Any trail rigs with small fuel cells?

[benjy]

I'm prepping the Jeep for wheeling next year. After adding 2 car seats and all the other storage necessary to wheel with young kids I will be seriously lacking in storage space. Our cell takes up a huge area in the tub, but this cute little 4 gallon cell would fit quite nicely behind/between our seats, in otherwise unusable space.



I've never really paid much attention to our fuel consumption, especially since the addition of the 6.0l. But... I never really feel like I have to add much after a day on the trail.

I would plan to attach (2) 2 Gallon fuel containers on the tailgate until I got more comfortable with the range, then I'd probably convert that to water and gas http://rotopax.com/2-Gallon-Packs/

Anyone else use a small fuel cell?

Any input on the pickup? I'm more concerned about usable fuel in the cell with this setup once it got low, and worried that at the end of the day when I get off camber we'll cut out. My current cell is 10 gallons, but I would guess 2-3 is unusable due to a short pickup tube

 

[N-Smooth]

Having run low on fuel after a long day (and night) of trails in sand hollow I wouldn't do anything less than maybe 8 gallons depending on the sump/pickup situation. My jeep was leaning towards a cliff edge and the pickup couldn't get any fuel right at that moment and it died. Not fun to be towed out of backwards.

I'll be the first to say it: there has to be room somewhere
4 gallons would probably last for like 10 minutes of WOT in the dunes with that 6 point ohhhhh

 

[benjy]

4 gallons would probably last for like 10 minutes of WOT in the dunes with that 6 point ohhhhh

Truth!

 

[N-Smooth]

Is there any space to build one that is sunken partway into the floor or anything? It's just a shame to build a limitation into such a sweet rig

 

[jmaxj]

what about something like this? They come in 15-22 gallon that I know of. Plus they don't use much space.

 

[Gravy]

my 13ish gallon guy fits behind a stock rear seat.

 

[Cascadia]

When chance was building his stretched yj I think I remember he was going to build a cell into his inner fenders somehow. It made sense then. Can't remember now.

 

[Bart]

Benji, I ran that same 4 gallon cell on my FTM buggy with a 4.3 vortec. It was great for comps as long as I remembered to fill it up at least once a day. I hated it on trails.

 

[Kiel]

I had a 12 gallon and went through that really close to empty on a couple long moab days

 

[benjy]

Ugh, thanks for the input guys. Looks like I'll be building a roof rack our current fuel cell sits behind a bench seat (I will actually be mounting Costco convertible car seats in its place) but doesn't allow any room for anything else.... Trying to get an action packer, cooler and a few ammo cans for tools and spares is tight!

 

[benjy]

Sorry for the confusion, when I said behind and between our seats I meant our front seats

 

[N-Smooth]

When chance was building his stretched yj I think I remember he was going to build a cell into his inner fenders somehow. It made sense then. Can't remember now.

That could be pretty slick actually, making two of them shaped to fit in that gap and then plumbing them together with those fancy walbro pickups. I like it.

 

[Kiel]

maybe use that small cell and mount a couple rotopax cans some where else

 

[UFAB]

One day of wheeling at Sand Hollow, Burned up 23 gallons out of 26 with the 6.0 LQ9 engine.

 

[jeeper]

When we had our twins, I remember how it turned everything we had upside down.. We had to sell the car and truck because seats wouldn't fit. Had to ditch the 2 seater sandrail, etc.

My only advise, if potential kids are coming, to make your mods work for future kid(s) as well, otherwise it's right back to this issue in a couple years.

 

[Trate D]

One day of wheeling at Sand Hollow, Burned up 23 gallons out of 26 with the 6.0 LQ9 engine.

Yeah.... But I seen the videos of your driving down there!

 

[benjy]

When we had our twins, I remember how it turned everything we had upside down.. We had to sell the car and truck because seats wouldn't fit. Had to ditch the 2 seater sandrail, etc.

My only advise, if potential kids are coming, to make your mods work for future kid(s) as well, otherwise it's right back to this issue in a couple years.

I wouldn't be surprised if we had another set in 5 or so years. I think at that point we'll be a 2 rig family.

 

[BlueWolfFab]

That could be pretty slick actually, making two of them shaped to fit in that gap and then plumbing them together with those fancy walbro pickups. I like it.

When chance was building his stretched yj I think I remember he was going to build a cell into his inner fenders somehow. It made sense then. Can't remember now.

Yeah with my 18" rear stretch it opened up those wheel wells and made perfect spots.

 

[Jinx]

I wouldn't be surprised if we had another set in 5 or so years. I think at that point we'll be a 2 rig family.

We made the switch to a two rig Family when the third showed up, now with the 4th we are looking pretty visionary

We need to catch a trail with you guys soon.

 

[N-Smooth]

That many kids necessitates the move to a unibody wagon of course
I've actually seen a lot of JK's with third row seats running around. Seems like that would be ideal. I don't want a second rig until my son is old enough to drive it and that's years away