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My Latest Mod: Aux tank

18K views 58 replies 19 participants last post by  F350R 
#1 ·
Finally finished installing a new 50 Gallon Aux tank....it only
takes up 12inches of bed depth. Provides a total of about 90 gallons
w/ the factory tank.

I choose this thank because it permits me to STILL get TWO
motorcycles in the <long> bed, with room to spare & the GATE closed.

The tanks is "basically" custom/made to order, I had 'em make it out
of smooth finish Aluminum (the default would be diamond plate) I also
added a 2nd Filler neck on the passenger side (for filling up @ large
truck stops off the slave pump).

I decided to use a different switch and mount the gauge differently than
the mfg provides (they give you a box w/ the pump switch & gauge
mounted in it....i ripped that apart to do it "my way").

The tank & AutoFill (freedomfill) are made by ATTA Tank.

Hope you enjoy -







 
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#5 ·
thats why i have the VOLTMETER...to keep tabs on it.
Ive still got the Original Factory batteries, AND the factory Alternator.

I did manage to cook a JL 500/1 though...still havent replaced :(
 
#6 ·
Don, thats a nice high quality looking tank. Good capacity with little obstruction. Been many times that I wish I had more fuel. A very useful mod indeed. Harry
 
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#52 ·
======================================


For the 2011 F-250, 6.7 Diesel owners.. 26 gal to A 50 Gallon fuel tank. This is a factory replacement tank....

<http://www.xtremediesel.com/titanreplacementfueltank1.aspx>

I'm thinking about changing my tank, but this price I think is a little high.. Does anyone have a better price?
 
#7 ·
I figure about 1600 miles between fill ups <with motorcycles and camping
gear in the bed>

even at 10mpg <towing a travel trailer> i should still net close to 900 miles
between fill ups...im all about "average speed"....im not known for letting
moss grow under my feet but i HATE stopping on long road trips.

I must be getting old, cause its turned into a a tortoise & hare scenario for me :D

this puts it in perspective <maybe i went TOO large on w/ the 50g> :eek:
 

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#13 ·
Wayne - the tank was 500 IIRC <my wife would know to the penny :eek:wned >

ATTA Tank builds to order for the most part, and they were behind in production
so they didnt have anything in stock...their default would have been aluminum
diamond plate and i knew they made tanks in smooth finish aluminum so i asked.

Theyll basically make you any size or shape you want <took 'em less than
10 days...despite their telling me it would be 15days>.

They didnt charge me for the additional/2nd filler neck and they tossed in
the locking caps.

their freedom fill system (which i immediately tore apart) includes the pump
wiring, gauge & switch is 400. The "freedom fill" integrates w/ the factory
fuel gauge (turning on the aux pump when the factory gauge reaches 1/2
full).

ATTA's freedom fill system could be used w/ ANY tank, its instructions are
simple <just match their colored wires together> and the wiring "harness"
is all inclusive <nothing needed>.
 
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#15 · (Edited)
are you sure ? man that would piss me off ! I didnt ask.
the fact of the matter is that NONE of this crap is cheap.

These guys were willing to "work w/ me" (they must be
saints or more likely FOOLS :haha)

I was able to save some coin by picking up the product myself,
and i could have saved even more if id TRUSTED 'em to have it done
right (nothing against them...its MY issue). Matt was up there on
biz & was willing to pick it up and tote it home for FREE, so i wouldnt
have even had to pay for my fuel.

Ive got all the diagrams now, so honestly i could help you make your
OWN...youd just have to source the parts for the pump, gauge &
pickup <youd at least be able to build an "in cab" manually control-able
fill on the fly system>
 
#16 ·
shipping would have been free.......... and saved you a few bucks.....



Looks good. Glad you got it finished up.
 
#17 ·
i just dont trust vendors...had nothing to do w/ you <honest>.
its not COMPLETELY finished yet.

Just need the additional gauge mount/cup (should be here today),
and i wanna do some testing before i change over to my switch.

ill be scouting fuel this week, i want to document where the
gauge sets at several different increments (5 gallons left in tank)
and i wanna see EXACTLY how many gallons i can squeeze in this
mutha.

MATT, Thanks for your HELP mounting the tank in the bed.
 
#18 ·
Yea, just giving you a hard time.:D

No problem bud. Anytime you need some help, just let me know. :thumbsup
 
#19 ·
to complete the install pics, heres photos of the plumbing, filter & pump.
I live in a paranoid world so i used some clear "fuel" line that i had "laying around",
this provides me confirmation that fuel is flowing thru/out of the filter and OUT of
the pump.

Fuel flows from the AUX TANK to the FILTER to the PUMP to the MAIN tank.



 
#23 ·
I cant imagine it would, since the gravity feed had NO problem filling the
filter and flowing to the Main tank.

My suspicion is that it will gravity feed at least SOME thru the filter.

On the RDS check valve (the one that's in the main OEM fill tube), I took mine apart and found that it was plugged with some grease-type substance. I cleaned mine out and I've never had a problem until I get down to about 5-7 gallons in my 90 gallon tank. I assume that's due to the filter and the lack of pressure head due to only a few inches (if that) height difference.

What the pump part number?

Thanks,

Al
i may still use the RDS splice/valve as my refill/entry point if
there is a venting problem as some have said.

Ill have to get you the pump number friday <im at the airport, again>
 
#22 ·
On the RDS check valve (the one that's in the main OEM fill tube), I took mine apart and found that it was plugged with some grease-type substance. I cleaned mine out and I've never had a problem until I get down to about 5-7 gallons in my 90 gallon tank. I assume that's due to the filter and the lack of pressure head due to only a few inches (if that) height difference.

What the pump part number?

Thanks,

Al
 
#24 ·
Nice work! The tank and switches look great
 
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#25 ·
Yeah it was a lot of extra work but the ATTA set up just didnt go
well w/ my interior...so i tore it apart...its not a bad set up and im sure
its ok for most !

heres the set-up that ATTA provides w/ their system ->

 
#26 ·
that looks great Don, I wish I could afford to buy one at the moment driving from Beaumont to willis every day. I hate filling the truck up
 
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#27 ·
it certainly wont be a pleasant experience, paying the tab on 90 gallon
fill ups...ill be shopping fuel prices that's for damm sure.

90g * 2.45 = $220 :eek:wned
 
#28 ·
Nice Setup Don. I certainly wouldnt want to pay the bill to fill your truck. :haha

:happymugs
 
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#29 ·
If you think about it.... in the end you would pay the same for the same amount... normal fill ups are a little cost more often.... with an aux tank.. it's more less often... so in the end, it's all the same..
 
#31 ·
He's a balla... he can handle it.:D
 
#34 ·
Pictures of the Center Bolt / Mount...the D-Ring allows me to have a Tie-Down point for
motorcycles...I have 3 of these D-Rings at the rear bed/floor too.

 
#35 ·
Keep in mind there's no real reason to fill up every time when just running around town.

For example, when I'm not on a long trip, I usually buy about $100 worth of fuel per month +/-. It ends up being about 30-40 gallons or so. I usually do this when the OEM tank is around the 1/2 3/4 mark, so I'm only carrying around about a fourth of what I could carry. I see no reason to carry an extra 500-700 lbs of fuel around town. The tank itself weighs only 100 lbs, if that, yours probably weighs less.

I'll mix a couple ounces of 2 stroke oil in it and let it mix a day or so, then start letting it feed into the main OEM tank.

Now, on long trips, then it's all out, both tanks full up. During our 2008 Summer Desert Trip, when fuel was north of $4.50/gallon, $400-$475 fill ups were the norm, even at the cheapest truck stops. Talk about taking your breath away. Even though we drove 6000 miles, we only had to fill up four times, thank goodness.

Al
 
#36 ·
Al - I agree & thats my plan...I'll probably ONLY fill thru the AUX tank (since it will
then be TRIPLE filtered like yours too).

I will, this 1st time, fill the tank COMPLETELY to "learn" exactly how much i can get in
it & to mark some "visual" measurements on the AUX gauge so i know how many
gallons i have left at 1/4 tank etc.

$4 bucks per gallon X 90 gallons = $360
$4.50 x 90g = $405

either way we're paying it...now or later...on a recent trip to florida fuel @ home
was nearly 50 cents LESS per gallon than the cheapest fuel i could find in destin.
 
#37 ·
OK, im DONE - final photos of the fuel gauge AND repositioned voltmeter & gps mount !


 
#38 ·
Looks really nice Don, you once again did a beautiful job with the install and keeping the wires and switches in a prime location. :five..
 
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#39 ·
stuffed 52 gallons in the "50 gallon" tank...no leaks !

the PUMP is an E8153 (theres no manufacture name on the pump but a quick
google shows it to be an AIRTEX)
 
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