FJ Cruiser Auxiliary Fuel Tank --> INSTALLED - Page 22

Wombat · 07-14-2008, 03:00 PM

you know $1500.00 is A LOT of money... I'd rather save it and wait to buy a rear bumper that holds 10 gallons of gas and other well needed stuff.. yeah it might be around 1500 but serves more than 1 purpose

just my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions.

***uphill*** · 07-30-2008, 10:28 PM

For what it's worth, I put the MAF tank through its paces on approach angles in Moab, on the Ouray, Colorado trails and along the Kokopelli Trail.

For those of you concerned about approach angles, I never once dragged the tank. I dragged the hitch, I dragged the rear bumper, but the MAF tank came through like a champ without so much as a blemish on its aluminium skid.

Rose Garden Hill (Kokopelli Trail)

Tip-Over Challenge - Hell's Revenge (Moab)

Black Bear Trail (Teluride)

Every time the main got a bit low, I refueled with the flick of the switch.

For long range runs this is the only way to store fuel.

Teotwaki · 07-31-2008, 01:00 PM

Good stuff! The pictures and words are actually worth quite a bit because this is a real world test by a non-partisan driver

**Swingshiftworker** · 07-31-2008, 02:28 PM

I've taken my FJ w/the MAF aux tank on 2 trips in the past 2 weeks to Lake Juniper in Mt. Lassen National Park and the "Lost Coast" in Mendocino & Humboldt Counties. Just got back from the "Lost Coast" run, which included a drive through the Avenue of the (Redwood Tree) Giants, and will try to post a thread about that soon.

These runs didn't involve anything that would bring the approach angle of the MAF tank into play, because the unpaved roads were (with just a couple of exceptions) by and large pretty smooth dirt or gravel, but definitely justified my purchase in terms of increased driving range and peace of mind.

On the Lassen trip, I "topped" off in Red Bluff on my way to Lassen (about 200 miles) and then returned to SF via Susanville and Reno (about 400) without refilling again. On the Lost Coast trip, I went from SF to Ferndale via the Lost Coast trail over 2 days (345 miles with side trips) before refilling in Ferndale and got back to SF (280 miles) without refilling again. And, in each case, I still had about 15-20 gallons still left in both tanks combined.

Can't do that w/a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans!

BTW, I've also discovered that the MAF tank refills much easier if if you don't run it dry. I've been refilling it at about 1/2 full with the main at 1/4 or 1/2 full and I don't have as much trouble refilling it as before. I also refilled in Ferndale at a pump w/o any emissions control jacket on the nozzle and had absolutely NO problem refilling there at all. Just another reason by CA emission control standards suck!

Two-Sheds · 08-03-2008, 09:04 AM

Where do you plan to put your gauge? Do you REALLY need the gauge?---Never mind.

**Swingshiftworker** · 08-03-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Two-Sheds previously said:

Where do you plan to put your gauge? Do you REALLY need the gauge?---Never mind.

Yes, you need a guage. Here's a pic of where they put mine. The switch to the far right is for the aux fuel pump and the blue light goes on when the pump is on.

***uphill*** · 08-04-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Two-Sheds previously said:

Where do you plan to put your gauge? Do you REALLY need the gauge?---Never mind.

I haven't put a gauge in yet and I'm not sure that I will. It would be nice, I guess, but I usually run 1/4 of a tank down in the main and pump 1/4 of a tank. And so forth until I'm on my last 19 gallons in the main tank.

I agree with SWINGSHIFTWORKER that you're better off not running the MAF tank dry, however it's one of those toys you become used to and you wonder how you got by without it.

I have made a couple modifications to the FJ and this one remains at the top of the list.

nevadaesh · 08-28-2008, 01:50 PM

Woo Wooo, have an appointement for Sept. 5 to have my tank installed. Someone cancelled theirs so I'm the lucky one. Will have it on for DV III.

One question: Does MAF include the gauge? I guess I could call them.

**Swingshiftworker** · 08-28-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

nevadaesh previously said:

One question: Does MAF include the gauge? I guess I could call them.

Congrats! You'll definitely like it.

To answer your question, no it doesn't include the guage, sensor, fuse/relay, indcator light, switch or labor to put them in. MAF charged me $995 for the tank, $540 labor, $40 for the fuel level sensor, $45 for the analog guage, $15 for "shop supplies" (wire, connectors, etc.), $12 for the fuse/relay & $7 for the indicator light. They didn't charge me for the fuel pump switch, but that's probably included under "shop supplies" or the price of the tank w/the skid plate, fuel neck and pump. Total cost was $1735 (including $81 tax).

Uphill apparently doesn't use a guage for the aux tank, but I like knowing how much gas I have left in both tanks and really couldn't do w/o mine. It's only about $100 more for all of the fuel guage components and is money well spent IMHO.

See you in Lone Pine on 9/19.

amaintaylor · 08-31-2008, 02:26 PM

I would like this on my rig. Any idea how much longer the wait will be? I have been putting off installing a spare warn 8000lb winch in my warn rear bumper because I would really rather have another fuel cell in that area. I really would like this sooner rather than later....