Retired my 5 gallon fuel cans

[i7win7]

Finally decided to retire my 5 gallon fuel cans. Pricing 50 and 100 gallon tanks, 100 gal. only $50 more but would require a small single axle trailer. Renewed plates on my other trailers and Illinois raised trailer plates by $100. Too frugal to pay over $100 every year for a fuel run.

Farm & Fleet had the 50gal tank and 12v pump on sale, devine intervention?

So the specs of the LA535 are:
Lift to full height (at 500mm): 769 lbs

Water is approx 8#/gal. Estimated 50gal = 400#, extra 100# for tank & pump, extra 200# for lumber. 700# total, My B2650 should be able to lift it (fingers crossed). Drug up all of my extra P.T. lumber and started to build.

The tank is 24x24x24 inches, adjusted forks so tank would sit inside. Seemed wider pallet would be better.
Cut 2 - 4x4's at 33 1/4". Clamped 4x4's to forks using shims for some gap. Set spacing on adjustable square for next step.

Cut 3 - 2x10's at 37", cut 6 - 2x6's at 37". Started with bottom, used square to center 2x10 on 4x4 rails. I used 1/4" x 4" SPAX power lag bolts to attach the bottom boards. Since this is the bottom, I used a fostner bit to countersink the bolt heads. You don't have to pre-drill holes for these screws but, old school me did.

Positioned 1 - 2x6 and 2 more 2x10's, marked center lines

Drilled counter sinks, holes and installed lag bolts.

Flipped unit over and attached 5 - 2x6 boards for top side. I used 1/4 x 5" SPAX screws on the top. These screws do not need to be counter sunk. NOTE: leave gaps where the tank mounting tabs will be located.

Set tank on "pallet" and drilled 1/4" holes in mounting tabs.

Installed rubber tank mounts. Cut 2 - 2x4's at14 1/2" and 2 - 2x6s at 28". Sized some scrap pieces to fabricate a hose box to keep hose off the ground.

 

[i7win7]

Don't know the actual weight of this build but the B2650 can handle it

You will want to take a wrench with you on the first fill. This is how much the 50 gals compress the rubber mounts.

 

[nwjones18]

I like your setup.. $100 a year for trailer plates is robbery. I think my boat trailer cost me $14ish here in GA.

 

[mcfarmall]

Permanent trailer plates in Michigan. My Load Trail 832414k plate was a smidge over $200.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Nice job and if I used enough fuel each year I would rob your idea.

Been few years back but I got permanent plates for my trailers and it was$75.00 each here in NC.

I head up your way every couple of years to hunt those big ole midwest whitetails. We hunt with a friend near Bushnell who is an outfitter. We were there the 2nd week of November in 2019 and it was the coldest I have ever been. Snow and wind had the real feel temps as much as -14. Bout froze hanging off side of a tree. This ole NC boy likes cold but that was tough hunting for that week.

Have a good day OTT.

 

[Motion]

I like it! Is there a bottom drain on the tank? I'd suggest a fused polarized connector mounted on each piece of equipment that requires diesel. the mounted connector could be used as additional 12 source i.e. portable air compressor, lights, etc.

 

[GeoHorn]

deleted

 

[Bmyers]

I like your setup.. $100 a year for trailer plates is robbery. I think my boat trailer cost me $14ish here in GA.

That is $100 for the small trailer a year. Our trailer (12K) cost is now $230. If we register it as a farm trailer we get a discount, only $206 a year.

 

[i7win7]

I like it! Is there a bottom drain on the tank? I'd suggest a fused polarized connector mounted on each piece of equipment that requires diesel. the mounted connector could be used as additional 12 source i.e. portable air compressor, lights, etc.

Yes the drain is on the rear of the tank, also using polarized connector with supplied fuse

Adding electrical devices to tractor

Purpose of post: to provide general ideas to fellow tractor owners wishing to add lights, electric sprayers, even some high current accessories for short term intermittent use (think winches, jump starts). I'll start with the high power preparations. #1 good heavy duty wire, at Walmart you...

www.tractorbynet.com

Tank is another electrical device I can add to tractor

 

[Joe Messmer]

Nice Job, trailers in Ky. only require licenses when they are towed by a Co. vehicle with the name on the truck, other than that they are free. About 40 years ago I came up with a 50 gal barrel and have fuel delivered. A few years ago I got a farm permit ( no taxes ) and my fuel man upped the delivery requirement to 100 gal. but it is sure sweet not having to deal with hauling the fuel around.

 

[i7win7]

The hard part is finished, time to make a "fuel gauge" stick. When full level measures at 21 3/8". What is 1/5 of 21.375? 2/5? 3/5? 4/5? Let's simplify the math, 2 parallel lines 21 14" apart, used tape for this. Place yardstick at an angle to get 25" measurement.

Keep the story stick perpendicular to the 2 lines and mark it at 5,10,15,20 and 25"

Well just seems like it's missing something? ORANGE PAINT easy enough to fix

 

[cliffboyer]

Did the rubber mounts come with the tank?

Would think having all the weight spread across the base be better than having 4 point loads. Granted only about 100lbs per mount, which those tabs should handle easily.

 

[i7win7]

Did the rubber mounts come with the tank?

Yes, it's supposed to be bolted down to truck bed.

 

[MDCobraMan]

Great job on the fuel system. IAs far as trailer tags go I have all my trailers registered in Main. All legal and so much cheaper. Plus no taxes or inspection fees. Plenty of information on line but here's who I use.

Registrations | Maine Trailer | Shipping Container Leasing and Trailer Sales

Maine Trailer is your local Hampden trailer dealer for storage containers, shipping containers, leasing as well as construction dump, equipment, utility and enclosed trailers in Maine.

www.mainetrailer.com

 

[MOTOROLANUT]

Sweet work.. Congrats and thanks for posting op.

 

[cliffboyer]

Yes, it's supposed to be bolted down to truck bed.

Ahhh...I can see why for that type of setup.

 

[FBJR]

Trailers are 5 year in Ca (few things they got right) for about $20.

I got an old 75ga truck tank and hung it off my container (tractor garage). Working on plumbing now

 

[Pepsirich]

Great idea. I also got tired of the cans and bougt a $30 pump and fill it straight from my F250 Diesel tank.

Georgia is only $18 a year 'plate" fee for trailers even through you dont get a new plate. At $100-$200 a trailer I would be getting rid of most of my collection. I have 4 different sizes now.

 

[B737]

Great idea. I also got tired of the cans and bougt a $30 pump and fill it straight from my F250 Diesel tank.

Georgia is only $18 a year 'plate" fee for trailers even through you dont get a new plate. At $100-$200 a trailer I would be getting rid of most of my collection. I have 4 different sizes now.

Can you expand on this??? Why would I keep lugging 5 gallon cans when I can pull it out of the truck!
I thought like in gas vehicles there is a blocking baffle to prevent fuel going the wrong direction out the filler neck?

 

[lynnmor]

Can you expand on this??? Why would I keep lugging 5 gallon cans when I can pull it out of the truck!
I thought like in gas vehicles there is a blocking baffle to prevent fuel going the wrong direction out the filler neck?

My 2011 F250 is virtually impossible to siphon, I can only get a 1/4" O.D. hose down in. If there is an easy fix I would like to know.