How much fuel?

[DefenderJim]

Hey guys,

Just wondering how much fuel and in what setups people are carrying, and the +/- of them?

Cheers
Jim

[vnx205]

I carry 75 litres of fuel.

I carry it in the fuel tank. :D:D:D


Maybe your question needed to be more specific. Did you mean for a particular trip ?

[oldyella 76]

Jim, I have two longranger tanks in my 2012 defender one of 127 litres and a side one of 35 litres. I took them out of my 2000 td5 and they fitted straight in with minor alterations to the plastic top bit on the fuel syphon pipe/sender unit.
I am happy with that arrangement others have different opinions and is generally what suits you. To get extra range I can also carry 4 steel jerries on top which will give me a good range with a defer to get to most places and back.
regards Lindsay.

[ProjectDirector]

Hey guys,

Just wondering how much fuel and in what setups people are carrying, and the +/- of them?

Cheers
Jim

Am tossing up myself whether I spend $1400 for a 135l replacement tank or get roof rack $1800 and 2 Jerry cans. :mad::mad:whichever way you look at it you need to spend big $$$$ to get extra fuel. Carrying two Jerry cans inside the vehicle is not such a good idea. Still undecided

[Sue]

Carrying diesel inside is okay as it's classified as a Class II fuel.. as in non flammable so it's perfectly legal and fine to carry in the car.

I've removed the seats from the rear of my car and am fitting a 240 litre tank in there at the moment as there was no way I was paying the price they want for the small extra tanks available for the 90's... :)

[DefenderJim]

I carry 75 litres of fuel.

I carry it in the fuel tank. :D:D:D


Maybe your question needed to be more specific. Did you mean for a particular trip ?


Sorry, a recent trip with some mates has sparked this question, none of them Landy-owners, just found I was needing to stop more regularly for fuel than they were. Now I know that this could be for various reasons, landy aerodynamics and my right foot are likely contenders, but the solution i am interested in is adding more fuel to my 110. It will also hopefully avoid the need to fill up at some of the more costly servos outside of larger towns.

[greenhornet]

I go through this question every time we plan a trip as we only have the standard tank. I keep thinking a bigger or additional tank would be very convenient, but when we weigh up the cost compared to jerry cans...it is tough to justify....

In the end I just put x1 or x2 20lt jerry cans inside the vehicle and all sorted. :)

We have roof rack, but we only put the jerry cans up there when they are empty.

[carlschmid2002]

Another option is a jerry / spare wheel carrier from Rijidij. I can carry 40 litres external or two water jerries and an extra 80 litres from 2 frontrunner tanks from Mulgo

[Eevo]

252L in tanks
2 guys who I call gerry who carry 20l each.

150L maintank
2x 52L sil tanks
2x 20L jerry jans

[vnx205]

If the only reason to add a long range tank was to avoid paying the prices charged at remote locations, consider how many litres of fuel you could buy for the price of a long range tank. Even at the inflated prices charged at some places, you would need to buy a lot of fuel to get your money back

If the reason is to extend the range, then if you have a safe, convenient way to carry a few jerry cans, then that is a lot cheaper than a long range tank.

If you use jerry cans, then you have some flexibility in the amount of extra fuel you can carry. On some trips, a couple might be enough. On other trips you could take half a dozen, provided of course you had a safe, simple way to carry them.

For some people, I suspect an extra tank or a replacement long range tank is the only reasonable option.

So knowing what sort of vehicle people have, how they store their gear and what sort of trips they do will probably be part of the information you need to help you make your decision. Like so many things, it is a case of horses for courses. :)

[goingbush]

You also have to take water, loading the car up with fuel Jerrys takes away from water storage.

Longrange tanks are a necessity as far as I'm concerned.
Landrovers fall too short of the competition in this regard,

as well as the standard measley 75l tank I have an additional 100l aux tanks and 40l water tank. plus carry extra water as required.

When towing the van I have an additional 160l water and 40l fuel

its not to avoid high fuel prices either

[vnx205]

That is about 400kg of liquid isn't it?

Space inside the vehicle for gear never seemed to be an issue with the LWB Series III. :)

[goingbush]

That is about 400kg of liquid isn't it?

Space inside the vehicle for gear never seemed to be an issue with the LWB Series III. :)

exactly, nor the old series II SWB, (one 10 gallon tank) we take far too much junk nowadays.

I found an old photo of me camping, I had an esky, cardboard box of stuff, a sleeping bag, 2 man tent, 20l drum of fuel, a canvas water bottle & that was it !!!

but we do go away & camp for weeks at a time now. (currently on a 12 month trip)

[ProjectDirector]

Carrying diesel inside is okay as it's classified as a Class II fuel.. as in non flammable so it's perfectly legal and fine to carry in the car.

I've removed the seats from the rear of my car and am fitting a 240 litre tank in there at the moment as there was no way I was paying the price they want for the small extra tanks available for the 90's... :)

I am only concerned about the smell of diesel inside the car, I have two boys and wife and have sensitive noses, but price difference may override this.

[Eevo]

If the reason is to extend the range, then if you have a safe, convenient way to carry a few jerry cans, then that is a lot cheaper than a long range tank.


8 jerry cans takes up a lot of space
plus i really hate to stop and fill up

[justinc]

I have a 60litre one for my 110 from these guys. Fit it before a trip in the back cargo floor, and remove afterwards.
Diesel Tanks | Enmach Industries (http://www.enmachind.com.au/poly-rv-accessories/diesel-tanks#.UWD_RxxvDPY)
The DPRV70 is Less Than $300 and exactly the right height to fit in the load bed, allowing a ply floor over the top.
Behind the front seats I have also filled the well section in with a 60litre alloy tank for water.


JC

[newhue]

I think PD it depends a bit on your plans for the vehicle. Mid or long term keeper. Regular expedition or not so. And there is a convenience factor in there as well.
I have two sill tanks and though they cost a bomb, I feel they are better value then a rear replacement tank. Both are around the same compactly but I get to keep the original tank as well thus adding to the total. The sill tanks only scrape in the more serious off road, but they keep the weight low and even.
The scenario of a rupture and massive loss I don't feel is a reality with well made tanks, and they have taps to close of a tank if that ever happens.

If you plan to long haul regularly or for the next 30 years, then sill tanks put a smile on your dial every time you drive past $3pl, then $2.50pl, then $2.00pl and finally stop and fill at $1.50pl. Even in the city only going to the servo every 4 to 5 weeks can have benefits.

[dromader driver]

well with my long range tanks I can just make Broome from Brisbane with 20 litres spare.... nah! :BigThumb:

Les Hiddens used to carry about 6 jerry's in the front of his trailer. Best Idea I have seen. Thats around another 1200 km range on top of the internal tanks. Food in the vehicle and fuel in the trailer just in case. Water can go in the trailer as well in 20 l in plastic jerry,s so you only loose one if it splits. LPG in the trailer is also a good idea rather than on the roof.

The trailer is a good idea as there is nothing worse than driving a grossly overloaded vehicle and worrying about it rolling with the missus and kids in it. Or worse breaking something at a most inconvenient place.

Really how often do you really need more than 100 litres. Thats 1100km rolling along on the highway at a reasonable speed in a Defa tray back.

If you know where you are going drum fuel can also be positioned with most fuel agents given enough time even up the Cape.

Bit of a reality check guys.

[2stroke]

I have driven from Mt Dare to Birdsville via the French line with approximately 40 l remaining in the Long Ranger 127l tank and from Jervois to Birdsville via the Hay River track with approximately 20 l left.
I carried jerries anyway because in a wet year plans sometimes change.
Don't know about a reality check but I'm waiting for a DPRV70ss from Enmach, since the canning trip on this year's agenda will require much better range and I won't need to worry about the capricorn fuel drop.
Healthy fuel range is a big plus to me.
Edit; it seems trailers are highly frowned upon on the Canning these days and not something I enjoy towing over sand dunes in any case.

[newhue]

I don't get 10lt/100 that seems to be mentioned around defenders. Dirt roads, sand, 18psi to 26psi and a full truck I'm getting 15 to 17. More fuel the better for me. Gives me the freedom to do whatever side trip that takes my fancy.

Trailers, funnels, splashing diesel.....I like my reality check

[chook73]

I have a total of 180lt in a 110 wagon spread across 3 tanks, main, rear quarter and sill. I intend to keep the vehicle a very long time and every time I drive past a station selling at $3/lt I save at least $100, do that 10 or 20 times which over the life of the vehicle and the tanks will pay for themselves which will keep the bean counters happy.

I also rely on the range which is why I invested in them but also consider where you are going to store them, 120lt of fuel or water on the roof of the vehicle is madness IMHO. Weight on any extremes of the vehicle is not great but especially high up, like when you see those trucks with the water tubes on the roof racks.

I do wonder though about 300lt in a 90? that seems like a lot of weight and room Sue you must be planning some pretty remote trips.

[Xtreme]

110 Defender - Std rear tank 75 litres plus one drivers side sill tank 53 litres = 128 litres total which was sufficient for Mt Dare to Birdsville via the Madigan Line. OK I did carry a few jerries for that trip as reserve but didn't need them.

So I can't really understand the need to (over)load your car with too much fuel. Eevo, have you thought of the extra weight you are carrying with 294 litres + the weight of the tanks themselves?

Overloading is IMHO the factor most likely to bring you undone on any trip and turn what would otherwise be an enjoyable trip into a nightmare

[Eevo]

Eevo, have you thought of the extra weight you are carrying with 294 litres + the weight of the tanks themselves?
yes
what other alternative do i have to get from A to B without sacrificing valuable interior space?
jerry cans on roof isnt great for CoB
jerry cans on rear door is illegal

[djam1]

Eevo you need to be careful your car might weigh half as much as an unladen 200 series
300 Litres or more is pretty common for expedition work in Northern Africa


yes
what other alternative do i have to get from A to B without sacrificing valuable interior space?
jerry cans on roof isnt great for CoB
jerry cans on rear door is illegal

[Xtreme]

yes
what other alternative do i have to get from A to B without sacrificing valuable interior space?
jerry cans on roof isnt great for CoB
jerry cans on rear door is illegal

So I assume from your response that A and B are something like 2000 to 2500 kilometers apart without any refueling possibilities between them?
Either that or you've got a rather thirsty truck. :D

I didn't know that jerries on the rear door were illegal, is that just a state thing? In any case I've never been keen on placing extra weight (jerries or second spare) right at the rear like that.

[Eevo]

So I assume from your response that A and B are something like 2000 to 2500 kilometers apart without any refueling possibilities between them?
Either that or you've got a rather thirsty truck. :D

I didn't know that jerries on the rear door were illegal, is that just a state thing? In any case I've never been keen on placing extra weight (jerries or second spare) right at the rear like that.

2000km and refuelling is a possibility but not a certainty.
assuming 20l/100 (worst case, soft sand etc)
250l will get me 1250km.


might be a state thing, im not sure, i never investigated it
rear door is considered a "crash zone" and cant have flammable material there

[Bushie]

I have the standard tank plus a longranger sill tank of approx 80litres. I've only needed to carry additional fuel for 'expedition' trips (Madigan - Finke to Birdsville and Great Victoria desert - Coober Pedy to Nullarbor Roadhouse via Vokes Hill corner). Additional fuel has been carried in jerry cans, up to 6 on the roof and emptied asap.
Worse fuel consumption experienced was cross country to Geosurveys hill (roughly estimated ~30/100).

See fuel figures at end of trip reports in sig links


Martyn

[Disco Muppet]

It's a bit different though Eevo, you've got a V8 :p
I'd rather carry fuel in a long range tank to give sensible range, maybe a jerry or two as an emergency.
Trailers give me the ****s really, so I don't consider them an option.

[djam1]

I currently have 163 litres personally I don't think its enough
At the moment I am getting a sill tank made to take it up to 218 litres
This will be adequate I hope

I find fuel economy to be a mixed bag with so many variables the stories of 10 litres per 100 are but legends in my experience.

[n plus one]

I've got 136 litres on board at the moment, with 55 more planned. After fitting the current long range tank, I'd never be without on again - worth their weight in gold.

PS for those considering jerry cans in the vehicle, metal cans don't give off any odours at all, unlike their plastic brothers...

[Eevo]

It's a bit different though Eevo, you've got a V8 :p
I'd rather carry fuel in a long range tank to give sensible range, maybe a jerry or two as an emergency.


true, but it means i'll actually get up the big sand dunes :p

i'll prob take the 2 jerry cans empty, can top those off with that opel fuel or at the community stations where im not 100% confident of the fuel being clean.

[Hoges]

I reckon these are the "go"! Fuel Bladder Marine Pillow Tanks - Turtlepac (http://www.turtlepac.com/en/products/fuel-bladder-marine-pillow-tanks.html) they're located at the Gold Coast. Simply roll the bladder up when not needed or fill it as required.

[Loubrey]

I have a 60litre one for my 110 from these guys. Fit it before a trip in the back cargo floor, and remove afterwards.
Diesel Tanks | Enmach Industries (http://www.enmachind.com.au/poly-rv-accessories/diesel-tanks#.UWD_RxxvDPY)
The DPRV70 is Less Than $300 and exactly the right height to fit in the load bed, allowing a ply floor over the top.
Behind the front seats I have also filled the well section in with a 60litre alloy tank for water.


JC

Justin,

How did you fix the tank down? I find the Puma's cargo area a pain with the seat bolt heads (replaced after removing seats to close the holes) ready the chafe through anything that looks like it wants to vibrate a fraction.

Cheers,

Lou

[Sue]

I didn't know that jerries on the rear door were illegal, is that just a state thing? In any case I've never been keen on placing extra weight (jerries or second spare) right at the rear like that.

You can carry Diesel on your rear door as it's 'non flammable' but carrying Petrol is a no go.. as is gas cylinders - I often wonder how they get away with that.. :)

[Loubrey]

Sue,

Must be the reason Dolium is reluctant to sell the Front Runner gas cylinder carrier mounted from the roof rack down to the RHS body capping...

Mounting it there is ok for Africa (see Naks' car in "Show us your Deefers"), but over here they only like selling the one that holds the cylinder upright on the roof rack.

Cheers,

Lou

[LoveB]

I just want to have more diesel in so I can do melbourne to canberra in one tank. lol

[roverrescue]

-Buy a 130 with a tray
-Can fit a 75L tank under tray, above the main tank
-Put two 44s in the tray

560L of bang should get you most places ;)

Steve

[Judo]

-Buy a 130 with a tray
-Can fit a 75L tank under tray, above the main tank
-Put two 44s in the tray

560L of bang should get you most places ;)

Steve
I know it's relative to the number of kms you get, but I'm not sure how I would feel about spending $800 on 1 fill up. :D

I haven't done any really long trips, but the sweet spot for me is 120-160L.

[roverrescue]

Ive only ever carried that volume when the 44s are for boat fuel and are unleaded.
Im less worried about the cost and more worried about the big badda bang behind me!

But we were planning a canning trip at some stage.
For such a trip I would definitely have a 44 of dieso in the tray. Most likely one of those plastic 44s. They strong solid and dont rub and carry on like a steel drum.

S

[Brid]

I have a 120L replacement tank on the Puma 110, but also take 20L DG cubes for extra diesel. I take up to 6 cubes in the rear at times, which gives me well over 2000km range. They are UN rated for Class III flammables so fine for diesel and cost about $10 each.

I don't like stopping to buy fuel & can easily refuel when I feel like a break from driving. Also fewer invoices for end of month bookwork. And just as big a reason is that I get most of my fuel from the local Shell, so there is less chance of common rail injection problems from unknown sources.

[ProjectDirector]

I think PD it depends a bit on your plans for the vehicle. Mid or long term keeper. Regular expedition or not so. And there is a convenience factor in there as well.
I have two sill tanks and though they cost a bomb, I feel they are better value then a rear replacement tank. Both are around the same compactly but I get to keep the original tank as well thus adding to the total. The sill tanks only scrape in the more serious off road, but they keep the weight low and even.
The scenario of a rupture and massive loss I don't feel is a reality with well made tanks, and they have taps to close of a tank if that ever happens.

If you plan to long haul regularly or for the next 30 years, then sill tanks put a smile on your dial every time you drive past $3pl, then $2.50pl, then $2.00pl and finally stop and fill at $1.50pl. Even in the city only going to the servo every 4 to 5 weeks can have benefits.

I guess I don't have immediate plans for the next 18 months to do long trips other one week at a time and will focus mainly in Victoria. So a couple of jerries will suffice. I need to keep my initial costs down given I spent $50k with extras on the new 110.

[newhue]

Yeh and it's easy to spend another 15K on accessories. Choose wisely.

[Bush65]

My 120 has a replacement tank that hold approx 100 litres. I plan to relocate to behind the cab, and fit a standard tank I have in the normal place. Then I have a RH side sill tank that holds approx 60 litres. Also have 2 stainless water containers to go under the tray. I'm thinking that should do me and if I need more, say for CSR, I have a number gerries for both water and fuel.

Speaking of carrying fuel in trailers, I remember a few years back when I ran a trip along the Madigan Line. A group from the D2 forum left Mt Dare the same morning. One of them (I think it was the D3) had a tiny trailer (just?) for fuel. I never looked close but it seemed and very light so as not much of a problem off road. We were delayed fixing a landcruiser (cv) so never saw them again. I know at least one of that group Graeme, is a member here. It is something which might suit others.