Thread: LR tanks and fuel load - How much is too much?

Originally Posted by Fubar

Defender 130 with a 4BD1T, not sure exactly what my fuel consumption will be but 12-14lt/100km seems to be in the ball park, maybe less, maybe not.

Primarily a hunting/family camping (2+2 kids) truck that will be set up for long distance touring and a lap of Australia....plans to take it to the UK/EU/Africa when the kids are older.

I've always got by with the factory tank and a lot of juggling with travel timings and distances. I fear I may be getting overly enthusiastic with three fuel tank (Option One) and need to throttle back a bit to balance the carry capacity versus range.

Anyone fancy chipping in with their two bob on what they think the optimal set up is?

I'm looking at two scenarios for fluid transport:

One
Shingleback RH sill tank 86lt
Shingleback LH sill tank - TBA but might be 70lt
Factory tanks 75lt

Total possible fuel load is 231lt.....minus whatever is left in the last tank pre-refuel, practical usable around 220lt.
Expected range 1500-1800km

Water tank (Abber) 65lt under seat.
Anymore water carried in 20lt jerries in tray....or maybe a permanent tray tank.

Total permanent H2O load out is 65lt.

Two
Shingleback RH sill tank 86lt
Factory tanks 75lt

Total possible fuel load is 161lt.....minus whatever is left in the last tank pre-refuel...practical usable around 150lt
Expected range 1000-1200km

Water tank 65lt under seat.
Shingleback LH sill tank - TBA but might be 70lt
Anymore water carried in 20lt jerries in tray.

Total permanent H2O load out is 135lt.

Cheers,

Jason

I'm also contemplating the same two options. The advantage of having extra fuel means you don't have to keep going back into town to refuel. Handy if you want to explore side tracks, especially if you have to back track long distances.

I really like the idea of a Shingleback sill tank on each side - it gives it balance. Just need to decide on whether LHS is water or fuel.

At present I'm leaning towards fuel. Mainly because (depending upon where you) you could potentially top up water from rivers/lakes etc. Or if on beaches you could invest in a Carocell panel to distill seawater.


By the way, I've got an Abber tank for under the rear seat of my 130 dual cab and it holds approx 50L so might pay to check the usable capacity of the Abber tank.

And 3 x 10L Willow Jerry's fit neatly behind the rear seat.

Originally Posted by Dorian

Yes the 130 is longer, though I thought that the 110 version would get in 70+, assume you've checked for air locks.

X 2

I've always found that with traveling and camping, I go thru a lot more water than diesel. So i'd vote option 2.

Cheers Glen

X 3.

More water means you can stay put for longer.

Truthfully the last time I had 240 ltrs fuel / 200 ltrs water / 4 people and food / stuff for 4 weeks remote travel I broke the 130 . The going was rough , one 90 km streach took 7 hrs to cover. The damage done via overloading - tray mounts , chassis, suspension did slow us down and shortened the trip. From experience work out your real world weights before over committing.

Yes, I've checked with Shingleback and he said that I should play on 65 usable ltrs which kinda works out from my initial fill but I will need to confirm over the next fill as the 1st one didn't go well...

Originally Posted by Dorian

Yes the 130 is longer, though I thought that the 110 version would get in 70+, assume you've checked for air locks.

X 2

I've always found that with traveling and camping, I go thru a lot more water than diesel. So i'd vote option 2.

Cheers Glen

Thanks for the considered points of view....based on the advice I think sticking to the two fuel tanks (161lt) and having two water tanks (120lt 'ish) available will be the smarter way to go.

I think this should be stickied somewhere....upon reflection so very true with a family.

I've always found that with traveling and camping, I go thru a lot more water than diesel.

By the way, I've got an Abber tank for under the rear seat of my 130 dual cab and it holds approx 50L so might pay to check the usable capacity of the Abber tank.

I am replacing the rear bench with two single front seats and I have been kicking around modifying the seat box to replicate the one in the front in materials, form and function......if I used the entire resulting void, minus allowances for insulation and the thickness of the tank, I think the actual usable will be about 79lt.

I spoke to Abber the other day and he said he fabricates all the tanks from panels so I'm assuming, dangerous I know, that pumping mine up a bit wont be a drama. This all hinges on the engineer being happy with my concept.

Originally Posted by trout1105

Go for it
Long range or extra tanks not only give you a greater range they will allow you to buy your fuel at the Major towns/cities which will be Far cheaper than filling up at roadhouses and other remote areas,

El Questro on the Gibb River road is an example of places that you don't want to have to fuel up and the extra fuel capacity will allow you to avoid fuelling up at these sorts of places.

Gotta agree with that. I have 430L capacity in my 6x6 and don't like stopping once I get going. Last trip to WA and back I travelled all the way across the centre without refuelling. Not only saves a lot of time pulling up to refuel but also the $$$$$

What sort of back are you planning on Fubar? I've got a 200l custom aux fuel tank built in behind my drawer in my back. You don't have to fill it right up but it's versatile to have the option. I used to use a water bladder inside my rear seat box, and stock up with 2, 3 jerry cans depending on how remote I was going. I liked the idea of water being spread in multiple containers. Mind you I was living in the Pilbara at the time, and I haven't used that fuel tank in 10 years.
Cheers Mark

I'm agree about keeping the weight down, the defender is not really a heavy duty truck, and you can easy pack a lot of KGs on a 130 because of its size. I'd be going with 2 fuel tanks and use the extra payload for water. (good position under the seat, low and central). I like your idea with the rear seats, the rear bench on the defender is a bit of a pain for the kids on a trip.
I don't mind paying extra for fuel in remote locations, the folk there have to make a dollar & it costs to get the fuel there.

if you have 160 liters on board I'd be counting on 155 liters usable @12 l/100 kms average, would be about 1300 kms, thats a fairly handy range, if you carry one jerry can and fill as required, you have another 150kms

If your doing dirt road travel and sitting at 80-90 km/hr, I think you might do better than 12 l/100 km, unless the going is soft. At 80-90 kms /h the load is noticeably lower than 100 k/h , I find speed has the biggest effect on fuel consumption in my defender, that's the price to pay such a brutally handsome car , (especially when the roof rack is on)

My car has 80 l +42 l sill tank , the sill tank will go down to 2 l ROB, and the main tank about the same same, (flat country), say 115 usable. I work on about 11l/100 km, so have a range of about 1000 kms.

I have traveled 1100 kms between fuel stops on trips, including high country and desert. I found in the little desert & border track the going was firm and the speeds low, so my fuel consumption was good.

I try to control the weight, and watch my speed, I think with an 4BD, you won't be travelling quickly anyhow.

My 110 300 Tdi is probably about 2900 kg fully loaded for a trip with driver + 3 pax, but it's a light weight compared to a laden 130. (Normally- 2300 kg- 2 full tanks, driver, one spare, and some spare parts & minor tools)

cheers simmo