Gas trailer

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ateamer

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ateamer
I have the chance to get a fuel trailer for our hangar (airpark), but the tank needs to be replaced. The current tank is rectangular steel, painted white, 100 gallons. It’s rusted on the interior bottom.

Every place that sells the same tank states that it is for combustibles (diesel) and not for flammables (gasoline). The only gasoline tanks I can find are aluminum. Is this to prevent sparking, or for corrosion control?

Several fellow pilots have identical steel tanks and have never had a problem. My gut feeling is to get the approved one and have peace of mind for the extra $300.
 
ateamer said:
I have the chance to get a fuel trailer for our hangar (airpark), but the tank needs to be replaced. The current tank is rectangular steel, painted white, 100 gallons. It’s rusted on the interior bottom.

Every place that sells the same tank states that it is for combustibles (diesel) and not for flammables (gasoline). The only gasoline tanks I can find are aluminum. Is this to prevent sparking, or for corrosion control?

Several fellow pilots have identical steel tanks and have never had a problem. My gut feeling is to get the approved one and have peace of mind for the extra $300.
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I doubt you’d be able to talk to someone that “had a problem” with a steel tank holding gasoline.

Seriously though, you do know a guy that had a problem with a steel tank. The guy trying to sell you the trailer with the corroded tank on it.
 
The lawyers made them put the "diesel only" signs on them. The tank in your car is probably steel and you don't have a problem with that do you?

When you get the trailer, hang a piece of braided steel down to contact the ground. Make sure it is always grounded to the plane when in use and if you can park it near grass, get a grounding rod.
 
ateamer said:
but the tank needs to be replaced.
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Do you need to move the trailer on public roads at all? Or will it sit by your hangar? Regardless $300 doesn't seem like a deal breaket. But for FYI my bulk fuel tanks were either steel or stainless.
 
I have a 95 gallon aluminum tank in my truck permited and labeled for flammables. It looks just like all of the others labeled 'combustible' but it has a welded placard with the USDOT flammables permit. I use it to haul avgas from the cheapest local airport to the airport that I keep my plane at. The airport manager has eyeballed it two or three times but there is not much he can do as the FAA says that I can fuel my own airplane. There are two outfits nationally that make and sell flammable permitted tanks. One is out of Kalifornia and the other is out of Florida.
This is the one that I have. Saves me about $1000/year.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200306753_200306753
 
Bell206 said:
Do you need to move the trailer on public roads at all? Or will it sit by your hangar? Regardless $300 doesn't seem like a deal breaket. But for FYI my bulk fuel tanks were either steel or stainless.
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It’ll stay at our hangar. We live in an airpark, and the tanker truck comes out when needed. I’m leaning toward buying a new aluminum tank because if I get a steel one, it’ll be in my mind on every flight.

And just to be clear, the guy who’s offering the trailer to me told me about the corrosion and was up front about it.
 
cgrab said:
The lawyers made them put the "diesel only" signs on them. The tank in your car is probably steel and you don't have a problem with that do you?

When you get the trailer, hang a piece of braided steel down to contact the ground. Make sure it is always grounded to the plane when in use and if you can park it near grass, get a grounding rod.
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The tank in your car might be plastic.

https://www.gastankdepot.com/plastic-gas-tanks.html
 
Morgan3830 has the right solution.

$300 may be cheaper insurance than you realize. Also, your cheaper source may refuse to deliver into an illegal tank.

The tanks in cars has been lead plated steel for eons. That changed with non leaded gas, and most tanks are plastic now.

Steel is going to rust, and if you are going to move the trailer before fueling, it will stir up and get into your aircraft tanks.

A good tank has two exit pipes, one from the very bottom, to drain water periodically, the other an inch or two higher, to flow water free fuel. As noted, that delivery pipe will feed you sediment and rust flakes if the trailer is recently moved. The outlet should have a good filter, such as modern filling stations have in their hoses.

Be sure to install a ground cable on your trailer, to connect to the plane BEFORE getting the hose out, and also use it wherever you buy your gas. Missing that step may ruin your day and airplane. I have seen that one, and the initial explosion was trivial, but ruptured the sheet metal tank, and the rapid fuel spill produced a fire that drove everyone away.
 
Good point about the grounding. I’ll go and check mine today.
 
ateamer said:
I’m leaning toward buying a new aluminum tank
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If not going on the road aluminum will work. The reason if trailer on road is federal/local laws on gasoline transport and in some cases issues with supplier. But you may inquire with your supplier if they have any requirements on tank. I never had a problem with steel tanks but then again I maintained them on a regular basis. Dont forget a good water filter on your pump.
 
Morgan3820 said:
I use it to haul avgas from the cheapest local airport to the airport that I keep my plane at.
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Be thankful your airport still allows non-aircraft refueling as there has been a trend to stop the practice especially a public owned airports. It's mosting a tax issue but some are due to user fees based per gallon of fuel and/or aircraft type/size. Before I retired had to get "reseller" permit to fill my avgas bulk tanks so the gov't got their share.
 
Bell206 said:
Be thankful your airport still allows non-aircraft refueling as there has been a trend to stop the practice especially a public owned airports. It's mosting a tax issue but some are due to user fees based per gallon of fuel and/or aircraft type/size. Before I retired had to get "reseller" permit to fill my avgas bulk tanks so the gov't got their share.
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Oh, they nibbled at the idea for a little while. I think that they realized that the administrative effort was more than the revenue was worth. $25/yr.
 
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I had a Fill Rite steel tank in my pickup bed for 20 years. Under 120 gallons isn't regulated by DOT. Commercial gas transport tanks are usually double wall and vented. The diesel tanks are single wall and aren't vented. I drilled a 3/16" hole in the cap to allow for expansion and contraction, and gasoline requires you to vent or the tank will puff up.

FWIW the corrosion shouldn't be a problem. It simply proves the tank had water in it. Remove any loose particles and don't worry about it. Rust isn't soluble in fuel and any water and/or particles will be removed by your water and particle filters. If you live where fuel tanks see condensation make sure you drain the tank once a year or so using the bottom drain to remove water. That's what it's there for.
 
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