Diesel transfer tank

[Gaspasser]

Have a L6060 and a mini ex to feed. Had logging done this winter, so lots of stumping and grading coming up this year. Will rent a real excavator for a week to pull the bigger stumps. So diesel consumption will go up. Have been using 5 gallon "yellow" cans thus far but considering 50-100 gal transfer tanks to save trips to local off road diesel station. I'm not a commercial enterprise at this point but aspiring to have a hobby farm. Truck is diesel too buy cannot use off road in that, TSC has tanks in the $450-600 range but not sure how durable they are. Anyone have one of these? If so, please share opinions/reviews. Admittedly, they do look kind of flimsy. Alternative options also greatly appreciated. Thanks gang.

 

[JasonW]

Which brands are you looking at? As TSC offers different brands.
We have two better built brands 100 gal and 36 gal. Both with GPI electric pumps. Both are kept inside when not being used.

I also have an aluminum RDS 50 gallon toolbox setup with an electric pump.

I’d recommend an aluminum tank. For weight and corrosion resistance.

It’s dependent on your area but in my area very few stations have off road fuel(probably two within 50 miles) and there isn’t much difference in cost. The last few times we bought off road there was a ton of water in it. As in draining the water separator several times during the day working.

 

[Gaspasser]

Which brands are you looking at? As TSC offers different brands.
We have two better built brands 100 gal and 36 gal. Both with GPI electric pumps. Both are kept inside when not being used.

I also have an aluminum RDS 50 gallon toolbox setup with an electric pump.

I’d recommend an aluminum tank. For weight and corrosion resistance.

It’s dependent on your area but in my area very few stations have off road fuel(probably two within 50 miles) and there isn’t much difference in cost. The last few times we bought off road there was a ton of water in it. As in draining the water separator several times during the day working.

Thanks Jason...

Appreciate the advice. Guess I'll have to bite bullet and raise my budget limit ( isn't that always the case when first pricing out new equipment). I am very lucky to have an Evans truck stop station next exit down about 3 miles.

 

[Stitchit1]

Have a L6060 and a mini ex to feed. Had logging done this winter, so lots of stumping and grading coming up this year. Will rent a real excavator for a week to pull the bigger stumps. So diesel consumption will go up. Have been using 5 gallon "yellow" cans thus far but considering 50-100 gal transfer tanks to save trips to local off road diesel station. I'm not a commercial enterprise at this point but aspiring to have a hobby farm. Truck is diesel too buy cannot use off road in that, TSC has tanks in the $450-600 range but not sure how durable they are. Anyone have one of these? If so, please share opinions/reviews. Admittedly, they do look kind of flimsy. Alternative options also greatly appreciated. Thanks gang.

Following. I’m kind of in the same boat

 

[JasonW]

Thanks Jason...

Appreciate the advice. Guess I'll have to bite bullet and raise my budget limit ( isn't that always the case when first pricing out new equipment). I am very lucky to have an Evans truck stop station next exit down about 3 miles.

Keep an eye out for used ones. We bought the 100gal with a new pump for $200. Just the pump is worth over $300. And I paid about half of retail price for the aluminum RDS tank with a GPI pump. Just make sure they are clean inside.

Another thought when I was looking for a tank for my diesel standby generator was fuel tanks off of big rigs. A local big truck salvage yard has them for $100-$200. Most are around 100 gallons and cylinder shaped but some were rectangular. They are aluminum.

I found a 24”x24” 50gal steel fuel cube made by DeeZee with a manual hand pump for $150. Couldn’t pass that up for the generator project.

 

[#40Fan]

I've got a $7 used 55 gallon barrel that originally contained oil, a $20 fuel filter, $12 fittings, $28 piece of hose and a $33 hand crank fuel pump.

Pump

Hose

Filter

Fittings

You'll need a few hose clamps, but I already had those. I also found a cap that I had to cover the end of the hose when not being used. Pump can be ran in reverse to pull the fuel back out of the hose after filling your tractor's tank.

 

[BAP]

Have a L6060 and a mini ex to feed. Had logging done this winter, so lots of stumping and grading coming up this year. Will rent a real excavator for a week to pull the bigger stumps. So diesel consumption will go up. Have been using 5 gallon "yellow" cans thus far but considering 50-100 gal transfer tanks to save trips to local off road diesel station. I'm not a commercial enterprise at this point but aspiring to have a hobby farm. Truck is diesel too buy cannot use off road in that, TSC has tanks in the $450-600 range but not sure how durable they are. Anyone have one of these? If so, please share opinions/reviews. Admittedly, they do look kind of flimsy. Alternative options also greatly appreciated. Thanks gang.

If you go on to Facebook Marketplace and search “diesel tank and pump” , it comes up with many used ones for sale.

 

[chim]

Used, cleaned, cheap plastic drums available locally. HF 12V pump with "flat two" trailer plug, since fiddling with battery clamps isn't appealing. Each piece of equipment has mating connector. Fuel supplier delivers ORD in quantities of 100 gallons or more. The hose is long enough to fill equipment outside the door.

 

[Gb540]

Whatever route you go, I strongly advise installing a filter + water separator at the pump.

Had a new machine we were filling with 5-gallon cans, and the fuel filter plugged at 50 hours! Switched to a transfer tank with filter and haven't had problems since.

 

[Sidekick]

I bought a plastic 50 gallon Chinese one about 2 years ago and so far works good with no leaks. I only use about one tank a year now though so I add stabilizer / algecide .

 

[mdhughes]

I have Delta 96 gallon tank that I bought at Rural King in 2015 and haven't had any problems with it. I built a skid for and put it in the back out my pickup to fill. Strap it down to keep it from killing anyone. Put a Fill-Rite pump with filter and meter. I used Anderson SB-50 connectors, one on the tractor and one on the pump. Ran fused power to the connector on the tractor. Pull up next to the tank, plug the pump into the tractor and fill it up.

 

[SAR Tracker]

Started with the yellow jugs. "Upgraded" to a used IBC tote for $80, and added a 12vdc pump and hose from Amazonia for ~$200~, and added a filter/water separator for a little more. Just (yesterday) picked up a used 55 gal drum for $20, gonna mount it sideways on a pallet (and strap it down) to fit in the back of the truck. Fill it at the local extortion station, lift it out with the tractor and pallet forks, and then pump it into the 325 gallon IBC tote.

 

[jyoutz]

I've got a $7 used 55 gallon barrel that originally contained oil, a $20 fuel filter, $12 fittings, $28 piece of hose and a $33 hand crank fuel pump.

Pump

Hose

Filter

Fittings

You'll need a few hose clamps, but I already had those. I also found a cap that I had to cover the end of the hose when not being used. Pump can be ran in reverse to pull the fuel back out of the hose after filling your tractor's tank.

The problem with 55 gallon barrels is unloading from the truck after filling it.

 

[#40Fan]

The problem with 55 gallon barrels is unloading from the truck after filling it.

I don't have any issues rolling it over (upright on the bottom lip) to the tail gate and on to the bucket of tractor. A pallet would make it easier for most.

 

[chim]

Whatever route you go, I strongly advise installing a filter + water separator at the pump.

Had a new machine we were filling with 5-gallon cans, and the fuel filter plugged at 50 hours! Switched to a transfer tank with filter and haven't had problems since.

Yep. Never had trouble with the Goldenrod filter.

 

[rudder35]

Bit the bullet years ago and bought a 600 gallon tank from fuel distributer. Allows me to fill it up when prices come down. Use a biocide to prevent slime.

 

[McMXi]

I bought a JohnDow JDI-AFT106 (106 gallon) fuel tank about four years ago and based on my experience with that system bought another JohnDow JDI-AFT58LP (58 gallon) fuel tank about 18 months ago. The 106 gallon tank has a provision for a separate DEF tank but I doubt that's in my future. JohnDow systems use very nice, good quality hardware, fittings, pumps, etc., and the same isn't true for the Chinese knockoffs such as systems from VEVOR and similar. On the upside for most of us, we're not filling up every day, 260 work days a year, so how good does this stuff have to be? Probably not that good to be a significant upgrade over 5 gallon containers.

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Every gas station around here has off-road diesel and three types of on-road diesel (in the winter months). As for water in the fuel, I've never had that issue in close to 25 years of owning and operating diesel equipment. I guess I'm just lucky.

When I think about how much money I've spent on diesel over the years, and continue to spend, the cost of a decent fuel storage/dispensing system pales in comparison. The cost to fill up that 106 gallon JohnDow storage tank is about 1/3 the cost to buy that tank. I like nice, purpose built things and not cobbled together stuff. Some like putting time and effort into making something from nothing and I get that. I do that all the time, mostly with steel, and particularly when good options are few and far between, but that's simply not the case for fuel storage and dispensing. There are numerous decent to excellent turnkey systems available.

 

[Smokeydog]

Set up Vevor 116gallon tank last year. Modified to work either 20v Dewalt battery or 12v clips. One 5amp Dewalt battery could dispense full tank. Have used about 60 gallons so far and appreciate not using 5gallon cans.
Metal pallet helps moving. Dolly allows moving in cramp tractor shed. Filter for particulates and water absorption polishes the fuel.

 

[McMXi]

View attachment 154194 View attachment 154195
Set up Vevor 116gallon tank last year. Modified to work either 20v Dewalt battery or 12v clips. One 5amp Dewalt battery could dispense full tank. Have used about 60 gallons so far and appreciate not using 5gallon cans.
Metal pallet helps moving. Dolly allows moving in cramp tractor shed. Filter for particulates and water absorption polishes the fuel.

I have pallet envy! Seriously! I could use 20 of those things, but in Kubota orange!!

And your battery system is slick. Could you provide some details on how you accomplished that? I have a spare car battery that I leave on a trickle charger, and have the option to connect to tractor, truck or Jeep batteries, but using a DeWalt 18V or 20V battery seems very convenient.