Long Range Tank for NG Pajero questions??

[Sammyboy]

Hi all, I wanted to ask a question about Long Range Fuel Tanks for the last of the older Pajeros (with rear coil springs). For my birthday next wednesday, I will be having a new replacement tank fitted (in the next month or two) and I have narrowed my decision down to one of two tanks. ARB LongRanger (146) or 4WD systems (132). I also want to by a new aftermarket or genuine fuel sender unit so the fuel readings can be a bit more accurate than they are now...

With the Long Ranger 146L tank, they have received alot of positive feedback from lots of different forums, but I want to know if this tank would fit ok with a 2.5" exhaust and some big bore 41mm shock absorbers. How do you reckon my Pajero would manage, fitted with aftermarket EFS coil springs, 146 litres of fuel, 5 passengers and fully loaded on a corregated outback road? Do you think the long range tank would effect my driveability? A guy from ARB said that he is not sure whether this tank would actually fit under my car because of the larger exhaust and (soon to be fitted) bigger shockers...

With the 132 litre 4WD Systems fuel tank, the guy over the phone says that he has absolutely no doubt that their fuel tank would fit with no troubles whatsoever. The feedback received from ather forum users is 50/50. Should I be concerned about the build quality or reliability of the 4WD Systems fuel tanks?

Worst case scenario would be about 15.3 L/100km or 6.5 km/L on a rough 4WD track. This would give me a range of 949km with Long Ranger or 858km with 4WD Systems.

Best case scenario would be 8.7 L/100km or 11.5 km/L on the open highway cruising at a sensible speed. This would give me a range of 1679km with Long Ranger or 1518km with 4WD Systems.

The price quoted to me for the Long Ranger (here in Melbourne where I live) is $1179 fitted, excluding the tank of fuel to fill it up. The price quoted for the 4WD Systems tank (in Adelaide, 9 hours drive away excluding fuel to get there) is $1149 fitted, excluding fuel fiil-up.

We have close friends in Adelaide and have a place to stay and don't have any problem with driving their if the 4WD Systems tank is worth it (that's if the Long Ranger tank doesn't fit under mine).

Any advice would be greatly apprieciated......... Thanks, Sam

[geopaj]

Long Ranger have a good reputation.

I wouldn't even consider driving from Melbourne to Adelaide to avoid buying a Long Ranger tank.

You could contact Long Ranger directly and ask if the tank will fit (by the way, I imagine it would)?

Have to also tried TJM?

Thinking "outside the square", have you considered a sub tank? I've got a 60L Brown Davis sub tank in my NL (which gives about 150L total).

I went this option because I didn't want to reduce a long range tank reducing my clearance (they hang down a lot and look vulnerable). My tank fits in front of the rear diff which is better for weight distribution too. I don't know how much they are though – I bought mine on Ebay second hand.

[Sammyboy]

Yeah, there are other manufacturers around. I used to own a 85L Brown Davis replacement tank for my NA shorty. Although I didn't have a problem with it then, I have heard some not so good stuff about them over the past year or two, however I may check them out and see what they have to offer. I would prefer a replacement tank as opposed to an auxiliary tank because my existing tank was damaged in Birdsville last year and I don't reckon it's particularly durable when it comes to the outback roads and tracks. If in a few years time, I decide that I want more fuel capacity I will definitely consider fitting an auxiliary tank. If there is any chance of these long range tanks affecting my clearance in rough conditions, then I wont fit it. Apparantly both manufacturers say that they wont affect clearance. 4WD Systems say that they have no doubt that the tank will fit, ARB staff were umming and arring abouth whether the tank would fit with my larger exhaust and the shockers that I want to fit. Thanks for your reply.

[Sammyboy]

Auxilliary tanks are around $1400 fitted and replacement tanks are about $1150 fitted...

[Guy]

My brother had a 4wd systems tank in his GQ, found fractures in the tank around the mounts while in Broome, they (4wd systems) wanted the tank back in adelaide to repair it ... So voided warranty and had it repaired in Broome ..as it was cheaper to buy another tank than have it couriered across the country.

[Sammyboy]

I have actually looked at other brands as well over the past few weeks. Long Range Automotive have a new replacement tank under development for the NG Pajero, which will be around 145-150 litres, and they've quoted me $1100 fitted which is better than any price quoted to me so far. Brown Davis do a 145 litre replacement tank which lowers the clearance by about 2" so that ISN'T an option. With 4WD Systems 132L tank, it would be crazy of me to get into the car and drive to Adelaide to have it fitted (even if I WANT an excuse to get into my car and go for a drive ). ARB assure me that the 146L Long Ranger tank WONT affect my clearance whatsoever, but are still almost $100 dearer to supply and fit. To me, I guess it's all about reputations. Long Ranger are pretty good (although I have heard a few not so good comments on them), but I don't think that I have heard anything bad about Long Range Automotive in Lilydale Vic.

[Havabigjuan]

so you didn't end up grabbing the 60series cruiser?

[Sammyboy]

so you didn't end up grabbing the 60series cruiser?

Nothing's changed with the 60- it's not officially mine, but I am free to use it whenever needed. Like I discussed in my other post, the 60 would definitely need alot more spent on it (including rust removal and probably a paint job), but my Paj (which my girlfriend doesn't want me to get rid of) only needs a little bit more done to it and it'll be finished.

I'd ultimately love the 60, but getting the 60 means getting rid of the Paj that's never let me down... I guess I will see what happens in the future...

[Sammyboy]

A few months have passed and I still have the Paj. I've now got the Ridepro 41mm shockers, front end has been re-built (eg idler + pitman arms, upper and lower bushes and upper control arms replaced) and i've also now got the Long Ranger tank fitted. Everybody assured me that it would not alter the clearences in any way, but when I got it back initially I was a bit annoyed as it looked as though it did lower my clearance, but now that I have had it for a fortnight, i'm ok with it now. The reasons that I thought that it lowered the clearance off road were because a) the tank is white and stands out like dogs balls and b) the tank is a hell of a lot bigger then the one that came out so it just 'looks' as though it lowers clearance! With my 146L Long Ranger tank, I have driven 1300km and have only just topped up a bit to last me until pay day tomorrow. The fuel was mainly used in stop-start city driving and a few trips down the freeway, so that's pretty impressive to me. If I filled up on the outskirts of Melbourne, I reckon that I could just about make it to Brisbane without stopping to fill up, now that's cool!