Additional fuel tank

[Jimbo]

I'm sure that I've recently seen an advert (can't recall if it was in a mag, or on the web) for an additional fuel tank to fit Td5 Defenders - IIRC, it fitted up under the rear o/s wing (where the existing filler is) and got plumbed in between the filler and the existing tank............

Did anyone else see this - or am I dreaming ?

Jim

[Porny]

I'm sure that I've recently seen an advert (can't recall if it was in a mag, or on the web) for an additional fuel tank to fit Td5 Defenders - IIRC, it fitted up under the rear o/s wing (where the existing filler is) and got plumbed in between the filler and the existing tank............

Did anyone else see this - or am I dreaming ?

Jim

If your dreaming... I must be to.... as I've supplied and fitted one to a customers 110 (along with a larger main tank).

The tank came from Safari Equip and is very well made.  It is a bit of a pain to fit (lack of room to get your hand in - not down to the design of the tank), and some of the fittings could be improved... but the actual tank is very well made.  I paid extra and had the base of the tank double skinned so there is no chance of it being damaged from flying stones.

The tank is made from stainless so will not rust.  


Ian

[Jimbo]

Ian,

Just found it on the Safari-Equip website, SEL 94A ?

What was the price of the tank (if you don't mind me asking) - PM me if you like.

Ta,
Jim

[Defender]

I've been considering an additional rear tank for my 200tdi & spotted safari-equip's website.  :D
Details on website,  but no prices.

[nosnibod]

I own the 110 Ian fitted the larger tanks to  ;)

It's definitely not a dream, but it is a bit of a nightmare to fit and as Ian says the workmanship on the tanks themselves is first class, but the fittings for the balance pipe aren't the best quality. Take my recommendation and replace the supplied fuel pipe with a better quality alternative. We had to drain over 140L out of the tank when I found that the balance pipe started to leak after the first filling - a pack of 10 buckets from Screwfix was speedily obtained by Ian when he found the problem  :-o Keep meaning to get Ian to get some proper braided hoses made up.

Ian also cut a rather nifty 8"x8" hatch in the floor of the 110, allowing fuel pump maintenance/changing without having to drop the tanks.

Together the two tanks provide a capacity of 158L which translates so a range of nearly 1000 miles if you are brave enough to watch the fuel light for about 120 miles. This is all due to the shape of the main tank providing maximum capacity. 

I've been brave enough to get just over 850 miles out of a tankful so far.

One slight annoyance is finding that most fuel pumps have a 100L automatic cut-off. Some petrol stations will hit the override switch but some require you to do a double trip to the till.

[Jimbo]

I own the 110 Ian fitted the larger tanks to  ;)

It's definitely not a dream, but it is a bit of a nightmare to fit and as Ian says the workmanship on the tanks themselves is first class, but the fittings for the balance pipe aren't the best quality. Take my recommendation and replace the supplied fuel pipe with a better quality alternative. We had to drain over 140L out of the tank when I found that the balance pipe started to leak after the first filling - a pack of 10 buckets from Screwfix was speedily obtained by Ian when he found the problem  :-o Keep meaning to get Ian to get some proper braided hoses made up.

Ian also cut a rather nifty 8"x8" hatch in the floor of the 110, allowing fuel pump maintenance/changing without having to drop the tanks.

Together the two tanks provide a capacity of 158L which translates so a range of nearly 1000 miles if you are brave enough to watch the fuel light for about 120 miles. This is all due to the shape of the main tank providing maximum capacity. 

I've been brave enough to get just over 850 miles out of a tankful so far.

One slight annoyance is finding that most fuel pumps have a 100L automatic cut-off. Some petrol stations will hit the override switch but some require you to do a double trip to the till.

Ah, excellent - any chance of a few piccies of the new tanks in situ ?

Also - I was going to chop a hole in my floor, to create an access to the fuel pump, could you have a measure up of where the hole needs to go.....otherwise my boot floor will end up looking like a lump of swiss cheese !!

Thanks,
Jim

[nosnibod]

A few pics of the tanks installed - sorry it's taken a while - work has been somewhat hectic.

As for the hatch - providing dimensions won't really work, since you need to cut the hatch to coincide with the strengthening ribs that support the floor, and I can tell you that the ribs under my floor aren't parallel to the wheel box edges!

Ian did the work, but on reflection, there's a better way to do it than we did (measure once, twice, three times, and then still drill a hole in the wrong place!).

If you've got the fuel tank out and offer up the Safari Equip one, you'll see where the fuel pump will line up under the floor - it will be a oblong formed by the lengthwise and crosswise ribs. Drill a small hole in each rear corner, through the floor and that will be your datum for measuring from above. Ian used a nibbler and then a cutting disk in the angle grinder to cut the hatch. A replacement 8x8" panel was sprayed up to match the floor and fitted. Because the hatch is supported on three sides you don't need to drill the ribs for screws - 3M double-sided tape is perfectly sufficient and nicely seals the edges. 

Because the Safari Equip tanks drop the pump probably 2" further down than the OEM tank, there is enough room to wiggle the fuel pump in via such a hatch. If you fit an OEM tank you'll need to cut through one of the underfloor ribs to make rooms - not ideal.

[nosnibod]

And a couple more...

[nosnibod]

One other thing to watch out for. Clearance between the larger main tank and the rear diff is a bit tight if you want to fit a diff guard.

I've got a QT diff guard ready to fit (well, when I can get into Porny's workshop) and I'm pondering if it'll be too close.

That's about an inch of clearance.

[Jimbo]

Ta for the piccies, I've only just realised that you replaced the main tank too - I was thinking of keeping the main tank and adding the extra tank under the rear corner. But.......cos I've got the Eberspacher heater fitted, its fuel supply pickup pipe is fitted into the rubber flexy between the filler and the main tank - right where the extra tank would go  :doh:, so I need to have another think  :roll:

[nosnibod]

Ta for the piccies, I've only just realised that you replaced the main tank too - I was thinking of keeping the main tank and adding the extra tank under the rear corner. But.......cos I've got the Eberspacher heater fitted, its fuel supply pickup pipe is fitted into the rubber flexy between the filler and the main tank - right where the extra tank would go  :doh:, so I need to have another think  :roll:

You can fit the additional tank with a standard OEM one in place but you have to drill the main tank to accept the balance pipe. That means dropping the main tank anyway (you need to remove the fuel pump to get inside the tank for the pipe fitting) and you can sort out the Eberspacher pickup at the same time.

The TD5 fuel pump already has a Eberspacher/Webasto pickup fitted - you just need to attach the fuel pipe to it. The supplied Eberspacher fuel pickup is just downright weird and seems to be designed so that you can fit the pickup pipe without dropping the tank.

I would definitely advise a hatch in the floor. If (when) the fuel pump dies it would be a right pain to have to drop both tanks.

An alternative option is just to replace the main tank alone which would give you 120L instead of the 123L (75L+48L) twin tanks. No balance pipes to mess with then either.

PS Forgot to add that when making the hatch, you have to drill out some spot welds as well - about four from memory.

[Jimbo]

The TD5 fuel pump already has a Eberspacher/Webasto pickup fitted - you just need to attach the fuel pipe to it. The supplied Eberspacher fuel pickup is just downright weird and seems to be designed so that you can fit the pickup pipe without dropping the tank.

That's interesting - so the feed to the little Eberspacher pump connects directly the main tank pump, rather than the lash-up pickup thing that goes down the filler neck ?

[nosnibod]

The TD5 fuel pump already has a Eberspacher/Webasto pickup fitted - you just need to attach the fuel pipe to it. The supplied Eberspacher fuel pickup is just downright weird and seems to be designed so that you can fit the pickup pipe without dropping the tank.

That's interesting - so the feed to the little Eberspacher pump connects directly the main tank pump, rather than the lash-up pickup thing that goes down the filler neck ?

Yep, you've got it. A mate had an Eberspacher kit and when he showed me the supplied fuel pickup I had no idea what it was for! It looked like some sort of surgical appliance  :shock:

I have a Webasto fitted to my 110 - lovely in this weather isn't it  :D

[Jimbo]

I have a Webasto fitted to my 110 - lovely in this weather isn't it 

Oh yes - my Eber is right at the back of the truck. I've got a bulkhead/load space divider thing part way down the rear that separates the load space from the seats, the divider is not completely solid, but still lets lots of lovely heat through. I splashed out last year and bought a 7-day timer, so the heater comes on about 30 mins before I get in the truck in the morning - toasty warm, and fully defrosted 

[nosnibod]

I have a neighbour who leaves home every morning at the same time as I do. He still hasn't figured out why I just get in and go whilst he's still scraping the ice off his Volvo  :lol:

[Jimbo]

What I'd really like to get hold of is some ducting/pipework that I can use to duct the heat up to the front - just not sure where I'd get something, or even if it's available. I did think about using rainwater pipe, but I'm not sure if the hot air would be too hot for it ?

[nosnibod]

Just had a quick mooch on eBay and there are loads of Webasto and Eberspacher ducting and associated bits like vents. There appear to be various sizes too.

What I want is some side window vents to stop them misting up, just like the Puma-powered Defenders. I heard that Footloose 4x4 were supposed to be doing a kit, but I've had to answer to my emails.

While I'm at it I'd quite like to install some small speakers into the dash top rail too. Doesn't seem right having speakers pointing at your feet  :-.

[Jimbo]

Admittedly, after I posted last, I to went on eBlag and found loads of ducting........just need to measure mine, and see what I need - there was some insulated duct that looked quite interesting, but blooming expensive!

What do you mean by window vents ? - mine steams up really bad if I leave it warm in the morning, but its ok once I'm in it and driving.

Speakers for the dash - that's a tricky one, I was thinking about using some little Alpine tweeters I've got left from my mad-ICE days, but then I'll need to find somewhere to site the amp, and an active crossover, and then the mid-range won't be good enough, so I'll change the under-dash speakers, then the bass won't be good enough, so I'll fit the bass tube I have sitting in the loft............and soon I'll have no space left for anything else - which is why I got a 110 in the fisrt place  :roll:

[nosnibod]

The new Puma-powered Defenders have little vents in the ends of the dash to keep the side windows from misting. Been looking for a photo on Google but can't find one.

As for the small speakers I've come to the conclusion after an hours browsing, that the Land Rover standard installation isn't bad, just not the best quality, and people have reporting massive improvements by replacing the head unit and speakers.

No idea what unit to get though, or what speakers for that matter.... :-k