Carry extra gas?

[Jenkinsrawhide]

I know where you guys are coming from and as for me when mine shows 1/4 of a tank I start looking for fuel. Besides at my age of 73 a slight rest stop and a drink of water and I am ready to ride again.

 

[Papa Zook]

I know where you guys are coming from and as for me when mine shows 1/4 of a tank I start looking for fuel. Besides at my age of 73 a slight rest stop and a drink of water and I am ready to ride again.

Great to see you back after so long away Jenkins!

 

[Doc]

Larry...pics please. You're talking about the exact topic I've been researching for months.

Ed

 

[Yogisan]

Thanks Mr. Yogi. 500 bucks. Oooh boy........

Yeah, that's what I thought at first when I saw the price. At that time it was $554. But I did some more thinking and realized that 1) I needed an aux tank since my main is only 3.7 gal, 2) the kit comes with everything but labor 3) the way it's designed to be installed I don't have to give up any existing luggage space to pack it and 4) it's permanent; no put-it-on-take-it-off depending on where I plan to travel.

I see you have found a less expensive solution. :yes: I thought I'd just throw in a few things just in case you decide to upgrade later or maybe someone else is looking for a solution with the above advantages.

 

[Big_Steve]

Yeah, that's what I thought at first when I saw the price. At that time it was $554. But I did some more thinking and realized that 1) I needed an aux tank since my main is only 3.7 gal, 2) the kit comes with everything but labor 3) the way it's designed to be installed I don't have to give up any existing luggage space to pack it and 4) it's permanent; no put-it-on-take-it-off depending on where I plan to travel.

I see you have found a less expensive solution. :yes: I thought I'd just throw in a few things just in case you decide to upgrade later or maybe someone else is looking for a solution with the above advantages.

The "tour tank" looks interesting. I have plenty of room in the body to mount one permanently. I don't want to start with pumps and stuff to refill the main tank though. I believe I could get the aux tank higher then the carb with no trouble, but am not confident it would work real well. Way high up, like on the luggage rack should work. But I was thinking something more permanent would be better.

Meanwhile. I have a couple of fuel bottles in the trunk............

 

[Doc]

Thanks o everyone for all the Feedback...especially Carbon One for the pics of your set-up...I'm gonna go with the Tour Tank and Electric Fuel Pump to give me 2x my current Mileage. With a properly installed Aux Tank, I'll have that L'il bit of peace of mind I used to get when I took a Big Milk Jug on a Surveillance, LOL!

Ed

 

[Big_Steve]

My bike has a carb, and no fuel pump. I guess that leaves me no choice but to use a "refill the main tank" setup. All I can figure is I'd have to "Tee" the main line between the main tank and on/off/reserve shunt, and add an on/off shunt between the Tee and aux tank. I presume I'd have to shut down, set the original Honda shunt to off, open the aux shunt, and start pumping. Then the aux tank fuel would flow into the main tank through its pickup at the bottom.

Is that right? Better idea?

 

[Doc]

It all depends on where you plan on Mounting the Tank. If you went with a 1.5 gal. Tank from Tour Tank it measures 6"x16" (which would fit inside your Tour Pak) and gravity feed it into that Tee you mentioned. That way when your stock Tank was getting low you could swith off your stock fuel valve, open your Aux Tank fuel valve and run off the Gravity feed of the Aux Tank. If you want to mount it low, an Electric fuel pump will be needed to pump the fuel up to the Tee (I think)...

 

[Big_Steve]

It all depends on where you plan on Mounting the Tank. If you went with a 1.5 gal. Tank from Tour Tank it measures 6"x16" (which would fit inside your Tour Pak) and gravity feed it into that Tee you mentioned. That way when your stock Tank was getting low you could swith off your stock fuel valve, open your Aux Tank fuel valve and run off the Gravity feed of the Aux Tank. If you want to mount it low, an Electric fuel pump will be needed to pump the fuel up to the Tee (I think)...

Well, since I have so much room under the body of the trike, I can't see mounting it externally on a rack or seat. In that set up, at best I could get it slightly higher than the main tank, but way in the back near the trunk. Between gravity and whatever vacuum is generated, I'm not confidant in the flow being sufficient.

But I'm no mechanic, so I really don't know. Mounting the tank would be done regardless. I guess I could try it first, and add a pump later......

 

[meredog]

this topic has happened before, and the most common comment is how dangerous it is to carry gas. that being said, riding a bike is dangerous.

i carry 2.5 gallons of extra gas in my trailer. or if no trailer the largest msp?? bottles. ( the ones for those little gas stoves it's about 32 oz of gas and i carry two. leak proof and dang near indestructible.

i carry some xtra gas all the time because as a senior citizen i can't remember to keep my zipper up, let alone remember to stop for gas.

as for that big fire ball every one keeps talking about when you get hit. if you see me on fire bring marshmellows

Marshmellows should be all you need if you are forgetting to zip up !!!

 

[Big_Steve]

Well, since I have so much room under the body of the trike, I can't see mounting it externally on a rack or seat. In that set up, at best I could get it slightly higher than the main tank, but way in the back near the trunk. Between gravity and whatever vacuum is generated, I'm not confidant in the flow being sufficient.

But I'm no mechanic, so I really don't know. Mounting the tank would be done regardless. I guess I could try it first, and add a pump later......

I emailed tour tank. They told me running it as a true aux tank will not be a problem as long as the tank is higher then the carb inlet. That could be a problem..... They said my "plan B" should work, but none of their customers have said anything about trying it.

2 more gallons would give me the range (and then some) of similar sized 2 wheelers. Sounding better and better.

 

[1550vt]

Here is another picture of mine. 1.5 gallon aluminum tank inside the tour pack. The pump is switched to the ACC on my dash. The output from the reserve goes into the main tank, so it doesn't matter if it's EFI or carburetor equipped.

 

[Big_Steve]

Here is another picture of mine. 1.5 gallon aluminum tank inside the tour pack. The pump is switched to the ACC on my dash. The output from the reserve goes into the main tank, so it doesn't matter if it's EFI or carburetor equipped.

How are you physically getting the gas into the main tank? Did you install a fitting on the tank?

 

[Bikerbozo]

Whenever I ride west of the Mississippi I carry a gallon container. It's saved my ass a couple of times. I don't always stick to main roads. If you carry it in a trunk or saddlebag, don't have any clothes in there also.

 

[Smoken'JOE]

How are you physically getting the gas into the main tank? Did you install a fitting on the tank?

Some of the VTXers on the VTXOA site use extra gas tour tank and plumb it into the vent tube under the tank.................BUT you still need a vent or the tank will distort. There is a post about this and I'll see if I can search for it over at VTXOA.

Auxiliary fuel tank project complete - VTXOA

 

[Big_Steve]

Thanks for digging that up Joe. Tour tank mentions that method somewhere on their site, but doesn't recommend for or against.

 

[Gorilla]

When it comes to recommending carrying gas outside an intended gas tank, most would not one way or the other for the liability issue.

 

[SBStormy]

I have discovered a gas issue that really has nothing to do with running out - except it kinda does.
When I put the Frankenstein kit on, the geometry changed. Duh, no big deal. Welllllllllll, the front of the tank is lower than it used to be. And the fuel pickup is in the rear of the tank. 1.8 miles from the station we were heading to, at barely a needle-width under 1/4 tank, she went DRY! I could see gas, I could rock it & slosh gas... but the slosh only moved enough gas back to the pick-up for about 500 feet.
Really frustrating. I hopped on Dan's backseat and we drove the 1.8 miles (grrrr) and filled a 1.5 gallon can - apparently designed for off-roaders - it fit nicely in his saddlebag (Beeemer) - we poured about 3/4 of a gallon in the tank and about 1/2 gallon all over the paint (grrr again) and cruised back to the same station for a fillup.
I have been told there is a little bracket to re-align (raise) the mounting point from the front of the tank to the frame, but haven't had any luck finding one.

This is good info to know, I just got my trike (Frankenstein) and I do not have a gas gauge, (883 Sportster) but I know how far I can go, but maybe not now ! I will look for the bracket,, and let you know if I find it..