Aux Tank Experience? (1 Viewer)

[orangefj45]

Yes it is.
I just picked up the Land Cruiser yesterday and am driving to northern Utah.
I filled up the aux tank and only got a red light.
When I push the button , the red light blinks and I get an amber light on top. After the two minutes there is a beep and it stops.
I will refill the auxiliary tank when I get to Moab and it's below half.

Thanks fir the reply. The orange LED illuminates anytime the fuel pump is active ( transferring fuel ).
please keep us updated, I believe you have my cell number and you’re welcome to get a hold of me anytime via email Georg@cruiserbrothers.com or calling the shop 209-475-8808

Georg
Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

 

[mep1811]

I haven’t posted much on this thread but here’s the short story;

@wardharris and myself got into the tank business with LRA about 3 years ago; taking over as their US partners at that time.
One of the first tanks we brought to the US market ( requiring modifications ) was the aux tank ( 12.5 gallon for @indycole ) for the 200-series.
All the prototype and R&D work has been done here at my shop, Valley Hybrids. We’ve been installing the LRA tanks since I started the business 15 years ago.
We’ve also worked on a number of other US market tanks including the GX470, FJC, Tacoma, Sprinter, JK, ..... we’re doing the first GX460/5th gen 4-Runner next week and the first Gladiator in 2 weeks.
We have also installed close to 30 other 200-series tanks here in the last couple of years, in all 3 sizes; 12.5 as well as 24 and 40 gallon units. Most of them as supplied by LRA and a few with our “severe duty” bottom skid plate.
Every single tank we’ve installed along with 100% of the components supplied in the LRA kit including brackets, fittings, hoses, fuel pumps and breathers.
So if anybody has any tech questions or converses, please feel free to reach out to me via email at:
Georg@cruiserbrothers.com

happy to help!

Georg
Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

Thanks .
I'm loving the extra range this tank gives me

 

[orangefj45]

We installed an LRA 40-gallon aux tank and Kaymar bumper supplied by @wardharris in this TX 2020 heritage edition 2 weeks ago.
Vehicle has been shipped back to the owner who is super happy with the upgrades.
Georg
Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

 

[orangefj45]

And this 2018 just left our shop yesterday after installing another LRA 40-gallon aux tank along with a Kaymar rear bumper from @wardharris
The customer also requested an OME BP51 kit along with a dual battery setup ( Odyssey ), Redarc kit and ARB dual compressor so we got a hold of our friends at @sleeoffroad who supplied the secondary battery mount along with the brackets for the Redarc and ARB compressor.

Whenever we install an LRA aux tank, we take the vehicle to the local gas station and fill the aux tank to 50% capacity, then drive the vehicle until the proper fuel level is displayed, then transfer roughly 5 gallons. After that, the vehicle is brought back into the shop for a final inspection to ensure there are no fuel or vacuum leaks or other issues. Then and ONLY then we let them go back home

Georg
Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

 

[mep1811]

On our first trip with the aux tank and other mods.

 

[BIC JET]

George,
I just sent a quote request over. I am in Dallas and would like to know if you have anyone here in Dallas, or even Texas with experience on installing the tanks. I could probably do it but am buried in finishing up engine and trans upgrade in my '66 Chevy stepside pickup. Anyone you can suggest would be helpful , bnot really pumped about dropping an extra $2000 on shipping charges.

 

[TeCKis300]

Since I've started this thread, it's almost been a full year with my 12.5 gallon LRA aux tank.

On a road trip as I type this (wife driving a leg). Through a large rainstorm, and lots of holiday travelers, backing up the lines at rest and fuel stops.

Where this upgrade earns its keep - San Diego to Sacramento, 500 miles, on a single tank.

I filled a couple days ago at discounted Costco prices getting ready for this trip. Avoiding all fuel stops. Avoiding getting out and dealing with the rain. Just one rest stop at our choice for bathroom and some drinks.

If you're on the fence, do it! Even the baby tank. Best mod ever!

 

[orangefj45]

George,
I just sent a quote request over. I am in Dallas and would like to know if you have anyone here in Dallas, or even Texas with experience on installing the tanks. I could probably do it but am buried in finishing up engine and trans upgrade in my '66 Chevy stepside pickup. Anyone you can suggest would be helpful , bnot really pumped about dropping an extra $2000 on shipping charges.

Will respond, and we do have a couple of partner shops in the DFW area.
Georg @ Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America
@wardharris

 

[slipkid13]

Can someone who paid to have the tank installed share what the total cost of the tank and labor was? I am looking at the 12.5 because I don't want to relocate the spare.

 

[orangefj45]

Can someone who paid to have the tank installed share what the total cost of the tank and labor was? I am looking at the 12.5 because I don't want to relocate the spare.

You’ll get different quotes from different shops depending on their hourly or flat rate for the installation.
It takes an experienced mechanic roughly 8 hours to install a 200-series aux tank.
Our labor rate at Valley Hybrids is $145/hour but we flat rate this job at $1250.
Hope that helps.
Georg @ Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

 

[slipkid13]

You’ll get different quotes from different shops depending on their hourly or flat rate for the installation.
It takes an experienced mechanic roughly 8 hours to install a 200-series aux tank.
Our labor rate at Valley Hybrids is $145/hour but we flat rate this job at $1250.
Hope that helps.
Georg @ Valley Hybrids, Cruiser Brothers & Long Range America

Thanks much!

 

[BIC JET]

Thanks much!

Yes that is very helpful.

 

[BIC JET]

One other question, with the 12.5 gallon tank, does the spare tire mounting bracket just get lowered and reinstalled right back where it was?

 

[Fisher23]

Yes it is.
I just picked up the Land Cruiser yesterday and am driving to northern Utah.
I filled up the aux tank and only got a red light.
When I push the button , the red light blinks and I get an amber light on top. After the two minutes there is a beep and it stops.
I will refill the auxiliary tank when I get to Moab and it's below half.

The Red light means it thinks the AUX fuel tank is empty.
When you fill up you should have 4 green lights and no red light. Each green is for 1/4 tank.
The orange light means the pump is running.

So this means it is not detecting the correct fuel level in the aux tank.
When the red light turns on the pump default is pump for 2 minutes. You can adjust this default to 2, 3, or 4 minutes.
It turns off to not burn out the pump pumping air. The pump uses fuel to cool the pump.

It is not going to fix it self. You need to get the fuel sending wire on the aux tank correctly hooked up to the correct button switch wire. Then the green lights should come on and indicate the aux fuel tank level.

The pump makes a different sound when not pumping fuel.

Hope that helps.

 

[mep1811]

The Red light means it thinks the AUX fuel tank is empty.
When you fill up you should have 4 green lights and no red light. Each green is for 1/4 tank.
The orange light means the pump is running.

So this means it is not detecting the correct fuel level in the aux tank.
When the red light turns on the pump default is pump for 2 minutes. You can adjust this default to 2, 3, or 4 minutes.
It turns off to not burn out the pump pumping air. The pump uses fuel to cool the pump.

It is not going to fix it self. You need to get the fuel sending wire on the aux tank correctly hooked up to the correct button switch wire. Then the green lights should come on and indicate the aux fuel tank level.

The pump makes a different sound when not pumping fuel.

Hope that helps.

Thanks.

The pump does transfer gas. I was able to fill my main tank twice by pressing the button every two minutes. I will share this with my shop when I get back from my trip. I figure 36 gallons . I'll know once I fill up in the morning.

 

[TeCKis300]

One other question, with the 12.5 gallon tank, does the spare tire mounting bracket just get lowered and reinstalled right back where it was?

The spare mounting bracket gets mounted about 1" lower on the frame rails versus the original position. This does push the spare tire down a bit lower.

 

[Fisher23]

Thanks.

The pump does transfer gas. I was able to fill my main tank twice by pressing the button every two minutes. I will share this with my shop when I get back from my trip. I figure 36 gallons . I'll know once I fill up in the morning.

The Aux fuel tank sender wire needs to attach to the white wire on the button (aka PG210). There is also a white wire with a very thin blank line and that one is not used in most installations.

If you can Please let me know how much usable fuel you are getting? I have a 40 myself.


If there is a Tech on here reading this .. I also have some questions.
On the OEM fuel tank sender there are 3 wires, black, white, green. The green changes to yellow when it gets up to the cluster.
Which one of these 3 would be the sending wire for the OEM tank? All three of these wires come from the sending unit.
What is the range in voltage for the OEM sending wire for what levels? Is it less than 1 volt for empty and 4+ volts for full?
Where can I find the specs for this sender? I looked through the PDF file but that is just a maze.
This info may allow auto refilling.

 

[mep1811]

I performed two on the road fills to the main tank .
I put in 38.4 gallons this morning.

I drove 588 miles. I still had enough gas in the main tank to go about another hundred miles.

 

[Fisher23]

Cool .. I'll be using mine in a few days as we head up into the mountains for New years.

 

[CarcaineProblems]

I got a quote from Ward for about $1800 for the small tank (not including shipping).

Georg says $1250 for install

Assuming no shipping charges to Georg, and I drive out there, this is $3k just to start. And I’d need a bumper for any tank size other than the smallest one- and I’m assuming it would cost more than that $1800 estimate. $4k total? $4500 with the cost of the trip?

This may take some rationalizing in my head to make it work