2 fuel tanks

reprobate · 12-10-2007, 07:52 PM

Does everyone have 2 fuel tanks on their bus? Mine has 2 and I'd sure like to remove one and put my battery bank and genset where it is. A few curious onlookers seem to think I'm nuts. I know I am, but am I?

crazycal · 12-11-2007, 10:35 AM

I'd keep the tank.

lapeer20m · 12-11-2007, 01:51 PM

how much fuel does each tank hold? The 5 buses I've been familiar with over the past few years have never had more than 1 fuel tank.

if it has twin 50 gallon tanks you'd be find with just 1, since 50 gallons is about the fuel capacity that most of us have.

if it's a smaller tank you may think about keeping the two of them.

It seems like there is a lot of space under a bus and you could pretty easily just move the geni and batteries to another location.

beekay · 12-11-2007, 04:57 PM

You need to determine their capacity. I have a center mounted 90 gal. tank.

reprobate · 12-12-2007, 10:13 PM

I remember when I was looking to purchase the bus there was another bus mechanic there and he seemed quite amazed at the 2 tank set-up. When it gets a little drier I will crawl under and measure and figure size, but I would say they are both in the 75 to 100 gallon range. Seems like a lot to me.

Elliot Naess · 12-29-2007, 07:05 PM

Keep both tanks. You'll appreciate the extra capacity when you get to traveling. Stopping for fuel can be a lot more difficult with a bus than with a car. And every time you do, you run the risk of banging into something -- the roof over the pumps, the pumps themselves, other vehicles.

I'm ADDING a tank to Millicent -- kept one off my first bus when I scrapped it.

Many tanks have the capacity stamped on them near the filler.

GoneCamping · 12-29-2007, 07:52 PM

Mine has a center mounted single tank, holds 95 gallons I'm told by the bus barn I got it from. At $3 per gallon it's more than I want to tackle when it comes time to fill up!!

wtd · 12-29-2007, 09:09 PM

It's definitely worth checking the size yourself.
On my way home from picking mine up in Texas I measured the tank while waiting for the AAA guy to bring me fuel about 30 miles short of Barstow

)
Calc'd out to 60, not the 80 I was told ... gauge was flakey, too.

Roasting8 · 12-29-2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Keep both tanks. You'll appreciate the extra capacity when you get to traveling. Stopping for fuel can be a lot more difficult with a bus than with a car. And every time you do, you run the risk of banging into something -- the roof over the pumps, the pumps themselves, other vehicles.

I'm ADDING a tank to Millicent -- kept one off my first bus when I scrapped it.

Many tanks have the capacity stamped on them near the filler.

I'm with Elliott, keep both tanks. I have a single 110 gal tank in mine and it's quite nice on long trips. I do cry every time I have to fill it up, but it's usually a long time between the crying.

Elliot Naess · 12-29-2007, 11:32 PM

Let me add, that even with huge tanks, I always fill up when I get down to half or so, and I recommend you all do this. The big advantage is when you encounter a fuel stop that is somehow closed to you. There may be a power outage. The roof over the pumps may be too low for your bus. Or maybe you are stranded for a couple of days by a blizzard. Whatever the reason. You still have plenty of fuel. To me, that is a must.

You may be concerned about keeping so much fuel in the tanks while the bus is parked for the season. That's a valid concern. I choose to spend ten bucks on a bottle of fuel stabilizer additive, and then I worry no more.

Of course, that just me, the Crazy Old Bastard!

It's time to start saying Happy New Year, isn't it? Happy New Year!

Roasting8 · 12-30-2007, 12:32 AM

A Happy New Year to you too.

timbuk · 12-30-2007, 02:07 PM

3 bucks a gallon? up here in rednek canuck land i am paying 108.9 a liter a canuk gaooln is 4.5 liters i believe a us gallon is 3.89 liters thats why they call us hosers cause we are getting hosed at the pumps! and if thats not bad enough we have to deal with the metric system sheesh! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL SKOOLIES1

Roasting8 · 12-30-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbuk

3 bucks a gallon? up here in rednek canuck land i am paying 108.9 a liter a canuk gaooln is 4.5 liters i believe a us gallon is 3.89 liters thats why they call us hosers cause we are getting hosed at the pumps! and if thats not bad enough we have to deal with the metric system sheesh! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL SKOOLIES1

Man, I feel your pain, but the Canadian Government has to find some way of paying for those fine roads and the RCMP.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Happy New Year.

Robert

timbuk · 12-30-2007, 08:03 PM

reprobate i also have 2 gas tanks on our bus it has a manual valve on the floor to switch tanks i will guess they are 35 to 40 gallons each i will be keeping them after hearing stories of ripping off awnings at gas stations etc. how high is your bus now? what is your mpg? stuff to think about i guess

Elliot Naess · 12-30-2007, 09:11 PM

I keep thinking of advantages to dual tanks.
With a filler on each side, you can fill one tank when the other side of the bus cannot be maneuvered to the pump.
Yes, too many filling station awnings get hit with tall vehicles, so anything we can do to make it easier to refuel, is a very good thing.