Front tank or no

Well with my floor about finished Im getting ready to drop the gas tank back in but I got to wondering if I really need it. I mounted a 15 gal rear tank already so Ive already more compasity then I began with. Well then I got to thinking about the pros and cons . Pros , more range which is important at times exspecial with low gears , no real need to strap jerry cans all over the jeep , The abilty to put gas in the jeep with out getting out the seat if I pay at the pump. Cons increased jeep lean to the left , less storage space , its right under my *** so increased chance of getting hurt/ burned in a accident, more parts / lines under the jeep . well just wanted yalls opoin on the subject , please let me know what yall think

 

my opinion I like having 2 tanks, I have a 1969 and have the under seat and in back, i have the manual switch betwen the seats and a swith on the dash so my gauge reads out of them bolth, just have to remember whn you areswitching tanks to swith the dash as well, biggest downfall i can see is the smell, but if you dont get the gas smell there will be just another smell coming form the engine compartment..... just my .02

 

go with both. more gas is always better. well almost always

 

I only run the rear tank, Gives me alot of space for storage boxes under the seat, so I guess for me it is a good trade off since we al know these early jeeps arent known for their storage space

 

I prefer the under seat storage more than the gas capacity. I would rather carry a jerry can on the back than lose that extra space and have gas mell inside the jeep.

 

Another $.02: I wouldn't stress out about a gas tank under your seat....there's no real advantage of having a larger capacity bomb only a couple feet further behind you.

Stay w/ rear-mounted tank only. You can mount external Jerry-cans if necessary, but you can't really mount convenient storage space.

 

My rear only tank set-up serves me well. For extended onroad drives, I don't think my butt could handle much more than that one tank full before it needs a "rest". Off road, the the extra capacity is carried in a Jerry can... Just my .02. OBTW, Jason, how'd the tank work out for you. Pics of the install?

 

How do you run a rear tank if you always had an underseat tank,,,,,,Fuel fill mainly.....any pics
Neal

 

Underseat tank is probably safer than jerry cans. I think that hanging jerry cans on your Jeep is as problematic as an under-seat tank, space-wise.

Personally, I'd want a big under-floor tank, and skip both the cans and the under-seat tank... even if my departure angle were affected.

 

Jason-

When you were at my place picking up your floorboards, I should have let you go for a spin in Percival. I never smell gas (from the tank) when running my under the seat tank. If guys are smelling gas, they have a seal/fitting leak/fuel line issue or leaking gas tank, and should fix it. Really very simple. I don't understand all the whining about the under the seat tanks. I just haven't seen the problem in a well maintained vehicle. The couple (and I do mean couple) of times I've smelled gas has been from a sticking float in the carb . . . .

Ranting aside, More gas is better. I like the idea of an extra tank with sender and dash switch so you can see what the levels are in each tank.

Your mileage WILL vary!

 

I've never had a rear tank until the CJ7. Our Tux has both. If you need to see how Peter did it, he can show you when you're here next time if you come to the house.

B

 

Thanks all for the thoughts , Im still undicided but Im leaning to leaving it out now. Chris the rear tank install went smooth as silk , maybe a 15-20 minute job. The tank moves around a little more then I want it to so Im going to make some bump stops inside the frame rails to hold it tight inplace this week before make a new bed.Ill try to post a pic or 2 tonite when I get home .

 

If your tank is moving around, how is it mounted, with straps or mounted like the 70-71 models, the rear tank in my 71 couldn't move even a 1/16" unless a collision caused it to move.

Just as a note the underseat tank does not bother me for the sake of explosion it is the minor accident that spills fuel directly on the floor or me and then ignites and burns, the rear tank pretty much protects you from this and does give you time to get out.

 

My tank just sets in the skid plate like in boyinks write up. I could make a strap over the top and bolt it Down to the skid plate........ Thanks beth but I got my line routing figured if I go with the dual set up.

 

The 70-71 models ar bolted directlt to the frame, the back of the tank has a hole on either corner and a strap bolted to the front of the tank that holds it bolted firmly. If interested I will post a pic later this mornin.

 

My skidplate is not bolted to the tank at all, and my tank actually doesn't use a strap, it uses a small L bracket in the front. If I take my skid plate off my tank, the tank is still bolted to the frame without any straps at all, (4) 5/16" bolts remove the tank.

 

On mine the skid doest allow the tank to go far enough back to line up with rear cross bolt holes, and theres nothing up front to mount the one hole to. But I can make a strap to bolt to the ceter hole of the rear cross mem come over the tank quater way down the top , then weld a long bolt or threaded rod to the strap to go though the front hole of the tank down to the skid where I can weld a little tab to bolt it to Pic would be helpfull though mike so if you dont mind posting please do.

 

I like the rear tank idea been wanting to do on mine for some time. Always worried about under seat tanks. If you smoke while driving seems you smoking hand is always finding its way right over the filler neck. Which takes me to another point several years back I laid one on its side(drivers side)not violently rather just kina a tip and the one thing I noticed was that the gas leaked out the neck. I'd rather have it leaking a couple of feet back at least maybe I wont be laying in it.