Really it's not about a valve isn't it about which pump you turn on and to tie the fuel lines together.You have the return line that has to go back to the tank your using not to overflow the other full tank.If you don't have a valve for the return line you would always have to use the tank with the return line first.If you want to keep it simple why can't you put a single pole double throw switch in to switch the pumps back and forth.The Jc whitney kit looks like it changes the gauge to but it's unlikely a Dodge Caravan sending unit would speak in a language your gauge would understand.
I thaught about this, if i understand correctly your saying to T the lines in togethor without a valve, the only problem I seen with this is without some sort of a check valve fuel would bleed into the tank not being used still ( possibly ).
I dont mind using a proper valve if I have to, but for arguement sakes, I had thaught about doing a few things a little differently...
- running all the fuel lines into the engine compartment and using manual on/off valves.
- Using low voltage DC valves from a hydronic heating system ( can get these for free )
- Using check valves to stop fuel bleeding back to the unused tank with the exception of the return line...the only thing I can think of is the auto valve from a heating system. ( I havent gotten around to checking out wether or not they're usable for gas though ).
That being said 82.00 for the valve isn't bad at all. So in the end I may just go that route. I am interested to hear what others have to say about my other ideas though...
For the sending unit, that isn't a problem. I plan to power the 2nd pump all the time to a second fuel guage in the cluster ( I'm working on a custom digital cluster ). The other idea I had was to just use another explorer sending unit, but the caravan one is new...so its 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other...
I had also considered doing like Allan D did with one tank as storage rigged to just fill the 2nd tank, but...I'm planning on moving to another province in the next little while and the explorer has to go through inspection to insure it there, so it needs to look good.
I dont know if I mentioned why exactly I want 2 tanks on my explorer....lol, the price of gas accross the border....WAY cheaper than here. almost 25 cents/L ( roughly 1.00/gal ) cheaper than in Canada...lol. And of course the extended range.....but mostly the amount of gas I can buy...lol.