Single / rear tank only conversion?

[The Warden]

Yeah makes sense as well because these trucks are so light in the rear compared to the front, wonder if anyone out there runs dual side tanks? I used to have an old chevy gasser with that set up & it seems to make more sense plus a higher capacity.

Only problem with that on a Ford is that the exhaust pipe runs through the spot where the starboard tank would go if you did twin tanks; in fact, IIRC when I had a muffler on my truck, the muffler was directly opposite the forward tank. If you're running a stack through the bed or if you somehow got the exhaust pipe on the other side of the frame rail before the tank, you could eliminate that problem...or you could do what I did for 4 years and let the exhaust exit at the downpipe

The Chevys with twin side tanks had them outboard of the frame rails...in fact, my dad had a '76 GMC pickup in the mid 1990's and received a recall notice saying that this was a safety problem and offered $1500 towards a new vehicle if he scrapped his truck

Just wondering, are you planning to throw the spare tire in the bed, or how are you going to handle that? IIRC a 38 gallon tank is deep enough that keeping the spare in the stock spot is no longer an option...

Transfer Flow used to sell high-capacity fuel tanks for our trucks; unfortunately, they stopped carrying them a few years ago

 

[79jasper]

For me I'll make a spare tire mounting spot on the headache rack of my flatbed, but that will require getting a spare tire. Lol :Cookoo Mine never had a factory spare tire mount from what I can see. Thought most dual tank trucks didn't have them? Am I wrong?
The twin tanks like that were before the times of diesel, IIRC. Big rigs are same location.
Even with a stack, it would still come back too far.

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[The Warden]

Thought most dual tank trucks didn't have them? Am I wrong?

As far as I know, the only '80-'97 Ford F-series trucks that did not locate the spare tire under the rear fuel tank were some of the "Flare-side" F-150's that had a mount in the bed...I've see references to that setup in my '84 FSM, but I've never seen it in person. Certainly, every diesel F-series I've ever seen had the spare tire under the rear tank...

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This is for a pickup truck, but the cab/chassis setup is similar and, according to my '91 FSM, uses the same parts. When I inherited my truck, the entire spare tire carrier assembly was missing (and, I found out the hard way after a rear tire let go, so was the spare tire THAT got rectified quickly)...I found the parts on a truck that was being junked so I could get my spare tire out of the bed.

 

[Kistthesky]

I'd have to double check, but from what I remember, my truck has narrower frames rails, so my tank options are a little more limited.

Is your rear tank plastic? I had an '85 F350 cab & chassis I bought for parts awhile back and it had a plastic square cube in the rear, I was going to pull it but it was almost full of 8 year old fuel that smelled like turpentine that I didn't know what to do with & the local barney fife was hassling me so I had to scrap it.

 

[jaed_43725]

The Warden: the best spot for a tank would be the bed. But then again you lose the bed, so that would be pointless. But on the outer of the frame would be awesome. I am going to mount the spare onto the tailgate area. One of those rally truck style things. My spare tire carrier is currently under the tank.

 

[jim_22]

Sure you want to do this? Two tanks are nice for many reasons.

Advantage is not capacity, but the possibility of two independent fuel supplies.

 

[79jasper]

Yes, my rear is plastic.
Maybe my tire mount was moved, or ordered without it.
Between my 94, my 88, my brothers 93 and 97, and the others I have seen, none had the tire carrier.

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[oregon96psd]

The Chevys with twin side tanks had them outboard of the frame rails...in fact, my dad had a '76 GMC pickup in the mid 1990's and received a recall notice saying that this was a safety problem and offered $1500 towards a new vehicle if he scrapped his truck

Thats because like idiots chevy didnt stop to think that when they get t-boned the sheetmetal box folds like a house of cards and the 20 gallon fuel tank is now pinched between the frame and hood of the vehicle in the accident, then it pops like a firey zit of death. They wanted people to scrap them before the class action lawsuit was settled, I got a letter in the mail when I owned my '79 in 2003 saying I could be eligable to recieve money from that lawsuit, I cant remember the exact amount, but chevy had to mail out a lot of checks when it was all said and done.

 

[jaed_43725]

If only there was a way to not have a driveshaft and still have 4x4 or AWD in a truck with diesel power. Then you could run the exhaust out the hood (I plan on doing that after turbo) and have nothing but room underneath.

 

[snicklas]

One thing, in most places a hood stack is illegal in on-road vehicles. You are not allowed to have exhaust exit the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment for safety issues. (exhaust fumes entering the cabin). That is why most exhausts go to at least to back of the cab...

Now if it is going to be an off-road truck, then a hood stack will not be an issue.

 

[franklin2]

Moving the spare tire to a different location is a good idea. It takes up more room wherever you put it, but the spare can get permanently stuck under there after it all rusts up. Or it falls out in the middle of the road somewhere. Terrible design.

 

[nj_m715]

Yup, I just posted a question about fitting a bronco tire rack. I've also been thinking of whipping up a class 3 tire carrier for my front hitch. Easy on, easy off, just need to make sure it doesn't screw up the air flow too much.

 

[The Warden]

Yup, I just posted a question about fitting a bronco tire rack.

Someone once cut up the rear corner of a Bronco to show how much reinforcement was added for the spare tire carrier that the truck rear corner doesn't have. Pics were posted somewhere on here, but there is quite a difference...and, it's really not possible to beef up the truck rear corner enough to safely hold the weight of the tire carrier and the tire without cutting it and doing quite a bit of welding. Or, maybe graft the rear corner from a Bronco onto your bed.

I've also been thinking of whipping up a class 3 tire carrier for my front hitch. Easy on, easy off, just need to make sure it doesn't screw up the air flow too much.

I think that'd be a better way to go. Or, there are some rear bumpers on the market with swing-away tire carriers integrated into it; Darrin Tosh has a setup like this. Personally, I value my bed space, so I make the stock carrier work...as franklin2 pointed it, there are significant problems with the stock setup, but if you grease the friction points/threaded fittings and put a large bolt or lock in the eye hook on the rear bolt, I've found it to be sufficient...

 

[Kistthesky]

Yup, I just posted a question about fitting a bronco tire rack. I've also been thinking of whipping up a class 3 tire carrier for my front hitch. Easy on, easy off, just need to make sure it doesn't screw up the air flow too much.

Would be fine for the winter at least plus you'd have a push bumper/ grille guard!

 

[Greg5OH]

I gotcha that 130lbs isnt much compared to that 6K. But I also take into account that Ford put the front differential on the wrong side. So its a pretty hefty shift. I am not doing anything very technical. But 38 gal is plenty for where I go, which isnt ever far. At most a 4 hour drive.

also remeber the drivetrain is offet to the passenger side