. Because of that, and for convenience, I have bought a solenoid actuated valve that I can operate from the cab. I'll be able to shut the flow down when near full.
One thing that I have had happen is the fuel guage drops to zero sometimes when moving and filling, I guess because the computer can't figure out why fuel is being consumed but the level isn't changing and rather than show a false positive it drops to empty.
The next cycle of the key resets it and all is OK.

I have the same issue with the fuel gauge reading empty after about 2-3 hours of driving. Cycle the ignition and back to normal.

[woodworker414]

Thanks TimnJo for the reply. Glad to have the info about the gauge.

[TimnJo]

There's a 'roll-over' valve where it feeds into the fill tube that prevents leaking.
I did have some dripping once, I think because of bouncing down the road. Because of that, and for convenience, I have bought a solenoid actuated valve that I can operate from the cab. I'll be able to shut the flow down when near full.
One thing that I have had happen is the fuel guage drops to zero sometimes when moving and filling, I guess because the computer can't figure out why fuel is being consumed but the level isn't changing and rather than show a false positive it drops to empty.
The next cycle of the key resets it and all is OK.

[woodworker414]

Good morning everyone. I started this thread to getthoughts and opinions on AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS. Well it worked.
Now a question for those of you who have a Chevy Silverado 3500HD.
Have you had any kind of leakage problems.
In thinking about this install. Since the AUXILIARY TANK will sit in the bed of the truck. And liquid seeks its own level. Will fuel fill up the factory fuel fill tube to the factory tank and leak out around the fuel tank cap? Is there a vent tube off the factory tank that fuel could leak out of? I cannot see well anymore and I have not asked anyone to crawl under the truck to see if there is a vent tube.Does the diesel install kit for the fuel line hook up have a built in back flow prevention device built into it? I am going to use the RDS
63 gal. wedge shape tank.Or am I over thinking this.Having 63 extra gals. will give me 99 gals. Now I will be able to get fuel when I want. Probably after unhooking the 5ver. And no I won't be over loaded. I have been on a CAT scale several times as I have set up this new to us rig and truck combo.And we love it.
I forgot to mention, this will be a gravity feed install.
Have a blessed day.

[fj12ryder]

packnrat wrote:
has anybody ever been pulled over for a fuel tank check?
as a add on check for a different stop?
do most officers out there even know about how to check one?

i say it is nothing to lose any sleep over, and as long as everything is "clean" no officer will bother.

As I stated, those regulations are for commercial vehicles. So there really would be nothing to check on a non-commercial vehicle.

[packnrat]

has anybody ever been pulled over for a fuel tank check?
as a add on check for a different stop?
do most officers out there even know about how to check one?

i say it is nothing to lose any sleep over, and as long as everything is "clean" no officer will bother.

[Bionic_Man]

There is nothing illegal about gravity fed diesel fuel from an auxiliary tank.

[fj12ryder]

The cited regulations are for commercial applications: "The rules in this section apply to tanks containing or supplying fuel for the operation of commercial motor vehicles or for the operation of auxiliary equipment installed on, or used in connection with commercial motor vehicles."

Note, it does specify "commercial motor vehicles".

[TimnJo]

The actual wording of the quoted regulation is:

"(d) Gravity or syphon feed prohibited. A fuel system must not supply fuel by gravity or syphon feed directly to the carburetor or injector."

So, my system, with gravity feed through a solenoid controlled valve and a roll-over valve to the fuel filler neck is NOT illegal.

Here's a link to the actual document, not a partial quote from a third party:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&=PART&n=pt49.5.393#sp49.5.393.e

And, while I'm at it, regarding another quote from the ATTA website, environmental "whackos" are what saved us from disasters such as the Love canal, unbreathable air in our cities, DDT being sprayed indiscriminately around the entire world and other threats to life perpetrated by corporate greed and irresponsibility.

[neil57]

Thanks for fixing link garyp4951

[garyp4951]

https://www.attatank.com/what-is-legal/

[neil57]

To ad a footnote that may effect only some , having a transfer tank is legal but plumbing it to gravity flow is not. May never be an issue, just a FYI. https://www.attatank.com/what-is-legal/

[woodworker414]

Good morning everyone.
Well this certainly has been an entertaining thread. Really appreciate all the replies.
I have to go out of town for a few days. The rig stays at home on this trip. When I get back I will order the RDS 63 gal. tank. It will be installed before we leave for any trip.
Have a great day.

[frizfreleng]

bshgto1 wrote:

TimnJo wrote:
We are planning (another) trip to western Canada this summer, taking Hwy 11. Having the peace of mind, knowing I don't HAVE to stop for fuel, is well worth the cost of the tank and it's installation. There are many stretches with no services of any kind. Last time (2012) we went through I was stopping almost every hour, on average, - every time I saw a fueling station I thought I could get in, and out, of. The stress of that is enormous, not to mention I was paying 20% to 30% more for fuel at those tiny stops.

Boy I hope the pissing match is over for now but TimnJO is right. I never like the truck stops and the guys glaring at my wife when she went in side and filthy pumps and the fact that you had to leave your card at the desk or try and estimate how much your going to use. The Rest Stops are far more accommodating for both parties and much cleaner. The use of a can is ridiculous, in 30 miles you are paranoid if your going to find a pump in the range you have left AGAIN.
The hole idea of the aux. tank is to give you le-way in your travels. I paid for the tank and parts in savings from the truck stops by using the Gas Buddy App and timing when near empty at a far cheaper gas station which always worked out to be at the night stops. Best to date was a 37.00 dollar savings on a 80 gallon fill up. Yeh I know some don`t care but more of us do. Besides you can sell it on Craigslist in a matter of hours when you done with it. So what cost? Just to easy.

I would imagine you would like it a lot less if "the guys" were glaring at you! Anyhow, maybe your wife is not wearing appropriate "truck stop" attire? Sorry fellow sojourner, could not resist your bait. Do agree with you though, the extra fuel adds a measure of independence which is always good. Always like it when I can say "no thank you" and move on down the road.