We're on our annual fall camping trip, this time to the Redwoods with our Ecoboost. A couple of days ago I filled up the F150 26 gallon tank in preparation for the trip. I ran a couple of errands and racked up about 30 miles before we left. We are going up over Tehachapi on 58 as we have done many times and I usually have plenty of gas. For those who don't know, 58 is an alternate route from the desert equivalent to the Grape Vine on 5. However... this time I forgot an important item and we were about 10 miles out before I remembered. Back to the house to get it.

I think you see where this going. Fifty mile down before I even start. I'm watching the gas guage as we start up the grade to Tehapachi and it looks like we will be OK. But, climbing the grade starts to eat up the gas at about 4 to 5 miles to the gallon. Back off on the speed to conserve and switch on the Distance to empty.

Counting down quickly and I know the Love's is only a couple of miles more. The DTE gets down to 1 mile to empty as we reach the exit ramp. I'm hoping we can make it to the station, 500 more yards.

I get to the station and it is lined up with cars waiting. As fate would have it, another RV pulls out on an end aisle and nobody goes for it.

Pull in and start pumping. Pump automatically shuts off at 28.2 GALLONS!

Glad Ford decided to put in just a little extra.

 

Glad to hear you made it! I was going through the Tehachapi myself not long ago and I was praising the fact of having the 36 gallon tank!!! BTW welcome to the forum! Here is the link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-egoboost.html

 

Welcome! Nothing like cutting it close bro. I think since you have the smaller tank like my truck, you'd be flirting a bit less if you carry a five gallon gas can full of gas. You know, something that you have for your lawnmower anyway.

Under the rear seat of your truck, there's a special funnel that will enable you to add gas via a can.

 

We were headed to the Redwoods for a couple of weeks of boondock camping so I did have 5 gallons of gas on board for the generator. I knew I wouldn't be stranded even if it did quit, but who wants to be on the side of the freeway with a 28' trailer putting in gas.

 

A 36 gallon tank is a nice feature. I'm glad I had it when my daughter lived in Montana. The gas stations were far and few between out there. It seems no matter how big the tank I always needed a couple more gallons Glad you made it.
The same thing happened to me not long ago, towing my boat in the F250. My mind was racing thinking of ways I could syphon gas from the boat into the truck, but we made it to a station.

 

Yep -- same on my old '250 PSD. It had a "29" gallon tank by the book, but I put 31.5 in it one time driving to "one more exit" in a particularly desolate area in FL. Talk about pucker factor...

I eventually dropped the tank and completely emptied it, then carefully measured how much it took from dry. I got 34.5 gallons in my "29" gallon tank.

I'm guessing the "36" gallon tank is closer to 40 in reality. I generally fill it up before I put in more than 30 though. Ends up being about once every 2 weeks.