Underbed Propane tank?

[Canada20]

Hey all. I'm seriously considering running my '69 on propane and with all the talk of Blazer/Suburban tank swaps going around, I'm curious if anyone has put a propane tank behind the rear axle?

Greg

[Longhorn Man]

That would be a VERY unsafe place for it. if you must put it under the truck, then on one side towards the center of the vehicle would be best. (look under a modern F-150 for location, that is the ideal place) You won't be able to run dual exhaust in the traditional way, but that's the best place if you have to have it underneath.
Personally, i would have a tank molted in the bed, and then make a wall of sorts to keep cargo from smacking it when i hit the brakes. I used to have a pic of ProTrucks (former member) set up on his rig, almost every vehicle he owns runs on propane, including the one he was working on when I was there, a twin turbo small block short/step.

[Canada20]

What makes it less safe back there? Not being willfully ignorant, honest

Greg

[68 Suburban]

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
That would be a VERY unsafe place for it. if you must put it under the truck, then on one side towards the center of the vehicle would be best. (look under a modern F-150 for location, that is the ideal place) You won't be able to run dual exhaust in the traditional way, but that's the best place if you have to have it underneath.
Personally, i would have a tank molted in the bed, and then make a wall of sorts to keep cargo from smacking it when i hit the brakes. I used to have a pic of ProTrucks (former member) set up on his rig, almost every vehicle he owns runs on propane, including the one he was working on when I was there, a twin turbo small block short/step.

Andy, all the conversions out here are done with the tanks in the back. Look at the construction of a DOT approved propane tank(im not talking a grill tank here), and you will see that they are a 100 times stronger, and I feel safer than a gas tank.

[Longhorn Man]

I have inspected many tanks, (I do DOT inspections at work) but have never seen one in the back. yes, I agree they are stronger, however, and I guess this is just my opinion, I would never mount one back there. it is nothing more than a bottle rocket and I wouldn't want anything to poke it and set it off. (refering to the compressed gas leaking and pushing the 'bottle'... not as far as fireworks)

[Canada20]

so what about all the cars (taxis mostly) I see around with rear-mounted tanks? or are they just throwing caution to the wind?

Greg

[68 Suburban]

Andy, I think you are being overly cautious :p These are built like a tank. Look at the gas tanks they are putting in the back of cars. They are flimsy. To tell you the truth. I would want the propane or any other tank as far away from me in the cab as possible.

Every Tahoe and Suburban I see with the propane/CNG has the tanks hanging down a bit in the back.

He, look at the CNG tank on the truck half way down the page. That should realy scare you

http://www.cumminswestport.com/ng/index.php

http://www.itsnottingham.info/Commuter4_pres3.htm

[dubie]

My dad has been in the propane business for almost 40 years and this is what I can tell you abouot auto propane tanks. Trucks either have to have the tank mounted inside the bed and right up against the front panel, or underneath the bed in one of the front corners (like beer kegs) For cars, it's very simple, they are all mounted in the very front of the trunck or in other words, they are right behind the back seat. It is not legal to have a pressurized propane tank exposed in the rear frame rails of a pickup or a car.

[phestus]

My propane tank sits across the bed pf the box, right behind the cab..
I agree that the thing is built heavy..If I get smacked hard enough to get to that thing and damage it enough to explode, I'd already be dead..
On the brighter side, my family would save money on the cremation..Nyuk nyuk..

[jaycom102002]

how are you doing the propane swap? i am thinking of doing it too but have no idea on how to. does anyone make a kit for the conversion?

[dubie]

Hendrix makes a nice kit
http://www.hendrixsystems.com/

the ones my dad has done were jobbers. They would round up all the equipment and installed it on their own. They now contract the work out and have the conversion done on all their new service trucks before they leave the dealer lot.

[Canada20]

wow...didn't think the back was a bad place to mount 'em at al but I guess I was wrong. I'm going to pay closer attention to the cars I see around 'cuz I'm positive I've seen the tank hanging out the back.

BTW there are a couple of reasons I wanted to locate the tank at the back; I don't really want it in the bed, the exhaust system I'm likely going to try use is a side exit setup off another truck and from the little poking around I've done, it seems hard to find saddle tanks that fit the 67-72 years.

Thanks for the info all!

Greg

[Canada20]

Good article about converting to propane;

http://www.wps.com/LPG/

Greg

[68 Suburban]

I don't know about in Canada, but in the US I believe you are intitled to a $2000 tax credit for the cost of installation.

You can find complete USED systems on ebay. Usually they will not included the tank. I see them go fot about $70-$250. Depending on how expensive gas is at the time

[Longhorn Man]

Actually, I thought it was a $2500 deal.

[Canada20]

OK...just for the sake of info, I found a couple of references to Ford and GM placing tanks behind the axle. The GM one I found in a factory propane manual from 1984 that mentions they put the tanksbehind the axle in vans. The stuff about Ford was online.

Also found a tank manufacturer that has specs for beind the axle tanks.

Greg

(and like I mentioned above, I'm only mentioning this as information, not as trying to prove anything to people who know a helluva lot more about truck than me )

[68 Suburban]

http://www.wps.com/LPG/LPG-book-final.html#INDEX

[dubie]

Hmm never seen them locate there before. But laws in Canada could be different from the USA regarding propane. Good to know that it can be placed there tho. Thanks for the pic

[68 Suburban]

Originally posted by dubie
Hmm never seen them locate there before. But laws in Canada could be different from the USA regarding propane. Good to know that it can be placed there tho. Thanks for the pic

I haven't been able to find a picture, but all the new suburbans and tahoes have the tanks in the exact same location.

[Canada20]

Canadian company that manufactures tanks;


http://www.sleegers.on.ca/tank_suggestion.htm

Greg

[68 Suburban]

Originally posted by Canada20
Canadian company that manufactures tanks;


http://www.sleegers.on.ca/tank_suggestion.htm

Greg

That is a good link. Thanks

YUKON / TAHOE / SUBURBAN

Tank Size Valves/Mounting Capacity Location
10x10x32 SEUW 58 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x10x35 SEUW 64 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x10x36 SEUW 67 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x10x44 SEUW 82 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x12x41 SEUW 93 lt. Behind Rear Axle

FULL SIZE PICKUP 1988- Tank Size Valves/Mounting Capacity Location
12x50 SEUW/O 67 lt. Frame Mount
12x61 SFUO 82 lt. Frame Mount
18x62 SABW 185 lt. Bed Mount
20x58 SABW (LPDM) 210 lt. Bed Mount
20x60 SABW 218 lt. Bed Mount
24x60 SABW 310 lt. Bed Mount
10x10x32 SEUW 58 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x10x35 SEUW 64 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x12x34 SEUW 75 lt. Behind Rear Axle
10x13x36 SEUW 88 lt. Behind Rear Axle
12x12x48 SABW 128 lt. Bed Mount
12x60-12x48 SABW 145 lt. Short Box Mount
10x10x35-10x26 SEUW 87 lt. Behind Rear Axle

FULL SIZE PICKUP 1977-87
Tank Size Valves/Mounting Capacity Location
12x50 SEUW/O 67 lt. Frame Mount
13x13x27 SEUW 81 lt. Behind Rear Axle
13x56 SEUW/SFUW 88 lt. Frame Mount
20x60 SABW 218 lt. Bed Mount

[JoetheMobster]

Well, I have two 60 kilo CNG tanks mounted on my truck, but they're on driver/pass sides under the rear fenders.

I'm going outside to try and take some pictures....

[JoetheMobster]

#1

They don't show much - but might give an idea about what I'm talking about.

[JoetheMobster]

#2

['68OrangeSunshine]

I was wondering, if I ever get around to resurrecting my '67 K/10 Sub, if I could [after converting the engine to propane use] run tanks inside over the wheelwells and panel over them. I would still want it to run on gas whenever I needed to.
It's got a 454, but after an engine fire in late '98, it's been sitting. Now it's a "Rat" motor in more ways than one!
Current pipe dream is to build up a 292 L6 for propane/ turbo. With OPEC on the warpath again, I can't go back to 6 MPG.