making a diesel fuel caddy

[sirbuildalot]

I am looking to construct a barrel/jug to hold approx. 15-20 gallons of diesel. Something I can attach a pump to and pump into my tractors. Preferably with a hand crank pump that doesn't require a power source/battery. Large enough to fill my machines but able to be lifted into my pickup bed. 20 gallons of fuel would be around 160 lbs, plus the weight of the container and pump, so maybe 180 or 190 lbs. 15 gallons would be 40 or so lbs less. Both heavy, but still manageable. I also have the front forks if need be. I see "fuel caddies" at places like northern tool, but don't really want to spend 2 or 3 hundred dollars on one. Figured maybe someone here has made a cheaper homemade version.

 

[homemade]

I don’t understand why the diesel caddies are almost double the cost over the gas versions, but I can’t imagine there is much difference besides being yellow over red.

That being said, I would just buy a gas version and fill it with diesel. Maybe put a big fancy label on it that says diesel only.

When it comes to buying the materials, then the time to assemble. I think you’re money ahead on the gas one.

And one more thing. Buy a 30 gallon can and only fill it half way.

Good luck.

 

[rancher2]

Watch Craigslist I bought a 50 gallon with a pump that a farmer had out grown for $50.00 dollars. It was electric and I just used the battery on the tractor or what ever I was filling to power it up. I would just put it in the back of my pickup and if I only needed 15 or 20 gallons that is what I would get. When empty I stored it in my shed. When I out grew it a few years ago I sold it for a $100.00 and built a 200 gallon fuel trailer out of a old aluminum tank off a truck.

 

[Little Al]

Where I am you can buy 50 or100 litre approx 10/20 of US gallons for between €6/10 $10/15 they can be fitted with a "hand/draulic pump

 

[crowbuster]

55 gal drum with a hand pump

 

[dave_dj1]

15 gal plastic barrel with hand pump.
I see them all the time on CL for cheap. We have one with Kero in it for a trailer furnace in a garage. I store used motor oil in one as well.
https://albany.craigslist.org/grd/d/15-gallon-plastic-barrels-on/6575605426.html

 

[rarefish383]

I picked up a 30 gallon steel drum for $1 at an auction and bought a hand pump at Southern States. It's a rotary pump that cranks around, not up and down like an old water pump.

 

[sirbuildalot]

I bought a used 55 gallon cocoa drum and a 2 way rotary pump today from a Runnings store. I'll use that to put my waste oil in. I also ordered a 35 gallon gas caddy that also has a 2 way rotary pump, and a 8' hose from Amazon. It was $219, but had great reviews, metal construction, and will accept any type of fuel.

 

[sb47]

I used a 100 gal diamond plate aluminum fuel tanks from TS. I took it to my neighbor and had him weld a hose nipple down near the bottom and just use gravity to transfer the fuel. Pumps require electric power or hand cranking. Both can and will break down at some point.
Your only wanting 20/30 gallons worth, just use the standard 5 gal gas cans.

 

[CUCV]

I've got a 20 or 25 gallon gas caddy I'd sell reasonably. It's a gravity feed take like what you see at Northern.
I moved away from it as I wanted to move 20 gallons of diesel without always having to use my trucks. So I bought 2 10 gallon aluminum fuel cells, electric pump kit and mounted it inside an aluminum tool box that has a trailer hitch mount. Cost me about $300 and I can get diesel with the car, van or trucks.

 

[sirbuildalot]

Well,

When I got home from work the 35 gallon Arsken fuel caddy I ordered was sitting at my doorstep.





I went to the gas station and got about 26 gallons of diesel to try it out. It works pretty well. I was able to pump out the fuel in 2 or 3 minutes of cranking. I emptied it into my oil tank.

 

[sirbuildalot]

I forgot to mention, I am planning on buying or having two magnets made. One will say diesel fuel, and the other will say gasoline fuel. Whichever I have in the caddy, I'll put that magnet on the tank.

 

[sirbuildalot]

So I was talking to someone today, and he said a trace amount of diesel in a gas engine shouldn't be a big deal, maybe a little smoke, but a trace amount of gas in a diesel engine could be very bad.

I think I'll stick to only using it for diesel. I have a few 5 gallon jugs for gas.

 

[sb47]

So I was talking to someone today, and he said a trace amount of diesel in a gas engine shouldn't be a big deal, maybe a little smoke, but a trace amount of gas in a diesel engine could be very bad.

I think I'll stick to only using it for diesel. I have a few 5 gallon jugs for gas.

You should consider using the steel fuel caddy for gas and the plastic jugs for diesel.
The reason why? Gas can and will deteriorate in plastic cans, where diesel wont. Gas will evaporate in plastic cans, diesel wont.
I have tried storing gas in plastic cans and it's not ideal. Thats why I bought a aluminum tank, to store gas, not diesel.
Fill a plastic gas can with gas and mark a line with a sharpy and let it sit for a few weeks then check the fuel level. I guaranty it will lose fuel over a short time. Then do the same with a steel can. I already know the answer.

 

[sirbuildalot]

I see your point. My concern would be buying gas in larger quantities, is that it wont last because of the ethanol. I do treat my gas, but I usually only buy 10 gallons at a time.

 

[sb47]

I see your point. My concern would be buying gas in larger quantities, is that it wont last because of the ethanol. I do treat my gas, but I usually only buy 10 gallons at a time.

You can always put the gas in your car or truck if it's been sitting more then 3 months. I buy 100 gallons at a time and store it in my 100 gallon aluminum tank. If it's been sitting for a while I just put it in my truck and use it. You can store gas in a steel can for about 6 months without it going bad. If you store it in a plastic can it will not last as long. Your caddy looks to only holds 30/40 gallons tops. Thats not a lot of gas, maybe 1 or 2 tanks full in your truck.

 

[sirbuildalot]

The caddy holds 35 gallons, which would be almost 3 fill ups for my truck. Chevy S10. I thought the ethanol was what deteriorated the gas, not just the plastic. I know some of my tractors have plastic tanks, others have metal tanks.

 

[sb47]

The caddy holds 35 gallons, which would be almost 3 fill ups for my truck. Chevy S10. I thought the ethanol was what deteriorated the gas, not just the plastic. I know some of my tractors have plastic tanks, others have metal tanks.

Ethanol is alcohol, Alcohol absorbs moisture. The ethanol thats put in gas is what absorbes the moisture.
When storing fuel you need a container that is not porous and seals completely. Any air that transfers in and out of the air space in a gas can will introduce moisture. Sun light also kills gas. You need to store it in a light proof container.
Steel tanks that seal completely are best for storing gas. You want to keep it a cool dry place, away from sunlight.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

So I was talking to someone today, and he said a trace amount of diesel in a gas engine shouldn't be a big deal, maybe a little smoke, but a trace amount of gas in a diesel engine could be very bad.

I think I'll stick to only using it for diesel. I have a few 5 gallon jugs for gas.

It won't bother anything, though if you have need for both fuels, may be worth just having 2 of those. We have one laying around the shop, the UV ate away the gauge and hose fairly quickly (was kept outside though). Can't buy a new gauge that I've been able to find.

As far as gas only good for 6 months, I dunno. I've had OLD gas run just fine in a small engine. I bought a gen set that had 20+ yr old gas, somehow it ran on that stuff. I ended up dumping the tank as it was rusty, couldn't even get it to light in my burn barrel!

 

[sb47]

Alcohol was a trick the truckers use to use when there diesel fuel was contaminated with water. Diesel or gas will not blend with water, however it will blend with alcohol. Alcohol and gas will also blend. Alcohol is used as an emulsifier that causes fuel and water to blend together. The problem with ethanol blended fuels, is it is not as stable as fuel that does not have it. Many arguments can be made for why they started blending ethanol with gas, but now that they are, we have to deal with it. Any fuel that is to be stored is best kept in a steel container. I like aluminum because it wont rust when water gets into the tank and sits on the bottom. However with ethanol blended fuel, water will blend with the fuel instead of collecting on the bottom of the tank. The problem with ethanol blended fuel is it keeps absorbing moisture as its stored. Thats why it's important to store it in air tight containers. Ethanol fuels will also cause more varnish build up that coats carb parts causing issues.