GRX Second Spare Wheel & Increasing Fuel Capacity

[Clem]

It sounds like an idea with merit, but there is a proviso:

The tanks on my car have met up with ground and rocks on many occasions. If I were to use a glass-fibre tank, I think it would need substantial protective metalwork.

Without a doubt. The one advantage however is that fibreglass is probably easier to repair than a plastic tank and safer to repair than a metal tank that has had petrol in it.

[dieselfan]

Spoke to one of my buddies who imports aircraft kits. Says they have used many fibreglass fuel tanks, he says the only problem they have had is from Ethanol or Alcohol being mixed with the fuel. It eats the resin and the tanks have to be treated before hand or else major engine issues.

[Clem]

Anyone here ever tried a fuel bladder option?

[Peter Connan]

My concern with GRP is that it is not very flexible, it tends to crack when subjected to a point load.

This is not a concern for aircraft, but definitely is on the bottom of a 4x4. I would be hesitant to have a GRP tank as my only tank.

WRT the fuel eating the resin, I am sure if you treated it with SigmaGuard it should be OK?

Clem, the only vehicle application I know of for bladders is in racing car fuel cells, where it is not only enclosed in an aluminium box but also filled with foam.

[Clem]

Thank you Peter. That is the disadvantage of fibreglass – bash it hard and it cracks.

[Grant]

Clem,


Did you get hold of Northern Offroad ?

[Clem]

Clem,


Did you get hold of Northern Offroad ?

Hi Grant,

I eventually received an e-mail response from them with a quote attached. After thinking it over, I decided that the R 6000 - 7000 odd is better spent on a roofrack with two jerry cans or, come to that, a trailer with a few jerry can options. I do not like weight on top but the reality is that for that money I would only be getting an extra 40 L. It does not make terribly much sense in my world at this point.

[Clem]

Yeah, that can work.... but your Patrol, I think has 17 inch rims.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS !!!!!!!!....... If you buy an alloy rim (not sure if the steel rim has the same problem), make sure it fits the hub properly. On the Patrol hub there is a small lip that prevents some alloy rims from fitting flush against the back of the hub where the wheel nuts screw in. I have seen it where a front left wheel came off and did a bit of body damage, and that was done by a 4x4 fitment centre!! So don't trust anyone with it... check it for yourself. On mine a had 4 x 5mm wheel spacers made to ensure that the rims sit perfectly on the hub. Alternatively you can get the rim inner id made a mm or 2 larger. I preferred the spacer option so if by chance I needed to "borrow" a rim from another vehicle, I would not have to worry.

Pulled a front wheel this morning and taught my 8 year old boy how to safely change a wheel. Lip is definitely there on my car too.

[CarloG]

Having read the same comments i (due to lack of other resources) tried all the tyre fitment places for a 2nd rim. I did find a properly fitting 2nd spare for about R1200 from Tiger Wheel & tyre in fourways. Allow, not steel - bit fine for a second spare. Like other guys on the forum i carry some very large gators and a spare tube on really remote, rocky expeditions.

i fitted the northern offroad tank via Big Country 4x4. Despite the slightly crazy service and comments i got from Northern offroad, the tank worked like it said it would on the box. i,e, it held more fuel and didn't leak.

the one downside which was very inconveniant was that the fuel gauge never worked again. I'm installing another one in my second patrol and LA sport have said that they can do the installation giving me a fuel gauge reading. Did trips to all the SADC countries and never one bit of trouble with the tank however.

[Clem]

Having read the same comments i (due to lack of other resources) tried all the tyre fitment places for a 2nd rim. I did find a properly fitting 2nd spare for about R1200 from Tiger Wheel & tyre in fourways. Allow, not steel - bit fine for a second spare.

Thanks Carlo. Are you able to provde any details?