petrol tank in trailer

[Utemad]

Hi all,

I have ordered a soft floor camper and have been looking at fuel capacity.
It comes with two jerry can holders which are located in front of each wheel. You can also fit 3 or 5 (I forget which) across the draw bar in front of the main trailer compartment but behind the storage box. I didn't get the drawbar carrier but I will make one myself if need be.

However I was thinking about fitting a fuel tank under the trailer. It has a 60L water tank behind the axle and I have seen other manufacturers offer another 60L tank in front of the axle. So I was thinking of fitting a petrol tank in front of the axle.

Has anyone done this?
Is this legal? I'm guessing not.
I don't know if it would fit but it would be good to use a D1 tank so then you could swap it if for some reason you stuffed your tank somewhere away from help.

A long range tank on my D1 only adds about 40L at a cost of about $1000 new. If I could get a 2nd hand one then that would be great but I'm not paying $1000 for 40L extra.

[JDNSW]

Like you I suspect it is illegal. There is also the problem of transfer of fuel to the car.

If not illegal, it will be hedged by all sorts of regulations, as will any fuel transfer arrangements, including regular inspections and signage. This would not worry me unduly for diesel, but there is a very real risk of fire with petrol, both in case of an accident such as an overturned trailer, and when transferring fuel. Jerricans are a lot safer since the container is completely sealed.

John

[p38arover]

Aquarangie was looking for someone to swap a standard for his long range tank.

Ron

[Utemad]

I realise the biggest problem is the transfer of fuel. Any static electricity would create quite a light show :o
I was thinking the safest way would be to pump it from the trailer tank to the main tank through a long line of fuel hose and an earth strap between the two tanks. But as you say it is easier and less of a concern to just use jerry cans.

I'll PM Aquarangie and ask about his tank.

Thanks.

[cartm58]

well the issue you would need to consider is insurance policy will it cover a fuel tank that is designed to pump fuel into car as opposed to carrying fuel in jerry cans on trailer.

cartm58
1993 range rover

[Utemad]

Insurance would probably be a PITA.

I PMed Aquarangie and the long range tank he wants to swap is of the older variety whereas mine is the newer plastic one.
That's what he says anyway. I wouldn't actually know :D
Would have been good though.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

in a previous life we used to take fuel for the race car away with us,, untill the Authorities put a limit on the amount of external fuel you can carry,, ie: jerry cans/drums.

and it wasnt much.

but for the life of me I cant remember how much,,:(

[Michael2]

A lot of earth moving contractors carry fuel tanks with pumps in the back of utes (and I'm guessing in trailers too) for refuelling their dozers and graders.

I can't see how carrying fuel in a fuel tank on a trailer is any different to carrying fuel in a jerry can.

I've aquired a (freebie) 200 litre diesel tank from a Merc. truck that fits snuggly on my off road trailer. Though with a 150 litre long range tank I suppose I'll never use it. I'd like to think that I could take it - maybe as fuel storage for a convoy in a remote area.

[p38arover]

If yours was diesel (so you weren't worried about incineration), this would be good (in Brissie, too):

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Landrover-Discovery-fuel-tank-rangerover_W0QQitemZ220050529576QQihZ012QQcategory Z102360QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ron

[Utemad]

A lot of earth moving contractors carry fuel tanks with pumps in the back of utes (and I'm guessing in trailers too) for refuelling their dozers and graders.

We carry 200L drums in the back of our F250s for that exact purpose. We have a fuel pump with two filters on it in series (10 and then 2 micron I think) then a normal bowser handle to fill our forklifts, loaders and stationary pumps.
This works well but wouldn't like to do it this way with petrol. You'd need to be more careful than this splash and dash.

[Utemad]

If yours was diesel (so you weren't worried about incineration), this would be good (in Brissie, too):

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Landrover-Discovery-fuel-tank-rangerover_W0QQitemZ220050529576QQihZ012QQcategory Z102360QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ron
Yep I saw that last night. For $1 you can't go wrong :)
That was me who asked the fuel type question.

I just had a brain wave, as we have copius amounts of 25L red plastic boat tanks I could make a bracket up underneath and fit two or three of them in front of the axle. Then I could connect a fuel line to each one (one at a time with the quick connects) and pump (with an inline 12v fuel pump) straight into the Disco fuel filler.
This gets pretty much the same outcome yet they are still self contained jerry cans. Just need to remove them from the trailer to fill them.

Last time I went to Fraser I had about 160L of petrol in the back of the ute in jerry cans and boat tanks. Stored the lot in the laundry at Kingfisher Bay.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

might have something to do with this,,
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrument1.nsf/0/772E28EB65848206CA25710300193CF3?OpenDocument


assuming we all agree fuel is a "dangerous goods"

[Michael2]

...assuming we all agree fuel is a "dangerous goods"

From memory in Vic at least, Dangerous Goods legislation and placarding applies to dangerous goods above a certain volume. For example oxygen tanks in an Ambulance don't technically require placarding due to the volume stored, though you'll find they still put the little stickers on the cabinet. I don't know what the volumes for fuel are, but the volumes we're talking about may not be covered by legislation.