Auxiliary fuel tanks

  • HTML tutorial

Rubicajon

Rank VI
Launch Member
Member

Creator III

4,572
Panama City Beach, FL, USA
First Name
Rubi
Last Name
cajon
Member #

8182

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KG5VLS
Service Branch
Seabee’s
Haven't seen that done yet. I have seen aftermarket tanks but they are very proud of them and charge accordingly. Since I have a 2dr my options are limited which has driven me to relocate my evap canister to over the axle and my muffler to under the driver's side of the body. When I am able to find the right rear skid plate an auxiliary fuel tank will be fabricated and placed into the mufflers old location.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Overlanding Lawyer

Alanymarce

Rank IV

Trail Mechanic III

1,392
Colombia
I have ask - where are you travelling that you need the extra range?

Our JK (I know - different vehicle) has a range of around 700 km and this has proved adequate for everywhere we've been in it. The only trip we;'e done on which we would have needed more than this range was crossing the Simpson, and only to have emergency reserve.
 

Silver Rover

Rank V
Member

Member III

2,829
Montgomery, Texas, United States
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Jackson
Member #

31728

I have ask - where are you travelling that you need the extra range?

Our JK (I know - different vehicle) has a range of around 700 km and this has proved adequate for everywhere we've been in it. The only trip we;'e done on which we would have needed more than this range was crossing the Simpson, and only to have emergency reserve.
Houston, TX to Utah up to Alaska and back to Tx.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rubicajon

Silver Rover

Rank V
Member

Member III

2,829
Montgomery, Texas, United States
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Jackson
Member #

31728

I have ask - where are you travelling that you need the extra range?

Our JK (I know - different vehicle) has a range of around 700 km and this has proved adequate for everywhere we've been in it. The only trip we;'e done on which we would have needed more than this range was crossing the Simpson, and only to have emergency reserve.
Houston, TX to Utah up to Alaska and back to Tx.
Several months trip, off road where possible
 

Silver Rover

Rank V
Member

Member III

2,829
Montgomery, Texas, United States
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Jackson
Member #

31728

I have ask - where are you travelling that you need the extra range?

Our JK (I know - different vehicle) has a range of around 700 km and this has proved adequate for everywhere we've been in it. The only trip we;'e done on which we would have needed more than this range was crossing the Simpson, and only to have emergency reserve.
Houston, TX to Utah up to Alaska and back to Tx.
Several months trip, off road where possible
We are pulling a small modified teardrop trailer.
 

Rubicajon

Rank VI
Launch Member
Member

Creator III

4,572
Panama City Beach, FL, USA
First Name
Rubi
Last Name
cajon
Member #

8182

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KG5VLS
Service Branch
Seabee’s
Not sure if that was for me but I'll answer.

My 2dr jk gets about 19 to 20 mpg since I removed my rack and all gear on the roof. With complete rack and load for 16 days of travel 12 to 15 mpg in the mountains is good.

So when I fill up DTE is usually around 280 to 300 miles estimated. Since I drive for my work I'm usually good for 4 to 5 hours before I need a break. All the trips I have made to UT, AZ, NM, TX I was stopping say every 3 hours for fuel.


Use number 1 is to extend my range while driving to the trails I want to ride. (Longest trip was 5700 miles)

Use number 2 is for when we travel in a group with larger vehicles with longer ranges or following my wife and son in their jkus (larger fuel tanks).

Use number 3 no more fuel cans.... leaky leaky plastic fuel cans.

Use number 4 it's harder to steal my fuel if it's locked under the vehicle and not in the cans strapped to my rack.

Roaming around the southwest we were sometimes pressed to find fuel stops. Same with Kansas for some strange reason.

Our Louisiana to Alaska trip that is planned will be over 10k miles going through some remote ares. Peace of mind carrying almost 40 gallons of fuel on board as low as possible in the vehicle is a nice way to go.

I could have made this shorter I guess by saying the extra fuel will not be carried all the time on board. Fill it when I need it.
 

Alanymarce

Rank IV

Trail Mechanic III

1,392
Colombia
...when I fill up DTE is usually around 280 to 300 miles estimated...


Use number 1 is to extend my range while driving to the trails I want to ride. (Longest trip was 5700 miles)

Use number 2 is for when we travel in a group with larger vehicles with longer ranges or following my wife and son in their jkus (larger fuel tanks).

Use number 3 no more fuel cans.... leaky leaky plastic fuel cans.

Use number 4 it's harder to steal my fuel if it's locked under the vehicle and not in the cans strapped to my rack.

Roaming around the southwest we were sometimes pressed to find fuel stops. Same with Kansas for some strange reason.

Our Louisiana to Alaska trip that is planned will be over 10k miles going through some remote ares. Peace of mind carrying almost 40 gallons of fuel on board as low as possible in the vehicle is a nice way to go.

I could have made this shorter I guess by saying the extra fuel will not be carried all the time on board. Fill it when I need it.
All these make sense, and your idea is good. I was thinking of our experience - we used to carry extra fuel in cans when we needed more range than we had with the primary tank which was/is 500 km or so with the Nissan, the same with the Montero, and 700 km with the Wrangler. The only times we have ever needed more fuel were in SW Bolivia, Ruta 40 in Argentina, Northern Botswana, Western Tanzania, the GRR, and the Simpson. Except for Argentina and Botswana we've always ended up with lots of fuel left over after the route where we thought we needed extra. So, our experience has been that we over-estimate our needs. It's good in the sense that we don't run out of fuel, however on our last long run (Dempster) we thought carefully about range and consumption, planned to add reserve cans if necessary, but in the end concluded (correctly) that our range with the standard tank (81 L) was adequate - we never came close to running out.

PS - your point about fuel theft is a good one - we've had fuel stolen (not all of the reserve, only one canful) once.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rubicajon

Rubicajon

Rank VI
Launch Member
Member

Creator III

4,572
Panama City Beach, FL, USA
First Name
Rubi
Last Name
cajon
Member #

8182

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KG5VLS
Service Branch
Seabee’s
I forgot to say I am ocd about fuel when on long trips.
Stop to eat fuel up
Bathroom break fuel up
Visit an attraction fuel up
Fuel stop fuel up

My trips are changing as life changes. My kids are grown my wife is a glamper only between October and May and between 65 an 72 degrees.

My trips are becoming more solo and long distance. When we spent a couple weeks out west I found roads and trails that I could have stayed on for 30 days and never seen a town it felt like.

The other use I forgot to mention is fuel for others who might need it.

Thanks for the replies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Overlanding Lawyer

Silver Rover

Rank V
Member

Member III

2,829
Montgomery, Texas, United States
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Jackson
Member #

31728

Not sure if that was for me but I'll answer.

My 2dr jk gets about 19 to 20 mpg since I removed my rack and all gear on the roof. With complete rack and load for 16 days of travel 12 to 15 mpg in the mountains is good.

So when I fill up DTE is usually around 280 to 300 miles estimated. Since I drive for my work I'm usually good for 4 to 5 hours before I need a break. All the trips I have made to UT, AZ, NM, TX I was stopping say every 3 hours for fuel.


Use number 1 is to extend my range while driving to the trails I want to ride. (Longest trip was 5700 miles)

Use number 2 is for when we travel in a group with larger vehicles with longer ranges or following my wife and son in their jkus (larger fuel tanks).

Use number 3 no more fuel cans.... leaky leaky plastic fuel cans.

Use number 4 it's harder to steal my fuel if it's locked under the vehicle and not in the cans strapped to my rack.

Roaming around the southwest we were sometimes pressed to find fuel stops. Same with Kansas for some strange reason.

Our Louisiana to Alaska trip that is planned will be over 10k miles going through some remote ares. Peace of mind carrying almost 40 gallons of fuel on board as low as possible in the vehicle is a nice way to go.

I could have made this shorter I guess by saying the extra fuel will not be carried all the time on board. Fill it when I need it.
All vert good points. When is your Alaska trip planned for?