Portable Gas tank
- Thread starter Shawhawk
- Start date
Lookup and read section 393.65 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). It discusses fuel tank securement and does nor specifically mention portable fuel tanks. Regardless of the vehicle size you operate, you must be conscious of any commodity you are carrying along with the portable gas tank. You may not co-mingle many hazardous materials with fuel in the same compartment. Many customers may not wish to put their freight in a cargo area that smells of gasoline. I have not seen any reference to your situation in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). These standards apply to all motor vehicles unless specifically mentioned otherwise. Section 301 applies to fuel systems.
Your 3 gal. container would not require placards. If you think this or any other item or issue needs to be hidden so that the DOT won;t see it, you're not exhibiting a professional driver attitude.
Your 3 gal. container would not require placards. If you think this or any other item or issue needs to be hidden so that the DOT won;t see it, you're not exhibiting a professional driver attitude.
Someone told me that DOT will give me a ticket if they saw an external fuel tank with gasoline in it, thats why im curious if this real or not. I have both of my generator and external gas tank stored in the tool box but its becoming to be a pain to keep taking it out and putting it back in
I assume you're in a cargo van now so google the reference I gave you and it will explain how an external fuel tank may not extend outside the body of a CMV. These regulations are written for CMVs, so they do not apply tp you if you are in a van and don't haul hazmat. An external fuel tank on a CMV may not be mounted beyond the body of a CMV; therefore, I reckon that anyone being cited by a DOT officer was done so in the spirit of the CMV reg. Section 301 of the safety standards may discuss this same requirement for all vehicles. Check it out so you'll know the facts instead of the opinion of an internet lurker. If you are in a straight truck, you could secure the fuel container in a belly box and a tractor could have an approved container firmly secured on the deck behind the cab.
It just occurred to me that there may be a way to plumb a fuel line into your gas tank. Then you could connect a flexible fuel line, with a proper fitting, to your generator. Any fuel line may not be proximate to your exhaust system. Perhaps someone here has done this and could advise you.
I would think secure, away from sparks, where it can’t move or be struck by something that would cause a leak would be good.
I’d feel better mounted fully enclosed somewhere. Easy to put in a belly box since you are in a straight truck.
And regardless if legal or not, it may cause concern if running through tunnels.
The ticket issue may have to do with regs pertaining to fuel tanks, not necessarily a portable tank. That’d be a concern if you attempted to hang the tank outside.
On stuff like this, I’ll bite the bullet and pay a reputable shop to install it.
Mainly to share/pass off liability if needed.
I’d feel better mounted fully enclosed somewhere. Easy to put in a belly box since you are in a straight truck.
And regardless if legal or not, it may cause concern if running through tunnels.
The ticket issue may have to do with regs pertaining to fuel tanks, not necessarily a portable tank. That’d be a concern if you attempted to hang the tank outside.
On stuff like this, I’ll bite the bullet and pay a reputable shop to install it.
Mainly to share/pass off liability if needed.
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I should have reread the OP and not assume you were in a cargo van; my bad. As said by bigstickjr, the belly box confinement is a good choice. It should cause you no problems with regulation compliance.
I bought a 3 gallon Marine fuel tank and its suction/pressure feed, i also put a shut of valve on the fuel line going to the genny that way i can just remove it, store it and put it in when i use my genny
I should have ask what kind of generator were you going to be using? Honda 2000 or new 2200 has a fuel pump. Honda 3000 doesn't. Don't know what you bought?
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It doesn't have a fuel pump on it?