Auxillary fuel tank or larger tanks?

[WarnerD9]

I have a possible solution in the works but I need your help. Man-a-fre makes an aux tank for the FJs (http://www.man-a-fre.com/fjcruiser/fjcruiserauxiliarytank.htm) that I used in my 2008 for nearly 100k miles before I switched to a 2011 TE. I am seriously missing the range it gave me. So much so that I just shipped my 4runner to Man-a-fre to have them install one.

Unfortunately, essentially everything is different from what they or I expected so they would be starting from scratch.They are willing and interested in doing the project and i'll be the guinnea pig, but they want to see that I am not the only one interested in having one of their aux tank on a 5th gen 4Runner.

Here's where I need your help. If you are interested in an aux tank from them, please reply, and even better, call them and make a deposit. No firm details at this point but here are some estimates.

Deposit req'd: $500
Pricing: $2,000ish
Capacity: 17-21gal

Tank would mount where the factory spare is located requiring removal of the cross member, I am also not using a rear sway bar to accommodate a Metaltech long travel rear suspension. Basically it would be very similar to the FJ set up in the link above.

The sooner you give them a call 805-578-8712 the sooner I get my 4Runner back! Thanks for your help, you won't regret it!

 

[dodder]

Create a post on this when your tank is done, I'm curious how it all works out.

 

[WarnerD9]

Will do for sure. Here is a shot of the one on my FJ on Kane Creek in Moab, UT.

Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum - WarnerD9's Album: Previously owned/used/abused vehicles - Picture

 

[user name:]

TTT I haven't done this yet because I haven't liked the switch setup ideas. Has anyone found an auxiliary tank solution yet?

 

[Omar RVA]

TTT I haven't done this yet because I haven't liked the switch setup ideas. Has anyone found an auxiliary tank solution yet?

Check here: CBI Off Road - Rear Bumper/Aux Fuel Tank

And here: WarnerD9's Build Thread

OA

 

[user name:]

Check here: CBI Off Road - Rear Bumper/Aux Fuel Tank

And here: WarnerD9's Build Thread

OA

That is one hell of a setup, but probably a bit too expensive for a mere mortal such as myself.

 

[Omar RVA]

It's great to drool over though.

OA

 

[WarnerD9]

Create a post on this when your tank is done, I'm curious how it all works out.

Now for the promised update. After some R&D, we (the master tech at local Toyota Dealer) found some lines mis-routed. Then, we had to replace the typical fuel grade hose with a Toyota fuel grade hose. I've being running it for thousands of miles now and no issues.

The switch really doesn't bother me as I only use/drain the aux tank on long trip or off roads trips. When I'm just DDing the rig, I just do normal fill ups.

It extended my range to over 550 miles, and my rig runs very close to the mac GVW so she's a heavy girl (13-15MPGs). This allows me to carry fuel for my moto and still get out in the middle of nowhere and get back on a single tank.

I'm sure that if you time it right and fill up both tanks when gas prices are low and make it through the high price times without filling up, you'll realize payback within a few million miles.

Definitely not for everyone. I'm still very glad I did it. It was a pain to figure out how to iron out all the bugs, but I've got this one working better than the Man-A-Fre one ever did on my FJ.

 

[WarnerD9]

TTT I haven't done this yet because I haven't liked the switch setup ideas. Has anyone found an auxiliary tank solution yet?

FYI, I called just about every mfg who's built extended and aux tanks and there was literally no interest on their behalf. I hope you find someone, but I wouldn't plan on a silver bullet.

 

[enkrypt3d]

5th Gen 4Runner gets a few CBI mods | CBI Offroad Fab

Did anyone see this? Not sure if its available but would be great for long trips!

 

[SigSense]

5th Gen 4Runner gets a few CBI mods | CBI Offroad Fab

Did anyone see this? Not sure if its available but would be great for long trips!

That looks promising indeed.

 

[enkrypt3d]

definitely.. I wonder if there is a way to hook it up to the OEM tank so there's only one fill up tube? Would be great to have for piece of mind...

 

[user name:]

Has there been anymore advancements on this front in the last 2 years?

 

[nglayton]

Has there been anymore advancements on this front in the last 2 years?

Not that I have found. It looks like a custom made tank is the only way to get it done.

 

[JDaPP]

Titan tanks makes a tank that fits in place of the spare tire for diesel pickups. I have seen several sources that say they limit to diesel for liability reasons. Not sure if the sizes would work for the size tire on the 4runner and you would have to fabricate some mounting straps but would be a pretty good solution potentially.

 

[LawnDart]

I was actually at CBI on thursday. They do make an auxillary tank but they're completely one offs, and not a production item, it's also aluminum and they said the time to make them, pressure test them, etc is pretty time intensive. So I think it comes down to a shop allocation issue, and as a result the cost is pretty nuts to do them right.

 

[WRM1]

Has anyone looked at the dual tanks used on the Prados sold overseas? The Prado I had in Qatar had the standard 23 gallon tank and another 16 gallon tank that filled via the same filler.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

I've been running an aux tank for a few years now. Holds around 12 gallons and gets used on a weekly basis. Never had a single issue with the design. The full write up is in my build thread.