Long distance rides require greater importance to details. Food, drinks, clothes and everything should be on the list of primary requirements for safe travel. However, there’s another element that needs due importance for a trouble free long distance road trips and that is an auxiliary fuel tank. An auxiliary fuel tank offers the best in class fuel capacitive holding for cars and automotive. As long distance travels require a considerable amount of time spent off road, it might happen that one may not get gas stations at regular intervals. Hence, to facilitate enough gas till one reaches a favorable destination, auxiliary fuel tanks are the best alternatives.

The concept stemmed from the Spanish Civil War, back in 1936, when the fighter aircraft were required to carry extra fuel tanks for increased durability and longevity in the sky. Soon, around World War II, the Germans started carrying 80 US Gallons of auxiliary fuel tanks on their sustained flight path. It was around 1944 that the Americans started incorporating the technology in few of their plan models. Originally, they were modest about the use of the Auxiliary Fuel Tank, citing limitation in maneuvering the planes. However, over time, many American fighter planes were equipped with external fuel tanks for long flights.


Auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks are sold as kits and can be installed by professional installers with little hassle and minimal investment on the part of the vehicle owner.

There are vendors that sell auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks with all the parts and a complete set of comprehensive instructions.  Some vehicle owners choose to have the auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks installed professionally simply because the professional install offers the consumer peace of mind.  If the consumer is capable of installing the auxiliary fuel tank however, he or she can save a couple hundred dollars on the cost of an installation.

Options And Capacities

Auxiliary fuel tanks have a range of different attributes and options. Plastic high-density polyethylene tanks are produced by blow molding and are valued for their low emissions. HDPE can also induce the complex formation of shapes resulting in the auxiliary tank being mounted on the back axle, which helps prevent accidents and saves on vehicular space. Another kind of tank is of the fluorine gas variety. The final type is steel or aluminum produced by the welding of stamped sheets. The metal auxiliary fuel tank tends to be less available on the market and less competitive.

Types Of Auxiliary Fuel Tanks

Remote opening – contemporary cars are often opened with a fuel tank fuel filler flap which utilizes an electric motor cable release. Increasingly more automobiles feature fuel tanks that cannot be opened by hand or by anyway from the exterior of the car.

Reserve tank – A light on the instrument panel of cars typically indicates when the fuel level dips below a certain point in the tank. There is no current standard; however, some efforts are made to collect this information for all vehicles.

Racing fuel cells – This is a fuel container different from an ordinary fuel tank because it has a flexible inner liner to prevent punctures because of a mishap resulting in serious damage to the vehicle. This type of auxiliary fuel tank is filled with an open-cell foam core to help counteract explosion of vapor in the vacant section of the tank. They reduce sloshing of fuel during racing competitions that may result in the unbalance of the vehicle or cause inadequate fuel delivery to the motor, often called “fuel starvation.”

Advice On Fitting Auxiliary Fuel Tanks

This need not be such an immense chore as it may sound. It is often worth getting an auxiliary tank that is very similar in its specifications to your main tank. Fit the auxiliary model directly opposite to the existing one; then place an electric pump into the filler pipe of the existing tank. Whenever your main tank begins to run low, you have diesel or other fuel reserves of perhaps 20, 30, or 40 gallons, which is very convenient indeed. Be sure to remember to turn the pump off so you don’t risk overflow and loss of fuel. The most sophisticated systems allow the automatic transfer of fuel from the auxiliary to the main tank. A digital readout of the amount of fuel in each tank is indicated on a control panel in the cab. Because of the information and automation provided, this system is regarded as the very best in auxiliary fuel tank systems. Very often it incorporates a switch labeled “Main” or “Auxiliary.”

When in “Auxiliary” position, fuel rushes from the auxiliary tank directly to the engine. The standard fuel gauge becomes an indicator of the amount of fuel in the auxiliary tank. When switched to “Main” position, fuel feeds from the main tank straight to the engine with the fuel gauge indicating the amount of fuel in the main tank. This auxiliary fuel tank system is simple, clean, and uncomplicated. The best tip when looking for an auxiliary fuel tank is simply this: do your research. You should determine the exact features you require, how much capacity and storage you need, how far you want to go, the efficiency of the delivery system, etc. You will save yourself a lot of time and money if you bother to conduct thorough investigations before you go ahead and make a purchase of an auxiliary fuel tank.

All in all, auxiliary fuel tanks are essentially useful for any car or lorry driver, pilot, or motorcyclist who intends to make a long journey without refueling along the way. There may be various reasons for not requiring refueling such as during a serious race competition or when one travels abroad to countries where diesel or petroleum is harder to come by.

The Benefits of Auxiliary Fuel Tank Kits

Many of today’s consumers are seeking auxiliary diesel fuel tanks kits so that they can get terrific bargains on reduced diesel prices.  When a vehicle or truck is equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank, the owner of the vehicle has additional storage for diesel fuel.  When the owner of the truck finds a super low price on diesel he or she can then fill up his or her tank along with the auxiliary fuel tank and thereby benefit from reduced or lowered diesel pricing immediately.

Consumers appreciate the idea of buying the diesel fuel they require when they want to purchase it rather than when immediate need demands the purchase of diesel fuel.  The consumer is given more buying options and time when an auxiliary fuel tank is installed.  This means that the driver can plot and plan road trips, can make fewer stops and starts, and can make buying decisions about where he or she will get the diesel fuel he or she requires.

The installation of an auxiliary fuel tank also gives the owner of a vehicle the ability to travel greater distances without the need to make frequent stops for fuel.  When travelling a great deal the driver of the vehicle often appreciates the fact that he or she spends less time fueling up the vehicle and more time on the road.  In addition, since the auxiliary fuel tank is filled up, a driver is confident in the fact that he or she will not run out of fuel when travelling to a destination.  The latter fact is particularly beneficial in areas or regions where fueling stations are scarce.

Additional Auxiliary Fuel Tank Benefits

Consumers assert that an auxiliary fuel tank is indeed a wise investment.  Since the consumer is provided with the ability to shop around for the very best diesel prices the savings that the consumer derives in a period of two years will be equivalent to what the consumer pays for the auxiliary fuel tank in the first place.  What’s more, there are many auxiliary fuel tanks which are manufactured out of special aluminized steel; this means that it is far more difficult for the diesel fuel to be siphoned or stolen as well.

When adding an auxiliary fuel tank a consumer will find that the auxillary diesel fuel tanks are often accompanied by a warranty.  Usually the warranty will cover the auxillary diesel fuel tanks for a period of time or until a certain number of miles are put on the vehicle from the moment that the auxillary diesel fuel tank is installed.
Once the auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks are installed into vehicles all the vehicle owner has to do is to fill up the tank with fuel.  In order to access the fuel in the tank the vehicle owner then flips a switch which is installed on the dashboard to access the fuel in the secondary fuel tank.  Separate fuel gauge installation is not required since both the primary tank and the auxillary tank will read from the same fuel gauge.

Auxiliary fuel tank kits come in a variety of different versions from simplistic to complex.  The more simplistic auxiliary fuel tank kits include the tank, a hose, and a pump.  Other kits might come with a tool box which is fitted over the auxiliary fuel tank.  There are even auxiliary fuel tank kits which offer a transfer flow feature; fuel is transferred from the secondary tank to the main tank and is controlled from the dash board switch.  Of course, the more complex an auxiliary fuel tank kit is the more money the kit will likely cost.  Labor costs can vary depending upon the amount of time it will take to install the auxiliary fuel tanks in question.  The consumer will need to speak with the professional installer and he or she will need to request a price quote on parts and labor.  It might be a good idea to shop around and to compare prices before making a final buying decision too.

Where to Buy Auxiliary Fuel Tank Kits

There are manufacturers that will custom make an auxiliary fuel tank for a consumer that requires one.  Aero Tanks is a company that has auxiliary fuel tank for pick-up trucks in stock and will also create one for the consumer upon request.  Prices offered by Aero Tanks vary depending upon the make, model, parts, and required labor for the installation of the auxiliary diesel fuel tanks.

Auxiliary fuel tanks are also sold by American Tank .  At American Tank a consumer can instantly find auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks including for Dodge®, Ford®, and GM® models.  There are special auxiliary diesel fuel tanks for pickup trucks which are based upon the size of the truck bed as well.  Consumers can view the online catalog in order to examine the offerings presented by American Tank and the tanks sold by American Tank meet all legal specifications as put forth by the DOT.

There are certain obvious disadvantages of using the auxiliary fuel tanks. For a starter, they initiate drag penalty upon the aircraft carrying the external tank. Moreover, the aircraft also loose their natural inertia as the tank is fitted outside. In case of air combat maneuvers, it becomes difficult for roll rates with an external tank. Although the drag varies with the square of the aircraft’ speed, the capacity of the drop tanks provides extra stress upon the weight of the aircraft. Hence, in case of combat, rolling maneuvers and other techniques become difficult to execute.

However, modern auxiliary fuel tanks used in aircraft make sure that there are no additional drags on the aircraft itself. The latest conformal fuel tanks produce the least drag and also reduced the use of external head points.

In racing on dry lakes of various locations around the world, the surplus auxiliary fuel tanks were utilized into racing cars. After World War II, hot roaders simply converted the drop tanks used in the war and made them into belly tank lakesters for breaking and creating land speed records. The auxiliary tanks were aerodynamically neutral, offering better and advanced stability at high speeds. The 168-gallon P51 Mustang belly tank and 305-gallon P38 Lightning tank are living examples of the Auxiliary Fuel Tank cars.

However, modern application of the fuel tanks has come down to regular automotive. Most of the station wagons and cruiser trucks use the auxiliary fuel tanks for sustained road trips. Once the natural fuel of the car comes to a zero, the system automatically switches to the auxiliary fuel tank for continuing one’s journey. On the other hand, the various space shuttle launches around the world use the auxiliary fuel tank, filled with liquid hydrogen for the initial thrust.