Wanna Run Dual Tanks

[1985toyota]

hey guys i have another toyota fuel tank and pump layin around....im thinkin about running dual tanks if i were to do this how would i wire the other fuel tank to where only one fuel pump works at a time? what wire would i splice into the blue one from the computer? and put a switch on it? how would i run my fuel lines ect?

[BigDaddy]

Sounds like to much work for what your getting out of it, where are you going to mount the other tank at.....and why do you need so much gas? Run some jerry cans (they look cool also) you can get 10 gal out of two Jerrys....just 4 gal short of my stock tank!

[illiand]

i would imagine that all you would need to do is install a two position switch with two "on" positions someplace in the cab. Then run the hot wire that engergizes the fuel pump to the switch and run one to one pump, the other to the other. You would also need some kind of check valve where the fuel lines from the two tanks tee and run to the engine so you dont end up pumping the fuel from one tank into the other. Leave the fuel return line hooked up as is to your "main" tank and install an aux fuel guage for the secondary tank and your in business.

Personally, i would probably take bigdaddy's advice and go with jerry cans for extra fuel, way easier and one less thing hanging down to get caught on rocks and stuff.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

[1985toyota]

Still Deciding on what i wanna do. sounds like a fun idea tho, my neighbor goes down to moab ect and he is going to take me next trip around and he says they go like 200 somthing miles with out filling up, i just thought it would be cool to do somthing like that and not haul gas around and take up space,

[hideoustrail]

MOST OF THE AFTER MARKET COMPANIES FOR YOATS SELL A 20 GALLON AUXILLARY TANK. i WAS REALLY CONTEMPLATING BUYING AND INSTALLING ONE. THEY UTILIZE THE SPACE WHERE YOUR SPARE TIRE TUCKS UP UNDER THE BED. THEY ARE PRETTY NICE UNITS. THEY ARE GRAVITY RUN THOUGH. BASICALLY IT IS DESIGNED TO SET HIGHER THAN THE MANUFACTURE TANK AND IT WILL SLOWLY FEED THAT TANK AS IT GETS LOW. ALOT GUYS RUN THEM AND I HAVEN'T HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SET-UP.

I THINK BOTH DOWNEY AND NORTHWEST ARE ASKING ABOUT $270.00 FOR THE WHOLE SET-UP. PROBABLY THE COST IS WORTH IT. COMPARED TO THE COMPLEXITY OF DESIGNING A DUAL PUMP SYSTEM WITH BACK STOP VALVES AND ELECTRICAL RELAYS. I AM WITH BIG DADDY, JERRY CANS ARE A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE FOR AN AUXILLARY TANK. AS FOR THE LACK OF ROOM, MCGYVER-UP A SIMPLE TEMPORARY BUMPER MOUNTS FOR THE CANS. BEFORE I BOUGHT MY STOUT REAR BUMPER, I DRILLED A HOLE IN MY REAR BUMPER AND BOLTED DOWN A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON I MOLDED TO STRAP MY GAS CANS TO, WORKED GREAT AND IT COULD BE REMOVED ONCE I GOT TO CAMP.

[fourwd1]

I run dual tanks in my p/u (the 231 V6 is a hog). The 2nd tank is mounted on the drivers side mirroring the stock tank location. I use an external pump to transfer fuel from the aux tank to the main tank. Simple and effective, 17 extra gallons, no PITA jerry cans to deal with. Since you already have the tank, give it a try.

[NavyDood]

The easiest way would be do what fourwd1 said. Quick and simple.

[1985toyota]

I think ill go with fourwd1 said on that one,

fourwd1,
Did you say the gas from your 17 gallon tank runs into your other tank when it gets low? that would be really easy to do..then i wouldnt have to mess with intersecting the fuel lines, i think i may give that a try, my bed is off my truck and before i want to put it on i want to add "a little somthin" sounds really easy that way to, is your 2nd tank a 2wd tank?

[samiam]

There are several options for increasing tank capacity. If you want to run two stock tanks, MAF sells a stock toyota electric switching valve (from australia). I believe it may also include a dash indicator switch. Ford sells a manual switching valve that they used on their dual tank trucks. It does include a dash indicator but is designed for a carbureted truck (low pressure).

Some of the 'gravity feed' style tanks actually use pressure from the pump to transfer fuel. The return line from mechanical pump is re-routed to the auxiliary tank. The feed line in the second tank is then spliced either into the return line connection or the drain plug on the stock tank. If the drain plug is used, an anti-drainback valve is used.

Here are some useful links I have found.
http://www.frontrunner.co.za/installations/hilux-tank.htm
http://www.longrangeautomotive.com.au/
http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessories/FuelSelectorSwitchValveLongRangeFuelTanks.htm
http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techtalk/body/gas_tank.htm

-sam

[fourwd1]

Originally posted by 1985toyota
I think ill go with fourwd1 said on that one,

fourwd1,
Did you say the gas from your 17 gallon tank runs into your other tank when it gets low? that would be really easy to do..then i wouldnt have to mess with intersecting the fuel lines, i think i may give that a try, my bed is off my truck and before i want to put it on i want to add "a little somthin" sounds really easy that way to, is your 2nd tank a 2wd tank?

Yes, 2nd tank is from a 2WD truck, as is the cab and bed and 2nd battery and bumper (not bad for $45) :D

The 2nd tank is on the right and the transfer pump is underneath the silver bracket bottom center.

[1985toyota]

fourwd1,
i really like the looks of that, alot....how did you intersect the fuel lines? what did you do for a switch for your fuel pumps?

[fourwd1]

Originally posted by 1985toyota
fourwd1,
i really like the looks of that, alot....how did you intersect the fuel lines? what did you do for a switch for your fuel pumps?

Ran a hose from aux tank pickup tube (normal supply line) to xfr pump IN, xfr pump OUT to main tank return line (unused since it's carbed).

Think I "T" 'd the 2 vent lines together.

Put a switch on dash to control xfr pump.