Auxilliary Fuel Tank

[1550vt]

Some trike kits offer an auxiliary fuel tank and some don't offer that option due to space reasons. The auxiliary tank has also been used in the 2-wheeler family of riders. There are certain complications involved with these EFI models and gravity feed is pretty much out of the question unless you want to mount a tank on top of your tour pack. There are various aftermarket manufacturers of auxiliary tanks out there, most of which just strap-on and resemble a piece of luggage. You still have the issue of getting the fuel into the tank as you cannot make any direct connection to the high pressure fuel lines on the EFI models. The reduced fuel mileage associated with a trike warrants a look at a reserve source of fuel for longer range, more so with those having 5-gallon tanks.

I have experimented with various tanks and delivery systems for quite some time and have a system that works for me. It's custom-made and some fuel-line and tank plumbing is required, but nothing that will damage or alter the stock fuel delivery components on the bike. I will be happy to share my design and help anyone considering the addition of an auxiliary fuel tank. My 1.5 gallons of reserve fuel has already came in real handy riding with my 2-wheel buddies sporting 6-gallon tanks and getting 40-plus mpg.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Sounds like you may have your secret for successful fast-tracking and becoming a millionaire.<br />
<br />
For me... I went to Texas and got a 10 gallon hat.. DOT approved of course.<img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
(you know I couldn't resist)

 

[ben721364]

I don't know that "space" considerations are the reason that some trike kit manufacturers do not offer auxiliary fuel tanks. Some of the kits with smaller trunks are offered with auxiliary tanks. Likewise, some trike kits do have largert trunk capacity without as opposed to with auxiliary tanks. <br />
<br />
Typically fuel on a trike is <i>transferred to the main tank</i> either by a line which equalizes the level in the main and auxiliary tanks or through the use of<i> an electrically operated pump</i>. <br />
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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>1550vt</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=18545#post18545" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">Some trike kits offer an auxiliary fuel tank and some don't offer that option due to space reasons. The auxiliary tank has also been used in the 2-wheeler family of riders. There are certain complications involved with these EFI models and gravity feed is pretty much out of the question unless you want to mount a tank on top of your tour pack. There are various aftermarket manufacturers of auxiliary tanks out there, most of which just strap-on and resemble a piece of luggage. You still have the issue of getting the fuel into the tank as you cannot make any direct connection to the high pressure fuel lines on the EFI models. The reduced fuel mileage associated with a trike warrants a look at a reserve source of fuel for longer range, more so with those having 5-gallon tanks.<br />
<br />
I have experimented with various tanks and delivery systems for quite some time and have a system that works for me.

It's custom-made and some fuel-line and tank plumbing is required, but nothing that will damage or alter the stock fuel delivery components on the bike. I will be happy to share my design and help anyone considering the addition of an auxiliary fuel tank. My 1.5 gallons of reserve fuel has already came in real handy riding with my 2-wheel buddies sporting 6-gallon tanks and getting 40-plus mpg.</div>

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[katfish16]

I like the idea of extra fuel, but by the time I need fuel I need to get off the trike anyway. with 2 bad knees, I have to move them and stretch them..I know some people can ride all day if they had the fuel I am not one of those people.... I envy those who can...
That is very nice of U to offer and share ur information, that is what makes this board so great we can all share what we know..
Sorry I don't know anything

 

[1550vt]

Ben...you don't mess with my wife's trunk space and yes...I have figured that out and use an electric fuel pump. I use a pump that can also be used to replace my high pressure pump in the tank if it were to go out in the middle of nowhere. I can swap two connections without ever going down in the gas tank.

Come on in Wizard...I accidentally left my door open. Tell you what you do, purchase another one of those hats and the next time your are stopped on the roadside out of gas...you will know what to do with both of them.

I have to tell you this story. We left Great Falls one bright morning and decided to go out across no-mans-land to wind up down around Billings somewhere. Things were going our way and we got gas around 80-miles out. We then passed town, after town, after town with plenty of gas stations, but all the pumps were wrapped-up in plastic...as in closed. We all somehow made it to a small convenience store (the only one on the reservation) and all they had was like 83 octane or something. The line of vehicles reached all way out in the street, but we were lucky enough to get some of that watered down junk.

Normally, if you stick to the interstate and highly traveled roads, you can find gas every 100 miles or so...unless it happens to be that fateful September 11th., or a hurricane blowing in off the gulf coast. If you ride with my bunch, you better have a 200-plus range just in case.

 

[ben721364]

<b>"Ben...you don't mess with my wife's trunk space and yes...I have figured that out and use an electric fuel pump."<br />
</b> I responded to a post indicating belief that auxiliary tanks come at the extent of trunk space. I said, "<u>I don't know that "space" considerations are the reason that some trike kit manufacturers do not offer auxiliary fuel tanks</u>. Some of the kits with smaller trunks are offered with auxiliary tanks. Likewise, some trike kits do have larger trunk capacity without as opposed to with auxiliary tanks. My point is that <u>there is no hard and fast rule.</u> Likewise some trike kits use pumps to transfer fuel and some do not. Sorry for the confusion. <br />
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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>1550vt</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=18561#post18561" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">Ben...you don't mess with my wife's trunk space and yes...I have figured that out and use an electric fuel pump. I use a pump that can also be used to replace my high pressure pump in the tank if it were to go out in the middle of nowhere. I can swap two connections without ever going down in the gas tank.<br />
<br />
Come on in Wizard...I accidentally left my door open. Tell you what you do, purchase another one of those hats and the next time your are stopped on the roadside out of gas...you will know what to do with both of them.<br />
<br />
I have to tell you this story.

We left Great Falls one bright morning and decided to go out across no-mans-land to wind up down around Billings somewhere. Things were going our way and we got gas around 80-miles out. We then passed town, after town, after town with plenty of gas stations, but all the pumps were wrapped-up in plastic...as in closed. We all somehow made it to a small convenience store (the only one on the reservation) and all they had was like 83 octane or something. The line of vehicles reached all way out in the street, but we were lucky enough to get some of that watered down junk.<br />
<br />
Normally, if you stick to the interstate and highly traveled roads, you can find gas every 100 miles or so...unless it happens to be that fateful September 11th., or a hurricane blowing in off the gulf coast. If you ride with my bunch, you better have a 200-plus range just in case.</div>

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[Hawgdog]

I have a 2 gal auxillary tank on my 2004 Road King trike conversion, with an electrically operated pump. The push button start switch is mounted opposite the odometer reset button on the ignition key switch panel, on top of the tank. When my reserve light goes on, I push the fuel switch, and the 2 gallons is pumped (takes approx. 4 min) into the main tank. This can be done "on the fly" and gives me a range of approx 250 miles. My bladder usually gives out before I can ever reach that distance! The tank is custom. It is mounted behind the passenger seat, and below the tour box. The system is fantastic, and I have few worries about running out of gas.

 

[BlueTrinity]

I'm with you Steve...I'm not competing for any Iron Butt awards. If any of my group wants to ride 200 mile segments, more power to 'em. I'll be back there around the century mark, chatting with some local while the kinks work out of the knees and legs. And if I had that extra cup of Joe this morning, I may have even stopped before that.

 

[Gorilla]

I added a six gallon HD tank to my 07. At 32 to 35 MPG that is plenty far enough. 150 to 180 and it's time to stop for me.

 

[1550vt]

I could not put mine behind my seat, because my wife takes up that spot. I used a 2-gallon kart-tank inside the tour pack and it still allows her a bit of space to stuff her junk in. You have to plumb it very carefully, have one with a good air-tight seal and also vent it to the outside. I can just yank it out if I don't need it. I agree with all you folks that have 100-mile kidneys and I stop at 100-125 mile intervals if I can and sometimes in places where I shouldn't.....if you get my point.

I helped a guy make one from a small aluminum beer keg once and we mounted it on his sissy-bar. Now that was a novelty and it drew a crowd wherever he stopped.

 

[bigdave]

I have a Roadsmith conversion. I wouldn't be without an aux tank. When we ride on Saturday with a bunch of other riders we don't mess with fuel at all. I fill up the night before and then usually don't need to fill up until we return home. We can stop at the good places to stop such as scenic overlooks. Just me opinion.
Dave P.

 

[1550vt]

Hannigan also offers one and there may be several others. The TG and many other smaller bodied conversions just don't have the room under the body to install a molded unit like some of the trikes that have a longer wheel-base. GMan has some for trikes other than a Harley frame model. With a Harley, we are pretty much stuck with something attached to the exterior or in the trunk and then we are faced with fume issues. Absolutely though...if I had one only getting 25-mpg with a 6-gallon tank, I'd have to do something. I have seen 7-gallon over sized tanks on some Harley cruisers, but I have never managed to find any source for them. If one could be had for these EFI models, I bet it would carry a $1000 price tag.

If you pull a trailer...that would be the perfect place for one. Just stick it on the trailer and plumb it up and install a pump. A trailer-hitch mount would also work if it did not scare you to death to have a few gallons of gas back there for somebody to run into, but if you put one in the trunk or rear of the trike anywhere...you are not any better off.

 

[Yogisan]

GMan Industries has a 2.5 gallon aux tank for the Lehman Jackal. Good thing too as the stock under-seat tank is only 3.7 gallon. The tank mounts on the frame rails outside the bottom front edge of the trunk. The system uses a fuel pump to get the gas to the main tank via the vent port on the fuel filler. When the "reserve" light flashes you toggle the fill switch and the fuel gets transferred in about 5 minutes or less on-the-fly.

If you go to the GMan site under auxilliary fuel tanks you can pull up the installation instructions for the tank. I installed mine a little over a year ago and it's been a boon to humanity from my perspective. Now I get to stop and fuel up when the "big boys" do instread of having my own "special" fuel stop.

Who knows, maybe a little hardware/plumbing work might make the tank adaptable to other trikes.