Fuel cells and fuel cell mounts

[Pile of parts]

Fuel cell and fuel cell mount question.
My RCI 17 gallon finally split a seam.
My question is if I switch to the 2161A (15 gallon) and use a mount like the Barnes

RCI 2161A Fuel Cell Mounting Bracket

This is our RCI 2161A fuel cell mounting bracket, this is an ideal option if you are putting a fuel cell in the back of your Jeep for a wheelbase stretch. We designed this bracket to evenly distribute the mounting load over a larger area of fuel cell, this greatly improves the longevity of your...

barnes4wd.com

Will I have any better luck or should I just look for something other than RCI? The seam that split was one of the vertical seams on the end of the cell. I had it strapped down in the Jeep with plumbers tape and rubber lining under the tape/straps. Nothing bracing the corners and the Barnes mount wouldn't brace the corners either. I may just re-weld the cell I have now but I hear they just tend to crack again.

I'll be happy to hear your thoughts...

 

[Herzog]

Same thing happened to me a while ago and I was looking for alternatives but ultimately settled on a summit racing tank (which was obviously build by RCI) but the welds looked a tad better.

General Tech - RCI aluminium tank finally cracked...

As the title says, my RCI aluminum tank of 6 years finally got a hairline crack on one of the seams. Does anybody know if they've improved them or is it still an issue. I feel like I'm pretty lucky for how it lasted... I read about the issues after purchased it and went ahead with it anyways...

www.rme4x4.com

Still running it with no problems since then, but I'm not convinced it will last forever.

 

[Asbjorn]

Glad we got a quick fix to get you through the weekend!

Are you stuck with something that will fit where your old one went, or do you have some room to work with? The consensus I’ve seen is that these readily available aluminum cells aren’t built for the applications we use them for, unless you’re using it in a very rigid chassis that doesn’t put any torsion on the cell. When I was building the YJ, the feedback I received was that builds such as that (and yours) still tend to twist a bit. The last two cells I’ve used were the RCI Rockcrawler and a JAZ, both of which are a poly cells inside a steel shell.

 

[RockChucker]

I have a cell that I designed and built but for my next build will likely get one of the rotomolded poly cells from goatbuilt. They are 18 gal if I remember right. But not sure if the form factor is right for your rig

 

[N-Smooth]

They always seem to just split again. I have a steel cell with a poly bladder for that reason.

 

[Pile of parts]

Still running it with no problems since then, but I'm not convinced it will last forever.

I think I got about 8 years out of this one.

Are you stuck with something that will fit where your old one went, or do you have some room to work with?

I'd like to keep in this size range. I still have a back seat - for whatever reason???

for my next build will likely get one of the rotomolded poly cells from goatbuilt

I'll look at those.

I have a steel cell with a poly bladder for that reason.

I've been looking at those and I think there is one that fits in the location I have.

 

[Herzog]

I think I got about 8 years out of this one.

I got enough years out of it for me to just do another for now and avoid trying to retro fit a whole other size/style tank.

 

[Pile of parts]

So I finally decided on a solution. It showed up yesterday. This is the"rockcrawler" version that is a steel can with a bladder. It's a little different size than I had and may take some modification or removal of the rear seat. We don't ever use the seat, other than when I used to take scout groups on trips to Moab but those days are over. Now I just have to convince my wife we don't need it or I may sink this one into the floor and keep the seat.

 

[Asbjorn]

Nice choice! I used one of those on my YJ build and had no complaints.

 

[ChestonScout]

I just welded up a split seam on my RCI aluminum cell today. I got 7 years out of it before this one. Hopefully get another 7