what do you do for fuel storage?

[oldboyscout]

I've been using 5 gallon Jerricans and have tried all sorts of spouts and pumps. I'm considering a 15 gallon steel gravity feed tank now. Any downside to this?
What other options are there?

 

[dapper]

OBS, depends on how much fuel your going thru. I personally have a steel 200 gal tank on stilts that my dealer fills about once a year. I have 2 tractors, 1 lawnmower, and a RTV that are all diesel. I got tired of buying my fuel in 5 gal containers when I traded my gas Ford 600 for a diesel tractor. Wasn't a problem when I only had the mower, but PIA with more usage. and truthfully, a 5gal can is about all I would want to try to LIFT to fill any machine. Check with some of the fuel dealers in your area, and see if they can supply a tank, or if they will fill a small tank that you own. Much simpler. Just remember to have filled in winter with cold weather additive to keep from gelling.
One answer is to use a plastic 55gal (or 30gal) barrel. Some with pumps, and some up on stilts like mine. Some put this in & out of truck with FEL and fill at local station as needed.
Have seen many innovative solutions on this web site, and sure you will get many posts on this subject. No one answer for all, so pick one that is right for you.
Let us see the pictures of what you come up with.

 

[avphile]

I use about 40gal of diesel per year and my local distributor gave me a used 55gallon steel oil drum that i use. It has a 2" threaded opening in the top that i bought a hand pump to fit it and it works pretty well. Transporting the drum is the only downside, its hard to strap down and is top heavy but it is better than going to the gas station all the time.

 

[JD230511]

Been looking for a way to store fuel at my house also. But since my Uncle is a farmer, I have been buying 10 gallons at a time off him till I find something for myself.

 

[Short Game]

I know a scrapper, and there are obviously some added hassles in selling old fuel tanks for scrap, so he asked me one day if I wanted these two 115 gallon semi tanks he had. Heck yeah! I have a hand pump that works great. The local fuel company has a truck come through a couple times a week, and if you want 100+ gallons, free delivery.

 

[TCJatko]

I don't use much fuel, maybe 25 or so gallons per year. I just tap off the heating oil supply down in the basement into a 5-gallon can (installed a valve and tee for this purpose).

 

[grsthegreat]

Im trying to find a 50-100 gal diesel tank with electric pump for a reasonable $$$$, but no luck yet. Id just load/unload it on a pallet with forks... and haul to station to fill.

 

[oldboyscout]

cool some interesting ideas. I did figure I would use the loader to put it on and off the trailer to go and fill up. I guess a 30 gal drum and pump may not be a bad idea. The tank I'm looking at is 120$ at TSC. 15 gallons would hold me for a few months, maybe 6 depending on how much seat time I can steal.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/vehicl...onal-fuel-station-can-15-gal-capacity-3950115
looks like I'd have to weld some eyes to the top for convenience with the loader.
and yes pouring from 5gallon jerrycans is a pain.

 

[JoeL4330]

I found the pouring was the downside of 5 gal jugs (I used jugs from Jegs) and my solution was to buy a barrel pump/siphon (see Unisan 423 Siphon Drum Pump for 15/30/55 Gallon )

I cut the siphon/pump down (on a slant) to reach to the bottom of the jug/jerrycan ...then I hoist up the container to sit on the tractor hood, near the filler, and with a pump or two the siphon action starts and nearly all the fuel siphons quickly into the tractor tank. (the slant cut lets the siphon flow cut off before sucking up the dregs from the bottom, which is where water will accumulate, if any)

Now, I mostly use a 40 gal fuel transfer tank w. 12v electric pump w. auto-shutofff (and a 20 ft. hose) I have one transfer tank in my pickup and one in the carport. The pickup tank is mounted solid, but I believe I will unbolt, mount on a pallet, and fork off the truck so I can have the full bed.

 

[bigbull338]

we use a 100 gallon diesel tank that fitts in the truck bed.maybe those of you looking for fuel tanks should check out TSC as they have 60 to 120 gallon tanks.

 

[TripleR]

We have 300 gallon tanks on stilts on both farms.

 

[JD230511]

we use a 100 gallon diesel tank that fitts in the truck bed.maybe those of you looking for fuel tanks should check out TSC as they have 60 to 120 gallon tanks.

I like this ideal, but I dont want it in the bed of my truck.... I have a short bed truck. maybe I can think of a way to mount it up off the ground in the barn.

 

[canoetrpr]

I have a 300 gallon steel diesel tank that came with my farm. Frankly I don't think there is any other way to go now that I have had this.

With my L3400 I used to put on 50-60 hours a year and had a 100 gallons put in once a year with stabilizer / anti-gel stuff. I expect to go through more fuel with my M7040 so filled 150 gallons this time. Will see how long it lasts.

I have a FillRite hand pump and wish I had gotten setup with an electric pump with a gauge instead.

 

[Canada_CT230]

I have a plastic 55 gal drum with a rotary pump. I take it twice a year to the card lock and fill it with 200L of diesel. I throw in a diesel additive so no worries with colder weather and summer fuel. Works well and only take a dozen or two cranks to fill my tractor.

Just keep the transport low key because the drum is probably not an approved transport container. I go after hours to the card lock.

I strap the drum to the pallet forks and lift it off the truck and take it to the tractor shed.

The cost is very affordable too...$5 for the barrel and $25 for the rotary pump and maybe $10 for fittings and some tubing.

I cleaned out the drum with a pressure washer down the bung hole and then put the shop vac on blow and left the drum in the sun for an hour with the shop vac circulating air and drying out the water. After that it was clean as a whistle on the inside.

 

[bigbull338]

you can also put those tanks like im talking about on a 2 wheel trailer.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

The tank size is all revelant to how much fuel you use and how fast. No sense in letting it sit a long time even if you use a stabilizer. We have a Wilco store close and they have square 50 Gal tanks for $299. I have two, one for gas and one for diesel. Bolted C channel to the feet and added 4 wheels (two swivel). That puts it high enough to use the FEL forks to load and unload into the PU. Bought a Fil-Rite hand rotary pump w/filter for each one at about $165 ea. Unless you are using it a lot the cost of an electric pump is not very effective cost wise @ $100+ more and the hassel of hooking it up. Now I can roll the tank where i need it.

I have a BX25 workhorse and a shop heater using the diesel. The gas is used in lawn equip, chain saws, and my 17.5 KW emergency gen set. Here in WA state we can call this off-road use and get a rebate on the road use taxes. For the qty I buy getting off-road fuel is too big a hassel. TSC has the same tank and pump but their local outlet, Del's Farm Store, cannot sell them, they want more for the same tank also plus shipping.

We shop at Fred Meyers (a PNW Kroger subsid) and their rewards system gets me $.10 off every gallon so their price is better than the co-ops that sell tax exempt gas & diesel. If you use their credit card you get $.20/gal off.

Hope this helps somebody's decision making.

Ron

 

[RoyJackson]

I like this ideal, but I dont want it in the bed of my truck.... I have a short bed truck. maybe I can think of a way to mount it up off the ground in the barn.

Look for a small, road worthy (if desired) trailer on Craigslist. You can pick up some pretty cheap if you aren't too concerned about cosmetics.
You will want to consider how to ground something like this, however.

 

[schoolsout]

I have a plastic 55 gal drum with a rotary pump. I take it twice a year to the card lock and fill it with 200L of diesel. I throw in a diesel additive so no worries with colder weather and summer fuel. Works well and only take a dozen or two cranks to fill my tractor.

Just keep the transport low key because the drum is probably not an approved transport container. I go after hours to the card lock.

I strap the drum to the pallet forks and lift it off the truck and take it to the tractor shed.

The cost is very affordable too...$5 for the barrel and $25 for the rotary pump and maybe $10 for fittings and some tubing.

I cleaned out the drum with a pressure washer down the bung hole and then put the shop vac on blow and left the drum in the sun for an hour with the shop vac circulating air and drying out the water. After that it was clean as a whistle on the inside.

I've got a rotary pump (el cheapo) that is made for a steel 55 Gal drum, but have a plastic drum and the fitting is different. Where did you find your fittings? Basically, I'm looking for the collar that mates the shaft of the pump to the barrel.

 

[moored4]

I got a 40 gal. tank off of a old refer simi-trailer. Fill it once in the fall to keep condensation out. During the hay season put it in the pick-up to fill all of the tractors that are used. We go thru 200+ gallons a year but this keeps us out of all of the rules for containment and storage that the Gov. has!

 

[RoyJackson]

I got a 40 gal. tank off of a old refer simi-trailer. Fill it once in the fall to keep condensation out. During the hay season put it in the pick-up to fill all of the tractors that are used. We go thru 200+ gallons a year but this keeps us out of all of the rules for containment and storage that the Gov. has!

That's a nice setup!!