Long range fuel tank

[geophb]

Any modifications that are not factory add zero value to the vehicle, and reduces the total resale market.

Either plan on unmodifying before resale and selling the mods separately at used prices or eat the cost of every added item. Its not opinion its fact. If you think Im wrong, well, ignorance is bliss.

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[ISUACE]

Any modifications that are not factory add zero value to the vehicle, and reduces the total resale market.

Either plan on unmodifying before resale and selling the mods separately at used prices or eat the cost of every added item. Its not opinion its fact. If you think Im wrong, well, ignorance is bliss.

I would say it depends on the buyer... private purchaser who wanted those mods (especially done tastefully and professionally installed) will pay more than a stock vehicle. I've seen that before on cars.com, autotrader, etc.

 

[Bomlodr]

Any modifications that are not factory add zero value to the vehicle, and reduces the total resale market.

Either plan on unmodifying before resale and selling the mods separately at used prices or eat the cost of every added item. Its not opinion its fact. If you think Im wrong, well, ignorance is bliss.

Be careful when painting with a broad brush using such wide strokes. I just traded in a 2015 Mustang GT PP1 that had, according to the VIN, base model Sync system without nav, satellite, or HD radio. I installed, Ford Racing X-Pipe, Ford Racing mufflers, and a full Sync 3 conversion complete with NAV, satellite, and HD radio. Without the carefully selected owner installed modifications, I would have received exactly $2700 less value on my trade as evidenced by the dealer modifying their trade offer after inspecting the vehicle and verifying with me the modifications and their functionality. NONE of the modifications were FACTORY modifications yet, all of them served to add value to my vehicle and subsequent trade. As you feel so strongly about this, I can only assume that your experience was dissimilar to mine. However, neither your opinion nor my recent experience automatically indicates FACT. And if you think I'm wrong, well, ignorance is bliss.

 

[J Krutsch]

My focus is on the functionality of the truck now. I didn't buy this truck as an investment, I bought it to tow my trailer. I couldn't care less if it adds or decreases value someday down the road when I have worn it out and have to replace it.

 

[painter1]

Your life is the investment, or at least I thought that was the idea.

 

[RoadBoss]

Be careful when painting with a broad brush using such wide strokes. I just traded in a 2015 Mustang GT PP1 that had, according to the VIN, base model Sync system without nav, satellite, or HD radio. I installed, Ford Racing X-Pipe, Ford Racing mufflers, and a full Sync 3 conversion complete with NAV, satellite, and HD radio. Without the carefully selected owner installed modifications, I would have received exactly $2700 less value on my trade as evidenced by the dealer modifying their trade offer after inspecting the vehicle and verifying with me the modifications and their functionality. NONE of the modifications were FACTORY modifications yet, all of them served to add value to my vehicle and subsequent trade. As you feel so strongly about this, I can only assume that your experience was dissimilar to mine. However, neither your opinion nor my recent experience automatically indicates FACT. And if you think I'm wrong, well, ignorance is bliss.

I agree with this, but will also say, looking at modifications as an investment is a backwards approach. Even if your modifications do ad some value, the chance that you will get that money back from resale is slim at best, and in some cases could certainly hurt resale value.

Modifying your vehicle, IMO, should be approached with the idea that it's for your own personal benefit only, and adding resale value is just a bonus.
Unless the vehicle is rare, desirable, or a classic, in which case it all depends on the vehicle.

But with something as generic as the ranger, I wouldn't assume than any modification will add any worthwhile value.

 

[Frenchy]

I agree with this, but will also say, looking at modifications as an investment is a backwards approach. Even if your modifications do ad some value, the chance that you will get that money back from resale is slim at best, and in some cases could certainly hurt resale value.

Modifying your vehicle, IMO, should be approached with the idea that it's for your own personal benefit only, and adding resale value is just a bonus.
Unless the vehicle is rare, desirable, or a classic, in which case it all depends on the vehicle.

But with something as generic as the ranger, I wouldn't assume than any modification will add any worthwhile value.

You are not wrong there cir. In all honesty if you're doing a bunch of different modifications to your vehicle the only real way to get your money's worth out of it before a resale is to use the vehicle for the intended purpose you you built it for. A great example is an old Chevy Express high top van that my parents had when they put a quarter of a million miles on and my Dad decided to see the rough cast of that not counting maintenance and fuel and he said it was well worth was he put into it and for what he sold it for. If something like that but you got to look out for the long run especially if you're going to do modifications to your vehicle.

 

[Ward Harris]

Hi Ward,

First let me state I am not interested in a longer range tank but I am a bit confused on the fuel pick up point. How do you take advantage of a deeper tank unless the fuel pickup point with its associated filtering is extended?

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co.. Retired

Phil -
Thank you for your courteous and professional post on the thread's primary topic.

As you know, the diesel and petrol Rangers vary in a number of ways. One of those is the charcoal canister (none on diesel), fuel pump, sending unit, fuel feed point, etc.

Now that we have factory fuel pump/sending unit and charcoal canister on the ground in Australia, our partners will figure out how to accommodate the emission filter, fuel pump, sending unit and fuel pick-up point.

Installation of the Long Range Automotive diesel replacement tank requires that the sending unit float arm be bent slightly to accommodate greater arc resulting from increased depth of the new tank. See Image A below. The US fuel pump assembly is seen in Image B.

Apart from DTE, the fuel pick up, sending unit and dash gauge will all work correctly.

Our partners have been doing this work for 30 years and its all they do, so they have gotten quite good at it.

Thanks for your interest. More to follow.

Ward Harris

PS - Lest a reader ask, we have no decisions made on capacity, clearance, etc. but you can see the AU spec diesel tank in Image C.

IMAGE A - DIESEL SENDING UNIT

IMGAGE B - PETROL SENDING UNIT

IMAGE C - DIESEL TANK AT 140 LITRE CAPACITY / 37 GALLONS

 

[DT444T]

OK Jake. Lighten up. Just a light hearted comment.

That's been said MANY times in this thread. It's unoriginal and unhelpful.

 

[Commander Shepard]

Halfway through the month, just installed larger tires and my leveling kit. About to take the snowmobiles up to Michigan, whenever more snow hits. This tank will be amazing for those who tow.

 

[VoodooRanger]

I live in South Florida, I would like to make it out of the state without having to stop in central Florida for fuel. Plus with my brother and I planning a camping trip to Utah in the near future, I would like the added capacity for the long haul.

 

[Kyre]

The ranger tows like a pro. My trailer weighs in at 5300 lbs fully loaded (I do have a weight distributing hitch). This thing is a beast at towing. Also, it's not a land yacht. Once I have offloaded my trailer, I have a very easy to drive, fun and easy to park vehicle. Full size trucks are great at towing but they are a pain in the ass to get around in a city. I have towed my trailer about 4000 miles out of my Ranger's total of 30k at this point and I have three main complaints.

1) The stock rear suspension is too squishy. I have fixed this (and fairly cheaply) with the excellent Eibach rear shocks that out on the market. This pretty much eliminated the "rolling waves" motion that the stock suspension suffers from.
2) No Extended mirrors other than clip-on ones. The clip-on ones work but still suck in comparison to exact fit or extendable mirrors.
3) I get between 8 and 12 mpg while towing. The fuel light comes on when the tank is shortly below the 50% mark. I'm glad I have a shorter trailer because having to fill up every ~120-150 miles really sucks. People who don't tow on a regular basis don't understand the pain of being forced to fill up at random and oftentimes extremely inaccessible service stations. Having a longer range means more options and less time wasted.

Sign me up for a replacement tank if/when they are available.

 

[Bsenecal]

The ranger tows like a pro. My trailer weighs in at 5300 lbs fully loaded (I do have a weight distributing hitch). This thing is a beast at towing. Also, it's not a land yacht. Once I have offloaded my trailer, I have a very easy to drive, fun and easy to park vehicle. Full size trucks are great at towing but they are a pain in the ass to get around in a city. I have towed my trailer about 4000 miles out of my Ranger's total of 30k at this point and I have three main complaints.

1) The stock rear suspension is too squishy. I have fixed this (and fairly cheaply) with the excellent Eibach rear shocks that out on the market. This pretty much eliminated the "rolling waves" motion that the stock suspension suffers from.
2) No Extended mirrors other than clip-on ones. The clip-on ones work but still suck in comparison to exact fit or extendable mirrors.
3) I get between 8 and 12 mpg while towing. The fuel light comes on when the tank is shortly below the 50% mark. I'm glad I have a shorter trailer because having to fill up every ~120-150 miles really sucks. People who don't tow on a regular basis don't understand the pain of being forced to fill up at random and oftentimes extremely inaccessible service stations. Having a longer range means more options and less time wasted.

Sign me up for a replacement tank if/when they are available.

I couldn’t agree more even just another 2-5 gallons would be appreciated.
I had the large tank on my 2010 F-150 and both my buddies had to fill up their Toyota Tudras every 150 miles or so, I could go well over 300 even towing a 32 ft 8000lb trailer.
Brian

 

[Jonnmaggie]

Minimum 600 mi empty and 300 towing...
Let me know when they're here!!

 

[Ward Harris]

NO NEWS/GOOD NEWS
Well, some news.....and happy holidays to the crew.

Our partners in Lilydaly (suburban Melbourne, Victoria State) are off until the 11th of January. They get the holidays in the midst of Summer, so now snow but lots of time for fun and family. Me jealous? Yup.

Anyway, the crew will return mid-January to get back to this new kit's development, but in the meantime, the US components are being compared to the AU diesel kit and we are working through some initial issues. Here are the high points:

• North American petrol pump assembly is completely different from AU diesel
• Pump needs to be put in a new location in tank
• They need dimension of the fuel host at connection to the tank
• One of the owner’s wives is getting a tank in her Ranger and they will use that to help with mock up
• We plan to get one prototype for developmental fitment in @Frenchy's Ranger and from that, final changes will be made prior to production, including capacity/depth

Thanks for your interest,

Ward Harris
Long Range America, LLC

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