Dual Fuel Tank Explorer

[_BEYONDER_]

I have a tank from a 95 caravan....all the mounting, wiring,etc.

I've seen posts on Rangers being done. Who's done an explorer? What problems did you have, pics , links to other threads,etc?

The selector valve is something around 250.00 CAD here, has anyone come up with a homebrew idea? I have a few idea's, just want to see what others have done first to make sure I'm on the right path...

 

[adsm08]

I'm not sure anyone has done a dual tank ex. It sure would be cool to see, but I dunno if it can be done.

 

[_BEYONDER_]

I measured, the caravan tank with the crossmember/frame section from the caravan should fit. Within 1/2 an inch or so ( my measurements were VERY quick so I'll have to recheck them ). The filler door looks almost identical to the explorers door,etc. Oh, there's no spare tire carrier underneath.....got ripped out before I got the explorer.
I was thinking 1 filler door behind the other or one on each side. My biggest concern really ( I think anyways ) is the selector valve...and whether It can be done cheaper and safely rather than go with the one from ford...( Have 5 kids that ride in this thing ).

Any ideas?

 

[adsm08]

I'm still trying to figure it out for my ranger. JY selector valve might be a good route to go.

 

[StephenLewis]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motor-driven-fuel-tank-selector-valve/p2005712.jcwx
Is this the thing you are looking for?

 

[_BEYONDER_]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motor-driven-fuel-tank-selector-valve/p2005712.jcwx
Is this the thing you are looking for?

Damn, thats a good price! Have you used this one or has anyone?

 

[Robert_1967]

why not find a ranger that already has two tanks in a junkyard, and take the stuff from it ???


Robert

 

[_BEYONDER_]

I would love to....unfortunatly its a 10hr drive to the nearest wrecker who has one. And they wont ship... Not to mention tho, that the valve would still be 20ish yrs old and I would rather have something newer. I dont want to get it all togethor and have to tear it apart the next day because it failed sorta thing ( not that it would happen, but its a possibility ). I also have 5 kids to worry about and should the thing die in the middle of nowhere,etc I'd rather avoid that ( I know new stuff can to, just the odd's are better of it not happeningwith new components ). I'm still looking on the net for pics of a dual gas tank explorer...

 

[trail B2]

Really it's not about a valve isn't it about which pump you turn on and to tie the fuel lines together.You have the return line that has to go back to the tank your using not to overflow the other full tank.If you don't have a valve for the return line you would always have to use the tank with the return line first.If you want to keep it simple why can't you put a single pole double throw switch in to switch the pumps back and forth.The Jc whitney kit looks like it changes the gauge to but it's unlikely a Dodge Caravan sending unit would speak in a language your gauge would understand.

 

[_BEYONDER_]

Really it's not about a valve isn't it about which pump you turn on and to tie the fuel lines together.You have the return line that has to go back to the tank your using not to overflow the other full tank.If you don't have a valve for the return line you would always have to use the tank with the return line first.If you want to keep it simple why can't you put a single pole double throw switch in to switch the pumps back and forth.The Jc whitney kit looks like it changes the gauge to but it's unlikely a Dodge Caravan sending unit would speak in a language your gauge would understand.

I thaught about this, if i understand correctly your saying to T the lines in togethor without a valve, the only problem I seen with this is without some sort of a check valve fuel would bleed into the tank not being used still ( possibly ).

I dont mind using a proper valve if I have to, but for arguement sakes, I had thaught about doing a few things a little differently...

- running all the fuel lines into the engine compartment and using manual on/off valves.
- Using low voltage DC valves from a hydronic heating system ( can get these for free )
- Using check valves to stop fuel bleeding back to the unused tank with the exception of the return line...the only thing I can think of is the auto valve from a heating system. ( I havent gotten around to checking out wether or not they're usable for gas though ).

That being said 82.00 for the valve isn't bad at all. So in the end I may just go that route. I am interested to hear what others have to say about my other ideas though...

For the sending unit, that isn't a problem. I plan to power the 2nd pump all the time to a second fuel guage in the cluster ( I'm working on a custom digital cluster ). The other idea I had was to just use another explorer sending unit, but the caravan one is new...so its 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other...

I had also considered doing like Allan D did with one tank as storage rigged to just fill the 2nd tank, but...I'm planning on moving to another province in the next little while and the explorer has to go through inspection to insure it there, so it needs to look good.

I dont know if I mentioned why exactly I want 2 tanks on my explorer....lol, the price of gas accross the border....WAY cheaper than here. almost 25 cents/L ( roughly 1.00/gal ) cheaper than in Canada...lol. And of course the extended range.....but mostly the amount of gas I can buy...lol.

 

[Robert_1967]

it would be a lot simpler and in the long run cheaper just to get the set up off a duel tank ranger, and if your worried about useing old parts, then just replace the valve with the same unit but new, this way you know it works, the guys at Ford have done all the hard work for you.


Robert

 

[_BEYONDER_]

it would be a lot simpler and in the long run cheaper just to get the set up off a duel tank ranger, and if your worried about useing old parts, then just replace the valve with the same unit but new, this way you know it works, the guys at Ford have done all the hard work for you.


Robert

Good point, however......a few problems, 10 hrs...1000km.....2000km round trip this is gonna cost me 2 - 300.00 in fuel, the same unit from ford another 300.00, plus hotels,etc.....it would run me around 1000.00 easy by the time I was done... Almost forgot the cost of the parts in there.....another 500.00...

My way...tank,etc is all free....worst case scenerio I buy the other selector valve posted earlier...83.00 cost plus shipping, duty,etc. so lets call that 100.00 - 125.00. If I can figure something else out along the same lines my cost goes to 0.00.

So in comparison, go with ford equiptment and put out 1500.00.........go with what I've got and at most costs me 125.00. How is paying out 1375.00 more cheaper in the long run?

The only old parts I'm concerned about is the selector valve. I have 5 kids that ride in my explorer and I dont want to risk having an old valve bugger up on me leaving me stranded somewhere.... thats NOT a fun walk with 5 kids, my oldest being only 6.

 

[Robert_1967]

The only old parts I'm concerned about is the selector valve. I have 5 kids that ride in my explorer and I dont want to risk having an old valve bugger up on me leaving me stranded somewhere.... thats NOT a fun walk with 5 kids, my oldest being only 6.

you have 5 kids but you want to trust a home made setup, compared to a system that is proven to work by ford ?!? Sorry, I don't get it


Robert

 

[_BEYONDER_]

you have 5 kids but you want to trust a home made setup, compared to a system that is proven to work by ford ?!? Sorry, I don't get it


Robert

Whats not to get? A valve is a valve. Fords is 300ish, the other one 83.00, if one from a heating system would work its free ( or even a manual valve ). The advantage of using a valve from a heating system is they can be switched manually as well in the event of failure. Neither the ford, nor the other one posted earlier has this feature. So YES I trust the home made setup more. Simply because it could be manually switched in the event of failure. Also keep in mind if all else fails, I have no issue buying the 83.00 selector valve and using that ( thats still 1375.00 cheaper than driving 10hrs to get parts from a truck in which I can't even verify work/dont leak ).

 

[trail B2]

The fuel pumps have check valves to hold the fuel in.I like alland's set up too.I think your building something for mama and that needs two gauges and be clear to use.IMHO if I felt good about it it wouldn't bother me at all that it wasn't FOMOCO built.

 

[_BEYONDER_]

So the pressure wont bleed back to the second tank if its only T'd in. Thats good, one problem thats solved. Its just the return line thats left... I do plan on putting 2 guages in, I'm working on a new digital cluster for the explorer that will incorporate 2 fuel guages. I plan to run all the lines up into the engine compartment and do the connections there, whether via auto valve, ect so its easy to rework,etc.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Might as well think of a different idea if you want 'reliable'... Those selector valves you are trying to use are not rated for the pressure of your EFI system... Remember, they only came on carb'ed trucks... Now, the full size trucks had dual tanks... AND EFI... Search for it, I've asked AllanD about this ALOT, and he has had problems with the Ranger selector valves running in a high pressure system...

 

[_BEYONDER_]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motor-driven-fuel-tank-selector-valve/p2005712.jcwx

these are for efi though, so it should work...

 

[bronco_lou]

why not just run a line between both tanks so they would both be used at the same time, wont have to mess with any valves, gauges ect... Just a thought

Louis