Planning a leisure gas tank under front bash guard.

[syncropatrick]

In my quest for keeping stuff that can be outside, outside, I considering fitting a leisure LPG vapour take-off tank under the front bash guard. It's unused space for me as a 225/75/16 BFG will never fit there.

I've been unable to track down a vapour take-off from the internal 100L LPG engine fuel Stako four hole tank, so will press on with a 2nd tank for leisure use.

My current leisure supply is an in-van portable propane tank which is taking up a lot of internal space I'd rather claim for a better thunderbox/seat arrangement.

So, under the van at the front...

It seems a big space which will take a sufficiently large tank I can effectively forget about it for months at a time.

There's no point putting an expensive Westy style leisure tank under there as the BBQ outlet, fill gauge and filler will be inaccessible.

A basic cylinder or toroidal tank with vapour-take off, remote fill gauge to mount in cab and LPG engine fuel filler mounted on bodywork (so I can refill at LPG fuel stations) is the plan. A remote BBQ outlet would be nice, but its primarily to feed static in-van heating and cooking facilities.

Has anyone done this and how?

(Not sure if this should go into sub-forum section Technical - Alternate Fuels, Technical - Campers or Syncro.)

[Crankin-wagen]

Aidan has a similar set up, although not in the bash plate, that allows him to fill his leisure tank via his main tank, so he may be able to offer some practical advise

[poshbuggers]

Talk to Andrew (ajsimmo) at The CamperShack.

He has a conversion which does exactly that. You might save yourself a lot of work

[akira28]

Just fitted a LPG tank in the same space but as a secondary fuel tank with liquid take off. Had to remove the bash plate / tyre holder. Made a new frame to hold tank out of 6 x 25 mild.

The tank is a singe hole Stako which you cold easily modify the pick up pipe. Works a treat and almost doubled the range.

[syncropatrick]

Cool, thanks peeps - dropped PMs to Aidan and Ajsimmo.

Jim - how and where did you route the pipework, what shape and size tank and could you get the bash guard back in afterwards? Oh, and any pics?

[sonic23]

Good thread Patrick. I'm following with interest - as this solution would also allow me to go for a proprex, and get rid of the two gas bottles i carry for fridge/cooker etc.

[akira28]

here are some pics

If I can remember right its a 50L tanks 650 dia 220 high. The bash plate will not go back on, I did think about finding a tank to sit inside the bash plate instead of the tyre but it would be horizontal.





The tank I found on good old flea bay. In hindsight I should have used thicker gauge steel to take more punishment. I have got to finish it with some Ali plate to protect it from the weather.

The fill and supply pipes run on the offside of the van fixed to the chassis member next to the prop, then tee into the original fill and supply. I have fitted two non- return valve to stop the tanks balancing.

[poshbuggers]

The Campershack solution uses the bash tray

[v-lux]

I'm also interested in what you find out on this patrick, Im always keen on ways to maximise space what with being a tin top n all..

[syncropatrick]

That is a good sized tank to get under there Jim. Thanks. I'd be happy with anything close to that size behind the stock bash guard. I'll get my measuring stick and camera out and see what size and shape the cavity is.

[syncropatrick]

Not got around to photos and measuring stick yet, but expert opinion in so far points towards a torpedo leisure tank mounted in a frame, fed from a non-return T feed off the inlet for my LPG tank. Red leisure tanks aren't as cheap as black engine fuel tanks so this will be a bit spendy I feel.
£210 tank http://www.gasit.co.uk/index.php?act=vi ... oductId=16
£26 frame and straps http://www.gasit.co.uk/index.php?act=vi ... oductId=58
£50? 10m LPG flexible pipe, non-return valve, T piece, rubber coated clips, blah, blah, blah.
Looks like not much change from £300 so far. Those without an existing LPG tank can make this cheaper by having shorter pipe runs and less complicated connections by using the 2wd engine fuel inlet blank as the filler mount point.
Possible additions
£44 Remote fill gauge http://www.gasit.co.uk/index.php?act=vi ... oductId=89

Hopefully next weekend I can have a rummage around above the bash guard getting exact measurements and fitment ideas progressed.

[dirty-syncro-lover]

whats entailed with fiting another supply for leisure use of of a big lpg fuel tank?

also what do you think about having a rear shelf or box that sit's on the back and house's the tank? it could be quick release? this is something im working on but im not sure how long my cooker's pipe can be away from the tank ? and still work

[sonic23]

Patrick - that's great research. I'll have to start looking at the dimensions, as my bash plate will allow for slighly less size than stock me thinks. Thanks for this. Rich

[syncropatrick]

whats entailed with fiting another supply for leisure use of of a big lpg fuel tank?

I don't believe one can take leisure take-off (vapour) from a engine fuel (liquid) tank. The tanks and internals are different. The way I've described seems to be the only option where a single filler point fills both tanks. Otherwise you'll need two filler points.

also what do you think about having a rear shelf or box that sit's on the back and house's the tank? it could be quick release? this is something im working on but im not sure how long my cooker's pipe can be away from the tank ? and still work

I don't think pipe length is an issue as our vans are not that long. But I'd be wary of putting a plumbed in gas tank outside. Could be a thief magnet and probably not safe in an accident.

[dirty-syncro-lover]

they used to make tanks that could feed the engine and leisure ? the only place i asked had stopped doing them, i think it was a fitting from the tank and not a special tank ?

apparently lpg tank's are way way stronger than a fuel tank and built to take a crash ?? i would have it inside a box out side the same as it is inside a box now but inside ! i may look at fitting under the floor also