Transfer Tanks for Diesel Fuel

The most common are the 1500 gallon tanks they set underground. If they're big enough to need their own tank for all that equipment, they don't usually go for anything less than the biggest available. If you're looking for the aboveground tanks, they typically run 300-500 gallons and are just as often filled with regular gasoline; when you live so far out that the nearest gas station is a quarter of a tank of gas away, you see the convenience of having your own fuel on the property.

Diesel sold for "agricultural purposes" is usually not taxed. This makes it much cheaper than gas station diesel - which farmers like - but can theoretically run vehicles that will not be performing argicultural duties - which the state that waived their taxes doesn't like. So when these tanks are filled, the petrol company adds a red dye to the tank. State troopers can and will test your truck's tank with a dipstick to see if you're cruising to town on illegal diesel.

Weight is the factor here. Diesel weighs about 7.5 pounds per gallon, although it varies with the season. So 100 gallons weighs 750 pounds and five hundred gallons would weigh 3,750 pounds.

Next thing to figure is the size of the pickup. A one ton dually could probably handle 500 gallons, but if you put that in a half ton, you'd bust your suspension and axle.

There are limits as to where you need a tank endorsement on your license depending on the state. I think 500 gallons is fine, but I'm not sure.

The bigger the tank, the more permanent it becomes. Securing two tons isn't easy, especially when you factor in a slosh factor. (As you drive down the road, without baffles, fluids move. That shifting weight will influence your truck big time.)

Most of the transfer tanks I've seen are in the 100 or less gallon range. It doesn't take up too much room in the bed, can be easily mounted permanently, and don't break the bank too badly when you fill it up.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

Jim's post about the sloshing fuel made me laugh. A couple years ago our fuel oil delivery man got stuck because the fuel sloshed and put him in a snow drift off the driveway. Puma