The Doka is gassed

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Got the doka gassed these last two days by Andrew Simmons at The Camper Shack. He has done a fantastic job at tucking the dual tanks up underneath and plumbing them in using a separate ECU for the LPG circuit to keep the mix running spot on using the lambda probe.

here are the tanks in situ:




Going to be a bit of a marmite situation amongst you guys, especially the more hard-core offroaders. Although I have every intention of doing some leisurely greenlaning at some point, this is my work horse and as such needs to be kept safe! Anyway, the speedbumps round my ends are as serious as any syncro event!

The tanks are twin 30L fellows and run via a non-return valve, so should I destroy one while laneing I can still drive on the other.

Huge thanks to all at The Camper Shack for such hospitality while I loitered for two days and used your tools to do other jobs. I recommend the trip from anywhere in the country to get your T3 worked on!

Some glory shots at the end of the job!

[toomanytoys]

[silverbullet]

And to think that some say that underslung tanks are not possible on a T3...

[poshbuggers]

Glad to see they went to a good home.

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Glad to see they went to a good home.

I didn't want to say anything, as it's your call, but now I can add you to the thanks list! Tanks were certified by Tinleytech as being sound and within regulation, and just required a third bracket per tank.

Cheers poshbuggers

[syncropaddy]

Will you be going off road with those tanks?

[ajsimmo]

And to think that some say that underslung tanks are not possible on a T3...

Only on a Syncro! The extra height and the prop protection bars allow for 200mm tanks to be fitted within COP11 regs.

Thanks v much, Tom, for your very kind comments. It was a real pleasure to meet you and work with you on the project.
It was an interesting install. as Tom didn't want to lose any valuable storage space on his workhorse. We discussed various tank options before settling on the underslung location, and poshbuggers supplied the perfect size tanks for the job (thanks Paul). Although they only came with 4 brackets, two more were easily fabricated to ensure compliance.

Enjoy your sub-80ppl motoring!

[jed the spread]

Will you be going off road with those tanks?

I know what your thinking. I guess it's only like having a westy gas tank but only on both sides.... Here is a video showing green laneing with a gas tank on one side, you need to be really carefull and have to use waffle boards quite alot, http://campervanculture.com/2011/03/syncro-wales-4x/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; saying that I have damaged my westy in other places due to me trying to avoid putting a hole in my gas tank and I only have one on the one side. Personally I don't mind throwing the waffle boards down a few times just for the conveniance of having a BBQ take off point and cheap refills but I don't know how I would get on with two tanks. Well I wouldn't be able to use the Westy the way I do if I did but as always each to their own and on most lanes an underslung tanks arnt a problem especially the tame Surrey ones.

Jed

[syncropaddy]

They just look particularily vunerable to me .......

[poshbuggers]

Anything underneath a Syncro is vulnerable to damage if it is exposed.

On the continent they fit 'armoured' tank covers. Surely if you protect your prop then it makes sense to do the same to an LPG tank.

Those tanks are ideal for Syncro installs and that would have been the route I would have taken if I still had the van. Glad they weren't too much hassle Andy

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Glad they weren't too much hassle Andy

Oh they were, they were! it was two 12hour days and alot of crawling around under the van (mainly by Andrew!)

As I said up top, although I've got a syncro it is primarily my work van and so underslung tanks or not I wouldn't go mental off-road. When I do go out syncroing I will just have to ebb on the side of caution to avoid any damage.

[slobbo]

The steel in the gas tanks are bloody thick. It would take a hell of a knock to dent one and an even bigger knock to puncture one. They are much safer than petrol tanks. The delicate bit is the fixtures and fittings were you fill and extract from the tank. You more likely to break those than make a scratch in the tank.