How to remove rear fuel tank?

Tk83

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I bought my truck this past August and shortly after getting it home the fuel system failed (runs out of fuel after a couple minutes of driving or 10 minutes at idle), and I pulled the front fuel tank out and the pickup was falling apart, so I suspect that's part of the issue and that the rear one likely looks the same, but I have run out of skill to remove the rear tank. I removed the skidplates/bolts that hold the tank in (while supporting it from underneath) but it's full enough of fuel that it's very heavy and it's wedged in too tightly to move. I don't want to keep trying to get it to move and drop the tank full of fuel on my face, but i can't get anything in the fuel filler opening to pump the fuel out. Is the next step to take the bed off? I do have a engine hoist but I don't have anyone to help lift the bed off or enough space to life the bed off and set it somewhere and still have room to work on the truck. What do I do now? I don't really have to move it by a certain date or anything but I do want a working truck at some point. Maybe give up on this project and try again with a Chevy or Dodge?
 

Nero

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If you give up on it, I'll take your truck.

So if your rear tank stopped sucking at about a 1/4 tank, then yeah the shower head suction bit has fallen apart. To get the tank out, you do have the manipulate the tank a little to get it to drop. Just slide it forward or to the rear, after the pinch weld lip clears it drops right out.
Sometimes they need to be manipulated and convinced to come out.
 

Old Goat

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I agree with NERO getting the tank out you need to tip it so the pinch welds clear the Frame. But with a full tank it will be too heavy to do it.

I have pulled the bed with a Engine Hoist 3 times by my self. First time using HF Ratchet straps. And that being kind of sketchie, bought a bed lift frame. (as an example)


or you can make one. This made it much safer.
You just need to lift the bed enough to roll the truck forward to access the tank.
Remove the Sending unit, then you can siphon out the fuel to lighten it.

Goat
 

franklin2

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I hear about pulling the bed once in awhile on these forums to get to the tanks, and while in theory it's a great idea, in my experience it's another can of worms. The bolts are usually rusted and I end up grinding the heads of the bolts off inside the bed to get the bed off the truck. Yes you have open access after that, but getting there is no fun.

In your situation I think I would put a floor jack about 3 inches below the tank, and then start prying trying to the get the tank out, and if/when it drops the jack will stop it. It's not going to go unless you get the fill pipe off first.
 
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Kdo58

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Go to a box store and buy some clear hose 1/2" and some buckets and siphon the fuel out or drill a hole in the tank and catch the diesel in buckets.
 

tradergem

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I was able to syphon fuel out of my rear tank with a 6 foot piece of 5/8" garden hose. The trick is to use containers with openings as low to the ground as possible to keep the syphon flowing.
 

hacked89

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You pull the filler neck rubber hose, then you can stick a hose directly into the tank and gravity drain once you get it started
 

IDIBRONCO

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Or you can use a cheap 12V fuel pump to pump the fuel out after you have the hose inserted in the tank.
 

Tk83

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So it looks like the options are either to get the truck running again on the front tank so I can move it and buy that fixture to pull the bed, or punch a hole in the bottom of the tank so I can get the fuel out and just buy a new tank? I can't get a hose into the fuel through the filler neck, I can get the outside of the hose wet with fuel but I have tried both using a siphon and a pump with no luck to actually get anything out.
 

Nero

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Something I've done in a pinch is raise the bed by hand and use wood to suspend it. Avoids needing a lift of some sort to actually lift it up. You'll have to loosen both fuel filler necks to do it, and disconnect the tail light connectors.
 

ROCK HARVEY

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I agree with the suggestion to separate the fuel filler hose from the tank, then put your siphon hose directly into the tank where the filter hose used to attach.

I removed my rear tank a while back, without removing the bed. I took off my hitch to get clearance, but it was really hard to get the lip of the tank to fit between the frame rails to drop down. If the tank is rusty, I would just drill a hole in the bottom to drain it and replace it afterwards. I still haven’t replaced it, I’ve just been running around on my front tank (and the 110 gallon transfer tank in the bed lol)
 

david85

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One more vote for siphoning the fuel out of the tank. It can be tricky to get the siphon hose into the tank but still less work (and potential cost) than lifting the whole bed. You can also get a cheap 12V siphon pump to make the job easier (I use a brake bleeder hand pump to get it started).
 

Brian VT

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One more vote for siphoning the fuel out of the tank. It can be tricky to get the siphon hose into the tank but still less work (and potential cost) than lifting the whole bed. You can also get a cheap 12V siphon pump to make the job easier (I use a brake bleeder hand pump to get it started).
The cheap shaker siphon hoses work really well. I was surprised how well it works. I use mine for all kind of things.
Mostly for dumping off-road diesel into my furnace tank when the wife forgets to order heating oil. ;-)
But I guess it might be tough to shake it in this instance?
 

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