Fuel tank on a trailer question.

onanysunday

onanysunday

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So I found an aluminum tank that is 84" long by 28" wide by 12" tall. Full it would be 122 gallons but most times I would put 70-80 gallons in it. The guy had it in his motorhome for a few trips and ran diesel in it. Down the road I would like the extra capacity for longer trips. My questions is about baffles. This tank has no baffles in it. That is a lot of fuel moving around. This would be mounted on the deck of my trailer flat and be under the buggy. 18' tandem axle trailer with a wood deck. I guess I could cut notches in it and add baffles. It is 1/8 wall according to him. Seems thin for that size. Maybe he is wrong. He paid $1000 for it however long ago. I can buy it for $350. It is not to far for me to go look at it. 

 
What about the fuel cell baffle option of a bazillion whiffle balls (or something else)?  Someone posted in the tech section a link to a company that sold boxes of these things designed to go in fuel cells.  

 
Bobalos said:
What about the fuel cell baffle option of a bazillion whiffle balls (or something else)?  Someone posted in the tech section a link to a company that sold boxes of these things designed to go in fuel cells.  
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Thought it was Stugots but not positive.

 
That is one big tank.   I would for sure put some baffles in there.  Just make some slices and tig some baffles in there. not a big deal. put enough of them in but I am talking to you.  It will be over done and solid. about time you are getting rid of those fuel jugs. 

 
I run flex fuel which is 50% ethanal. Not dipping my balls in that. Price still cheap enough to pay our aluminum welder to put some baffles in there. I would think forward and backward. 28" wide is not bad. Maybe two baffles 1/3 and 2/3 and up 3/4 high. 

 
Squatcher said:
That is one big tank.   I would for sure put some baffles in there.  Just make some slices and tig some baffles in there. not a big deal. put enough of them in but I am talking to you.  It will be over done and solid. about time you are getting rid of those fuel jugs. 
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:bangin:

 
I will call Dave at Dave's Gas Tanks & Fabrication and ask him what size baffles. 

 
Squatcher said:
That is one big tank.   I would for sure put some baffles in there.  Just make some slices and tig some baffles in there. not a big deal. put enough of them in but I am talking to you.  It will be over done and solid. about time you are getting rid of those fuel jugs. 
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That is a big ass tank. Thinking I need to pass and just have Dave make me a steel one. 80 gallons. 

 
On your trailer, near the axles and under the buggy, probably not gonna notice it one bit. Most of us have towed home with half a tank of fresh water, never notice it.

But, if you only want 80 gallons ish and want to baffle it, just have a fab guy cut one end off and add baffles while he’s in there. :biggrin:

 
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Rockwood said:
On your trailer, near the axles and under the buggy, probably not gonna notice it one bit. Most of us have towed home with half a tank of fresh water, never notice it.

But, if you only want 80 gallons ish and want to baffle it, just have a fab guy cut one end off and add baffles while he’s in there. :biggrin:
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Pretty damn smart actually. Cutting out a section of 24" would give me 87 gallons. I could use the cut section to make the baffles. Put them in from the end and just drill small holes to weld the baffles in. Brilliant.

 
onanysunday said:
Pretty damn smart actually. Cutting out a section of 24" would give me 87 gallons. I could use the cut section to make the baffles. Put them in from the end and just drill small holes to weld the baffles in. Brilliant.
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If there’s room to work inside, better to weld it there and reduce possible leaks. 

 
If this is an old tank that was used for diesel just keep in mind old, contaminated aluminum can be challenging to weld. Especially if you can’t get it reasonably clean. 

 
I have a 100 gallon auxiliary tank in my trucks bed plumbed to my stock tank. When full it's unnoticeable other than the truck rides better. When half full I can feel the fuel sloshing around while I'm driving. No big deal. If the tank needed baffles the manufacturer would have put them in it. 

Adding whiffle balls, cutting the tank size down, etc is more work than it's worth. Just buy a tank with the features you require and be done with it.

 
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