How big is your fuel tank?

[Desert_Captain]

The auxiliary fuel tank thread in the tow vehicle Forum got me to wondering what most folks have in their Class C's. When we bought our used 2012 Nexus Phantom 23P the dealer said we had 40 gallons which is pretty much the standard tank size on an E350 Ford chassis. I thought that would be fine anticipating 9 to 10 mpg. The gauge and my first couple of trips to the pumps left me more than a little confused, especially when it showed one quarter of tank but took 41 gallons. :S

A little research on the Ford website disclosed that the 55 gallon tank was an option on the 2011 Chassis and happily the original owners went for it. Cruising at 55 to 60 we consistently see 10 mpg both on the Scan Gauge and at the pumps. Sure is nice to know we can go 500 miles and still have a little left. When gas is ridiculously high, vs just plain high, I'll either put 10 gallons in or just keep going. It's nice to have options and we have saved serious dollars with the Gas Buddy App (you do have the Gas Buddy App, right?) and our large tank.

I am curious what the E450's, and others, come with and how that translates into range with the larger heavier rigs (many of which have Toads). :h Also what is your comfort level as to when to take on more fuel? I try to never get below one quarter of a tank as the generator won't run on less than that but if out on the interstate where I know fuel is available and the cost (Gas Buddy again), I'll take it lower.

Folks are frequently seeking advice on what to look for when shopping for a C and this issue rarely is mentioned. For what it's worth, and based on our very positive experience I would put fuel tank size up near the top of the list especially if long trips are contemplated and X2 if you will be pulling a Toad. :C

[rvten]

07 E460 55 gal tank.
My gas Guage is pretty accurate.

[bumpus4]

74

[ericsmith32]

Checked and ours is 55. I wouldn't recommend filling up past the click. You could back gas up into vapor canister and kill a few emissions components.

[RvBill3]

pnichols wrote:
For all of you guys out there that think they have a 55 gallon tank on your E350 or E450 ... make sure you are using it!

My E450 will take at least 5 gallons more after just about every gas station fuel pump shutoff mechanism I've ever tried to use for a fill-up normally shuts off. I trickle-fill this last 5 gallons into our E450's tank every time I gas up our Class C unless it's too inconvenient for the wait for folks we may be traveling with, or too long of a wait for the DW at times .... as it takes about 10 additional minutes to hold the pump fuel nozzle just slightly open enough delicately with your fingers so as to "fool the pump shut-off sensing mechanism" so it does not quite shut off when it normally would.

Getting ~5 more gallins into the Ford tank of course gives about 50 more miles of travel between fill-ups regardless of what miles-traveled point you gas up at, and/or provides more fuel margin for running of the built-in generator when dry camping.

I wonder if the Chevy 3500/4500 57 gallon cutaway chassis tank acts this way too??

Chevy 4500 with 57 gallon tank. Yes, it is as you describe--a bit of a challenge getting the last few gallons in. I reduce flow and also pull nozzle out of fill tube a little (keep my hand on it so it doesn't throw itself out when it shuts off).

[Desert_Captain]

The first couple of fill ups with my E350 drove me nuts as the pump kept shutting off after a gallon or so as the fuel backed up the fill pipe. Took nearly 20 minutes to get a full tank, nice to know it's not just me and my rig. Since then I have learned to tilt the nozzle at the precise angle that will allow it to suck down 8 to 10 gallons of steadily fed fuel before burping out a shutoff. It does take a while but by being patient and using this method I can get it full and pin the gauge completely to the right.

The more aggressive fuel vapor recovery pumps found in California are much easier to use in this regard but the prices sure are hard to swallow. :E

[nightshift]

My 24' Bigfoot diesel has a 55 gal tank and I average 15 mpg. I went 650 miles on a tank but didn't mean to. I was running really low that night and I finally found an open station at 1 am!

[pnichols]

lane hog wrote:
Phil, the trick I've used for the total tank fill on my Ford is to park nose downhill if possible,

Hmmm ... my Class C normally sits with a bit of a forward rake anyway, which is especially evident on level gas station pads ... and I can still cram ~5 gallons more in after normal shut-off. (I have an overkill E450 chassis under only a 11,800 lb. Class C, so it's rear leaf springs hold it's rear end just a tad higher than the front coils hold it's front end!)

[ron_dittmer]

pnichols wrote:
My E450 will take at least 5 gallons more after just about every gas station fuel pump shutoff mechanism I've ever tried to use for a fill-up normally shuts off. I trickle-fill this last 5 gallons into our E450's tank every time I gas up...

The same story here with our 2007 E350 with 55 gallon tank.

[lane_hog]

Phil, the trick I've used for the total tank fill on my Ford is to park nose downhill if possible, even if it means throwing down a board or two. But that's only when I need it, e.g. crossing from AZ into CA... The fill tube then has some slope to it and actually fills.....

[pnichols]

For all of you guys out there that think they have a 55 gallon tank on your E350 or E450 ... make sure you are using it!

My E450 will take at least 5 gallons more after just about every gas station fuel pump shutoff mechanism I've ever tried to use for a fill-up normally shuts off. I trickle-fill this last 5 gallons into our E450's tank every time I gas up our Class C unless it's too inconvenient for the wait for folks we may be traveling with, or too long of a wait for the DW at times .... as it takes about 10 additional minutes to hold the pump fuel nozzle just slightly open enough delicately with your fingers so as to "fool the pump shut-off sensing mechanism" so it does not quite shut off when it normally would.

Getting ~5 more gallins into the Ford tank of course gives about 50 more miles of travel between fill-ups regardless of what miles-traveled point you gas up at, and/or provides more fuel margin for running of the built-in generator when dry camping.

I wonder if the Chevy 3500/4500 57 gallon cutaway chassis tank acts this way too??

[darealmccoy]

My chevy 4500 has a 55 gal tank.

[IAMICHABOD]

The Tioga on a Chevy chassis that I have has a 57 gal. tank.

It I nice to make 250 to 300 mile runs and have a lot of wiggle room if gas is expensive or scarce.

[lane_hog]

55 gals on my Minnie 31C, and I swear the fill tube holds another 2 gals... 😉

I usually fill up after 250 miles so that I'm not running below the generator fill tube, but have pushed it further when fuel prices were obscene and I knew there was something cheaper 60-100 miles up the road...

[moose888]

Dynamax 350 Grand Sport Two 50 gallon tanks about 950 to 1000 mile range depending on driving.

[Bobbo]

55 gallons