Are truck mount gas tanks a good idea?

Practicality check:

Truck-mounted gas tanks – a boon or bane for lawn care?

When it comes to running your lawn care business, grass isn’t the only thing you need to cut. 

Cutting costs and time are also important to running your business efficiently. 

And when it comes to business, time is money. 

One way many lawn care pros cut down on time is with truck mounted gas tanks.

But are truck mounted gas tanks worth the cost? 

Or are transfer tanks simply too unsafe and impractical?

Well, that's what we are going to find out today! Let’s take a look.

Why Lawn Care Pros Use Truck Mounted Gas Tanks

Many lawn care pros don’t really consider the benefits of truck mounted gas tanks as their businesses grow. It’s really not on the radar for most, but when you take a look and break it down, there are really some great benefits to having truck mounted gas tanks. And it it a piece of equipment you may want to consider for your lawn care company.

 1. Fewer Trips To The Gas Station 

Many lawn care pros simply fill up their mowers at the end of every day which likely means a daily trip to the gas station. 

Here’s the deal with a transfer tank: you won’t have to go to the gas station at the end of every day and the time and savings can really add up. 

Depending on where you live, a trip to the gas station can take up to 15 minutes. 

Multiply that by 5 days in the week and your trips to the gas station have added an hour of working that could have been avoided with a truck mounted tank. Not to mention all of the weaving the trailer between fuel pumps you will avoid. 

With a properly sized truck mounted tank, you will only need to make about one trip to the gas station every week. 

 2. Less Spills 

Don’t tell the EPA, but I can’t count the number of times I have spilled gasoline using 5 gallon containers. 

Whether it fell over in the back of the truck while I went around a turn or trying to get around the “safety features” on a gas can and fill my equipment, 5 gallon containers have been a pain to use, and one way or another: gas will spill.  

With a truck mounted gas tank and a nice nozzle, spilling gas will be a rarity. 

 3. No More Running Out of Gas 

We have all had that day, where you simply forget to fill up or you end up using more gas than you normally do. Or like in point number 2, you simply spill the gas, and need to get more. 

Well, with 40 extra gallons of fuel on the truck, it’s unlikely you will ever need to make a midday gas run ever again!

 4. No Worrying About Storing Gas 

When you have 5 gallon tanks on the truck, you may need to find a place to bring them inside. If you don’t have a garage, or well ventilated storage area, you may need to leave your cans outside. Which may lead to getting water in your gas if it should rain. 

Simply put, managing 5 gallon gas cans can be a pain. But with a truck mounted tank, you won’t have to worry about where you will store your gas. It’s always on the truck where you need it. 

As you can see, truck mounted tanks can be a great investment for many reasons. However, much like deciding to buy mulch in bags or in bulk, there is more than one factor to consider. For fuel transfer tanks, safety is a huge factor and concern. 

Are truck mounted tanks safe?

We know that truck mounted gas tanks can be a good investment, and can easily improve the efficiency of your business but many people worry about having a 40 gallon tank on the truck. 

Some concerns that arise are:

• What if someone on my crew smokes?

• Do I need a grounded pump?

• What if I hit it with equipment, will it leak?

No doubt about it, when it comes to storing fuel, you want to be sure you do it right. 

However, many of the concerns some people have about gas mounted transfer tanks are the same concerns they should be having when they store gas in a 5-gallon can on the truck. 

In fact, when properly installed. A truck mounted gas tank may be safer than a 5-gallon can. 

Think about it;

• You will be less likely to spill gas

• Gas is stored in a DOT approved container

• Transfer tanks are more durable than cans

While puncturing the tank with equipment is certainly a concern, in my experience, and in the experience of many others, good transfer tanks are difficult to pierce. 

Pro Tip! Get Safer Storage with a Static Grounding Wire

If you do get a transfer pump, most lawn care pros would recommend getting a grounded pump or a retractable ground clamp. This will prevent the discharge of static shocks when refueling. 

Static sparks can cause gasoline to ignite.

You can learn where to ground your fuel tank. 

The Bottom Line of Fuel Transfer Tanks

At the end of the day, a DOT approved transfer tank when properly installed can be a great investment for your lawn care company. 

They can save you time, help you avoid the headache of storing gasoline, and you will never have to fiddle with the safety features on modern gas cans. 

While a transfer tank may not help you fill your 2-stroke string trimmer, when it comes to filling your lawnmower or even your truck, you can’t beat a truck mounted gas tank. 

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