Extra Fuel Tanks

[guest]

It seems to me that one of the easiest ways to save money in a straight truck would be if you could buy more cheap fuel when you find it. My truck holds 150 gallons, and I wish it held 300 gallons. Considering that straight trucks typically have plenty of rail space for extra tanks and the extra weight would be justified by the money savings and extended driving range, why do I never see really large tanks or extra tanks on a straight truck?

 

[redytrk]

My truck Has two 100 gal tanks. @ 11.3 MPG that gives a range of 2260 miles. This allows us to fuel up in the lower cost states.

Another benefit is my co-driver dosent have to wake me up to do the fueling.(wish I could get a job like hers).

 

[LDB]

I suspect it's because a 6 wheel truck can't afford the weight. Looking at a truck with twin 80's as standard going to 300 gallons capacity would add over 1100 pounds of fuel plus the extra weight of the tanks and would take over 10% of the load carrying capability of the truck just for the extra fuel. I went with twin 150's on my new truck and that's one reason I can only carry 18,500. Had I gone with twin 100's I could carry an extra 1000 pounds of cargo. In hindsight I should have gone no larger than twin 125's max and perhaps twin 100's. I could be mistaken, but I think it's the weight penalty.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[davekc]

You are correct. It pulls away from the weight capacity. Some setups would additionally have front axle weight issues. Even with some, like a KWT2000, tanks have to be moved back in order to lighten the front end for a straight truck application.



Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[RichM]

One time i came back from Winnipeg Manitoba and at the top end of I 29 in North Dakota there was a mid size fuel/truck stop. I stopped for fuel and at the next island there was an old beat up International with 8 fuel tanks attached to the frame,4 on each side. I asked the driver about that and he laughed and said his company sent him into the US once a week to check on their US mail and while here he would have to fill up. The company in Manitoba had several other newer trucks so I figured and the driver sort of went along with my theory that they were draining the US fuel into the Canadian trucks,thus avoiding the high Canadian fuel taxes.
You would think Canada Customs or their local DOT would get wise to this scam, but he said it was a weekly run..

 

[X1_SRH]

This is an excellent thread!

Based on personal experience I'd go no larger than twin 100's due to the weight factor. I had twin 80's on my last truck and really wished a lot of times for more capacity.Looking back now I can see that the extra 40 gallons (400 miles) really would have kept some cash in my pocket sometimes (particularly in the Northeast). I think twin 100's would provide a good trade off between weight and range.

Scott

 

[LDB]

One thing with my twin 150's is if I put the nozzle in as far as it will go it will shut off with quite a bit of space still open above it. At that point it's more like having twin 125's and if I want to I can get another 20 or so gallons into each tank. I usually stop at the first cutoff unless I know I've potentially got a lot of miles in a high price area ahead. Then I'd go ahead and fill as full as I can in hopes of getting back to a more reasonable price before filling again.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
-----
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Broompilot]

Twin 120s holds 1,800 lbs of fuel balanced perfect. I have scaled on a quarter fueled, scaled again $1.00 and to my suprise it was distributed perfect the weight on each axle was balanced perfect.

This is Expediting how many times have I gone over 10K in my truck in the last year maybee 5% probably less. Last load 8 skids 505 lbs. skids had more wieght than the product.