Auxiliary Gas Tank for Tow Vehicle

[usaclark]

Planning to purchase a new Ford F 350 with the diesel engine, crew cab and short bed. It only comes with a 26 gallon fuel tank. I would like to purchase an auxiliary fuel tank. Do any of you who have experience with these kinds of matters have any recommendations for me? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[calewjohnson]

JamesBr wrote:
with a ToyHauler I would be more cognative (or forced to move to a F450) about payload. But with my spring check I still had enough margine on the scales to run full and not go over RAWR.

Or go with an F350 with the 14k GVWR...nearly 6k CCC (a touch more than the F450) and cheaper than an F450 (especially when it comes to tire replacement). Though the F450 combined weight rating is higher, I did not see me approaching either the F350 or F450 maximums, so I stayed with the F350.


Cale

[JamesBr]

with a ToyHauler I would be more cognative (or forced to move to a F450) about payload. But with my spring check I still had enough margine on the scales to run full and not go over RAWR.

[wintersun]

I am stuck with the GM 36 gallon tank for my diesel truck as I don't want to mount an auxiliary tank in the bed for a number of reasons. That provides an effective range when towing or hauling a heavy load of roughly 320 miles. The majority of gas stations do not pump diesel so I have to travel further between fuel stops.

A significant part of my trip planning in the west is in locating places that sell diesel fuel ahead of time. I often stop to get diesel when I find it even with half a tank remaining as it is easier and less stressful than making it to the next town that is large enough to have a place to buy diesel. This is slowly changing as more diesel sedans are being sold by the manufacturers but it is still a problem.

[calewjohnson]

JamesBr wrote:
...I dont even have an issue refueling with the RV connected....

I do not have a problem pulling through connected, and will if the price is right, but when I am connected, I have the kids and dog with me, time is better enjoyed at a rest stop, playing catch or having a picnic.

I do hear you on the price too. I was questioned about carrying the extra weight to save on fuel cost...the nice thing for me, I get the same mpg towing with a full tank or empty tank...gotta love the 4.30 gear ratio.

Cale

[JamesBr]

I have the stock tank plus 45 gallons in the bed. It has nothing to do with not stopping, I still stop about every 3 hours to streach my legs, use the restroom and walk the dogs. I dont even have an issue refueling with the RV connected.

I bought the extra capacity to bypass the more expensive states/areas along my travels. I always look at fuel prices before I hit the road and within reason find the best places to stop. Currently I can fill for 3.209 a gallon locally with a discount card. I did just that before taking my 5er to the dealer for warentee work in West Chester, PA. And all through MD and PA diesel was 3.499 to 3.549 along the entire path I traveled. So just in that run along I was able to run without refilling and over time its saved me money.

Even doing it this way for my Annual vacation to central FL in the winter, I can save between 15-25c a gallon by planning my stops and save 50-60 bucks over that single trip.

[Bionic_Man]

ford truck guy wrote:
Quote - - Auxiliary fuel tanks mean you can stop when you want to stop, not when your fuel tank wants you to stop. It's something I'd get just to make life more pleasant.

This is the EXACT reason why I added my Titan...Truck stops are NOT always the best REST stops.... Fuel and go only....

X3. That is the biggest reason I got my aux tank.

[ford_truck_guy]

Quote - - Auxiliary fuel tanks mean you can stop when you want to stop, not when your fuel tank wants you to stop. It's something I'd get just to make life more pleasant.

This is the EXACT reason why I added my Titan...Truck stops are NOT always the best REST stops.... Fuel and go only....

[fj12ryder]

C-Bears wrote:

usaclark wrote:
Planning to purchase a new Ford F 350 with the diesel engine, crew cab and short bed. It only comes with a 26 gallon fuel tank. I would like to purchase an auxiliary fuel tank. Do any of you who have experience with these kinds of matters have any recommendations for me? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Don't know what kind of MPG you will be getting while towing, but I average 11mpg, which means I have to refuel about every 3 hours.

It is my belief that most drivers pulling heavy fivers need a break every 2 or 3 hours.

We have a below-the-bed tool box mounted in front of our hitch. I keep four 5-gallon plastic cans of diesel when traveling. There are times when the plastic cans stay empty and there are times when I have them all full. It just depends on what part of the country we are in, where some of the fuel stops are, and at times prices.

On a recent 7,000 miles trip out west I utilized the extra fuel twice.
Total cost of my add-on feature to carry extra fuel was about $30.00.

I guess my point here is make sure you really have the need to be running down the road hauling an extra 30 to 40 gallons of fuel before spending all that money for a modification. Remember you are also adding another 200 to possibly over 300 pounds to your TV that could slightly reduce your MPG.

Stopping every 2-3 hours sounds about right, maybe a bit less. But if you carry enough fuel for 3 hours, all your "rest" stops are in noisy, crowded, smelly fuel stops. Personally I'd rather stop in a pleasant rest area, or even just pull off the road at a park. Fuel stops just aren't good rest stops.

Auxiliary fuel tanks mean you can stop when you want to stop, not when your fuel tank wants you to stop. It's something I'd get just to make life more pleasant.

[calewjohnson]

C-Bears wrote:

usaclark wrote:
Planning to purchase a new Ford F 350 with the diesel engine, crew cab and short bed. It only comes with a 26 gallon fuel tank. I would like to purchase an auxiliary fuel tank. Do any of you who have experience with these kinds of matters have any recommendations for me? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Don't know what kind of MPG you will be getting while towing, but I average 11mpg, which means I have to refuel about every 3 hours.

It is my belief that most drivers pulling heavy fivers need a break every 2 or 3 hours.

We have a below-the-bed tool box mounted in front of our hitch. I keep four 5-gallon plastic cans of diesel when traveling. There are times when the plastic cans stay empty and there are times when I have them all full. It just depends on what part of the country we are in, where some of the fuel stops are, and at times prices.

On a recent 7,000 miles trip out west I utilized the extra fuel twice.
Total cost of my add-on feature to carry extra fuel was about $30.00.

I guess my point here is make sure you really have the need to be running down the road hauling an extra 30 to 40 gallons of fuel before spending all that money for a modification. Remember you are also adding another 200 to possibly over 300 pounds to your TV that could slightly reduce your MPG.

I carry a total of 140 gallons (between aux tank and stock tank). I still stop 2-3 hours while traveling, but I stop where I want to stop. Because of the extra fuel, I never pull through a fuel station with the TH attached, furthermore, I can go 2-3 days between fill-ups if I desire, though I usually fill up in the morning prior to departing. Gets the operating temps up and lets the wife have a little more time to herself in the mornings.

Cale

[C-Bears]

usaclark wrote:
Planning to purchase a new Ford F 350 with the diesel engine, crew cab and short bed. It only comes with a 26 gallon fuel tank. I would like to purchase an auxiliary fuel tank. Do any of you who have experience with these kinds of matters have any recommendations for me? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Don't know what kind of MPG you will be getting while towing, but I average 11mpg, which means I have to refuel about every 3 hours.

It is my belief that most drivers pulling heavy fivers need a break every 2 or 3 hours.

We have a below-the-bed tool box mounted in front of our hitch. I keep four 5-gallon plastic cans of diesel when traveling. There are times when the plastic cans stay empty and there are times when I have them all full. It just depends on what part of the country we are in, where some of the fuel stops are, and at times prices.

On a recent 7,000 miles trip out west I utilized the extra fuel twice.
Total cost of my add-on feature to carry extra fuel was about $30.00.

I guess my point here is make sure you really have the need to be running down the road hauling an extra 30 to 40 gallons of fuel before spending all that money for a modification. Remember you are also adding another 200 to possibly over 300 pounds to your TV that could slightly reduce your MPG.

[calewjohnson]

I have a buddy with an 2014 F250 short bed. He is getting the 50 gallon TransferFkow tank on Thursday (they are doing the install). I can snap some pics if anyone would like. He went with the 50 due to the fact it works with a cover and potential FW.

Cale

[camperfamily]

Only thing I can comment is that I've heard of the seals on the Titans allowing water to enter the tank if not installed correctly. Water in fuel is bad, and will potentially ruin your fuel system. I would personally use a good, qualified installer who stands behind his work.

For my truck I'd go with a in-bed aux tank, likely RDS as seen on northern tool's site. But then I have a long bed.

[retispcsi]

The aux tank was one of the best decisions I made. You pick the brand that will work for you.

[calewjohnson]

ford truck guy wrote:

calewjohnson wrote:

shum02 wrote:

usaclark wrote:
Planning to purchase a new Ford F 350 with the diesel engine, crew cab and short bed. It only comes with a 26 gallon fuel tank. I would like to purchase an auxiliary fuel tank. Do any of you who have experience with these kinds of matters have any recommendations for me? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Careful! I've heard that Ford is not too keen on aux tanks on the new trucks. check with your dealer!

Not true...I had my Transfer Flow installed in Chico, CA (by Transfer Flow). They are authorized by Ford to modify the fuel system for tank install. The Ford Dealer near me will install only Transfer Flow tanks, but Transfer Flow installed it cheaper, as they use the install time as R&D (to update manuals and such
I know they make tanks that will work with a short bed and FW hitch, I want to say it is there 50 gallon tank. As stated earlier, don't for get the weight addition. A full 98 gallons and tank for me is 895lbs....

Cale

My local dealer paid to have the local accessories dealer install my 51 gallon Titan before I took delivery.... It was part of my deal...

We briefly contemplated Titan or AeroTanks when we bought our truck, but I have a 40 gallon stock tank...for a little more, I got the aux tank...funny though, the 98 gallon was cheaper than the 50 gallon...

Cale