gas tank safety - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Vu14TJ · 08-19-2002, 06:25 PM

i have noticed how a lot of people move their gas tanks half in and half out of the bed of the jeep. but instead of cutting a huge hole in the floor i just put the whole tank back there. i am in the process of building a box around it right now, but this weekend i was with a few other guys and they said it was unsafe and that i should have a fuel cell. i just want to know what the difference is between a fuel cell and a gas tank, and how i could make this safe, if it is not. and yes i searched, but i didnt find anything about safety.

nobody20 · 08-20-2002, 06:57 AM

I want to know too. I was planning on building a stainless steel flat tank for the bed with a sump for the fuel pump. I want to c move the rear axle back. If I vent the tank, put baffles in it and pressure test it, what's wrong with it. It can't be worse that the fuel cells without a steel or aluminum box, can it?

cmk · 08-20-2002, 08:37 AM

There are different types of "fuel cells." Some are no different than a stock tank ... just blow molded poly tanks. IMO, there is no safety difference between those and a stock tank. And those blow molded poly tanks are what 75% of the dudes out there use.

The other 25% of the dudes are running some sort of bubba' fabbed metal tank (steel, stainless, aluminum). This is probably safer than a poly tank BUT only if an extremely competent welder does the work. I shouldn't have to explain why you don't want some novice welder messing around with a gas tank.

If you really want safety, then you're talking "safety fuel cells." This is the kind of stuff that racecars use ... steel outer shells with a puncture resistant bladder inside. These are the ultimate in safety, but they are also the ultimate in price. That's why most guys don't bother.

Run the stock tank in the bed, just make sure that it's secure and that nothing can puncture it.

cmk

Vu14TJ · 08-20-2002, 07:53 PM

i kinda figured it was ok. i am gonna build a box around it so it will not get puctured. i just wasnt sure.

P&T Jeeps · 08-20-2002, 08:29 PM

wouldn't you have a better chance of puncturing the tank under your Jeep rather than in it? knives from the camping gear maybe?

cmk · 08-20-2002, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by P&T jeeps
wouldn't you have a better chance of puncturing the tank under your Jeep rather than in it? knives from the camping gear maybe?

My buddy was trail leading a group in which a dude managed to puncture his head with an axe that he hadn't tied down. If it punctured his thick head, I'm sure it would have punctured a plastic gas tank sitting in the bed.

It took 17 stitches to close him up and a size 11 boot to the head to kick it off the axe.

cmk

P&T Jeeps · 08-20-2002, 09:16 PM

well... that answers that!

Jason R · 08-20-2002, 09:32 PM

ouch. *cringe*

pokey · 08-20-2002, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vu14TJ
i have noticed how a lot of people move their gas tanks half in and half out of the bed of the jeep. but instead of cutting a huge hole in the floor i just put the whole tank back there. i am in the process of building a box around it right now, but this weekend i was with a few other guys and they said it was unsafe and that i should have a fuel cell. i just want to know what the difference is between a fuel cell and a gas tank, and how i could make this safe, if it is not. and yes i searched, but i didnt find anything about safety.

I wouldn't run a stock tank in the bed period! The cell's have baffles in them to stop the fuel from sloshing around and shifting the weight in the rig. They allso have foam stuffed between the baffles to stop the mass from shifting to fast. Theres a lot of weight in a tank. 3/4 of the way filled and it could easiley help you right on over onto your side. If I were you I'd put a safe tank in there if your going to run it in the bed. And if for some reason it did get a hole in it, where do you think the fuel is going to end up? I think you should give this some serious thought. Ask some people that know WTF before you do it if you value your life. Get a good Aluminum professionally welded tank.

Bud

08-19-2002, 06:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vu14TJ Rock God Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9363 Location: NW INDIANA Posts: 1,115	gas tank safety i have noticed how a lot of people move their gas tanks half in and half out of the bed of the jeep. but instead of cutting a huge hole in the floor i just put the whole tank back there. i am in the process of building a box around it right now, but this weekend i was with a few other guys and they said it was unsafe and that i should have a fuel cell. i just want to know what the difference is between a fuel cell and a gas tank, and how i could make this safe, if it is not. and yes i searched, but i didnt find anything about safety.

08-20-2002, 06:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
nobody20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Member # 12393 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,051	I want to know too. I was planning on building a stainless steel flat tank for the bed with a sump for the fuel pump. I want to c move the rear axle back. If I vent the tank, put baffles in it and pressure test it, what's wrong with it. It can't be worse that the fuel cells without a steel or aluminum box, can it? __________________ 79 CJ-5 a bunch of stuff but no chrome, no Bestop, no Genuine Steel and no Steel Horse. 383 LT-4. D60, D44, D300 4:1, SM420, SOA, 4-link w/double shackles, etc. 88 YJ, 350TPI, 700R4, D300 4:1, rear SOA D44 w/Warn floating axles, coil front D44 w/Warn Axles

08-20-2002, 08:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
P&T Jeeps Granite Guru Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3916 Location: south Posts: 2,826	wouldn't you have a better chance of puncturing the tank under your Jeep rather than in it? knives from the camping gear maybe? __________________ TJ; ARB'd & ChroMo'd 1-tons; 42" IROK's; Atlas 4.3; 4-linked, 106" WB... The Build

08-20-2002, 09:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
P&T Jeeps Granite Guru Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3916 Location: south Posts: 2,826	well... that answers that! __________________ TJ; ARB'd & ChroMo'd 1-tons; 42" IROK's; Atlas 4.3; 4-linked, 106" WB... The Build

08-20-2002, 09:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jason R Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Member # 11598 Location: USA Posts: 6,063	ouch. cringe __________________ This space for rent.

08-20-2002, 08:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
cmk Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 987 Posts: 1,869	There are different types of "fuel cells." Some are no different than a stock tank ... just blow molded poly tanks. IMO, there is no safety difference between those and a stock tank. And those blow molded poly tanks are what 75% of the dudes out there use. The other 25% of the dudes are running some sort of bubba' fabbed metal tank (steel, stainless, aluminum). This is probably safer than a poly tank BUT only if an extremely competent welder does the work. I shouldn't have to explain why you don't want some novice welder messing around with a gas tank. If you really want safety, then you're talking "safety fuel cells." This is the kind of stuff that racecars use ... steel outer shells with a puncture resistant bladder inside. These are the ultimate in safety, but they are also the ultimate in price. That's why most guys don't bother. Run the stock tank in the bed, just make sure that it's secure and that nothing can puncture it. cmk

08-20-2002, 07:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vu14TJ Rock God Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9363 Location: NW INDIANA Posts: 1,115	i kinda figured it was ok. i am gonna build a box around it so it will not get puctured. i just wasnt sure.

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