Auxiliary Fuel Tank options for 2003 110 Defender

[whynot]

Hi All,
looking for insight into options for additional fuel carrying capacity. Again having just started towing a van, the fuel usage has increased significantly.

Having thought about it, my preference would be for a tank under the drivers / passengers seat due to balance and load distribution, but have no idea on cost / practicability etc. Open to options...

Jerry cans are not preferred as I have been caught in dust storms and having to refill - not fun...

I welcome your thoughts, pictures, costs, pros / cons on all options.. Will consider second hand if anyone has something available..

Cheers
Andrew

[goingbush]

I have a Dolium 45 tank behind rear wheel on mine, it fits between main tank and filler neck, plus a 50l brown davis tank from a Tdi under the floor on drivers side, using a electric lift pump to transfer fuel from that into the main tank. It fills thru a hole under the drivers floor mat.

gives about 1000klm towing the van

Also a 40l stainless water tank on the rear passenger side , and 2 x 100ah AGM under passenger seat to to balance it out.

some pics on Going Bush (http://www.goingbush.com/defender.html)

[harro]

Hi Andrew,
I have one of these fitted Defender 110 99 ON TD5 TD4 Rep (http://www.longrangeautomotive.com.au/products/detail/15-landrover/flypage/79-defender-110-99-on-td5-td4-rep.html'sef=hcfp)

Fitted it myself over a weekend about 6 years ago and no problems at all.
It is a change over for the factory plastic tank and towing a camper I can still get around 1000 klms to the tank (140L). Clearance is still pretty good, done a fair bit of offroad with it and only knocked it a few times. They seem to be pretty robust units and look like they can handle a few dints.

Sill tanks are an option but I really couldn't be bothered with transfer pumps, wiring and the extra plumbing etc. I guess if you are paying someone else to do it that probably isn't an issue.

Cheers,
Paul.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Hi Andrew,
I have one of these fitted Defender 110 99 ON TD5 TD4 Rep (http://www.longrangeautomotive.com.au/products/detail/15-landrover/flypage/79-defender-110-99-on-td5-td4-rep.html'sef=hcfp)

Fitted it myself over a weekend about 6 years ago and no problems at all.
It is a change over for the factory plastic tank and towing a camper I can still get around 1000 klms to the tank (140L). Clearance is still pretty good, done a fair bit of offroad with it and only knocked it a few times. They seem to be pretty robust units and look like they can handle a few dints.

Sill tanks are an option but I really couldn't be bothered with transfer pumps, wiring and the extra plumbing etc. I guess if you are paying someone else to do it that probably isn't an issue.

Cheers,
Paul.

A few people on here have the LRA 140L tank, including me.

I also have the right hand side sill tank too.

Both are excellent quality and seem to stand the test if time.

However, if I was to install them again I wouldn't use the LRA Sill tank plumbing, the breather isn't big enough so its slow to fill and its a pain to get much more than 40L in it due to the angle I the filler neck. In fairness this has a lot to do with the car design and where the pipe work can be routes. My choice would probably be to fill from the standard TD5 filler and use a Toyota Y shaped pipe behind the filler neck to allow the bowser to be pointed down each pipe. This combined with a bigger breather will sort all the problems.

As for the 140L tank, I've dropped a fully loaded 110 on it more than once. It has a couple of dings in it, but it still holds fuel at all the seams.

Hth
J

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[n plus one]

I've got the LRA 132l tank in my 09 Puma - reduced capacity from the 140l tank as it retains the rear sway bar. Ultimately I'm
Planning to fit their sill tanks as well (one fuel, one water) and fitted the rear fiestas it was easier/cheaper at the time.

The rank itself is great, but the lowered sway bar mounts not so much - they are now the lowest point on the truck and have copped a real flogging.

If I was doing things over I'd go the sill tanks first, followed by the rear non-sway bar 140l tank.

[whynot]

I have come up with the below findings thus far:

LRA most Popular and available through TJM
All Additional fuel / changes require a Mod plate here in QLD

LRA Replacement 140 lt tank approx.(inc Install) $1650.00 +
fuel. Supply only $1200.00

LRA Aux sill tank under drivers or passengers seat L @ 55lt or R @ 65lt at $1149.00 + install & mod plate.

Dollium rear sill tank - 40 lt approx. $850.00

Brown Davis do a Drivers side aux 80lt tank with the filler neck between rear wheel arch and back door with own fuel gauge and pump to main tank for about $2050.00 installed & mod plated + fuel....

Brown Davis is my preference but for the cost...

Side step may require some modification - I have Heavy duty ones done buy Davis Performance Landys in Amaroo (Sydney).

Hope this is of some help to others..

Still keen to hear others thought and experiences

cheers
Andrew

[modman]

What about Mulgo sill tanks?
Do they fit puma models?
Great bloke and v nice single filler as well
Dc

[chook73]

What about Mulgo sill tanks?
Do they fit puma models?
Great bloke and v nice single filler as well
Dc

Yep Mulgo do sill tanks for Puma's and I seem to remember someone doing a calculation a while back that they were the most cost effective $/lt i.e. you get 100lt for around $2k.

Good thing is they keep the weight low and between the axles, you do sacrifice a bit of clearance however this can be offset by fitting portals :angel:

Seriously though if your doing touring and not rock climbing your probably not going to notice the clearance loss, I seem to remember the LRA looses a bit of clearance as well.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

LRA side tanks do not protrude below the chassis rail ( they are just marginally higher than the lowest part of the chassis rail) and have a 45degree chamfer on the outside edge.

I've never managed to drop the car on the sill tank ...yet

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[FeatherWeightDriver]

All Additional fuel / changes require a Mod plate here in QLD

Interesting - does anyone in NSW know if engineering is required for fuel tank mods here?

Looks to me like fuel tank specifications were removed from the national ADRs:

Third Edition Australian Design Rules (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx)

ADR 17—Fuel System
The function of this Australian Design Rule is to specify requirements for ‘Fuel Systems 17/00’ using ‘Liquid Fuel 17/00’ other than liquefied petroleum gas that will facilitate safe operation and reduce the risk of fire due to fuel spillage during filling operations or as a result of impacts.
/00—This standard ceased to have effect for new vehicles as from 2 August 2005.

[bushrover]

I have a 120 litre LRA (I think) rear tank (cut a hole in your rear floor while the tank is out to access the fuel pump), Dolium tank in the right rear and 85 litre LRA tank from my County under the drivers seat. Fills by removing the seat base. I used it as an excuse to move my electrics up under the centre console. Had to drill the spot welds to remove the panels under the seat. Only reason I mention this is you may find a second hand early type sill tank and it will fit with a bit of work to remove the panelling.

Drilling the first hole is the most difficult.....................once you have one hole, drilling heaps more in your defender becomes much easier.

Installation is really not very difficult and you could pay for a third tank by fitting them yourself and with help to get them in position.

Rick