Turning my truck into a home refueling station and elimiate gas cans

[OilPatch197]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suggestions how to do this? Got a old Ford Ranger Pickup truck, and why refuel gas cans when there is a tank of fuel just setting right there... I just got to figure out a way to add a gas nozzle.

I'm thinking a dual battery setup, using the OEM electric pump and a tee on the high pressure fuel line side, with a on/off valve in front of the regulator, I can hook up a gas hose with a gas station nozzle.

My question is what safety things, if any, I need to prevent the truck from bursting into flames in an accident?

I can eliminate all my gas cans, because where I am, my truck is also near, so, in theory, I can just turn a valve, have the fuel pump hard wired on, extra capacity with two batteries and fuel up my mower. I think the fuel pump can handle this, but any safety things I need to keep in mind?

 

[baddis]

why not just bolt a fuel cell in the bed? there are also tanks that fit in the bed with a low pressure pump that pumps maybe 2 gals a minute

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If I get your idea, you want to have the truck still road legal. The fuel system is supposed to hold ~40psi indefinitely. I'd say the problem would be the extra line, where do you store it safely. There are quick connects for racing brake systems, maybe they could be adapted so the line is removable and the quick connect is hidden by the fuel door? or maybe there is a quick connect for fuel lines?

Richard

 

[baddis]

http://www.jmesales.com/catalog/fuel-transfer-tanks,7297.htm i would go with something like this to be on the safe side. all the farmers around here have them in their trucks and some have one for diesel and one for gas.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

We did that on a shop van at the last place I worked. Just had a shut off valve teed in on the fuel supply line at the engine. Had about 6' of fuel hose rolled up under the hood and a push pull switch to activate the pump. Single healthy battery never had any trouble keeping up.

 

[veefer800canuck]

You're gonna want a fitting on the end of the hose to prevent leaks in the event that the valve inadvertently comes open, or leaks by internally.

A spring loaded ball valve, maybe 1/4" NPT size would be best. That way, the valve handle closes by itself if you are not holding it open.

 

[RonD]

Older Ranger , pre-'95, will have a place to put a jumper/switch that will turn fuel pump relay on and off, it is on the VIP/DLC connector.
And a Tee could be installed on fuel line using pressure fittings.

But don't confuse pressure with volume, it will take awhile to get 5 gallons out of the gas tank using the fuel pump.

And you run the risk of draining the gas tank, so not enough gas to get truck to the closest gas station, or, knock on wood, having the fuel pump pack it in by using it in a continuous manner, the fuel pump is cooled by the gas in the tank and doesn't normally run all the time, computer turns it on and off based on RPM, speed and throttle position.
Murphy's Law says one of these will happen


A second fuel tank with a separate pump(hand pump or electric), would be a better idea IMO.

Second battery probably wouldn't be needed.
And assuming manual transmission, you can always park facing downhill, lol.

 

[FritzTKatt]

What's the flow rate on a fuel pump like that, though? You don't want to spend all day filling a 5 gallon riding mower... George Jones doesn't even have time for that...

We should all know that pumps create flow, and restriction to flow creates pressure.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

They don't pump very fast.... Usually took about 10min to fill a 5gal can.

 

[FritzTKatt]

I don't see why you can't rig up a high-flow pump on a separate circuit with a kill switch in cab, and another one somewhere accessible from the outside to actually use it. I'd hate standing there for 10 minutes to fill a 5 gallon can.

 

[RonD]

Yes, generally these stock fuel pumps would be about 30gal per hour(GPH), so 2min per gallon
5gal = 10 minutes.

 

[OilPatch197]

Any concerns with static causing sparks? I'd have the fuel nozzle grounded to the truck, but the truck is on rubber tires.

 

[FritzTKatt]

He should ground it out and discharge any static before fuel flows.

Or if its a real concern throw a grounding rod down.

 

[bobbywalter]

Older Ranger , pre-'95, will have a place to put a jumper/switch that will turn fuel pump relay on and off, it is on the VIP/DLC connector.
And a Tee could be installed on fuel line using pressure fittings.

But don't confuse pressure with volume, it will take awhile to get 5 gallons out of the gas tank using the fuel pump.

And you run the risk of draining the gas tank, so not enough gas to get truck to the closest gas station, or, knock on wood, having the fuel pump pack it in by using it in a continuous manner, the fuel pump is cooled by the gas in the tank and doesn't normally run all the time, computer turns it on and off based on RPM, speed and throttle position.
Murphy's Law says one of these will happen :


A second fuel tank with a separate pump(hand pump or electric), would be a better idea IMO.

Second battery probably wouldn't be needed.
And assuming manual transmission, you can always park facing downhill, lol.

since when have the little fords had a duty cycle fuel pump?


there are variable voltage pumps....but they just boost flow on demand.....not stopping and starting. none of the eec 4 setups even had a pressure transducer in the line to monitor pressure to be able to know when to turn it on and off.....




oilpatch......guys named oilpatch should not be called oilpatch if they have to ask this. i prefer to have a stash of fuel no matter what in reserve....you never know when you will pop the tank or something....blow a line....


but i have often transferred fuel in the way your asking. but the way my truck has been setup since 92(when i started drilling oil wells.....in the oil patch), i would just unclip the factory line and jam a hose on the fitting to transfer some fuel if it was necessary...sometimes it would make a mess....just be mindfull of the situation with raw fuel..better then a mouthful of gas.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

http://www.jmesales.com/catalog/fuel-transfer-tanks,7297.htm i would go with something like this to be on the safe side. all the farmers around here have them in their trucks and some have one for diesel and one for gas.

+1