Fuel tank location options for long bed pickup

[dmjlambert]

What are the fuel tank location options for long bed pickup such as my 1969 CST/10, assuming I would not want to get rid of the spare tire location under the rear of the bed? Are there any later model year or other model tanks that are available in reproductions that will just bolt up?

[May70]

You have a spare tire mount under the bed? Pics? Didnt know that was a factory thing.

I was going to put my tank between the last two cross members in the frame...

[Rufas]

When relocating my fuel tank on my 70 GMC long bed the only option I could find were tanks that occupied the spare tire area. I haven't seen anything else but haven't been looking.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by May70

You have a spare tire mount under the bed? Pics? Didnt know that was a factory thing.

I was going to put my tank between the last two cross members in the frame...

It's probably stock on long beds and it seems very few of us like long beds, or standard beds as I prefer to call them.

I am not using mine now because I don't have a spare yet. It is on my list after I get air conditioning going. Here is one that is for sale with picture.



https://offerup.com/item/detail/338284376/

I am interested in extra tank(s) in addition to the in-cab tank, and I'm going to gravity feed them from the in-cab tank, instead of having separate fill necks/caps. And I don't want to use the spare tire location at the rear of the truck.

[dmjlambert]

I was hoping somebody would know if Blazer or Suburban had the under truck spare tire mount, and under truck tank or tanks tucked up under there as well, and perhaps reproduction tanks are available. But, I don't know about those trucks or the compatibility of their tanks with the C10 long bed pickup .

[Astro-Balls]

The aftermarket option in the day was to put in two saddle tanks, At the front under the bed.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

The aftermarket option in the day was to put in two saddle tanks, At the front under the bed.

Is it practical to do that today, or with time machine only? :-)

[Astro-Balls]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Is it practical to do that today, or with time machine only? :-)

I suppose the only drawback to it is the tanks are not within the frame rails, Not as protected?

[randy500]

Factory NL2 driver side tank under bed, fills through side of bed. I have one for sale, unknown internal condition, i have one wiring harness and i think the valve, no switch though. I dont have the filler neck.
The factory tank is very similar to the aftermarket saddle tanks which most fill through a cutout in the side of the bed. Some rareish ones fill through the wheel well, much better option i think.

No blazer or burb had a spare mounted under the rear tank.

[dmjlambert]

OK, "Factory NL2 driver side tank under bed"
I'm searching but don't find any pictures of where they mount on the truck or what they look like, especially when installed on a pickup truck. I would like to check where ever it is supposed to be mounted to make sure I have room to put it. I have an exhaust pipe I may need to relocate, depending on where the tank is supposed to go. I am not concerned about the fill neck, since I plan to use no fill neck at all, so I suppose I will weld that closed. I will use just one vent line at the top and one fuel line at the bottom, inserted in an all-in-one sending unit I hope. Are new sending units for these available?

[Rufas]

I had those crappy saddle gas tanks along with those crappy piano hinge gas doors. That crap went in the trash along with the in cab gas tank. Now happy with an under bed rear gas tank and side bed gas fill.

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[kwmech]

When I started building my flatbed I found a spot behind the cab--between the frame rails and above the exhaust and driveline. Holds (if my math is correct) about 45 gallons. Had it made from stainless steel. Still have the in-cab tank also. Think I'll run the aux tank as a main then switch to the cab as a back up, we'll see

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Rufas

I had those crappy saddle gas tanks ...

What made you unhappy with the gas tanks?

[un4gvn!]

I agree with Rufas. I installed mine in the back also.

[whatwas]

I know you said you didn't want it at the rear of your frame , so this post is a FYI for other forum members.
I am using the rear tank from my 1999 GMC 3500 dump . It fits like its supposed to be there, it has the fuel gauge sending unit, frame mount pump, its plastic ,and a heavy steel shell that even the bolt holes (2 of the 6) line up with existing holes in the frame. I had to make a cross member for the tank straps and I'm a little concerned about the tail pipe routing, but I was surprised and I wasn't using it in the 3500 anyway.
sorry for the hi-jack

[toolboxchev]

I had those crappy saddle tanks, fill was located in the wheel well. Not good as the tire would throw mud and road crap all over it and the fill nozzle.

Have been wanting to do a blazer style tank in the spare location. Yet not wanting to cut the crap out of my rig. Thinking of throwing one in the bed. Yea scrap that more cutting.

I do know how many guys ruin the originality of their rigs cutting the sheetmetal to heck and gone. Always finding bed panels and part out rigs with this done.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by Rufas

I had those crappy saddle gas tanks along with those crappy piano hinge gas doors. That crap went in the trash along with the in cab gas tank. Now happy with an under bed rear gas tank and side bed gas fill.

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Originally Posted by un4gvn!

I agree with Rufas. I installed mine in the back also.

You guys have any more info on what tanks and filler necks you used? A lot of custom work, I'm fully aware of that, what fuel door did you use?

[Already Gone]

I don't know why anyone would want to put a door on the fleet side when you could have this setup for the gas fill only I'd put the fill on the drivers side. If this isn't good I think there are now kits being made to put the filler behind the drivers side taillight.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

What made you unhappy with the gas tanks?

The fill tank tubes are small and it's very tight getting your hand inside the panel to take the gas cap off. Filling is just a royal PITA.

Those piano hinge fuel door are just plain butt ugly, they rust and the paint peels off the hinges.

One more thing the tanks rust on the inside too.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Rufas

The fill tank tubes are small and it's very tight getting your hand inside the panel to take the gas cap off. Filling is just a royal PITA.

Those piano hinge fuel door are just plain butt ugly, they rust and the paint peels off the hinges.

One more thing the tanks rust on the inside too.

Well if that's all the problem is, it won't be a problem for me. I'm going to just weld the fill necks shut and not use them. I would like them to have a round hole in top with the 5 bolt holes surrounding it for one of those universal 90 ohm sending units. And another similar hole to mount a round disk fitted with a pickup tube with filter sock and vent tube. If I get used or steel ones that may rust I can clean them up and put some of that RED-KOTE or something like that in there.

[dmjlambert]

Does anybody have any pictures of saddle tanks installed and also what they look like apart from the truck? I don't know what they look like or exactly what space they occupy. This is for a fleet side long bed. I don't care about the filler neck location because I won't be using the filler neck.

[Chris_oz]

Hello,

My 1970 C20 "longhorn" had 2 x dealer fitted auxiliary fuel tanks (they are on the invoice and order)

The are in front of the rear wheels, outboard of the chassis, the filler necks are in the wheel well.

They were hooked into the fuel system with a floor mounted manual 3 way tap/selector.

Mounts were long 1/2' dia bolts that ran down through the tank.

Fitted in 1970, still there not leaking in 2018.

They were just over 15.5 US gallons each.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by Chris_oz

Hello,

My 1970 C20 "longhorn" had 2 x dealer fitted auxiliary fuel tanks (they are on the invoice and order)

The are in front of the rear wheels, outboard of the chassis, the filler necks are in the wheel well.

They were hooked into the fuel system with a floor mounted manual 3 way tap/selector.

Mounts were long 1/2' dia bolts that ran down through the tank.

Fitted in 1970, still there not leaking in 2018.

They were just over 15.5 US gallons each.

Speaking from experience I guarantee those tanks are very rusty inside. Stay away from them. You'll get a lot of crap in your gas using them. I would use them. I had them and the best option is to either stay with your existing in cab tank or get a new rear under bed tank.

[Chris_oz]

Originally Posted by Rufas

Speaking from experience I guarantee those tanks are very rusty inside. Stay away from them. You'll get a lot of crap in your gas using them. I would use them. I had them and the best option is to either stay with your existing in cab tank or get a new rear under bed tank.

Hi,

The tanks are in my shed, I doubt I will ever use them, They do seem clean inside, but I have no need for them.

My truck had a 11ft Anza slide in camper fitted at purchase, I imagine the fuel use would have been high, hence the long range tanks.

Now it is just used for cruising, daily trips to work and collecting some firewood, the stock tank does me fine. I can get over 300 miles with ease before looking for fuel.

[dmjlambert]

That is interesting and informative, thanks. I wonder if that is a longhorn-only size, or if those would fit on a long bed pickup. I also wonder how the bolts go through the tank. I suppose maybe there is a tube that goes through the tank and is welded, do you think that's right? Do the mount bolts go through he floor of the bed?