• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Anybody put side tank(s) on an F550 or similar?

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
Furd discontinued the stock tank on my 1999 F550, and it was only 37 gallons, aft behind the diff.
Looking at a side tank hung on the frame rail instead, like a bigger truck.
I know I've seen that on chassis cab trucks before (Ford 450/550, Dodge 4500/5500)
So far I only found these guys, and they had no F550 application listed.
https://www.metaltanks.com/products/fuel-tanks
 

The Peej

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
323
Location
Connecticut

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
wow $$$ they sure are proud of it. On my 06 F550 I had to replace the tank twice due to the lining coming off. Of coarse Ford did nothing and said it wasn't their fault the EPA changed the diesel fuel since the truck was built and the "new fuel" was dissolving the liner

My 2000 F550 diesel tank also separated internally a number of years ago. I had my local welding shop build me one ($375.00) out of 12 gauge steel. Turned out to be 46 gallons . I sloped it 3 inches to the front so its just above the bottom of the pumpkin. The $1,800 price tag From the dealer at that time was nuts. The only critical part was getting the fill tube stub measured correctly to come thru the frame hole and then having it the right length to get it in there and still be able to have it stick out enough to get a clamp on the fill hose. I went with a after market gauge as the ohms were completely different with trying o use the factory one. So far so good.
 

Pixie

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2011
Messages
373
Location
NH
Occupation
remodeling
$560 looks like a deal after I paid a welder to build me a new tank and the idiot thought that the tankage above the fill tube counted for something......Pretty hard to get the fuel into a horizontal fill tube and make it stay in that 4-5" of tank that's above the tube ..... There's probably only 8 useable gallons since the pickup is further from the bottom.

The cab is too rusty to pass inspection even though the truck only has 60k miles on it so it doesn't really matter.
 

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
That's the best lead yet, thank you. And I have the 6-bolt tank version.
I might just stick with that then add 100g at the front of the bed gravity tank.

Well that one won't fit my truck after all. It's a 40gal tank and it's not the same shape as the 37gal tank in my truck. So I'm going to inspect mine closely, run it and monitor fuel filters closely .

But the good news is that this fleabay seller you suggested is working on a SS version for my truck, some day soon.
https://www.ebay.com/i/371203892153...w4BZWqWhEfSPd3qwgPgOmi6WJ-u3jV6EaAisUEALw_wcB
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
6,599
Location
LaGrangeville, N.Y.
I had an '01 F350 and '02 F550 cab & chassis, both used the same tank and both tanks delaminated inside, the galvanizing flaked off. I got the same answer from Ford, poor fuel and that's when I found this tank I listed. I had snowplowing contracts and both trucks acted up while out plowing at different times. Limped them home at about 2mph running on what sounded like 4 cylinders. It took a while to figure out what was wrong the first time and I did figure out how to disassembled the fuel sender and clean the screens, I bet there was a quarter cup of zinc flakes clogging it. When I bought this tank it was listed as a direct replacement for those years and fits fine, I would figure yours is the same.
 

RenoHuskerDu

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
359
Location
Texas
Seems that my truck, built in 1998. has an oddball 37gal tank that Furd only used for a year. Titan Tanks and the guy from the fleabay link both said this. I might be able to cobble it up. But for now I'm just checking the inside carefully then running it if it's not scaling off in there.

All diesel seems to be some percentage of biodiesel these days. I wish I could time travel and get AlGore's dad to become a monk in Tibet.
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
6,599
Location
LaGrangeville, N.Y.
I can't imagine the frames are different between years, you might be able to make this tank fit with the newer style tray and brackets if that's the case.

I had planned to move my rear axle back on the frame of the 550 and bought a side mounted tank from a SuperDuty pickup at the junkyard to replace the rear tank. The brackets just bolt to the frame rail on the driver's side and you'd have to replumb it. I never got around to it but I did lift the tank up into place to confirm it would fit. Those tanks are plastic too. Just another idea.
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
I picked up a set of 26 gallon built in style propane tanks at a camper dealer estate sale. Brand new. I plan on mounting them as saddle tanks under my flatbed if I ever get to it. They have all the fitting I need and then some. Going to put a electric pump on the cross pipe and plumb them to fill the built in tank for ease of plumbing.
 

Oldcatpusher

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
161
Location
Arkansas
I mounted a 92 gallon aluminum tank in my bed. Plumbed it into my factory tank neck and added a cat water separator and fuel filter been running fine for 60k miles on a 2019 model L5P Duramax20200316_162442.jpg 20200317_130822.jpg 20200317_133547.jpg 20200316_162452.jpg
 
Top