Increased Capacity Fuel Tank

Curious if anyone has replaced the factory gas tank with an aftermarket gas tank, how you like it, and if there were any issues for the install or after the install? Thank you!

 

Haven’t done it but I think this has to be one of the worst cost/benefit mods out there. Is there anywhere in the Western Hemisphere that you can’t get to with at most one five gallon jerry can? I believe cruiser outfitters has the tanks in addition to some of the land cruiser shops. Most prices I saw were around $1500 for the tank not counting installation.

I’m sure there are stretches in South America where this might be useful, or if you’re rock crawling for days on end. The cost just kept me away. But look on iOverlander to see just how many fuel stations there are even in the “wilderness”.

 

There is a group of folks who have tried it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lra-34-gallon-fuel-tank.530621/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/34-gallon-fuel-tank-long-range-automotive.492434/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/long-range-automotive-fuel-tank-34-gallon.490548/page-27

 

I think it’s also a weight issue. Our trucks aren’t made to carry a lot of extra bed weight. And after you add a tent, bumpers, skid plates and a winch. I only want to add a five gallon jerrycan of gas at that point.

 

I've owned many cars and trucks through the years and all but one had a tank that would allow me to travel more miles per fill up than my Tacoma. I travel across the Country a couple times a year and I don't really like having to stop every 275 miles to fill up (yes it can go 350 miles but not knowing where the next fill up is going to be this is how I do it. I certainly don't need a 34 gallon tank but do wish that Toyota would have put in a 26 gallon tank rather than the 21.

 

@Round the world

This guy ^^^ has upsized his tank. I bet he's got some tips.

 

+20 gallons for $107 and easy install

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-Jerry...l-Emergency-Backup-Army-Military/264712908007

 

i do have one of those... the metal is thin and not coated. Might be wise to invest in a better quality can. But It works and for the cheap price its not bad.

 

Yeah they're all cheap, even the plastic ones that get brittle as they age and crack

 

The extra weight is the main problem.... think 8lbs/gal.

 

You should be stopping every 250 miles anyway, for physical and alertness reasons.

G.

 

You want to get the Wavian or Valpro cans. They'll be stamped on the side in the center "Wavian" or "V" with a dot at the top of the V. Also, buy your spout at the same time you buy your can. There are differences between them and I've found brand compatibility issues with the non-CARB models. I don't buy CARB cans so I can't speak on those.

I was really tempted to on my 1st gen when all my travels were solo. Then my wife joined me and her bladder just couldn't handle the haul. Then on the 2nd gen I thought about doing it again but now there are kids as well. We're lucky if we can get in four hours of driving in a day on our road trips.

From my looking into it, on 1st gens it was pretty straightforward to add a bigger or aux tank but there weren't many options on the market. 2nd gens have more emissions stuff and I've read lots of issues with venting the tank, especially in the beginning. I think these have been largely resolved so it shouldn't be too much trouble to add something to a 3rd gen. There have also been coating issues causing problems, though I think these too have been taken care of. Of course, the fuel tank is heavier and we still haven't figured out how to make gasoline lighter, so watch your GVW if you've got a full tank. If I ever wind up doing this I'd probably do it as an aux tank in lieu of a spare tire. It's a bit more work and plumbing, but I think it gives more versatility.

I figured that as cool as it was it just wasn't worth the work and weight penalty to me, especially since I usually travel with a trailer. I have eight fuel cans that I can fill and take/leave as needed depending on where I'm going and what I expect to run into. And yes, you're rarely more than a half a tank from a gas station, but some of the loops that I've done would require a very long detour to make a fuel stop had I not had extra fuel. The loop I have planned for Hell's Canyon would have required a couple of hours of driving each way to make it to the only fuel station around. I'm on my trip to explore, not make gas station runs I used to not carry extra fuel til a close call in Death Valley. We spent a few days exploring and popped into Furnace Creek on fumes. Talking with the gas station guy we found out that they'd been out of fuel for a couple of days and had only just been refilled the day before. I've carried two full cans on my travels since.

 

Mounted to the front wall of the inside of the bed:
Two each of these for 10 more gallons of fuel.
https://wavianusa.com
https://wavianusa.com/collections/a...-duty-20-liter-jerry-can-holder-front-loading

Weight full would be right around 110 lbs
You lose very little cargo space.

I have a similar setup but with 3 gallon plastic Rotopax tanks.
Half a can of seafoam for fuel stabilization in each and it's good for at least a year if they're sealed gudentight.

In retrospect I wish I would have spent the extra few bucks on the Wavian's or similar in quality metal can.
Possibly the xmas gift to myself.

My current auxiliary fuel.


EDIT: for those with Rotopax that bulge out on the bottom (they all do over time) try storing in a sideways manner as I have and they tend not to do that.

 

Lots and lots of places in Canada where you must pack fuel. Not going intercity, but heading into the bush.

 

Water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon, fuel (and diesel) weigh 6.8.
Not that its a big deal though

EDIT: I had to double check just in case I had for some reason forgot.
So diesel is 7.1 lbs
Gasoline is just a hair over 6 lbs.

 

Its unfortunate how expense Rotopax are.

 

Extra fuel can be a necessity with people who modify their trucks and change their MPG or do some long trips where most people don’t go. In 2014 I went to Alaska for my second trip in a Jeep JKUR (22 gals) and pulling a small off road trailer, averaging 15-16 mpg carrying an extra 10 gals of fuel. On one leg of the trip, a station was not opened, by the time I got to the next station and with using the 10 gals, I was below a 1/4 tank. In my 1987 Toyota pickups I owned, I had an extra 11 gal tank up above the spare tire, that gravity fed the main tank, loved the setup.

That said, with my Jeep and my Lexus GX470 pulling my trailer, both did around 15mpg, I can carry in mounts a extra 20 gals, I don’t go on off road or trips up north with out a least 10 gals, planing the same with this Tacoma. In a couple of weeks, I will see what mpg I get pulling my trailer.

If you going to get fuel cans, spend the money and get good ones, the seems should not be outside the body of the can and the inside should be coated for longer life. https://wavianusa.com/products/steel-fuel-jerry-can

 

Plus the weights of the container.... it’s over for y’all!!

 

I can't tell if you're being serious but 110 extra pounds for 10 gallons of extra fuel is pretty negligible unless you are already towing or hauling a lot of weight.

It's the weight of that Aussie metal fab replacement tank that would add more weight than the fuel. The tank is 100lbs and the extra 15 lbs of fuel would be 91ish lbs for a grand total of just under 200lbs. Pretty much the equivalent of a relatively average-sized guy in the passenger seat. Not a big deal.

Do the math

 

Ugh, I know. And the quality is decent but not killer. I've had a leaker that wasn't a year old before. Those are the last Rotopax I will buy.


Yeah another EDIT: If you look at the color of my tanks in the pic I posted above you will see that they are a lighter color than the normal rotopax tank because I gave them two solid coats of red raptor liner for a little more durability. Where the handle secures the tank it is rubbing off, but the rest of the tank parts are holding up nicely.