Long Range Automotive fuel tanks for 150 series

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Received a copy of 'On The Road' camping magazine in the mail yesterday (November edition) and page 132 has an advert for a 'Long Range Automotive' fuel tank for the 150 series (both LWB and SWB models). In the LWB, the standard 63 litre tank is replaced by a 136 litre tank.

Looked up the website today and the LWB version only mentions Diesel models. Is there any difference in tank sizes and location, between the diesel and petrol models?

The photo on the website shows the tank visible from underneath, so wondering if it may scrape on the steeper inclines. Anyone know anything about them?

Yowie.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

On the SWB fair enough as they only have the one tank from memory. What woud be the attraction in a long range tank for the LWB though? The Prado's already have the best range of just about any vehicle on the Australian market, be they 4wd or other. Apart from 1 or 2 extremely remote trips a standard Prado tank will get you just about anywhere.

Cheers Andrew

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Andrew,

Normally I don't have to worry about the range, except when I am towing the van. The van has a bit of weight, so the range is decreased a bit.

Travelled to the Flinders last year, no problems between petrol stops. Was thinking of a trip from Sydney to the far west of W.A. in the next year or two with the van, so don't know much about the distance between fuel stops. If it is similar to S.A., N.T., Qld. areas, probably would not be a problem.

Dave.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

If your towing a largish van then your not going to be going really remote where there might be major gaps between fuel. I doubt there is anywhere in Australia on that you can go more than 500k without finding fuel unless you are getting seriously remote. Even then 7-800k would cover almost any other scenario.

Cheaper to get a couple of jerry cans mounted to the van if you need a few extra litres.

Cheers Andrew

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Copy, won't be towing on any sandy roads due to the weight.

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

I am getting the Brown Davis long range tank as one of my next mods. My reasoning is that for trips like the Simpson I don't have space for jerry cans in or on the car when there are 4 of us. My jerry space is all for water only. If taking a van I can see that there is no point, but with a fully loaded car I also like to keep the weight down low.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

My reasoning is that for trips like the Simpson I don't have space for jerry cans in or on the car when there are 4 of us.

What route are you taking across the Simpson that 150lts isn't enough?

Cheers Andrew

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

I have 2 trips planned. 2013 doing a trip based on the French line but with some detours and in 2015 looking at doing the Madigan line. But remember that the 150lt is only for flat roads. If there are hills or sand dunes you only have just over 130lt available due to the fuel pickup issues.


Steve

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

We recently did a Kimberly trip via Alice Springs up the Tanami to Halls Creek and across to Broome then up. The longest stretch was from Yuendumu to Halls Creek via Wolf Creek Crater then station tracks to Old Halls Creek. We were towing a 13 ft trakmaster van probably close to 2T fully loaded. we were getting low by the time we got to Halls Creek but on filling still reckon I had 5 to 10 litres in the tank.
Towed the van into Mitchell falls too, no problems what so ever. The Frew River Loop (Binns Track) from Old Policemans waterhole south was a bit more challenging.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

We recently did a Kimberly trip via Alice Springs up the Tanami to Halls Creek and across to Broome then up. The longest stretch was from Yuendumu to Halls Creek via Wolf Creek Crater then station tracks to Old Halls Creek.

Even on this stretch you had more fuel options, Rabbit Flat is now closed from what I hear but you can get fuel at Balgo (out of your way a bit) or Bililuna which is only a stones throw of the Tanami.

Steve, the extra fuel would be handy for Madigans, however i can't imagine how you are going to fit all the gear for a family of 4 in for that trip.

Cheers Andrew

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

Correct AJ120, others in the group topped up at Bililuna, as you mentioned Balgo is a bit out of the way. Fuel at Bililuna can be a bit tricky as generally you need to guess how much fuel is needed pay in advance and if the tank is full before you get what you paid for it is bad luck.
We did the Madigan a few years ago in a Nissan 4.2 D and used about 210 litres, we went up the Hay River and refuled at Jevois. A couple of Jerry cans for 1 trip is a lot cheaper than 12 to 14 hundred for a long range tank.

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

I haven't seen the larger capacity tank, but my concern would be where the capacity is gained from. I wouldn't consider any larger tank if it hung lower than the existing one without increased protection. The existing tank is already one of the most vulnerable components underneath.

136l of fuel isn't going to do much for your range if it is on the ground behind you!

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

The LRA tank does not hang lower. It goes out wider and uses up all the spare space available. It's also made of 3mm steal and much better at taking a nock than the factory tank.

AJ. I expect to only have 3 of us for the Madigan. To far out to say at this time.


Steve

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Excellent Steve.. Now I can check out the tank and its performance via you !

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Thanks for the replies, won't bother with buying one.