securing RCI fuel cell

[Spartacus]

i have purchased a 17 gallon RCI cell for my ute, in order to mount it i need
to 'strap' it down as the tabs that are welded to it are locating tabs

I have made a base for it to sit on tha same size as the cell, but i want to know:
What to make the tie downs out of?
How tight the straps are over teh cell?

thanks - mull

[DamTriton]

I know a lot of vehicles have OE feul tanks that are strapped in place and the norm seems to be about 20mm flat sheet, reasonably light gauge ("tin can" gauge) steel or 2mm thick aluminium, with 30mm wide x 3mmthick dense rubber under the contact points to the tank. Usually about 3 or 4 straps to secure the tank. Tension them up until there is a decent amount of bite into the rubber.

[rowenb]

I'd be using more than tin can guage steel and wouldn't really look at ally straps. Something like 40x3 steel flat bar and 50x3 rubber would be better because its a fuel tank and you don't want it moving around or able to tear off. But i've never stapped a tank i've always welded tabs or folded a lip so it can sit on rubber blocks and be bolted.

[DamTriton]

Clarification - I was referring to OE tanks...

[SIMMO84]

Maybe look at the straps that hold truck fuel tanks on. They come in various lengths and can get the rubber that suits at the same time. Most truck shops have them in stock.

[sloshy]

You said it has "welded" tabs so I'm assuming its an alloy one. I got one of these and its just bolted using those tabs, never had a problem. You only have to strap the plastic fuel cells down.

[Spartacus]

yes its an alloy cell with four tabs.

It arrived with a instruction page saying tabs were for locating only.
Its all thin aluminium - so got me thinkin i had to strap it down as well

[TWISTY]

Got the same instructions with my RCI tank. The alloy tabs welded to the tank are to be used as locator tabs only.

Heres some pics of the cradle that Brooksy built for mine. Fuel cell staps down to the crade, then the cradle bolts to the chassis. Not sure on the exact material sizes, but i think it was 20mmx3mm steel for the actual straos. We put some rubber under each strap, and also where the underneath the cell where it sits on the cradle.







Here a pic of one I found on pirate when looking for ideas on how to do mine.

[Spartacus]

Got the same instructions with my RCI tank. The alloy tabs welded to the tank are to be used as locator tabs only.

Heres some pics of the cradle that Brooksy built for mine. Fuel cell staps down to the crade, then the cradle bolts to the chassis. Not sure on the exact material sizes, but i think it was 20mmx3mm steel for the actual straos. We put some rubber under each strap, and also where the underneath the cell where it sits on the cradle.







Here a pic of one I found on pirate when looking for ideas on how to do mine.

thanks for the pics twisty.

i have built a base for it to sit on and bolt to but figured straps would be ideal to stop bouncing as the tabs kinda suck IMO

[Josh n Kat]

I like the speed holes