Piecing Together An Aux Fuel Tank Setup

@colinb17 did you drop the tank down to get the fill hose off?

 

Well... I didn't get anywhere near as much done as I would've liked to. Got sidetracked with house, kids, and dog stuff.

First hiccup was that I couldn't mount the tank completely under the toolbox without running the fuel hose through the toolbox. I may end up doing this at at some point with a flush remote fill in the side of the box.

For today though, I wasn't going to let not having remote fill parts on hand stop the project. I can do everything and move the tank later easily with some hose and four new 5/16" holes.

Here it is. Tank, filter, fuel pump, and 12v valve mounted.



I put the tank in the middle because I don't want all that extra weight on the drivers side. As it is now, I can stand on the rear tire (easily with the cut fenders and 315's) to fill the aux tank. I didn't put it on the passenger side because I wouldn't be able to reach the fill from the drivers side.

I actually don't really care about bed space. I might just leave the tank as is.

Tomorrow I'll start by getting the fill hose off the filler neck and tank and figure out what I need for the T. Then, start wiring everything.

Why I don't care about bed space

 

Its alive That fuel line going out, can you put a 90* fitting on it to allow it to slide under?

 

Yes. Didn't disconnect everything and bring it to the ground, but I did have to take off the straps and lower it about a foot on a floor jack to get to what I needed.

 

I can, but it's the fill that's the problem. Right now the tank is only about 3/16" away from the front of the bed.

 

That's what I though. That's why I left it for the AM. Thank you

 

Shoot me a PM if you have any questions tomorrow. I'll be in the garage most of the day and should be pretty quick to respond.

 

Will do. Thank you Sir

 

I am enjoying the progress so far! Lots of pics of how you tie into the oem fuel system please.

Looking at the tank in the (plastic) bed makes me wonder if it needs a ground strap to prevent fire from static electricity, the same as not filling your jerry cans while they are in the truck bed- they need to be placed on the ground- to avoid this;

 

I'm going to put a grounding strap from one of the mounting strap bolts to the frame.

 

I was able to get the T installed without dropping the tank by removing the filler neck from the bed.



I didn't want to risk dropping a towel into the tank, so a rubber glove and rubber band kept debris out of the tank while I was screwing around above it. I also blew everything off with compressed air best I could prior.


Cutting fill hose and installing T. First time I ever sweat a joint. Well, second actually. I'm not sharing my first attempt...






Fuel line through the front of bed and into T.



Cut my "poor man's" bed mat to fit around tank


Grounding strap. 4AWG is overkill, but I have a bunch left from doing my in cab winch switch. I bought a 25' roll then.



Gauge is going to work in 4x4 switch location. Hard to tell in the Pic, but it's a silver faced gauge. There were parts missing, including the black trim ring that was supposed to be included. Jegs is sending me a new gauge. I'll be using the black ring when it arrives. I don't care for the chrome looking one.


Had to break out the body saw to make a little room behind the fuel gauge.


Fits now.


I like my CB mic mounted where it was. Plus, there are already screw holes there. I spaced it out with a couple brass couplers, also left over from my winch switch project, and longer screws.




Wiring begins. I forgot to pick up wire while I was out, so I'll finish it up another day.

 

Thats nice that you didn't have to drop the tank. Thanks for the pics!

Liking the auxiliary tank fuel gauge, our old auxiliary tank set up was great- but you had to get used to the fuel gauge- or knock on the tank

 

I know you have links to parts and peices on the OP but it looks like you went a different route on a few things. Once you have this all squared away and working would it be possible to get an updated list? I don't think it needs to be links but just a list of the parts and where you got them.

 

Why must you make everything difficult Steve?

I SUPPOSE I can pour myself a big cuppa coffee and sit down to do that at the end.

 

I'm not making it difficult. I'm thinking ahead before a bunch of people ask. Think of it as the cream rising to the top

 

I was gonna drill and JB Weld. I'll probably be using a brass fitting anyhow

 

Love the idea here! But the copper sweat tee is not the right fitting, a barbed fitting would be much better. The hose on the fitting has the potential to pop off when the pump comes on to transfer the fuel. Combined with road vibrations...

 

I agree 100%. I'm searching for a 1"x3/8" copper barbed T to replace the current one. Can only find plastic ones and that's no good.

 

Finished.

First, I ditched the solenoid valve. The fuel pump came with a check valve. I'm going to see if that'll keep the CELs at bay.

Fuel gauge in 4x4 selector location. The red switch covers will be switched out for black like the ones in my fuse cover. The red is a little too Fast and Furious for me...