I'm not convinced either way, but seriously considering either removing the in cab gas tank, or adding an auxillary tank behind the cab between the framerails. Would like to have a little extra capacity for the truck. I have a 3800 DRW w/ cab/chassis. Will be going back with a wood flatbed for the bed. Has anyone installed any fuel tanks that work? Any pitfalls? I know there will have to be some custom work done for straps/mounts, and some plumbing. Just hoping to glean some other experiences as to options.
If you don’t have a spare tire then behind the axle is a convenient spot. Check out the various squarish replacement tanks available for step vans offered by Mill Supply Inc.
Another option is use factory tank outside the frame from 1948 model flat bed.
I'd prefer an in-frame rail tank. people drive way to crazy these days. I'll check them out. I have the provision for a spare, and a spare rim, but being a dually, if I need I can always rob a wheel and get home. No heavy loads on this ol gal. Her working days are over. Longer trips may just put a spare tire in the bed, just in case. Going to have to investigate that a little more. I really don't mind the in-cab tank, but I do mind the capacity because I have a 34 gallon tank on my daily driver truck and really dislike going to get fuel.
x2 on ASU. Mine is a 41 3/4 ton, but the frame rails probably measure pretty close to the same: somewhere around 33" as I recall. You will be sacrificing capacity, however. Nowhere near your desire of 34 gallons. I think it's around 12.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
Why not just find an original 'between the frame' tank like the one in my '48 DRW 1Ton to add to your existing tank. I'm pretty sure mine is 18 gallons. The plumbing might be a little complicated but should be doable.
Why not just find an original 'between the frame' tank like the one in my '48 DRW 1Ton to add to your existing tank. I'm pretty sure mine is 18 gallons. The plumbing might be a little complicated but should be doable.
Did not know such a thing existed. I knew there were saddle tanks for the 47/48s.
I don't need 34 gallons, but would like to get around 20 total capacity. If its too much or too hard, I'll just stop more often. I doubt long trips will be very long! Couple hundred miles each way absolute max.
My 1 ton GMC will go 200-250 miles on a tank, though I haven't run out to know just how far it'll go. Cary an extra gallon in the bed for when I do find out... The 1 ton Chevy I took on long trips with an additional three 5 gallon steel gas cans in the bed. One stretch of road (not highway) in and around Nevada I recall needing all three to get me to the next gas station, frequently I'd use one can between stops.
The 48 models had different rear cab mounts and no tank in the cab. The 48 pickups had a tank inside the frame behind the cab, right side. Stake trucks had similar (or same?) tank outside the frame, same location. So, if you have a later truck with tank in the cab then the easy/factory dual tank solution is also install the 1948 model tank on the frame.
In the GMC I plan to have dual tanks, either gravity feed the upper tank with a larger fuel line into the lower tank (no filler neck on lower tank), combine the vents, draw fuel from the lower. This would be slow to fill I think, but simpler to operate, no valves except a shutoff between tanks, it'd act as one large tank. Or more likely I'll have a 3 way selector valve and operate two separate tanks each with their own fuel lines and filler necks. Probably use an aftermarket ~30 gallon tank behind the rear axle.
