Questions about options?

[shane72_383]

Im kind of curious about these tow hooks everyone seems to be crazy about? I've only dealt with 1/2 tons, what are they, whered they go on the truck, what did they come on, and why are they so sought after and pricey? Also my truck has auxillary gas tanks on both side of the bed in between the wheel and cab with the filler neck coming out in front of the tire. Are these rare? Are they a factory option, or dealer or what? Thanks

[Rod]

your tank is dealer installed,tow hooks are a factory rarer option.

[shane72_383]

How do you get these tanks off? I've scoured them for bolts or straps and founf nothing. Any help is appreciated

[gmcman7202]

torch em off...

[shane72_383]

Lol.......interesting choice, let me know how it goes.......

[1969k10stepside]

Tow hooks were not rare but uncommon.The 72 only extreme bend tow hooks are the most pricey and rare and probably the most sought(sp) after.Tow hooks were found on 2x4 and 4x4 models 67-72.They are bolted to the frame horn by the bumper and sometimes these trucks came w/ rear towhooks.

[Canadian694x4]

Here are a few Pics I have...first 2 pics show the correct mounting holes for the 69-72 and 72 only hooks. Third Pic is the 69-72 style hooks and the Fourth Pic is the 72 only style mounted. Fifth Pic is of the rear tow hooks...I've never seen em up close or mounted. This is just a pic from Ebay I borrowed.

1969k10stepside is correct too when he said they come on 2wd & 4x4's I've seen them on both factory.

[shane72_383]

Does anyone know how to get this side of the bed mounted auxillary tanks off? I dont like them

[kwmech]

A lot of times the bolts went thru the center of the tank. Up top inside the bed will be the head of a carriage bolt. At the bottom of the tank will be a washer looking nut that has a 1/2 square hole in the center. You can try a 1/2 ratchet, but more than likely the hole will round out. You can then tack weld a 1/2'' nut to the 'washer' and then use a 3/4'' socket. More than likely though the 2 rods will be fused due to rust.


Edit---another way is to use a grinder and grind the head of the bolt off inside the bed and let the whole thing drop on the ground

[shane72_383]

I see, Ya i saw those and tried the socket method and rounded it off. Guess i'll be grinding the bolt off in the bed, dont have a welder

[396muncie]

I just removed my tanks off my 72. Luckily, mine had nuts on the bottom instead of the square holes. 3 of the 4 broke thanks to PA rust. A fellow board member sold me 4 better shape bolts and they have the square holes. Also, it helps if you drain the old gas out before dropping the tanks. On mine, on the bottom front towards the frame were drains on each tank. They were small allen wrench heads. I've heard from most here that they were dealer installed. Mine in fact say Traveling Tanks on a sticker on the inside of the fuel doors. I found factory GM pages in the junk yard in a truck that had these tanks. The pages look to have come out of the Service Manual showing installation and removal for these tanks. Maybe it was to go to the dealer's to aid in installation. Oddly, it also shows a toggle switch on the dash by the lighter so the fuel gauge works with whatever tank you have selected via the switch on the floor by the driver side seatbelt. Every truck with these tanks that I've seen has the floor mounted switch, but I've never seen the dash mounted switch for the fuel gauge. So I guess the fuel gauge is worthless unless you're using the inside cab tank. Sorry for the long post. I may be interested if you're willing to sell any parts regarding the aux tanks. Good luck.

[shane72_383]

I'll sell you anything you need, i dont like them.

[A few 72's]

My C20 has the fuel gauge switch mounted to the left side of the dash. Only pic I have is the one I took when the getting close to the 100,000 or 200,000 so does not show the label.

[timcos]

I have a selector switch I am removing from my 72. The tanks I think are long gone...cause i cannot find them...LOL

Tim

[396muncie]

I've seen 2 different setups for the auxiliary tanks. One is like I have with the aluminum fuel doors, one on each side of the bed and a selector mounted on the driver side floor by the seatbelt. The other setup is the filler neck extending outside the driver side bed at about the same angle as the cab mounted filler neck. This setup always seems to have the knob on the left side of the dash. What exactly does the knob control? Does it switch from one tank to the other? Does it control the fuel gauge? Does it do both? Does it also have a selector mounted on the floor like mine? Since it uses the exact same knob as the dash controls, it appears to me more of a factory installation instead of the setup I have. Don't mean to hijack Shane, but it seems like we have some of the same questions regarding these tanks. Which setup do you have Shane and timcos? Thanks

[Rod]

Earlier I mentioned that this person had dealer installed tanks because he listed where they were mounted and how , so I made the
"your tanks are dealer installed" answer. To clarify, there are factory installed tanks also, but in the initial post I answered a specific question.

[shane72_383]

Im assuming mine are dealer installed, the filler neck is in front of the rear wheel, and i have the selector on the floor.

[Solver]

My blue 72 has the up high tank.
Also has the gas guage selector switch to the left of the dash bezel .
The selector switch is used to switch the gas guage from behind the seat tank reading to the bedside side tank reading.
I also have a selector switch on the floor left of the seat to actually switch the gas flow from 1 to the other.
The second pic of interior shows the knob for the guage selector clear over on the left of the picture above the ac vent

[396muncie]

No problem, Rod...actually, you answered a question. I thought all auxiliary tanks were dealer installed, but the setup like Solver's is factory installed. Makes sense since it matches so well. Solver, is there anyway to post a picture of the selector on the floor and maybe a straight ahead pic of the knob on the dash? Thanks for all the help.

[Solver]

396Muncie here are the pics you requested

[396muncie]

Perfect, thanks a lot!!