Gas tank in the cab, is it safe?

[dennis461]

A lot of older trucks had the gas tank behind the seat. Think pre-1973 Fords. A case can be made that it's actually safer there in a collision but I still wouldn't be crazy about the idea.

and
the 65 Dodge step side I owned.
It was kind of cool hearing the gas slosh around

 

[Captain Ledd]

My neighbors 50 something Willys (53?) you literally sit on the gas tank. It's part of what holds the drivers seat up I believe.

Personally, no. I wouldn't put something like that in my vehicle, open air or not.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Me thinks you all are too young to know that the old F-1 (and others) pick-ups had their tank right behind the seats, look at where the fuel filler cap is. You probably don't want to hear about the gas fueled heaters under the dash either. I really wouldn't recommend it today.
Dave

All my 72 chebby p/u's had them behind the seat. Had a VW with a gas heater that caught on fire pretty regular but i got used to that over time, see smoke and fire billowing out of the front trunk was kind of an old school check engine light.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Ive been telling everyone there is a company that makes after market tanks, not fuel cells, but factory replacement tanks. It sits in factory location but expands capacity by alot. You can also look at their tanks and prettymuch figure out how to make your own. And ITS NOT IN THE SMOKING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. The older vehicles like hondas that had tanks below the back seat also had the body molded to leave room for the tank. It was outside the passenger compartment.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Ive been telling everyone there is a company that makes after market tanks, not fuel cells, but factory replacement tanks. It sits in factory location but expands capacity by alot. You can also look at their tanks and prettymuch figure out how to make your own. And ITS NOT IN THE SMOKING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. The older vehicles like hondas that had tanks below the back seat also had the body molded to leave room for the tank. It was outside the passenger compartment.

Uhhh... Link?

 

[feellnfroggy]

No linky. Its in one of the offroad magazines. Or search online for custom replacement fuel tanks and that should get it. otherwise ill check the mags and see if I can find a vendors name.

 

[Legend]

After a few years, my dad's 1948 Ford pickup's bed rusted out around the bolts and the bed just sort of sat on the frame and floated around several inches. Being a carpenter, he simply got the bed located where it should be with about 2" between the bed and the cab. Then he put a couple of 2" x 12" in between and drove some really big nails through the end of the bed, the boards and into the cab. Then he went around to the cab, flipped the seat back down so he could clinch over the nails and found he couldn't - because they were all inside the gas tank.
And while it may not seem safe to have the gas tank behind the seat in the passenger compartment, it might be better than where the Model-Ts had it - right over the engine, just in front of the windshield. Where it would be sure to be crushed and spray gasoline over the hot engine and manifold.

 

[AllanD]

Is it safe to put a stock gas tank (not a fuel cell) inside the cab? I would assume that it would be completely sealed and not leak any fumes, but I've never seen it done.
Reason I'm asking is because I just picked up a 35 gal. tank from an 85' dodge 15 passenger van for free. I want to put it in the back of my X where the back seat used to be. I wanted to run dual tanks, but I figure one 35 gal is as good as one 20 gal and one 15 gal, plus it will be a little easier to plumb, and like I said, it was free, so I can't argue with that.
Sooo, is it safe? I do let people smoke in my truck, they will be sitting 2 feet in front of the tank. I was thinking I'd probably weld up a case for it to fit in, so that it looks a little cleaner, and isn't quite as exposed

No.

Uhhhh... No!

and HELL NO!!!


WHY would you want a fuel tank inside the cab?

there are other places for things like that.

Yeah, they put them there in old trucks, but there's a reason they are commonly
refered to as "suicide tanks".

AD

 

[MountainMike]

I agree with all the naysayers on here and also... even if you did get a proper fuel cell it would definitely be a must to not let people smoke inside the vehicle. And if they don't like it, well too bad.

 

[Chance]

While the thought does scare me, why does it feel any better to have it an extra foot away with some sheet metal around it?

I'd put it behind the rear seat and make a box to go around it... six on one hand, half dozen in the other in my opinion.

But I would not put it in place of the rear seats.

 

[Little X]

I agree with all the naysayers on here and also... even if you did get a proper fuel cell it would definitely be a must to not let people smoke inside the vehicle. And if they don't like it, well too bad.

Thank you for finally making a comment on fuel cells. As anyone who reads my 2 previous posts will know, I want to know the difference between fuel cells and gas tanks. I didn't know that it wasn't advised to smoke while using an in-cab fuel cell.

And the reason I don't want to keep my original tank, in its original location, is because I want to move it out so that A: It is out of harms way from rocks on the trail and B: moving it will allow room to move my springs inboard of the frame, giving better flexibility, as well as the ability to run SOA without a 6" lift, I'm looking for something closer to 2.5-4". I just don't want to die in a hot ball of fire.

 

[naford]

Well there is a reason they no longer have the gas tank mounted in the cab. I had an Audi that had the gast tank mounted parallel with the back seat back. But I think there was a full piece of metal that seperated it from the cabin.

 

[MountainMike]

Thank you for finally making a comment on fuel cells. As anyone who reads my 2 previous posts will know, I want to know the difference between fuel cells and gas tanks. I didn't know that it wasn't advised to smoke while using an in-cab fuel cell.

A fuel cell is a bladder inside of a tank. The ladder contains all the liquid. A gas tank is just a shaped vessel made of steel of plastic to contain the liquid.

Racing fuel cell

A racing fuel cell has a flexible inner liner to minimize the potential for punctures in the event of a collision or other mishap resulting in serious damage to the vehicle. It is filled with an open-cell foam core to prevent explosion of vapor in the empty portion of the tank and to minimize sloshing of fuel during competition that may unbalance the vehicle or cause inadequate fuel (fuel starvation) delivery to the motor.

 

[strvger]

had tanks in a few of the old trucks i used to own as they were stock that way. never any problems. don't ever rember as a kid hearing negative things about those old tanks behind the seat. i wouldn't have an issue, but i've never smoked. seen a lot of stock cars and similar racing cars with fuell cells behind the seat.

 

[feellnfroggy]

And while it may not seem safe to have the gas tank behind the seat in the passenger compartment, it might be better than where the Model-Ts had it - right over the engine, just in front of the windshield. Where it would be sure to be crushed and spray gasoline over the hot engine and manifold.

Sounds alot like todays modern lawnmowers.