Do the u-haul fuel tanks have showerhead issues?

[steffco]

I am getting ready to start a cross country trip with a e350/7.3 natural 14' box ex u-haul. The truck has a 41 gl tank from what I could find on the u-haul website. My question is should I worry about going below a quarter tank or were the u-haul tanks different? My fuel gauge is inop so i will plan on 10mpg until I can get a real figure. this truck has not went over 15 miles in one direction for the last 6yrs I owned it so I am kinda nervous.
Wish me luck...

 

[icanfixall]

Figureing 10 mpg is a good start. Once you get that worked out your probably like the rest of us. We tend to push an empty tank more and more till it is empty. Before I fixed my tanks pickup I ran out of fuel in the drive up to a fuel stop. As I reached down to turn off the key it stumbled and died. No electric pump so cracked open lines till it showed fuel.... As for the Uhaul rigs having the issue... Never have seen it talked about here but are you willing to trust the last 1/4 tank finding out... If you are please have around 10 or 20 gallons spare fuel up there in Alaska... Getting caught west of BFE out of fuel and no way to get any scares me cause there are "things" around that will eat you and not in a good way either if your understanding me....

 

[DOE-SST]

My 1994 E350 7.3 IDI has the showerhead.

The two ex UHauls I've looked at had the same tank as my E350.

When I removed the tank, the black plastic head was gone (dissolved?) and the plastic pickup screen, normally attached to the bottom of the head, was sitting on the bottom of the tank.

I'd assume yours is missing just to be safe, and you should be able to calculate your mileage pretty accurately after the first few fill ups, then apply some Kentucky windage to account for hills and headwinds.

 

[RLDSL]

if that41 gal tank is a side mount tank, then chances are its a universal add on that wont have the issues. does it look like a pickup tank or is it a black side mounted tank with a big brass or similar looking screw on cap that screws onto a filler neck? If its one of those, there should be a steel pickup tube running to the bottom of the tank

 

[Shadetreemechanic]

Carry a spare 5 gallon can of fuel around until you find out.

 

[89dieselbko]

Here is my 2 cent... even though you will probably NOT want to hear it...

I have never worked on a van, i dont know whats involved... although uhauls look pretty high up....

Drop the tank, and find out for sure. Take a couple hours, be a complete pain in the ****. but then you know FOR SURE.

There was a thread maybe a month back, that the shower heads are available from ford still... I would rather know for sure, and make an attempt to replace it, OR you can bend your pickup tube closer to the bottom of the tank, and make your own pre-filter in an afternoon. Then you will know for sure, have it fixed if need be, and not have to worry. Carrying extra fuel, worrying constantly if you are going to run out or not... thats just not for me!

 

[OLDBULL8]

With that 14 ft. U-haul I would figure no more than 8 MPG. From Tok AK to Beaver Creek Yukon is a long way with no fuel stations IIRC. I would certainly carry at least 10 gallons extra fuel. Watch out for those Grizzlies at the pulloffs. Your gonna burn about 350 gals. to Seattle WA. Your only gonna get about 250 miles on a tank. Homer AK to Anchorage, then a fillup. If you have any trouble around Whitehorse YK, there is a really good mechanical place there, can't remember the name, but the name starts with an H, oh yeah Horsman I think, something like that, He knows the 7.3 diesels. Ford dealer don't know crap about them. Best of luck on the trip.

 

[Brad S.]

First of all good luck and Godspeed.
I would get a clean 50 gal barrel, secure it to the inside of the box.(van box??)
Get a barrel pump and a fuel can of sorts. Then its up to you how full you'd want to fill it.
I know its not most "legal" way of transporting fuel, but I'm willing to bet that won't be a problem on this trip.
That much capacity your driving distance should be increased.