I'm looking into getting a tank for the farm. My question is will a Steel transfer tank usually found at any tractor supply be sufficient for the task. I'm mostly concerned with the inside corroding and screwing up the gas. Of course I would have a filter but in any way could it harm the gas? Also are the pumps at the same retailers up to the task. We have had a few for diesel and have had no problems. Any info would be great. I'm talking the 100 gallon jobs that go in the back of a pickup, not worried about DOT legalities of transport just the effects on the gas itself. Any better tank ideas throw them this way. Obviously aluminum or stainless would be better but more$$$$

I use a propane tank. Clean inside, usually can find one cheap, zero loss to evaporation, no pump required...just keep air pressure on it (15-30 psi works best) and it flows as good as any pump.

I have 2 filters on mine and never had any issues whatsoever.

I think any transfer pump/tank made for fuel is fine. We've pumped 1000s of gallons through regular 12v transfer pumps.

Get an aluminum tank. No rust. Run a filter like the Goldenrod brand with a clear housing so you can visually detect water. The 12 volt fuel transfer pumps work just fine. Don't forget some sort of bonding cable in case of a spark.

We've run a regular steel tank for years on the farm. Never had anything wrong with the fuel and never had water in it, knock on wood. Our was an old deisel heating tank. I have used, and two neighbors of mine use regular slip tanks with 115 volt pumps in them. Works just dandy. I'd say your fine.
David

Aluminum or steel tanks....who cares? You DO need, however, GOOD filtration, either way. And, good filtration means a particulate filter AND a No-Go type water fuse, that will stop water. Goldenrod filters are good particulate filters but they will NOT stop water. There are filters made by Valcon and others that stop water. You need one.

Be advised that NONE of those "transfer tanks" you see for sale for the backs of pickups are approved for gasoline. That's because they do not have adequate venting for gasoline vapors. That said, this type tank has been used a lot for gasoline. Use at your own risk, but carefully note the placard that is attached to all of these tanks when you buy them. It generally says for use with Diesel fuel only.

I've used similar tanks. Use GOOD filtration, and GOOD bonding of the fuel tank to the airplane.

MTV

Add 1 more thought, if you have on wood or plastic (bedliner) bond it to your truck frame also!!
Make sure you open or take off the lid when you pump, as a good pump will collapse a poor tank!
As above filter, filter!
GT

Use GOOD filtration, and GOOD bonding of the fuel tank to the airplane.

As the wag says, half a boom will spoil your whole day.

Cary

My 75 gal steel tank and 12VDC pump that I built for hauling 91 OCT unleaded for the airplane. Tank is under 119 gal so no placards are needed, and tank doesn't even need to be painted red..this tank is legal for non-comercial use here in NE. I drain the tank twice a year to check for water and contaminates in the gas. As you can see there is a large 5 micron filter after the pump. Have used this tank for over 5 years and no problems.
HC

Actually Goldenrod makes a water block (cornstarch) filter that works quite well with the fuels that are minus the corn squeezins. Velcons are the standard for bulk tanks and delivery trucks. Those things get a sniff of water and they shut down right now. I have never seen one that wasn't huge though. It might be a job plumbing it onto a farmer tank.

I only pump about 12K gallons of fuel through those things every year so my experience is limited. Most of it is diesel though. We plug more with the steel tanks we have than the aluminum. Of course, we do get some rain here and temperature swings which leads to condensation.

My set-up looks a lot like hicountry's except it rides in the pickup.

I've used 3 different steel transfer tanks over the years. I've never had any issues with them although some rust can form and particles will collect in the bottom of the tank. The current tank is a 100 gallon rectangular Delta tank (http://www.kit-master.com/web/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=374&Itemid=27).

The pump is a GPI 15-gpm transfer pump (http://www.buyautotruckaccessories.com/product.cfm/cf-bin/pn.gpi-model-m-150s-12-volt-dc-fuel-pumps/) The pump pick-up tube sits about 1-inch above the bottom of the tank to minimize sucking up particles off the bottom.

The tank is electrically bonded to the truck at all times and to the plane before pumping. The pump hose also has a static wire in it as well, as they all should. The filter is a standard 5-micron filter with no water detection, but I do live in a dry climate and the tank is covered so water can't enter. Each time the tank is filled, I test for ethanol and by default water, although I suspect water is more likely to enter the tank at the end of the filling cycle and the water test is only a spot check.

The only place with ethanol free gas is about 3 miles across town from the airport, so it is a bit of a pain to drive over there, however for the cost savings it is a no brainer. Total cost of the tank, pump, filter, and hose was about $700 (bought pump on-sale). The savings on average is $1.75 per gallon when fueling at home. Estimating 50% of my fuel comes through this set-up means the payback is just over 6 months and after that the savings is about 750 gallons x $1.75/gal = $1,312.50 per year.

It comes in handy at the house too for filling all the other things that don't like ethanol (older cars, snow blower, lawn mower, kids dirt bikes, etc).

blackrock wrote:My set-up looks a lot like hicountry's except it rides in the pickup.

I've used 3 different steel transfer tanks over the years. I've never had any issues with them although some rust can form and particles will collect in the bottom of the tank. The current tank is a 100 gallon rectangular Delta tank (http://www.kit-master.com/web/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=374&Itemid=27).

The pump is a GPI 15-gpm transfer pump (http://www.buyautotruckaccessories.com/product.cfm/cf-bin/pn.gpi-model-m-150s-12-volt-dc-fuel-pumps/) The pump pick-up tube sits about 1-inch above the bottom of the tank to minimize sucking up particles off the bottom.

The tank is electrically bonded to the truck at all times and to the plane before pumping. The pump hose also has a static wire in it as well, as they all should. The filter is a standard 5-micron filter with no water detection, but I do live in a dry climate and the tank is covered so water can't enter. Each time the tank is filled, I test for ethanol and by default water, although I suspect water is more likely to enter the tank at the end of the filling cycle and the water test is only a spot check.

The only place with ethanol free gas is about 3 miles across town from the airport, so it is a bit of a pain to drive over there, however for the cost savings it is a no brainer. Total cost of the tank, pump, filter, and hose was about $700 (bought pump on-sale). The savings on average is $1.75 per gallon when fueling at home. Estimating 50% of my fuel comes through this set-up means the payback is just over 6 months and after that the savings is about 750 gallons x $1.75/gal = $1,312.50 per year.

It comes in handy at the house too for filling all the other things that don't like ethanol (older cars, snow blower, lawn mower, kids dirt bikes, etc).

Good you brought up the bonding BR..I ALWAYS bond the tank to the vehicle I'm filling AND to a good ground such as a metal building structure, power ground, or if nothing else I drive one of my steel tiedowns driven into the ground. Gas hoses also have ground wire in them!
I burn no more than 50% 91 Oct. 100LL price locally is$ 6.09 cash VS $4.07 at the COOP for the 91OCT. This is usually the price spread so I usually save about $2/gal. I have pumped 1765 gal through my tank (it has a meter on it).....just do the math.
The tank and pump cost me about $500, the trailer I had already built for my generator.
HC

Hey guys thanks for all of the information. Sounds like I'm gonna make a trip to tractor supply and pick up a few items.

blackrock wrote:........The only place with ethanol free gas is about 3 miles across town from the airport, so it is a bit of a pain to drive over there......

Three whole miles? Traffic must be a lot worse in Elko than I woulda thought!
My 87 octane E-zero source is probably about the same distance from the airport and I don't mind it a bit. Of course, it's kinda sorta on the way home (if you go the long way around).

hotrod150 wrote:

blackrock wrote:........The only place with ethanol free gas is about 3 miles across town from the airport, so it is a bit of a pain to drive over there......

Three whole miles? Traffic must be a lot worse in Elko than I woulda thought!
My 87 octane E-zero source is probably about the same distance from the airport and I don't mind it a bit. Of course, it's kinda sorta on the way home (if you go the long way around).

Yea, kinda funny isn't it; how spoiled I've become living in a small town?

I have the same pump as hicountry on a 45 Gal drum. Just put it together yesterday. I got it all from our farm country store "United Farmers of Alberta (UFA)" All the filters, water or particulate, they stock have a warning stating : "DANGER Do not use with aviation fuels" Wonder if it is a liability issue or a problem with deterioration of the material when used with avgas.
Anyone have a product number on an appropriate filter?
My thought was to install two filters in line, one for water and one for particulates, any advice?

Beamer pilot wrote:I have the same pump as hicountry on a 45 Gal drum. Just put it together yesterday. I got it all from our farm country store "United Farmers of Alberta (UFA)" All the filters, water or particulate, they stock have a warning stating : "DANGER Do not use with aviation fuels" Wonder if it is a liability issue or a problem with deterioration of the material when used with avgas.
Anyone have a product number on an appropriate filter?
My thought was to install two filters in line, one for water and one for particulates, any advice?

Hey Beamer. I had 2 inline on my setup. An Atlas one and a goldenrod. I couldn't find elements for the atlas, but used the water seperating ones in the Goldenrod. Can't remember the number, but I'll try to get it for you.

Thanks.
Is the new wife gonna learn to fly?

Well, we'll work on that once the snow is gone and we can go back to landing on the feild rather then road. At the very least Id like to teach her how to land in case something happens to me.

Here is the tank that I built. It is a 135 gal steel tank with 12 volt pump. I also installed a static reel 12V battery, and a fire extinguisher. It is mounted on a trailer that I pull with my ATVs. It works great out here in the nowhere of the Wrangell mountains.

Nizina, I really like that set up. Probably going to copy it.