[copano]

Now that my back has healed I'm mounting my 105 gallon inbed tank.

Those of you that have done this before do you space the tank back 4" or so from the front bed wall so you can drop the bolts in the front mounting tabs?

I'd like to mount the tank up against the front bed wall so as to loose as little cargo space as possible but I don't see how I'd get the bolts in unless I had my wife drive the truck over my arm to flatten it some.

Not sure I'd be too keen on the idea of just bolting down the rear of the tank alone.
But any ideas are welcome.

 

[JOAT]

I haven't done one but is there any way to secure the bolts in the tabs? You could maybe tack weld them and manuever them into the holes in the bed, tho it would probably be awkward with that size tank...

 

[copano]

It could be done that way, would be easier if I pulled the topper off though...
But I just checked to see if my "magic fingers" gripper was long enough and it is, so I should be able to get it to within 1/2" of the bed wall.

 

[TonyBia]

I have run a custom aluminum tank in my bed with just the rear monting tabs and it has been fine. Just make sure the tabs are nice and thick and up to taking the weight of a full tank. I have run mine with for over 140,000 miles,including a trailer flip over and have not had any prob with the tank.

Also another idea is to drill the holes in the front of the tank tab and correspond those holes with the ones you have in the bed to line up correctly. Then just weld a short arm onto the nut so that when a bolt is used from below the nut can only turn partially before becoming lodged against the bed (sort of like the suspension bolts used on the truck in the rear spring pack)--{in fact you could just buy those bolts and nuts from Ford if you want to make it official looking}. Put a dab of silicone sealant on the nut to hold it in place while you run the bolt up from below. Walla--hands and arms saved!!!


P.S. be sure to put something rubber between the tank and the bed to stop bouncing and/or scuffing of the tank and prevent a future rub thru.

T

 

[JOAT]

Another thought, are the tabs designed such that you could make a bracket in the bed that they would slide under to secure the front?