Gas tank relocation

[Northern lights]

It seems that relocating the fuel tank is one of the first things many people do with their vintage trucks. Sometimes it's done to make more room in the cab but most often it seems that people are doing it for safety reasons. I've always felt that, while behind the seat is perhaps not the safest place (IMO second only to between the frame rails in front of the rear axle), it is safer than behind the rear axle, where most people put it, hence the reason that I removed the underbed tank that was in my truck when I bought it and put it back behind the seat. I stumbled across this article that I thought might be of interest to those considering a tank relocation. http://www.autosafetyexpert.com/defect_fueltank.php

[aerotruk63]

Good of you to post that. I like the part where GM paid a settlement to avoid a recall.

[pdxhall]

IMO this is a completely different situation than having the fuel tank in the rear of a truck. The drivers compartment is separate from where the fuel tank is, unlike that of a car. I'd much rather have it back there rather than sitting in the cab with me and still vulnerable to side impact collisions.

[jimmydean]

I have a spare tank mounted on the driver frame rail under the bed (looks like a dealer type option). I am putting a fuel cell there rather than try to wedge it somewhere else.

Otherwise it will be in front of the axle under the bed.

[brap999]

I have a Summit fuel cell mounted in the rear between the frame rails. The reason I did this was because my old tank was rusting from the inside and eventually when I hit a hole in the road it was enough to cause it to leak all over the inside of the cab. Plus the filler neck has a tendency to come loose letting gas vapor out in the cab while I'm driving. That alone was enough of a safety issue for me to move the tank to the rear of the truck.

I agree that behind the rear axle isn't the safest place, but I feel it's safer than keeping it behind my seat.

The way I see it, if I get in an accident, or flip the truck, at least I don't run the risk of fuel getting all over me inside the cab. I'll take my chances in a rear end accident with the tank behind the axle over that.

[Rich 5150 69]

We`re all rolling with a bomb, place it where ever it makes you sleep at night. I think in Losthope`s case he`ll move his to the rear on his next rig, he was awash in gas...really got lucky..

[Max1775]

Trucks are worlds apart from cars and SUVs in this aspect. The cars and suv have a vulnerability that the passenger compartment or trunk (which is not separated from the cabin by a fire wall) is located directly over the fuel tank. This allows the fuel tank to push up into the floor and if both are penetrated there is a possibility of burning fuel inside he vehicle. This is not an issue with trucks unless you have a camper that is open from the cab to the bed.
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[losthope]

i was very lucky to walk away from that crash and lucky nothing sparked while i was pinned under dash,as the tow truck dropped the truck off in my pop's back forty the battery was shorting out shooting sparks everywhere,none of the rescue personal thought about unhooking battery i guess...back on topic my new rig has the stock tank behind seat i will use it to get truck running and then put it behind the rear axle as soon as its drive time....i figure theres more of a chance to survive pinned in the cab not covered in gas then with the tank behind seat soaked in fuel like i was.......i was just lucky.....