Need some help please

[Bart F-350]

Hello,

Can somebody help me with some Ideas?

I have a 1989 F-350 7.3 IDI 4x4 ex airforce ambulance. This truck came originally from Ford as a Chassis Cab. hence the chassis might be different as from a regular truck.

My truck has the forward and rear diesel tanks, front is metal, rear is plastic.
I had to take off the ambulance body, and replaced it with a flatbed.
The goal of my flatbed is to keep the center of gravity as low as possible, and the frame of the flatbed is from rectangular stock (I think you call that in USA?) since I calculated the strength of the flatbed, I can't compromise the frame by drilling big holes in there to pass the filler/filler hose through.

I did mount one of the original fillers under the frame, The result is; I can't fill it there, there is no flow towards the tank, the filler is too low.

Also I prefer not to have a filler on the side, so that if the deck is full with payload, I still can fill up.

I'll have to try if I can place some pic's here, that makes things more clear.

I'm open for all ideas! thanks for the help.

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[Danielle]

The only custom for bed I'm familair with the owner has a frame under the frame which has his bed sit a good few inches above the wheels and with his fillers at the bottom of the bed there is more of a slant. His was also an ambulance and now flatbed.

I know you want center of gravity low as possible so this is probably not helpful but maybe you can afford a little height.

Found a photo on his facebook!

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[sjwelds]

On mine I deleted the front tank and just cut a hole in the floor of the bed.

My fill neck is about 7" long

Yes it is rude and crude.

 

[nostrokes]

I would raise the bed up enough to clear the fillers so they are as close to the original location as possible plus you'll get a little more tire clearance if you haul a heavy load.

 

[Bart F-350]

Yep, correct, I understand that, though I put that deck that low for a purpose, This truck is gonna replace something I used to haul, and I need that height to stay under a certain limit on our toll roads.

so I better find another solution.

neither will I make holes in the deck to have acces direct to the tanks, It just looks sooo stupid when you arrive at the service station and have to unload your payload in order to fill up, I would have a laugh!!

 

[79jasper]

Then your only other option is to run them through the bed frame and reinforce around the holes....

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[Bart F-350]

Neah, Then I stil haven't the height I need, (still too horizontal), and I can't compromis the strength of the rectangular stock I used, since I calculated the frame to be able to carry 2,5 metric tonnes with a safety of one tonne, and if you see the diameter of the fuel hose used, that's a hole almost as big as the beams itself.

I prefer not to go that route.

 

[sjwelds]

Looks like you can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

[79jasper]

I reckon you're SOL then. Maybe should have thought about that in the early planning stages.

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[Bart F-350]

?? I'm sorry, I don't understand?

 

[79jasper]

**** out of luck, since you don't want to "compromise" anything.
Any and all suggestions have been turned down. Obviously there's nothing we can do for you.

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[Runningaford]

weldingweb has a few threads like this. I never pay attention to the outcome, because it's basically this first page, X 10 more pages more of identical meanderings, and I think somewhere after page 5 to 6, the OP usually ends up redesigning the fuel feeds, or the bed which they swore was already well designed.

If you don't want to cut through the beam, and fish plate it strongly, then that leaves you having a couple doors in the top of the bed near the beam; open to access the fuel filler, or you could plumb them back say from the head board area; have a couple doors in the top of the bed there; so as to be more out of the way.

 

[Bart F-350]

@ Jasper, That's the reason why I started this post, I was out of solutions, and therefore I turned to this forum, you never know if other people can shine a light in a dark corner where you didn't looked (Yet?)

I had thought also about the headboard area, but since the space there is also at a premium, I'd have to find something to reduce the fillerpipes diameter, and at the same time pull up the opening a few inches higher then the deck, that gives the diesel more speed flowing into the tank. because such a distance (from headboard to fill opening in the tank) only horizontal, and with the flow of the diesel nozzle, the chance of a dieselshower is quite big!

so, I'm convinced that also for this problem is a solution, (we)I shall have too look a bit further.

(and still hope for your help?)

 

[theSHERPA]

Cut a hole in the frame, then sleeve with a piece of pipe perpendicular through the frame. Leave the sleeve long enough to weld a big fat bead around each end. Use a thick enough wall pipe for sleeve and you won't have any structural issues.


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[jwalterus]

Options:
1) Run 'em forward and up behind the cab, run them to a plate at the edge of the cab, might work, but it'll look like crap.
2) Notch your frame and fishplate it, and design your own filler neck (it doesn't HAVE to be as big as the big tube there skippy). And no, it won't "compromise the strength" if you do it RIGHT.
3) Put an access plate in your bed and fill both tanks BEFORE you load it.
4) Run them into the back of the cab and put the filler holes behind the seat.
5) Get a 19 gallon tank for a 1957-72 F-250 and have an in-cab tank.
6) Raise the bed so you actually have full suspension travel and put them underneath if you are set on it.


Also, your "calculated load" of 2.5 Tonnes is crap on the design unless you are talking sheet goods only with your material choices...... Try putting 2 1200kg pallets on it once.......... Or rest 500kg on the corner..... Betcha she buckles.......
But what would I know....
It's not like entries on my resume read "welder/fabricator" or anything...........

Note: Not following the thread, not worth the argument with someone who's not going to listen. With the mood I'm in this week, I'll just end up with a "vacation" from the forum..........