Saddle tanks

[86swb]

Has any of you done anything to your truck to keep the side tanks from blowing up from a side impact? I know years agon GM got sued over this and paid out millions to owners. But most did nothing to fix this problem and just kept the money.

[Redneckchevy]

I think Chris did a tank swap and moved it to the Rear of truck...U should be able to search for it or it might be in tech page

[Blazin]

I think you got swept up in the media hype. I have been t boned in the tank of one of these trucks. it ruptured but did not explode! I gashed one open on some rocks 4 wheeling, it didn't explode! A bunch of poppycock!!!!!!!

[werewolfx13]

You could move your tanks to the inside of the frame rails (more accurately, convert to a blazer tank) if you worry about it, but I've seen several ford trucks with tanks inside the frame rails that have burned up from fuel leaks dripping on the exhaust..Some day I'm going to be swapping in polyethylene tanks, one to replace my drivers metal one and one to install on the passenger side from scratch...My hitch and the fact that I actually use my bed would interfere with putting a blazer tank or fuel cell between the frame rails anyway. I agree with Blazin, its really not as big a risk as they try to make it sound like..you can fire tracer rounds through a closed fuel tank without it "exploding", so I doubt a side impact crash is going to set one off..

[choptop]

I recievied several letters from GM on this subject. They did not send money, they wanted you to trade in the truck on a new one( i think is was $2000 off a new one that was already too much to begin with) They can have my truck when I die if my kids don't want it. I too have been hit in the side of these trucks and never had a leak. Like Blazin said, a bunch of media hype. You can make anything explode if you hit it enough times

[VileZambonie]

Yes it was a hyped up media load of crap and my advice is if you are really worried about it don't own one of these trucks. There's nothing safe about these trucks remotely in comparisson to any modern vehicle. The GM offer was $1000 towards the purchase of a new truck plus give them your truck. I took it as an insult and wiped my butt with the letter.

[Blazin]

I know an older guy that took the $1000 and bought a new truck. It took the dealer two and a half years to come get his old one! his lawyer had to right them a letter and threaten storage fees. I tried and tried to buy it so they wouldn't have to worry about picking it up. " Nope it has to go to the crusher ". a month after they finally came and got it one of their mechanics was driving it around! I asked him how he got it. He said the day they towed it in he went into the sales dept. and plopped $100 down for it, they sold it to him!

[Dragon]

Yes it was a hyped up media load of crap and my advice is if you are really worried about it don't own one of these trucks. There's nothing safe about these trucks remotely in comparisson to any modern vehicle. The GM offer was $1000 towards the purchase of a new truck plus give them your truck. I took it as an insult and wiped my butt with the letter.

Yep and Dateline NBC actually wound up owing GM a Public apology for rigging their Televised Crash Tests, to make the Tanks Explode more dramatically(IE strapping Explosives to the tanks to make them Explode, and to make the Explotion Larger for the camera)... GM also won a Lawsuit afterwards as well..

NY Times NBC Settles Lawsuit(2 Pages):
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE6DD173BF933A25751C0A965958260

Personally, I'm not a fan of any News Stories beyond Local and Weather Reports, just got tired of all of the Crap that the Media puts out....

If you want to be paranoid about the Car or Truck you drive, that's Completely understandable, but don't always believe the Hype just because some Supposed News Agency Reported on it... 

heck I like living on the edge, I drive a Truck that has dual mounted Gas Tanks that have been proven to explode if you strap rockets to them... I also drive an Ex-Police Cruiser(Chevy Caprice) that has a Rear Mounted HDPE Gas Tank, that have been proven by the Florida State Patrol to possibly leak, and Explode while Im sitting at a Stop Sign/Light, after being hit by another Car/Truck doing 70-90Mph when they hit me   I guess maybe I was subjected to too many Evel Knievel Specials when I was growing up, so I too like things that Burst in to Flames, or Make Me Go Boom   Ha! Boomer Kienvel reporting for Duty!!

[Captkaos]

The whole exploding tanks it a bunch of garbage.  I won't get on my soap box, but there is nothing wrong with them.  Now if you were like the trial that started it where a train struck the truck (yes Locomotive) and drug it over a mile with the brakes on and the floorboard was squished to no more than 12" wide, then I would be worried about it catching fire, but the initial impact of where the drivers head hit the train is what killed him...

I moved my tank for better weight transfer.  It can be found here:
http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/blazertank.html

[eventhorizon66]

I don't like saddle tanks either, but for convenience reasons.  But, as far as them blowing up, any car or truck can do that if its nearly empty (full of vapors) and struck hard enough or if it leaks and a spark is introduced.  Besides, they're a better option than mounting the tank in the cab.  And Vile makes another good point, these truck aren't that safe when hit from any angle (ever ask yourself why these trucks are so light when compared to a late model).  Safety has never been GM's first priority.  If you are worried and want to keep your truck you could put in a full roll cage and switch to a Fuel-Safe fuel cell (mounted in the rear for better weight distribution).

[86swb]

OK, thanks. Was just wondering. Well, I do feel better. I just had a guy tell me that these old trucks can explode when hit from the side and blow up and that just got me thinking. Thanks for the info. I will not worry about this any more. I carry my kids, grandkids and my wife it my truck at times and wanted to hear from you guys on this and glad I asked.

[Blazin]

The old guy probably drives a Pinto hatchback!

[eventhorizon66]

The old guy probably drives a Pinto hatchback!

LOL, now that's a death-trap.  And not even a good looking one.

[Blazin]

i remember as a kid ABC World News had video of a Pinto getting hit in the rear by a bus or something and it blew up. It was during this big story on how they were death traps and Ford new they could blow up when rearended, etc. etc.!

[Captkaos]

I remember a joke on some show where they had this guy who was having a bad day all morning and he finally makes it out of the house, then they show him in traffic and he is happy to be out of the house, they pan out and he is behind a pinto and infront of an Audi....