How much diesel can you skoolie hold?

[pengyou]

I was trying to decide how to make this decision. The question that I think would be useful - what is the longest stretch of road in the US or Canada without services? Another aspect - I know that fuel prices can vary dramatically from one state to another. Any dialog? I am not crazy about the idea of carrying fuel cans to store extra diesel. I want it all to be tucked away safely under the bus between the frame rails.

 

[PNW_Steve]

Another advantage to larger tanks is not just being able to get further on a tank but also to have more flexible as to. Where you stop for fuel.

Gasbuddy.com has a trip planner to help you find the lowest cost fuel on your route. With greater range you can optimize your stops and stick with the lower cost fuel stops.

Try it out. Plug in all of you bus & route info, look at fuel cost then change your tank size and run it again. You will see the advantage of the larger tank even when services are readily available.

 

[magnakansas]

one tank or two

I have a 40 gallon tank, I am considering adding another 40 gallon tank. 11,000 pound 23 foot long short bus, expecting more than 11 miles per gallon so effectively 800 mile range with two tanks..... have not decided yet

william

 

[o1marc]

My Genesis has a 60ga. tank, there is a 100ga. tank available for it.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Mine has a "30 gallon" tank (actually more like 30 usable gallons, tank itself is probably closer to 40, from bone dry to overflowing). Since I plan to rack up some miles on it, I feel a considerably larger tank is in order. I'm debating cannibalizing one from a road tractor in the 100 gallon range.


Since mine's a shorty, I only have ~54" between the steps and wheel arch, so using a longer tank isn't an option. I had considered dual tanks, but the other side has the exhaust routed in front of the tire (I could re-route it, but...) and the air tank (I'm not so into relocating this). So the second tank is out unless I put one behind the drive axle between the rails. It can't go on the right rear because wheelchair lift, and it can't go on the left rear because tool box.


As I recall, a 25" diameter tank, 52" long is close to 100 gallons. (Some quick math shows ~25525 cubic inches = ~110 gallons, but tank makers rate under that for expansion). At ~10 MPG that would give me a mathematical cruising range of 1100 miles, but probably closer to 800-900 comfortably, and realistically probably half that before I'll want to stop and rest, eat, and whatever else.

 

[Iceni John]

100 gallons here. The Crown Super IIs that originally had methanol engines have huge tanks, I think about 200 gallons, because methanol has lower energy density than diesel, and they kept them when they were later repowered to diesel. I had thought about putting in an extra tank between the frame rails just ahead of the fuel tank, but I've now used that space for my emergency air compressor instead.

John

 

[bigskypc50]

My rig has a 100gallon tank, it's mounted in the very rear of the bus behind the axle. I get about 10 1/2 MPG so I can easily go 1000 miles on a full tank. It's a nice thing to have.

 

[musigenesis]

Mine has a 65 gallon tank and gets 10 mpg (I think). 650 mile range seems like more than I would need.

 

[Sleddgracer]

My rig has a 100gallon tank, it's mounted in the very rear of the bus behind the axle. I get about 10 1/2 MPG so I can easily go 1000 miles on a full tank. It's a nice thing to have.

have to take out a mortgage here in BC to fill that tank at $6.00 a gal ( Imperial Gal )

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

have to take out a mortgage here in BC to fill that tank at $6.00 a gal ( Imperial Gal )

Considering I saw fuel at 2.83/gal yesterday ...

 

[Sleddgracer]

Considering I saw fuel at 2.83/gal yesterday ...

better, but even so, that takes a chunk of cash to fill that one up

 

[CaptSquid]

100 US gallons in a midship tank; 7 mpg

 

[JDOnTheGo]

182 gallons - 1200 miles-ish. Couple more advantages - choice of fuel stops (best pricing) and, if using diesel for heating - lots of heating "time."

 

[sojourner-SKO]

I built dual 70 gallon tanks for my skoolie.
140 total.

 

[barred951]

2000 international thomas 38, had a 67gal. located on passenger side rear of the door, inside a cage. Now dual 60 gal saddle tanks for 120gal of fuel, 112 usable.

 

[MarkyDee]

New Flyer coach bus - 160 U.S. Gallons. Haven't had it on the road yet to know its actual mpg, but the model prototype engineering report says this bus should get 6.7mpg on average. ECU has 4.0 mpg lifetime cumulative, but this bus' previous life was a city bus, so take that with a grain of salt....

 

[Johnny Mullet]

I also have a 65 gallon tank and get 10 mpg with my bus.

 

[david.dgeorge07]

100 gallons

 

[2kool4skool]

45g and 11mpg.

 

[vintageracer]

$2.35/gallon gas at 1 gas station in Hendersonville TN.

$2.42/gallon gas at Costco West Nashville.

$2.69/gallon diesel Lebanon TN.

My 2001 Former ATF 4WD 3500 Chevy Express Bomber Van has an automatic fuel tank switching system with holds 70 gallons total. At 13 MPG with a 8.1 Liter (496 CI) engine the large fuel capacity is a nice thing to have.