I have an auxiliary bed tank. I remove it when I'm hauling my TC. I only use it when I'm hauling my Toyhauler. Poor truck only gets 8.5-9mpg hauling my toyhauler, it needs it. It sits against the bulkhead, and takes up about 12 inches of space, 4 foot wide. Holds an extra 35 gallons of fuel. It is made from heavy gauge steel, not light aluminum.
My truck still sits about 1" butt-high with my camper in fully loaded. I have not yet tried the tank with the camper. Would you run the bed tank for extended excursions, thereby moving your TC 12 inches back?
I'd have to think it'd be light on the fronts that way, or not. That's a tough Q w/o the numbers on the camper though. 12" back but putting an extra 35 gallons plus tank in it's place. Sounds like it might just put more of a load on the rears.
Don't think I'd do it unless I were going to be going where there's a shortage of gas stations.
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT
You've got a big camper but you also have dual rear wheels.
It's going to shift your center of gravity to behind the wheels.
That could be compensated some by traveling without or less freah water.
You'll be hanging out the back another 12 inches so you might even consider removing the rear jacks during travel so as not to drag and catch them on hills curbs and whatever else the road throws at you. They are easy to remove install.
I don't think it wil be a problem with your hold downs but forget towing unless you get a superhitch and possibly a tag wheel if the load on the tounge is heavy enough.
Those are about the only issues I can think of to consider.
J
I wouldn't run the bed tank with the TC for weight, COG, and overhang. I'd do some work on the truck to help the mileage if you need a little more range.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
Your AF is heavy. I would not run the spare tank. I don't think a full tank could offset your change in center of gravity. The tank would also emtpy itself on the road negating its advantage. Are you running Torklift stable loads yet?
If I really wanted to have an extra tank with the camper on, I would invest in an extra capacity replacement tank that goes in the stock location. If that is too expensive (those tanks certainly aren't cheap!), an alternative would be to mount the extra tank on a front receiver hitch. That puts the extra weight on the front axle and keeps your camper mounted forward so it's COG is where it's supposed to be in relation to the rear axle.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: If I really wanted to have an extra tank with the camper on, I would invest in an extra capacity replacement tank that goes in the stock location. If that is too expensive (those tanks certainly aren't cheap!), an alternative would be to mount the extra tank on a front receiver hitch. That puts the extra weight on the front axle and keeps your camper mounted forward so it's COG is where it's supposed to be in relation to the rear axle.
You have to be kidding...a fuel tank on a front hitch...did I just hear a KABOOM at the first stop light?
SoCalDesertRider wrote: If I really wanted to have an extra tank with the camper on, I would invest in an extra capacity replacement tank that goes in the stock location. If that is too expensive (those tanks certainly aren't cheap!), an alternative would be to mount the extra tank on a front receiver hitch. That puts the extra weight on the front axle and keeps your camper mounted forward so it's COG is where it's supposed to be in relation to the rear axle.
You have to be kidding...a fuel tank on a front hitch...did I just hear a KABOOM at the first stop light?
Diesel is a lot safer than gas. Download gasbuddy.com and pre plan your trips.
HTElectrical wrote: You can't put a big air dam on the front of the vehicle.
You can't??? I've got lots of miles behind mine.
To the OP: I don't think I'd leave the tank in the bed with the truck camper. I doubt 35 gallons is enough to offset the COG being moved 12" back. Even if it did, being a fuel tank it's going to get lighter as you use up the fuel. I'd guess that the COG on your camper is centered over the rear axle like mine is.
I think I'd look at a larger capacity replacement tank that goes under the bed. I know, they're expensive. I didn't like the price of mine when I bought it 10 years ago, and they're worse now. I don't try to cost justify it though. If you need (or just want) the convenience of carrying the extra fuel, that's all the justification needed.
Transfer Flow, Aero Tanks, and Northwest Metal Products all make larger replacement tanks for your truck. Either a bigger mid-ship tank, or a bigger rear tank that relocates the spare.
* This post was
edited 03/02/12 08:14am by NRALIFR *
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