Oil & Fuel Fuel caddy with pump

texbaylea · May 15, 2004

I have been looking at Northern's catalog on-line. My back is giving me problems and I don't want to lift 5 gallon cans to fuel my tractor. Northern has several fuel caddies on wheels with hand pumps and capacities of 25-30 gallons, good idea, however their prices seem inordinately high. Up around $200-300 for some of them. Has anyone seen something like these elsewhere at a more reasonable price? The nearest diesel pump is close to 10 miles in part down a busy road so I don't wish to drive the tractor to the pump. How does everyone handle their fuel?

dos_perros · May 15, 2004

I have been using the following set up with good result. Buy a clean 55 gal. drum. Harbor Feight sells a rotary hand pump designed for drum use. Attach a length, i.e. 10 ft. of marine grade plastic hose, and pump directly into your fuel tank. Total cost aprox. $40.00. Not the ultimate solution but practical and inexpensive.

SteveH_CT · May 15, 2004

Just curious - How would you fill the fuel caddy? Other than ramping it into a truck bed or trailer I still think you're faced with lifting fuel, or ramps at some point in the process. I know northern also sells hand pumps that could go right onto a 5 gallon container. If lifting is the issue perhaps smaller fuel containers would help...

Good Luck - I don't have any back problems but I do know the nuisance it can be to lift a 5 gallon container over my hood - it's funny how the fuel seems to be heavier at the end of the day too! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

To20Chris · May 15, 2004

Fueling over the loader arms is much harder than fueling my TO20! TSC shows a simple lift pump that screws onto a 5ga conatiner, but they didn't have one when I went to the store. I got a new yellow 5ga. container to make sure I keep the diesel separate from the gas. It has one of those new safety spouts that you have to push down, and no separate vent. What a useless and dangerous piece of @!#$! There is no way I'm pushing that thing down onto the filter screen, it's sure to ruin it over time, not to mention awkward. So I just use a real big funnel, and it splashes all over the place at first because there is no vent. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Has anyone tried that pump? I'm betting it's slow - it looks like a simple lift-tube.

BenderKC · May 16, 2004

I have a lot of trouble filling my JD 4310 when the loader is attached. Large funnel helps a little but it is still a chore lifting over the arms and I spill some no matter what. It is actually my least favorite chore around the beast. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

surfran · May 16, 2004

Tex,

You may want to look at some of the boating supply catalogs like Overtons, Bass Pro shops etc. I don't know if they would be cheaper than Northern, but they should have them.

As for using one of these, we have used a 30-40 gallon one for several years at the lake with a gravity feed (boat is lower than dock). I will tell you it is a bit of a chore to unload when full, so as someone else recommended, you will want ramps if you already have a bad back. Also even pulling it around on the pneumatic tires can be a chore if you have any obstacles to go over or rough terrain.

Hope this info is helpful. It still beats the extra 30-50 cents a gallon premium of buying at the marina though!!!

texbaylea · May 16, 2004

I have a hydraulic crane mounted in the bed of my pickup that I use to lift stuff in to the bed. I figured that with a metal caddy I could figure out a way to put a lifting ring on it. I have thought about trying to build a tilting cradle that would allow me to lift an tilt a 5 gallon fuel can but that has problem too. Ahose and pump would be best.

Jibber · May 16, 2004

I have the 35 gallon model from Northern. It's built very heavy duty steel, with a good pump on it. It's expensive, you're right, but I wanted something good for GAS storage. I'm not sure I'd invest in as high of quality for Diesel. Gas is so volatile you don't want to take any chances with that kind of quantity.

As for filling it.. when it is loaded it is extremely heavy and hard to manuever around. I wouldn't want to think about trying to bring it down a ramp from the back of a pickup or anything like that. I fill it the old fashioned way. I carry a pair of 5 gallon gas cans in the car.. and when it's fillup time I top it off from the cans during my regular car fillups.

As for the tractor, I use much less diesel so I just keep a pair of five gallon diesel cans and when I need a fillup I do it the old fashioned way.

micromike · May 16, 2004

What about one of those battery operated fuel pumps used to fill up a Kerosene heater. I purchased one for about $10 at Walmart. An extra piece of hose attached for length and you're in business!

Mike

EastTexFrank · May 16, 2004

You've got my sympathy, I was in the same position over a year ago. My back was giving me so much trouble that I couldn't lift 5 gallon fuel cans to fill the tractor. In the end I actually got a fuel caddy from Northern Tool. It's good but you're right, it was expensive.
That's only part of the problem though, you have to get the fuel into the gas caddy. I built a carrier for 4 x 5 gal fuel cans. It's not pretty but it is effective. The short chains and hooks at either end attach to the lip of the FEL and I use the tractor to load and unload the carrier on to the truck. I use the 2-way pump on the caddy to suck the fuel out of the cans and then to transfer the fuel out of the caddy to the tractor. A cheaper way would be to use a 2-way pump and a 55 or 30 gallon drum. The carrier was made out of pieces of metal I had laying around but using the FEL to do the loading and unloading means that there is no physical lifting involved. My back is a lot better now but this arrangement was a lifesaver at the time.

LBrown59 · Nov 20, 2004

1*I got a new yellow 5gal. container to make sure I keep the diesel separate from the gas. It has one of those new safety spouts that you have to push down, and no separate vent. What a useless and dangerous piece of @!#$!

2*There is no way I'm pushing that thing down onto the filter screen, it's sure to ruin it over time, not to mention awkward.

3*So I just use a real big funnel, and it splashes all over the place at first because there is no vent.
Chris
******************-------------=========

1*Take it back and get a BLITZ can with the Self venting spout. This is the best pouring spout I've ever seen on 2 and 5 gallon cans.
I have a 5 gal yellow one for diesel and a 5 gal red one for gasoline.
I also bought a 2 gal.red one to use for kerosene

2*see #1 that will solve this problem

3*Is this a water filtering funnel? If not it ought to be.

jinman · Nov 21, 2004

Vernon, the best low-cost solution I've seen belongs to Have_Blue. Here is what he posted back in February of this year.

( I use a 55 gal blue plastic drum. I haul it to town and fill it occasionally. In 1 hole, I have a male quick connect air chuck. In the other hole, I have a 3/4" neoprene hose that reaches 1" from the bottom, and it fits on a nipple and an elbow. I have a 6' long hose on the elbow to fill the tractor.

Filling procedure is simple: I turn my air compressor regulator down to 2-3 PSI. I hook the filler hose in the tank opening, turn the tractor key on to read the fuel gage. I then chuck up the air hose and watch the gage. It fills very fast with the 3/4" hose. When the gage shows just over 3/4 full, I pop the air chuck off. The residual pressure fills it within an inch or so of the top.

Cost? About $10 for fittings, clamps, and hose. Filling tractor without spills, priceless!
)

If you can't handle a full 55 gal drum, you might be able to do the same thing with a smaller container. the 2-3 psi air it takes to transfer the fuel is very little and if you keep the feed tube up off the bottom of the barrel, you won't have to worry about picking up water that might settle there. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

LBrown59 · Nov 21, 2004

( Vernon, the best low-cost solution I've seen belongs to Have_Blue. Here is what he posted back in February of this year.

( I use a 55 gal blue plastic drum. I haul it to town and fill it occasionally. In 1 hole, I have a male quick connect air chuck. In the other hole, I have a 3/4" neoprene hose that reaches 1" from the bottom, and it fits on a nipple and an elbow. I have a 6' long hose on the elbow to fill the tractor.

Filling procedure is simple: I turn my air compressor regulator down to 2-3 PSI. I hook the filler hose in the tank opening, turn the tractor key on to read the fuel gage. I then chuck up the air hose and watch the gage. It fills very fast with the 3/4" hose. When the gage shows just over 3/4 full, I pop the air chuck off. The residual pressure fills it within an inch or so of the top.

Cost? About $10 for fittings, clamps, and hose. Filling tractor without spills, priceless!
)

If you can't handle a full 55 gal drum, you might be able to do the same thing with a smaller container. the 2-3 psi air it takes to transfer the fuel is very little and if you keep the feed tube up off the bottom of the barrel, you won't have to worry about picking up water that might settle there. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )

Might be a good idea to put a Mr Funnel in the tractor tank opening and place the filler hose in the funnel.

keeney · Nov 21, 2004

If you are really serious about convenience, look at truck-bed fuel tanks. I have seen slim 20-gallon ones that only take 6 inches of the bed. You can also get combo tool-box/fuel tank units where the fuel goes under the tool box, or under-tool-box tanks if you already have a toolbox.

The key here is that you leave it permanently mounted in your truck. You never have to lift the fuel. Just drive to town, fill the truck tank, drive back, park truck and tractor next to each other and transfer the fuel once.

If you don't want to spring for an electric pump, they can also be fitted with a hand rotary pump.

Not sure on pricing, but I would guess well over $700 plus the pump.

I have a cheap 11-gallon fuel caddy from Northern that I use to fill my boat, but it needs to be lifted in and out of the truck for filling. Once wheeled down to the dock, the boat in the water is low enough that gravity works to transfer the 11 gallons quick enough.

The thing is flimsy enough, though, that I never store gas in it for any length of time - I only use it for transferring.

- Rick

PineRidge · Nov 21, 2004

Gotta agree with Jim, if you don't mind hauling the diesel to your home and you are looking for an low-cost solution then the innovative idea that Have_Blue came up with is the route to take. Other than your air compressor there are no moving parts.

texbaylea · Nov 21, 2004

JimI

I like that solution. I think I will look for a smaller drum, about 35 gallons. I am thinking that if I mount it on a mini pallet, I could haul it with either the pickup which is down right now or in the suburban.

I just got pallet forks from Markham Welding to use for handling. These are well made and they give good service.

Vernon

RalphVa · Nov 22, 2004

For my 1st refuel of the JD 4010, I sat the 5 gallon plastic "can" on the hood and siphoned the diesel into the tank. The siphon I have is one made for gasoline and kinda small. Took a while. TSC has one for $4.49 for kerosene that I think I'll invest in.

Ralph

JoeL4330 · Nov 23, 2004

Siphon works well for me, with 5 gal. container on hood. I found most of the effort with the container wasn't the initial lifting, but the awkward holding and pouring, so siphon is great. If hoisting 5 gal. is too hard, how about 2 1/2 gal containers ...or just fill the 5 gal. ones less full at the pump.

Lloyd_E · Nov 23, 2004

You need a Flo'&Go'. They are made in Canada soon to be distributed in USA. They are a glorified syphon. It attaches to any gas/diesel container. The container must be above the tank you want to fill. The nozzle looks like a gas station pump nozzle. You squeeze it a couples of times to get the flow going and hold it. As soon as you release handle it stops. They make a small version for chain saws, lawn mowers etc a well as a larger version for boats and tractors.

You still have to lift storage tank above receiving tank. I have two 25 litre tanks with pumps on a shelf above lawntractor...just flo'and go'

lloyd

try: www.homehardware.com or www.canadiantire.ca

Riddler · Nov 24, 2004

If you have a set of pallet forks, can't you (1) secure a larger can to a pallet, (2) secure the pallet/can to your truck bed, (3) fill the can at the gas station and then (4) move the pallet/can into a raised storage area at home? From there, all you need is a hose and simple stop valve to gravity fill the tractor anytime. With a used can, this approach would cost almost nothing.