BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: grantgoold on September 25, 2006, 08:01:17 PM
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I have my genset placed in the last bay on the street side. It sits on a reinforced joey bed and I am ready to install a fuel tank. Any thoughts, pictures, lessons learned would be greatly appreciated. I was hoping to put the tank on the curb side back bay to make it easier to fill.
Thanks in advance for your responses and follow ups.
Regards,
Grant
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I tapped into the bus fuel tank, 235 gal that fills from either side. Very pleased with how that works.
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Looks like you have an MCI. How 'bout that 156 gal tank next too the battery door? There is plenty of room to fasten PVC pipe under the side of the coach. I ran 2 runs of 5/16 rubber fuel line inside PVC Very easy to tap a tank using copper tubing. Never had a problem with 4 MCIs.If you need help let me know. I wouldn't want to mess with another tank to fuel or make sure doesn't run out. Good day
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On my tank, I had an extra 5 hole fuel gauge hole that I converted into the suction and return. Made my own pick up-just kept it 4 inches above so the generator can't run out the big engine. I used fuel rated plastic lines-don't have to worry about them deteriorating. Works well, no problems. Good Luck, TomC
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If you need tanks, contact Niel Rogerson, he's got MANY new ones that are Freightliner overstock, at excellent prices, and he's a way-nice guy. I just stuck 270 gallons worth of his tanks on my bus. NICE tanks, new unused, inexpensive. Check his ebay stuff too- many excellent deals on stuff we use...
http://stores.ebay.com/Surplus-Neils-Big-Truck-Parts-Stuff
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:)I am starting work on my bus soon, can these tanks be used for all the needs, fresh water, gray and black? Suggestions appreciated.
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Yes they can be used for your holding tanks. Ace used a truck fuel tank & has had no problems, well not with the function of the tank anyway. ;)
You may need special preparations the fresh water tank so it doesn't effect the water tho.
Keep looking & gathering info so you can make the best choice for YOUR conversion.
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Thanks Kyle! I had more problems from those that said it couldn't or shouldn't be done than I have with the tank itself! Your right, I have had NO problems to this day!
Here is a link to a pic...
http://groups.msn.com/AceRossiMotorsports/foolsgold.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=468
Ace
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Ace, I love that look! Can you give me more info on how these tanks have worked for you? Are you using a tank for fresh water? How about the grey/black tank. I would be very interested in pictures of your entire setup. I may take a trip to Portland to get several tanks if they work out. I just went to your web site and looked at the pictures posted. Any others regarding the water tanks.
Thanks
Grant
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Here's another link to a pic of the rest of the tank that was cut off because it was too long for the black/grey tank combination. It is used for the diesel fuel that runs the generator! I couldn't see wasting it! It works very well and has no leaks, even after welding a plate on the side that was cut off! LOL
I hung them under the floor frame just as it was hung on the side of a Peterbilt truck using steel straps with rubber between the tank and strap! Yes it/they are aluminum and to this day, no corrosion, no leaks and the black tank has been full now for about 3 months. I DO need to dump it before I go to T-Ville though, or maybe not! ;D
Ace
http://groups.msn.com/AceRossiMotorsports/foolsgold.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=469
Grant, let me add that I used 2 matching poly tanks for fresh water. I got them from an ebay seller. I have also used poly tanks made by Dura-cast in Lake Wales Florida! Sorry for the confusion!
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Ace, thanks for the links. You seriously got the creativel juices flowing again. I will start thinking about all three tanks (gen fuel, fresh water and grey/black tank all like your set up.
Cool! ;D :o
Grant
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Hey Grant,
Don't forget to check the local truck wrecking yards for tanks. If you're gonna use them for waste water, who cares what else has been inside them? You may get the mounting hardware there too.
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Kyle, great idea. I have a good friend that owns a very large towing company and will contact him for some ideas of getting my hands on some tanks and support straps.
Thanks
Grant
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I met with my towing friend yesterday afternoon. He took me to a new 53 foot trailer that had flipped on the freeway. He showed me the refer tank. It is perfect for the genset. 50 gallons with all the mounting brackets, fuel lines and fuel level gauge. He also has a 100 gallon refer tank for the grey water. Both will polish up nicely and have all the right brackets. The price is soo right! ;D
He is also going to find me several useable 11 22.5 tires to trade out a few of my older tires. He isn't happy with my tag axle tires. :P
So, Ace thanks for the suggestion and picture it got my friend's creative jucies flowing.
FYI, he deals with several insurance companies on semi truck wrecks and salvages engines, rearends, and the like should be fun!
Have a great day! ;)
Grant
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Grant glad you like my idea of using a fuel tank! Some people couldn't deal with it when I did it but oh well!
In case you missed it earlier, I DID NOT use a diesel fuel tank for fresh water. I used two matching poly tanks that came from an Ebay seller. I would never suggest using a fuel tank of any kind for fresh water but saw no reason why it wouldn't work for my black/grey combined! So far it has worked out very well and saved me some valuable space by hanging them under the floors main frame as pictured! Being round and slightly tilted to the drivers side allows it to dump fast without having to flush it. I have never had any back-ups or clogs and to my knowledge, the round tank leaves nothing behind after dumping, if you know what I mean?
One more thing about the black/grey tank combined is I had no way of knowing when it was full or close to being full so I added a simple site tube going from top to bottom. My advice is if your going this route, do it BEFORE you install it and use it! I had to do it AFTER and it wasn't pleasant! LOL
Ace
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Ace, you idea was great! I will be able to remove the reefer tanks with all their mounting brackets and straps, clean them up and install them in the bus. I also am considering cleaning the tanks completely and then cutting a hole and welding in the necessary coupler to screw in a normal RV PVC gate valve for the grey tank. both tanks already have sending units on the outside of the tanks. I wonder if the black/grey tank would measure waist levels as well? Just thinking ???
Again, Thanks for the great idea.
Regards,
Grant
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Yea I welded in the necessary fittings for all the drains and vent pipes to accept pcv pipe.
Not sure about the gauge though. Mine didn't have one so I made a simple site tube. Clear hose and two "L" fittings tapped into the side of the tank! So far it works great. It at least gives me an idea as to when the tank is close to being full!
Another thing I forgot to mention was that the fuel tanks have baffles in them. At first I thought this might hinder the draining of them but so far it has not! They drain VERY fast!
Ace
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Ace, anyway to give me some idea of what metal support structure you built to handle the weight of the tanks. In my nine I have some pretty simple bracing for the floor. I believe I should design something to help reinforce the support structure on top.
Any thoughts, ideas or pictures would be great.
Regards,
Grant
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Grant -
Ace's Prevost, IIRC, uses more of a "birdcage" frame structure as opposed to the semi-monocoque body of your MC-9. Because of this difference, he has framing members across the top of the baggage bays that he was able to hang his tanks from.
This is not to say that you can't do something similar, it's just pointing out the differences between the two chassis. Don't know if you'd want to hang a tank directly off the plywood floor/baggage bay roof of your 9.
BTW, I think Ace's idea of recycling those tanks was a good one. After looking at the photos again, I remember that I had a question for him that I don't think I ever asked:
Ace -
I was wondering, after looking at the mounting brackets for your tank, why you didn't weld in a triangular gusset to keep the "L" bracket from slowly bending downward from the tank's weight. Just curious. . .
This is a good thread!
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My only concern with round tanks is that you will get more capacity in the same space with rectangular tanks.
Len
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Russ, thanks for the info. I was actually going to build an internal frame structure that would hold the units in place. I was concerned about the weight and the plywood so we already decided to go with an internal frame. I understand that we will lose a little space with round tanks however when suspended I get the floor space back.
Thanks for all the input.
Grant
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Russ to answer your question that was never asked...
I took an "L" bracket and clamped it in a vice. I tried like hell to bend it and just couldn't do it so with that I just went ahead and welded away. So far they haven't even showed any bending at all when full and after travelling down the highway when full! I guess time will tell but I'm not looking for any of them to bend any time soon! I used some pretty tough stainless! ;)
Len yes your correct that using a rectangle tank over a round tank would definitely yield you more capacity but... 3 things!
1, the tank was free and in great shape!
2, how much "STUFF" does one really have to carry around before dumping?
3, if you look at the space that was wasted by using the round tank, it really isn't that much! Besides, I gained more floor space so it goes both ways. Lose on one side, gain on the other! :)
Ace