fuel tank

[larry cook]

back to where the most help is. been on the massye board for awhile since i purchased a 1085. some help there but not as nice of a crowd guaranteed. have a question on a fuel tank, it does not have a stand with it but is in good condition. by that i mean it is painted (real faded) and has no peeling. overall i would say that has no apparent rust on the outside. it is a 500 gallon tank. the fill spout is capped and on the discharge side the spout has also been capped. tank is probably 20 years old from membering when i first saw it. question is this, what is this tank worth? i dont really need it, of course it would be handy to have as i could use it. sorry for the length of post.
all comments are welcome
thanks
larry cook

 

[awhtx]

I have seen quite a few of the overhead fuel tanks sell at auction in my area over the past several years and they seldom sell for more than $100-$150 and that includes the stand and a hose. In fact they sell so cheap that I have been tempted to buy one myself but I don't use that much fuel so I doubt that a oil and gas distributor would even be willing to come out and fill it up. It's easier to just haul it myself in 5 gallon cans.

 

[larry cook]

thanks for the post. i really am in same boat, my fuel usage is not that much. i have had no problem just using 5 gallon cans, i think i can get this tank for around $50.00. i was thinking about reselling it or even making a barbeque pit out of it.
thanks
larry cook

 

[RodinNS]

I think you're about right on it's worth. You've got to consider that steel tanks rust, and they rust from the inside due to water accumulation from condensation.
If the bottom of it seems sound when you rap it with a hammer it's probably OK to use. Otherwise it's a fire pit.

Another possibility if you want a fuel tank is an old saddle tank of a tractor/truck. Those are generally 100 or 150 gal. They make a nice portable to stick in the half ton if the law leaves you alone about that sort of thing. That's all I've been using the last 2 years now. I buy my fuel at a local cardlock and haul it myself when I'm making a trip to town anyway.
Lately I've just been leaving it on a little utility trailer so it's straped on and ready to go whenever I hitch the trailer...
Those saddle tanks are mostly all aluminum today and can be had pretty cheap at a truck salvage yard. There's not a lot of call for them...

Rod

 

[Hal --WA]

I would sure keep that little utility trailer out of sight and secured when you aren't using it. It might just disappear some time! But it sure sounds like a handy idea. Just about impossible to get small amounts of fuel delivered any more around here. Good luck!

 

[larry cook]

thanks for the post. i think i will keep an eye out for an aluminum tank, there is a truck salvage yard not to far from here. i already have a spare little trailer thats just sitting in the corner of a shed, would be just right for hauling a tank. contacted the owner of the 500 gallon and made arrangements to go look at the tank a little closer tomorrow. asked her what she wanted and she said she figured it was worth $20.00 to $30.00 as she inherited it with the tractor i bought from her.
larry cook

 

[Brian Allen]

larry cook
Where I live they are refusing to refill tanks without a spill berm.
You should check with (your fuel delivery of choice) for requirements before you buy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Brian

 

[Chris in SK]

Larry, I would be cautious with this tank. Here bigger tanks are difficult to give away, unless they are in real good shape, and a 500 gal really needs a stand. It will have some water from condensation, even if it has been sealed, so will be rusty inside. If you put 500 gals in it and it starts to weep, you have a problem. You may be buying 20 or 30 gallons of old fuel that will have to be disposed. It will be difficult to clean out. Will you ever need that capacity?
I get by with a couple of steel dome shaped slip tanks that fit in a truck bed. One is 90 imp. gals, the other is 120 gals. This helps keeping summer and winter fuel separate. These can be had reasonably cheaply it farm auctions, with manual or electric pumps. They are easy to clean out, and are very robust and versatile. They have hooks for lifting with FEL, but can be dragged in and out of the truck when empty. I usually leave mine on pallets at the same height as the truck bed. If I’m to busy to pick up fuel, my bulk supplier will come out and fill the slip tanks and will even fill my combine tank. What ever you decide, put a filter on the tank outlet.
Chris

 

[3000OH]

Re: fire pit. Remember all the usual cautions about cutting into old fuel tanks. Don"t assume that old vapors can"t put up a whuff when hit with a spark.