07-14 38 Gallon Tank swap install thread

Yeah, I would still put the cross member in which we did, but just saying that 2 bolts per side should be fine.

 

Well w some extreme modifications and probably 3-5k $$ yes it could be... but honestly if it’s an issue I would do a bed mount transfer tank much easier and 1/5th the price

 

TransferFlow tanks are also available again. They slightly redesigned them and re-released due to demand.

 

meh do they still hang low
??

 

Are they lower than the 38? I have installed the 38 thanks to your thread! Thanks by the way. Was going to get transfer flow and then they discontinued them. Made the decision on the 38 and a month later the TF showed up again. A bit bummed about that but also wondering if the TF is overkill, and the weight must be insane! I have heard it hangs lower and I ondt use my truck quite like you but it does see heavy forest road use with some tough sections.

 

not sure about the drop below the frame, im sure it does, and the difference in useable gas meaning another maybe 5gal isnt worth the extra 120lbs ... i mean the factory 38 gal tank weighs like 30-40lbs max the TF weighs 150lbs+ screw that!

 

oh and your welcome!!

 

Yeah Thanks! I may drop you a PM as had a few issues with the cross member. I may redo it.

Yeah, I started getting pissed about the TF showing up after doing the 38 mod but lessening now as I think of the size and weight of that thing. Might be great for more of a Tow and Haul truck. I run the 38 with the RCI skid. I am sure that comes in much less weight wise than the TF.

Your truck is killer by the way!!!

 

Thanks absolutely shoot me a PM always available, and yeah the TF would still be 75lbs more than the 38 gal skid and tank plus gas weighs 50lbs more for the 8 extra gal.. and i dont think all that is worth the effort for the TF, thats my opinion of course... but i do agree for a straight road going tow rig, it would be great if you had a big toy hauler etc... then yeah go TF but for any offroading purpose the 38gal is a better option IMO

 

Awesome info and thanks for the parts #s! Can a Toyota dealership do the install if I don’t have the means to do it myself? Or would I be better off taking it to a custom shop?

 

I would most likely go to a trusted independent shop rather than a dealer.

 

this no way a dealership would even try the swap.

 

I made some good progress yesterday. I got the cross-member modified to fit in and the bolts that hold the fuel lines and the parking brake lever loosened up. Well almost all of them the one that is near the front of the tank will have to be worked on when the tank is out.
I had the cross-member in, but the fuel lines would stop it from going up. I might have to do some more trimming but won't know until the tank is out and located with the 38 gal one.
Looks like I need to drill 4 - 7/16 diameter holes and required bolts along with either stacked washers or metal to "shim" up the lines and p-brake lever.

One question. Does anyone know if the tank will fit under the frame rails and steps? I have the front elevated about 6". I didn't think about this until after I was done doing the prep work. I could raise the rear, but the cross-member is almost in the middle.

And the low fuel light came on today! Hope I can make it through the week without calling AAA

 

Why not? The drilling holes on frame part?

 

that among other things, ill put it this way, i recently had my truck in for some service, and the tech was like hey this bypass is in the way , i said ok just take the bolt out and swing it out of the way, he said no toyota wont let us only touching things that were how the truck came from the factory... they wont work on modified parts, before you say oh well its toyota parts... yeah i know but if they do a vin search your truck was not fitted w a 38 gal and they wont even try to attempt the swap.. not to mention to get the cross member in they have to modify the cross member with a notch. they dont have fabrication tools to do that, nor are they setup for that kind of work.. .just go find a shop who does offroad type stuff and they should be able to do it, if not this is absolutely something anyone can do in their driveway with basic tools and mechanical knowledge

 

Well what tha hell eh! Toyota won’t let us really lol. You would think it’s a shop and be able to do the work.

Well I called my dealer and explain my situation and they said yes they are able to do it. Maybe cause my case is different as yours, as I have the holes for the front crossmember on my frame.
We’ll see how it works out when I bring my truck in this week.

 

does Savage Fab offer the 38 GAL tank install service ?

 

yes i do install service for that.

 

well maybe they will. but i bet once they go to try and install the front cross member they will have issues and call you...

 

Lol hopefully not! I’ll tell them to figure it out! Haha

 

I agree with Bruce. I bet they don't know what they're getting into and once they have the truck apart they'll be giving you a call...

 

Well well well, got my LRA installed about 2 wks ago. Did it on my driveway with truck on drive-on ramps. I did it all by myself and let me tell ya, what a pain in da rear doing it alone. Two people would be better but alone was a challenge. Only hard part was trying to lift and hold the tank while being steady and connecting the gas lines.

Tank is heavier than plastic one but not that much more that you cant bench press it with one arm. I can pick it up and move it around....like a canoe. I cant say the same for the TF tank tho. The tank on the pallet only weighed 160 lbs. Without pallet id say its about 130 maybe less; that pallet is long and heavy.

I was originally going to have it linex'd but the local dealer was like; linex, altho great, is not totally going to keep out rust. IF rust does get between linex and tank...you wont know until its ate a hole in your tank. So i decided not go with linex or any other coating. I live in the salt-band so i guess im the guinea pig testing this tank (without some sort of coating) here in the salty roads of mn. It is powercoated by LRA and is made of aluminized steel, so i'll put that to the test.

For the rust issue alone and being here in the salt-lands...had i been able to land a good deal on the plastic 38 i woulda. But oh well, we shall see how it holds up. I gess the ozzy's hit up their salty beaches alot so our winters should be about same?

Regarding install, everything went smoothly of the tank itself. However, being in salt-land, the rear tank belly strap that has a welded nut broke off so that was a delay with a run to the harware store. Also my transmission jack saved my a$$. I was able to jack up the rear of tank a lil and tilt it while hooking up the gas lines from the passenger side. All gas and tip-over lines are ran up on top of the cross-members, so dont just start connecting lines before installing under truck.

So far ive only filled it up with 35 gal. Had to disconnect the neg battery so truck has to re-learn driving and gas consumption all over again.

Going on a 4hr (one-way) fishing trip towing bote, gear, and bodies this weekend, will report back on how it goes.

Did not take any pics wile installing, as i was in a mad rush to get this thing done and doing so alone.

Here are some pics to please your viewing pleasures...(because wats a post like this widdout pics rite?)


LRA next to the puny 26 stocker:




Stocker at about level with nerf bar:




LRA at about level widd da nerf bar:



Down, looking up at the LRA:




LRA from da rear:




LRA from da pumpkin:




LRA from da front:




A stock 38 i took a snap of at the local toyo dealer:





Thank you for reading my book.

 

looks pretty low profile. but yeah it's gonna be put to the test vs rust

 

So my dealer called me....

 

And ....

 

Hate to say it but you where right! He didn’t even attempt to do it, like you said he doesn’t have the fabrication tools to do it.
My truck was getting some work done to it, didn’t hurt to ask to do it I guess. Plan B it is. Lol

 

What's plan B? To sell me the tank? I'll pay double what you did. Or triple if it's full.

 

I can sell you my 100L tank when I install the new one lol.

 

Only if it's full.