I have a '77 F350 flat bed dump. It recently developed a leak in the In Cab tank.

I don't really want to put another tank in behind the seat.

My problem is that the normal areas between the frame rails/under the bed are pretty much taken.

The dump is a PTO. This takes up the space directly behind the cab.
The hydraulic ram is large, and takes up the space in front of the axle.
The pivot infringes on the area behind the axle.

This leaves me few options.

I'd like to mount a tank outside the frame, in front of the rear wheels. Kind of like an under mount tool box.

Is this a legitimate location for a tank? I see a lot of Isuzu type trucks with tanks outside the frame, but is that because they are diesel, and not gas?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Scott

 

I'm pretty sure I've seen old 2 ton and 5 ton trucks with gas engines and fuel tanks mounted the way they would be on a more modern diesel. I can't swear to it, and everything I can actually put my hands on with a tank like that has a diesel. It definitely seems safer for a diesel tank. I've had more than one four-wheeler bounce off the side-mounted tanks on my big truck over the years, and I lost a strap once, and easily could have dragged a hole in the tank. With diesel, that wouldn't have been much more than a $500,000 EPA clean-up bill for sterilizing about a cubic mile of contaminated dirt. With gas, the sparks on the road would have been a big kaboom.

Anyway, I did some digging for you, and came up with a metal fabricator that sells such tanks, clearly labeled for gasoline, and clearly meant to mount outside the frame rails. Caveat emptor, YMMV, all hail the '77 F350

Truck Fuel Tanks - Cylindrical Safety Fuel Tanks Top Fill

Let me know how it goes. I'm not thrilled with the tank in my new truck either. "Gee, is it ok to weld in here with this gas tank? It's not emitting vapors or anything, surely?"

 

I think some one got sued (Chevy) for designing a gas tank outside the frame? I think it exploded on a side impact accident.

Whats wrong with a gas tank behind the cab, Ford designed it to be safe enough to sale them that way.

Maybe see if a 80/90's Bronco II tanks would fit back there somewhere.

 

Biggest reason for relocation of the tank would be space.

Cost may be prohibitive though.

Thanks for your input.

 

Any way you can repair the tank and get some truck boxes that you normally put under and mount to the flat bed, but mount them to the frame for more storage space?

 

That is most likely the way I'll end up going.

I was going to put the tank on one side, and a box on the other.

Maybe I'll just get 2 boxes, and replace the in cab tank.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

Thanks Micheal,

I found a similar company. With the mounting brackets, shipping and everything it was too much $$ for my old truck.

I went with the replacement in cab tank from Blue Oval.