Auxiliary Fuel Tank

[musclemass]

Hi All,
Quick question, does anyone know if it is normal for the stock auxiliary saddle bag tanks to hang below the truck bed body??

I have attached a pic of a tank I seen locally and they hang 4 inches below the body. Not sure if the photo has the correct tank installed as the owner bought the truck with them, and he was not sure. I have a chance to pick up a set but I will go a different route if they do indeed hang below. The photo is from a C10 and I have a K10, but I don't believe there is any difference in the tanks. Thanks!!

[B. W.]

All of the saddle tanks I have seen on these trucks hang down a little. I would've guessed closer to 2" rather than 4" though. The top should sit flush up against the bottom of the bed. There may be a difference in "hang down" between steel floors & wood floors, I don't know.

[musclemass]

Thank You B.W.!!

Might not be as noticeable on a lowered C10, But on my Lifted K10 these will stick out like a sore thumb. I was trying to keep as original as possible but since they hang down at all I will go a different rout.

[special-K]

Is it 4" or 2"? Is yours a '72 with a single tank on the driver side or do you have aftermarket saddle tanks? Both normally hang about the same, more like 2". Never bothered me. I paint them black and boogie on. Seeing that little bit creams "This truck has a cool truck add-on from back in the day!", which I think is pretty cool.

All the factory tanks are the same for all longbeds

[Stocker]

Had to check my K20. I knew the tanks didn't extend down 4" below the sheet metal. Measured 2" pass. side and 1 3/4" drivers side. Travel Tanks which were a common dealer-installed aftermarket item years ago. Like Tim's, they are painted black and barely noticeable.

[musclemass]

Thanks for the reply's. My truck is a 70 k10 long bed. With a factory drivers side saddle bag. When I got the truck it had the fuel door there but no tank. I came across a set of drivers side and passenger side bags off a 72 C10, but they are about 100 miles away. I wanted to make sure that I was correct, that they do hang below the metal before I made the trek to pick them up. I have searched for pics and info and cant find much. For now I think I will stick with the stock drivers side to keep it original.

The pic is from a truck that I saw locally and took a quick pic, so I am estimating how far the tank hangs from the bed. Any advise on plumbing the tank up? Thanks Again

[El Dorado Jim]

if you have a chance to buy both tanks, do it, they are hard to find and you can always sell it down the road if you don't want it...I would install both saddle tanks and get rid of the cab tank....I did that on my 72 and my son's 70... make sure the c10 tanks will fit on your K10, I think the K truck tanks have a notch/corner cut off to make room for the leaf spring mount.....I'm not sure though

[special-K]

So your driver side tank filled through a door and not higher up on the bed with an exposed cap like on the cab? If so, either some body work was done or you have an aftermarket tank. No matter, they all sit the same. I've never had tanks on a coil spring truck, so don't know about differences. But, any leaf spring truck would be the same tank. They were only available on longbeds.

First one is '72 factory option and second s aftermarket. Best pics I have to show. I hope you can see.



Man, had the exhaust done on the GMC in '04 and hate how they did the mufflers turn sideways hanging down so low...stupid. Gonna see about changing that soon! (finally)

[dannyboy]

Both mine only hang down a couple of inches, I just removed them replaced the rubber that rides on the truck bed and added sensors to them, undercoated them and installed them
Now I need to figure out how to add a switch and still use the original gas gauge, once I get the seat tank emptied I will use that wire to make sure I tap into the correct wire.
New dash will go in with a tach option.
One more thing then done!

[flashed]

Are those tanks worth anything ? Im removing both from the 4x4 I recently bought .Putting bedsides on that dont have the doors .

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by flashed

Are those tanks worth anything ? Im removing both from the 4x4 I recently bought .Putting bedsides on that dont have the doors .

those tanks do have value...there are guys on this site that are looking for them....

[Old_Gold]

Not sure how much value they hold, but there is not much out there for restoration help, so rarity may help? Also, mine was built from plate steel, and covered with Frankenstein welds, is that how the original tanks looked?

[musclemass]

So in order to fit, I would need to make sure there is a notch to clear the leaf spring? I don,t see any notch on the tanks? I do have the aux door and not the upper exposed cap. I didn't realize the Aux door was a aftermarket and not factory. If this was not a factory option I may just go with a tank that mounts between the frame rails like the Nova Tank and weld up my Aux door and cab filler...

[Old_Gold]

That notch should give you enough clearance for the leaf shoeing mount. You can see the edge of mine here during disassembly

[special-K]

I'm pretty sure they made one tank for both rear suspensions. Has anyone seen one w/o that notch? I haven't

[El Dorado Jim]

that tank in your pics have the notch...the one corner is gone....they will work on any truck, I have a set of tanks that don't have the notches, I bought them a long time ago not realizing there was a difference...I dont think they were made by travel tanks

[flashed]

Mine will be available as soon as we get them off .As well as the switch by the drivers seat .

[special-K]

BTW, nice K/10. Looks like original paint. Some who run these tanks an a truck they are customizing/refining graft in a fuel fill door off another vehicle, such as Chevy Van.

[flashed]

That is a nice looking truck ,had not thought about a van gas door ,that would look good.