long range tank

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010 at 19:49

ThreadID: 77537 Views:3836 Replies:10 FollowUps:16

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Long Range Fuel Tanks

A large number of outback treks involve long distances between fuel outlets. Jerry cans are dangerous, difficult to store and not as convenient as a long range fuel tank.

Member - Jeff O (VIC)

G'day
I am contemplating fitting a Outback long range fuel tank to my 200 series GXL TTLC
I have a 2008 model without KSS.
It is factory fitted with a 93L main tank and 45L second tank
My Toyota/Opposite Lock dealer tells me that by removing the secondary tank and spare wheel carrier he can fit a 175L tank. This will give me a total of 268L.
Approx cost $1500.
Has anyone out there had this done using the same brand of tank?
How good is the product?
Other than the extra weight,anything else I should look out for ?
I already have a Kaymar spare wheel carrier fitted to the near side rear.
Any advice will be appreciated
Thanks
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Stu & "Bob" - Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010 at 22:01

Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010 at 22:01

I have one fitted to a HZJ105.

On mine, when drawing from the long range tank, the fuel guage does not move for the first 600Km, then drops as normal. ( I get roughly 1150 Km out of 150L) There is 20 or so litres left in the tank when the light comes on and I don't want to run it dry to see how far it can go "on the light".

HTH

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:11

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:11

Stu & "Bob"
thanks
When fully loaded I expect to get about 1500 Km on good roads
and about 1250Km on the desert tracks .
JEFF.O

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Reply By: Mick O - Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010 at 22:51

Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010 at 22:51

Have a look for reinforcing around the edges of the tank. This is where they will let go on corrugations. The reinforcing roundels are often referred to as "Pacmen" because of their shape. Not all tanks have them (Longranger by ARB being one). Brown Davis and LRA do have them.

It would be really handy if the mounts were doubles along top and bottom edges rather than just one edge as corrugations will cause them to crack. I had my reserve tank let go on the rear mounts last year on the Talawana.

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

Mechanical difficulties on the Talawana

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:19

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:19

Mick
I will take this advice to my dealer.
Thanks
Regards
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Member - Barnesy - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 00:08

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 00:08

Will you really use over 260 l of fuel? How often will you use that much and is it worth all of that money? Could you simply take a few jerries when going outback? Most long range tanks are only about 140l anyway, which you already have.
Just a thought.

Barnesy

AnswerID: 412059

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:29

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:29

Barnesy
I will have about 250L usable.
I don' t like carrying fuel in the vehicle and fitting the tank will keep the weight down low and not on the roof rack.
Also, carrying this amount will allow me to bypass the more expensive outback fuel stops
Jeff.O

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Reply By: newhue - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 03:06

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 03:06

Consider ground clearance as well. I have a rodeo which I fitted a long range tank too, and though I enjoy the distance between filling up, it also bangs on a lot of stuff off track as well.

AnswerID: 412064

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:32

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:32

newhue
Thanks
I have an Old Man Emu suspension upgrade.I will see if this needs to be strengthened
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:13

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:13

Jeff,

Can't help with the tank however I considered a long range tank for the CSR trip this year. IMHO it is really the only trip you really need the large amount of extra fuel. I couldn't justify the expense in my case a min of $3,000 and max $5,000. This was to move the spare tyre to a rear bar and put in the long range tank. I'm going to carry jerries and admittedly there will be a few.

AnswerID: 412069

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:40

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 07:40

Richard
I already have a rear mounted spare, so I only? have to find $1500.
I am doing a similar trip to you and don't like carrying jerries.
I will get value out of it as I hope to be doing this for a few more years.
Regards
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 08:23

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 08:23

With a rear bar and all that fuel you may have to leave the family at home to stay under the vehicles GVM

Something that doesnt seem to get considered when adding all this stuff to a vehicle.
Especially if you are towing any great weight.

AnswerID: 412072

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:08

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:08

Decisions Decisions
SWMBO or the long range tank?
HaHa

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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:01

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:01

You might get more mileage out of SWMBO

LOL

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:47

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:47

Graham.
I have done a trade off.
SWMBO goes to Vietnam for a week with her son.
I get my tank and a leave pass to go to the national gathering in Wiluna with
John B as my passenger and Scrubby in an accompanying vehicle. I will let you know who got the better deal when I get back from Wiluna.
LOL
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 11:12

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 11:12

I have just had a Long Ranger 180 litr tank installed by ARB in my 200 TD. I had the same brand in my 100TD for five years of hard use.

The only problem is the fuel guage, which is an absolute pain in the arse. From memory, I think when the guage shows about two thirds full, you have used the 180 and have 90 left. I have not heard of any way of fixing this.

There is actually more clearance with the long range tank, than there is with the spare wheel.

Willie.

AnswerID: 412099

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:15

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:15

Willie
Thanks.
I will look at the Long Ranger as well as the Brown Davies.
It looks like the fuel gauge is a problem with all the options.
Just have to live with it I guess.
Jeff.O

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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:46

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 17:46

When I had a L/r in my Pootrol I only worried about how empty it was Fill it up and no worries till its near the bottom

You get to understand it

Mine was 145l tank and had standard sender unit It didnt move till it got below the standard tank level and then worked as normal

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Reply By: SteveL - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 12:08

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 12:08

I have a 145L long range tank as well as an 85L auxillary in a GQ. I am very reluctant to fill both because of the extra weight. I had 2 bolts let go on the rear of the auxillary tank because of corrugations on the Kalumbaru Rd.268L is overkill IMHO.If you have your vehicle full loaded and bouncing over rough terrain the last thing you want is unnecessary weight even if it is located low to the ground.

AnswerID: 412107

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:21

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:21

SteveL
I will only have to fill to the top a couple of times on my trip in July.
I will have to slow down a tad.
Jeff.o

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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 14:25

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 14:25

Jeff O

I fitted a Brown Davis 148 lt tank to the Patrol..

It let go on the Canning. That can happen, to any long range tank.

What I experienced after that was possibly the best aftersales service, and guarantee, on the market.
Not only did Brown Davis, remove the tank at Alice Springs, and have it repaired, No charge..
They replaced it at their Melbourne factory, when I finally got home.
No charge.

Superb, to say the least.

You make up your own mind, but guess who I praise ?

CHeers
Bucky

AnswerID: 412123

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:24

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 16:24

Bucky.
From what I see in the responses ,whatever tank I get will have to be well secured.
Thanks
Jeff.O

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Follow Up By: Dave & Shelley (NT) - Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 20:20

Thursday, Apr 08, 2010 at 20:20

Hi Jeff O

I have had a long range tank fitted to my GU for the CSR a few years ago. Since then I have done the trip again including the Anne Beadell and had no real issues. I did however hear about tanks dropping and my uncle lost his at well 2 (from Wiluna). You are 100% correct about checking the security. I went over the Patrol after each days driving including looking at bullbar mounts and mounts for the fuel tanks. No problems and enjoy the freedom of long range tank during everyday driving and while touring.

Enjoy your trip, wish I could go again

Dave

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Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 03:25

Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 03:25

Jeff O

Sorry
I forgot to add that the tank was fitted extremely well. Double and tripple checked, by me, and why not I also fitted the tank.

It was the welds that let go.

As it was explained to me later on.......the tank itself cannot flex and it is this that causes the welds to let go, as everything else around it is flexing.

As you can see, I am no engineer, but that kinda makes sence, if you look at the original tank, and they never let go.

Cheers
Bucky

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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff O (VIC) - Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 15:49

Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 15:49

Bucky.
Brown Davies are yet to develop a tank for the 200 Series.They are looking for a vehicle to use as a model.
Time doesn't allow me to provide mine.
Regards
Jeff.O

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Reply By: Member - Alan John C (WA) - Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 17:03

Friday, Apr 09, 2010 at 17:03

Jeff,
My boss had one fitted to his saharra but he had problems with the transferr pump it kept leaking until coming up withdifferent pump and I took it to Kal from perth and and return the transfer system sucks and that was fitted by OPP LOC Perth.