Long range 24 to 40 Gallon

[Markuson]

Right. Now do that ten times in one day, opening and closing the garage door each time. Pretty annoying.

I carry full sheets of plywood in my truck several times a year, and sometimes 16' pieces of trim. No way to latch the swing out if the rear glass isn't closed. I haven't seen a roof rack yet that will easily hold plywood/drywall sheets, and I'm not sure how I could safely get them down by myself.

Ahhhh... Your plot thickens…
You need your LC to also be a pickup truck.
I do understand that.
There are a few instances where I’d like to be able to carry something that requires my hatch to be open…but swing-outs can prevent that.

Carry on.

 

[KLF]

24 or 40 but you need a swing out so I'm really not following this as the area for the spare has already been lost.

When I was building my cabin I carried material on my flat arb roof rack, inside and left the swing-outs open, and in my M1102 cargo trailer.
(The swing outs can lock open).
The vehicle ramps are handy for unloading and loading off the roof.

Larger loads with many pallets of hardy board and drywall .. delivered.

I think a trailer is the best solution, yes. I do have a small one now but it just needs too much work, I might upgrade to something that can easily carry 4x8 sheets. I might also swap out the Miata for a pickup at some point.

I also thought about making it easy to remove the swingout, leave it off except for trips, run with no spare. Then there's the TPMS issue. Ugh...

I just really want a 24 tank.

 

[Fisher23]

The M1102 trailer has about 2700 lb capacity and cost usually $500. Add $300 if you want to match your LC wheels.

 

[Leelanau]

Might be worth me tioning…
I’ve timed myself *one handed and without hurrying* & opening and closing my Slee rear swing-outs takes this long:
—7 seconds to open both…
…10-11 seconds to close and latch them.

Add another 8 seconds to get the upper and lower liftgate open if using the power option! I usually have it disabled because its so slow!

 

[Tanglefoot]

With my LC and 40 gal tank, I would expect about an 800 mile range.

I remember the 1974 gasoline shortage… quite a bother where I lived in Arizona.

Went with bigger tank so as …. if the need arose…to take the LC and fetch invalided/stranded relatives.

 

[Markuson]

Add another 8 seconds to get the upper and lower liftgate open if using the power option! I usually have it disabled because its so slow!

Ya, I’ve never been envious of the power lift-gate for that reason. The swing-outs certainly add time, but the power lifts always seem especially painful to watch.

 

[TeCKis300]

Add another 8 seconds to get the upper and lower liftgate open if using the power option! I usually have it disabled because its so slow!

It's curious but the early generation powered hatches were both auto and manual at the same time. Want to open or close manually, just do so as if it were not powered. Seems like the later powered hatches, you can't just grab and open/close?

I like the powered hatch. At some point with lots of lift and too much tire, and perhaps standing in a low-point off-road, not being able to reach the hatch is real.

 

[Whiskerz]

Honestly I’d love to find one of the main tank 40 gal replacements

who makes this ?

 

[clrussell]

who makes this ?

I think long range used to. I’ve only ever seen one fir sale

 

[bwell]

I kind of dig the power rear hatch, but in reality it's like + 20 seconds of pure anguish. I have been debating the 24 or 40 gallon option for longer than I want to admit. I loath the swing out option and will go with a hard mount upright interior spare tire carrier when the time comes.

 

[Markuson]

I am really glad I went with the 40.

If you haven't smash up your resonator then you'll likely not hit the 40 tank as they are the same height.

You'll know your own mileage.

We get approx. range of 850 if overlanding, and approx 550 off road with a small off road trailer.
That is with leaving some fuel in there before filling up.

I fuel up a sams club it's about 30 cents less a gallon. (better than costco).
Saves approx. $18 a fill up.

What I love about my 24 (40 would be great too) is that I get to CHOOSE where and when I refuel on long trips (on or off road). This can be a massive savings over time because I can sail right past pricy areas. The Gas Buddy app is fantastic for on-the-fly fuel choices.

And about clearance…I agree. I removed my resonator long ago after smashing it regularly. However… I have never managed to even touch my 24 gallon armored tank. I would very happily run the 40 gallon with the extra plate welded to its base without fear of damage.… Although the 24 gallon is far more stealthy for smogging in a very picky state.

 

[Artie]

What I love about my 24 (40 would be great too) is that I get to CHOOSE where and when I refuel on long trips (on or off road). This can be a massive savings over time because I can sail right past pricy areas. The Gas Buddy app is fantastic for on-the-fly fuel choices.

This is such an easily overlooked benefit for both time and cost. We’re planning our second major cross country trip with our 40 gallon and we can focus on sleep stops and not gas stops. We have our boys trained to pee in the bushes and we carry a wrappon for anything solid. Having to stop for fuel every couple hours with kids can easily turn into a longer than necessary stops with poor food choices and cheap crap to play with.

 

[Tex68w]

It's curious but the early generation powered hatches were both auto and manual at the same time. Want to open or close manually, just do so as if it were not powered. Seems like the later powered hatches, you can't just grab and open/close?

I like the powered hatch. At some point with lots of lift and too much tire, and perhaps standing in a low-point off-road, not being able to reach the hatch is real.

My 2020 lets you bypass the electric lift by pressing the hatch open button twice then you can lift and close it manually.

 

[Leelanau]

My 2020 lets you bypass the electric lift by pressing the hatch open button twice then you can lift and close it manually.

What? The exterior button at the rear hatch? You are teaching this old dog new tricks! I thought the only bypass was the override switch in the front interior.

 

[FerrisBueller]

What? The exterior button at the rear hatch? You are teaching this old dog new tricks! I thought the only bypass was the override switch in the front interior.

Yup, press the rear button twice. Same on my 2018. Super convenient. Best of both worlds. (Don't wait between the two presses, or it will think you're trying to close it again and slam shut.)

 

[Tex68w]

What? The exterior button at the rear hatch? You are teaching this old dog new tricks! I thought the only bypass was the override switch in the front interior.

Haha, yea, I thought this was common knowledge?! I never use the bypass on/off button on the dash as I use the assisted opening quite often both by hand and from the remote. It's nice to be able to have the option. There's also a separate touch pad button to the right of the open switch that allows you to lock the truck as well.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Such a tough choice… 24 or 40. I spend hours thinking through with customers on which is right for them. I think there are a lot of variables and personal preferences that help someone make the right choice.

They are fun to install though, serious though, I really enjoy installing them. I’m sitting between a 12.5 and a 24 right now that I’m finishing up.

You can’t really go wrong with any of them. Just try and keep weight in mind, and how fast you’ll be carrying that weight. I like to fly down highways with only 10-20 gallons back there. Top off to max when I’m close to going off road and actually need the range. But, that’s if I’m not towing. Towing, depends on how many people are in your cruiser, and how much you have to already stop for them.

 

[Tex68w]

I think I'd settle on the 24 but I was saying 12.5 just a while back so who knows lol.

 

[TeCKis300]

I think I'd settle on the 24 but I was saying 12.5 just a while back so who knows lol.

The 12.5 sounds small. In practice, I find it has more utility than it would seem. It's sometimes hard to convey just how much.

Stock, I'd fill 18-22 gallons.

With the 12.5, I fill 30-34 gallons.

A comfortable 500 miles range adding much needed fueling flexibility.

That probably also depends on the rest of the truck. My rig on 35s regeared to stock is ~15MPG for highway travel. At least for my driving style - wife can see 16MPG. For a rig that has more aero loads with gearing impacts, that might be a factor pushing into the larger tanks.

 

[clrussell]

The 12.5 sounds small. In practice, I find it has more utility than it would seem. It's sometimes hard to convey just how much.

Stock, I'd fill 18-22 gallons.

With the 12.5, I fill 30-34 gallons.

A comfortable 500 miles range adding much needed fueling flexibility.

That probably also depends on the rest of the truck. My rig on 35s regeared to stock is ~15MPG for highway travel. At least for my driving style - wife can see 16MPG. For a rig that has more aero loads with gearing impacts, that might be a factor pushing into the larger tanks.

It’s crazy how much different the little bit of fuel mileage makes a difference.

Mine almost religiously gets 12.5 mpg with the lady driving it. Although it’s over geared really. Not a heavy build but not stock either.
4.88 on 33s, front bumper and skids/ sliders. Light rear bumper with a swing out, mostly empty single drawer in the back.

I’ve got 35s sitting here for it, it might actually help the fuel mileage

About 500 miles is the max I push ours. Which leaves me some reserve. I’ve ran 570 miles before but I don’t like running out of fuel so we don’t push it.